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Lion Man, Aurignacian Culture (mammoth ivory)
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Lion Man, Aurignacian Culture (mammoth ivory)
BAL700706 Lion Man, Aurignacian Culture (mammoth ivory) by Paleolithic; 29.6x5.6x5.9 cm; Museum der Stadt, Ulm, Germany; (add.info.: A lion-headed figure is an ivory sculpture that is the oldest known zoomorphic sculpture in the world and one of the oldest known sculptures in general. The sculpture has also been interpreted as anthropomorphic, giving human characteristics to an animal, although it may have represented a deity. The figurine was determined to be about 32, 000 years old by carbon dating material from the same layer in which the sculpture was found. It is associated with the archaeological Aurignacian culture. It was carved out of mammoth ivory using a flint stone knife. There are seven parallel, transverse, carved gouges on the left arm. Its pieces were found in 1939 in a cave named Stadel-HAohle im Hohlenstein (Stadel cave in Hohlenstein Mountain) in the Lonetal (Lone valley) in the Swabian Alps, Germany.); out of copyright
Media ID 12924292
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The Lion Man, a remarkable ivory sculpture from the Aurignacian Culture, is captured in this stunning photo print. Standing at 29.6x5.6x5.9 cm, it is one of the oldest known sculptures in the world and holds immense historical significance. This ancient artwork depicts a figure with a lion's head, making it the oldest zoomorphic sculpture ever discovered. However, scholars have also debated whether it represents an anthropomorphic deity or simply human characteristics attributed to an animal form. Carbon dating has revealed that this masterpiece dates back approximately 32,000 years, placing it firmly within the Aurignacian culture of prehistoric times. The intricate carving was meticulously crafted using flint stone knives on mammoth ivory. Notably, there are seven parallel gouges carved onto its left arm—a detail that adds to its enigmatic allure and invites speculation about its intended symbolism. Discovered in 1939 within Stadel-Hohle im Hohlenstein cave in Germany's Swabian Alps region, these fragments were carefully pieced together to restore this extraordinary artifact for display at Museum der Stadt in Ulm. As we gaze upon this mesmerizing image print today, we can't help but marvel at the talent and creativity of our ancient ancestors who created such masterpieces thousands of years ago—reminding us of our shared humanity across time and cultures.
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