Lion-man

Lore & Background

Systematic excavations at Hohlenstein-Stadel cave began in 1937 under historian Robert Wetzel. The fragmented figurine was discovered on 25 August 1939 by geologist Otto Völzing, but the start of World War II left fieldwork incomplete. The fragments lay forgotten at Museum Ulm for about thirty years until archaeologist Joachim Hahn assembled over 200 fragments, revealing a figurine with animal and human features. Further fragments were found in the 1970s, and in 1982 paleontologist Elisabeth Schmid combined new pieces with Hahn's reconstruction, adding parts of the nose and mouth that emphasized feline characteristics.

A comprehensive restoration in 1987 by Ute Wolf and Schmid showed the figurine was only about two-thirds complete; gaps were filled with a mixture of beeswax, artificial wax, and chalk. In 2008, new excavations yielded minute fragments, and virtual simulations allowed additions without disassembling the original. A second restoration from 2012 to 2013 under Nicole Ebinger-Rist disassembled the figurine, added newly discovered fragments, and discarded artificial additions, increasing its height from 296 to 311 millimeters.

Reader's Guide

The Lion-man figurine is significant as one of the earliest known examples of artistic representation and the oldest confirmed statue, providing insight into the symbolic and possibly spiritual life of Aurignacian people. Its hybrid human-animal form suggests complex beliefs, with some researchers linking it to shamanism or cultic practices. The figurine was found in a chamber nearly 30 meters from the cave entrance, accompanied by bone tools, worked antlers, and jewelry, indicating a special-purpose space. Debate continues over its sex—initially classified as male, later proposed as female, and after the 2012–2013 restoration, a triangular platelet in the genital area was interpreted as possibly a stylized male organ. A similar lion-headed figurine from Hohle Fels supports the idea of shared cultural beliefs. The carving from hard mammoth tusk would have taken hundreds of hours, suggesting the community supported specialized artisans. The figurine remains a key artifact for understanding Upper Paleolithic art and cognition.

Did You Know?

• The figurine was discovered just one week before the start of World War II, causing fieldwork to be abandoned.
• It was carved from mammoth ivory using a flint stone knife, and experimental replication took over 370 hours.
• Seven parallel, transverse, carved gouges are on the left arm of the figurine.
• A similar but smaller lion-headed human figurine was found at Hohle Fels.