Archaeologists have uncovered two miniature bird figurines carved from mammoth ivory that date back approximately 40,000 years in southern Germany. The carvings, found in Hohle Fels cave, a site renowned for prehistoric art, provide new insights into the artistic abilities of early Homo sapiens during the Aurignacian period.

Discovered last year just five feet apart in a sediment layer from around 40,000 years ago, the thumbnail-sized sculptures display remarkable detail despite their small size. One figurine appears to depict a bird lying on the ground, possibly brooding over its eggs, while the other shows a bird with wings spread, potentially in flight or engaged in a courtship display. Researchers believe the birds may represent ptarmigans—a type of game bird related to grouse and chickens—based on previous findings of ptarmigan bones in the same cave. The second figure might also portray a bird of prey.

The Hohle Fels cave has yielded some of the oldest examples of figurative art in Europe, including the renowned Venus of Hohle Fels, believed to be the continent’s oldest known figurative sculpture, dating back 41,000 years. The site was inhabited by early modern humans who produced a wide array of art, jewelry, and musical instruments during the Aurignacian, a period marked by a significant surge in cultural expression.

Professor Nicholas Conard of the University of Tubingen, who has been involved in the excavation and research, highlighted the craftsmanship evident in the ivory carvings. He noted that the figurines illustrate the skillful artistry of early humans, capable of rendering delicate and intricate motifs on a miniature scale.

The exact purpose of the bird carvings remains unclear. Researchers speculate that they might have served as personal talismans or as symbols identifying particular social groups. Regardless of their function, the discovery enriches understanding of early human creativity and symbolic behavior during the Upper Paleolithic era.