Archaeologists have discovered three of the world’s oldest mammoth ivory carvings, dating back 30,000 years. These three carvings were discovered in the Hohle Fels cave in the Ach valley (Germany).

Archaeologists have discovered three of the world’s oldest mammoth ivory carvings, dating back 30,000 years. These three carvings were discovered in the Hohle Fels cave in the Ach valley (Germany).

All three pieces are carved in the same style: one depicts a horse’s head, one is half human, half animal, and one is a diving cormorant with its wings folded close to its body. According to experts, this is the clearest evidence of early human artistic skills.

Although archaeologists have not determined which tribe the author of the three sculptures belongs to.

“We can confirm that this is the work of Homo sapiens, because the Paleolithic soil layer surrounding them is characteristic of Homo sapiens, not Neanderthals,” said Professor Nicholas Conard, Department of Quaternary Ecology and Early Prehistory at the University of Tubingen (Germany).

The sculptures are quite small. The cormorant is the longest, measuring about 4.7 cm from beak to tail. It was broken in two when found. Although the beak is missing, its overall shape allows archaeologists to confirm that the artist intended to depict a cormorant.

The cormorant has legs but no feet, and long lines on its back represent feathers. The other two works are harder to determine the creative idea, but the lines are very detailed.

According to Professor Conard, the sculptures were used for the worship of Shamanic prophets. This is evidence that, 30,000 years ago, the artistic life of mankind was not much different from ours today.