Cave lion figurine made of woolly mammoth tusk found at Denisova Cave

[Judi Lynn]

By Anna Liesowska, Svetlana Skarbo20 November 2019
Aged approximately 45,000 years, this might be the world’s oldest animal statuette.

The sensational discovery was made three months ago in the Altai Mountains by the team of archeologists from Novosibirsk Institute of Archeology and Ethnography.

The precious small - 42mm long, 8mm thick and 11mm high - figurine of a cave lion (Panthera spelaea, lat) was made by an Upper Palaeolithic artist between 40,000 and 45,000 years ago.

It was found inside the 11th layer of the southern gallery of the Denisova Cave.

This is the oldest sculptural zoomorphic image ever found in Siberia and throughout the territory of Northern and Central Asia.

The precise age is yet to be confirmed, but the cautious dating given by Siberian archeologists means that this might be the oldest animal figurine in the world.

More:
http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/cave-lion-figurine-made-of-woolly-mammoth-tusk-found-at-denisova-cave/

[livetohike]

1. Interesting article with great pics. Thanks for

posting this .

[Judi Lynn]

3. It definitely caught me by surprise. Totally unexpected. Thank you for taking the time. n/t

[Karadeniz]

2. Looks like a Denisova mole!