40,000-year-old bird carvings provide clues to how ice age humans flourished

In the midst of Europe’s June heatwave, archaeologist Alexander Janas finds solace in the cool Hohle Fels Cave in Germany, where significant archaeological discoveries have been made over the past three decades. These include the world’s oldest human figurine and early musical instruments, offering insights into the minds of Europe’s earliest Homo sapiens during the Aurignacian period. Recently, Janas and his team unveiled new finds: bird figurines and flute fragments, highlighting the artistic and cultural sophistication of these early humans. Nicholas Conard, leading the excavation, suggests that these artistic capabilities may have contributed to their survival in ice-age Europe. He plans to explore this theory further by analyzing ancient DNA from the cave sediments. This research sheds light on human origins and the development of early European societies. QUESTION: How might understanding the artistic and cultural achievements of early humans influence our perception of human evolution and history?