Archaeologists have uncovered two exquisitely carved bird figurines dating back 40,000 years, each no bigger than a human thumbnail.
The miniature Ice Age masterpieces were discovered in the famous Hohle Fels Cave in southwest Germany, one of Europe’s richest prehistoric archaeological sites.
Experts believe the tiny sculptures were painstakingly carved from mammoth ivory by some of the earliest modern humans to settle in Europe.
Measuring just two to three centimetres long, one bird appears to be brooding while the other has its wings outstretched as though soaring through the air.
The remarkably lifelike carvings were found during excavations after researchers painstakingly sifted every gram of sediment removed from the cave.
Researchers think the carvings resemble ptarmigans, grouse-like birds that would have lived in the cold Ice Age environment.
They believe the figurines could have served as personal talismans or as symbols of identity of the person who carved or carried them.
‘The figurines demonstrate that the earliest artists were skilled ivory carvers who could depict delicate motifs in miniature form,’ Professor Nicholas Conard, director of excavations at the University of Tübingen, said.
Measuring just two to three centimetres long, one bird appears to be brooding while the other has its wings outstretched as though soaring through the air
Archaeologists excavate the cave in tiny sections just two to three centimetres deep before washing the soil through fine sieves in search of the smallest artefacts
The newly discovered birds are extremely small, approximately 2cm long by 1cm wide (0.8 x 0.4 inches).
The resting bird is depicted in great detail with prominent eyes, while the bird with outstretched wings has a distinctive beak and clear markings representing feathers.
‘The figurines in their present state weigh only 1.3 and 0.7 grams and are the smallest and finest depictions from this period, 40,000 years ago,’ Professor Conard said.
Modern experiments recreating similar Ice Age carvings suggest they would have taken hundreds of hours of skilled work using primitive tools.
Professor Conard believes the artistic skill displayed by these early humans reflects a leap in cultural and cognitive sophistication that may have helped them flourish across Ice Age Europe while other groups disappeared.
The discoveries add to the extraordinary collection of prehistoric art already unearthed at Hohle Fels Cave.
Previous finds include the world-famous Venus of Hohle Fels, thought to be the oldest known depiction of a human figure, along with some of the world’s earliest musical instruments.
Fragments of a vulture-bone flute were also uncovered during the latest excavation season, suggesting music may once have echoed through the cave.
Researchers think the carvings resemble ptarmigans, grouse-like birds that would have lived in the cold Ice Age environment (file image)
Previous finds at the cave include the world-famous Venus of Hohle Fels, thought to be the oldest known depiction of a human figure
Archaeologists excavate the cave in tiny sections just two to three centimetres deep before washing the soil through fine sieves in search of the smallest artefacts.
The painstaking approach allows even thumbnail-sized carvings to be recovered after lying hidden for tens of thousands of years.
Exactly why the figurines were created remains a mystery.
Some experts believe they may have played a role in storytelling, spiritual rituals or rites of passage, while others suggest they helped preserve memories or reinforce group identity.
‘These objects were created with a purpose other than simple enjoyment,’ Daniel Adler, a palaeolithic archaeologist at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, told Nature.
Lyn Wadley, a specialist in African archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, believes the objects could have been used in rites of passage, such as pregnancy or birth.
