Hohle Fels Bird Figurines Named Find of Year

The newly discovered birds are extremely small with dimensions of approximately 2 x 1 x 0.5 cm. Most of the other figurines from this period have dimensions in the range of 3 to 9 cm. 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 carvings are not highly stylized but instead include many specific and unique features," says Conard. "Here the artist has recorded detailed observations that allow us to consider which kind of bird is represented and what the bird could be doing."

Although many of the early ivory carvings from the caves of the Swabian Jura depict animals in a static manner with considerable tension, the two birds are shown in specific postures. One of the birds appears to be lying on the ground and could well be brooding over its eggs. The bird with spread wings may be flying, landing, or perhaps posturing in courtship. Ice Age art often leaves multiple avenues of interpretation open, and the same applies for the specific kind of bird depicted. The brooding bird appears to be a ptarmigan, a species that is well-represented in the rich faunal material recovered from Hohle Fels. The bird with spread wings could be a ptarmigan but could also be a bird in the grouse family or a bird of prey.

Feather light

"The figurines in their present state weigh only 1.3 and 0.7 grams and are the smallest and finest depictions from this period 40,00-years-ago," notes Conard, the scientific director of the Museum of Prehistory and Ice Age Art (urmu), "but despite their size, they raise many new questions." Among the open questions are what meaning they could have had for the residents of Hohle Fels Cave. They could have served as personal talismans or as symbols for the identity of the person who carved or carried the diminutive sculptures. Hohle Fels has now yielded a total of three carefully made carvings, while no other site in the region has produced a single bird figurine. At the same time, depictions of other animals are numerous, with mammoths and lions being the most frequently presented, followed by smaller numbers of bears, horses, fish, and bison. Conard argues that "Each of the four World Heritage sites that have yielded figurative art is unique and documents a link between the site, its specific geographic and social context."

The figurines will be on display at the Museum of Prehistory and Ice Age Art in Blaubeuren (urmu) in a special exhibit that runs until April 4, 2027 entitled: Feather light, research heavy: Discover the miniature birds in Ice Age Art. "Our region and landscape have always been the home of a vast range of birds, and nearby Lake Schmiechen is today a bird sanctuary," says Stefanie Kölbl, the managing director of urmu. "Even 40,000-years-ago birds were here. Their song filled the air, and some species came to the region in the course of annual migrations. Their calls signaled warnings, and the residents of the region often used their hollow bones and even mammoth ivory to make flutes that produced magical sounds."

The urmu is located among the region's caves that were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2017 under the title: "Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura." Founded more than 60 years ago, this research museum of the University of Tübingen has long displayed the renowned Paleolithic artifacts of southwestern Germany together with the oldest figurative art and musical instruments dating back to 40,000 years ago. The urmu houses exceptional finds such as the Venus of Hohle Fels.