hat the recent restoration of the Lion Man figurine of Hohlenstein-Stadel Cave tells us about its treatment in the Early Upper Palaeolithic

Abstract

In 1939, excavators uncovered in Hohlenstein-StadelCave nearly 200 mammoth ivory fragments that were refitted as a therianthrope figurine with the head and upper body of a cave lion and the lower body and legs of a human being. It was named the Lion Man. During recent excavations (2008 to 2013) in the StadelCave , a stratigraphic sequence extending from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Aurignacian was discovered. It became clear that the location of the Lion Man during the excavations of 1939 corresponded to the layer Au of the recent 2008–2013 excavations. During the recent work a part of the excavation backdirt from 1939 was also uncovered. Inside this backdirt, 575 fragments of mammoth ivory were found, some belonging to the Lion Man figurine, which was carved from a complete tusk. In 2012–2013 the Lion Man was newly restored and completed to the greatest possible extent. It became apparent that the Lion Man represents a male. Its snout, back, and right side were refitted, and the Lion Man also gained in volume from the added pieces. New insights point towards an intentional deposition of the formerly complete figurine during the Aurignacian.