Nature Video
29 July 2026
New discoveries at famous archeological site add to mystery of ancient human culture.
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40,000-year-old bird carvings provide clues to how ice age humans flourishedTwo tiny bird figurines have been uncovered at Hohle Fels in Germany, carved out of ivory by ancient humans. This cave has produced some of the world's oldest figurative art, crafted around 40,000 years ago. Excavation leader Nicholas Conard talks us through the new finds and asks what pieces like these tell us about our ancient relatives and their success.
