The Oldest Known Statues and Their Significance

Defining a Statue

A statue is a three-dimensional work in the round, sculpted or molded, representing in full a character or an animal. These sculptures can be made from various materials and are generally large in size, approximately equal to or greater than half the natural size of the subject. Smaller works are known as statuettes.

The Earliest Human-Created Statuary

The oldest documented sculpture resulting from human will is a statuette, such as the Venus of Hohle Fels in Germany, aged 40,000 years, and the Lwenmensch figurine also from Germany. Both these pieces represent figurative art long before the advent of human civilization or records.

Among the first life-size statues documented is the Urfa Man, discovered in Turkey around 9,000 BC. However, in 2023, new discoveries were made at the Karahan Tepe site in Turkey, which date back 11,000 years, making them the oldest known life-size statues and possibly dethroning the Urfa Man as the oldest statue on record.

Unfortunately, the earliest statues, possibly made of wood or bone, have decayed over time, and their creators remain unknown. The oldest surviving statue is the Lwenmensch figurine (Lion-Man), found in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in southern Germany in 1939. This piece is carved from ivory and dates back to the Aurignacian culture, which is considered the first modern humans in Europe.

Unfolding Discoveries of the Oldest Statues

The discovery of the Venus of Hohle Fels and the Karahan Tepe sculpture sheds light on the early human artistic capabilities and cultural practices. These statues provide insights into the prehistoric human psyche and the development of symbolic thought and ritualistic practices.

Archaeologists believe these pieces were created to serve various purposes, including religious or ritualistic functions, personal adornment, or even as playthings for children. The Lwenmensch figurine, for example, has been interpreted by some to be a representation of a shaman or divine protector, given the carved details on its body and the combination of human and lion features.

These findings not only challenge our understanding of early human societies but also highlight the depth of human creativity and the importance of art in ancient civilizations. The uncovering of such artifacts continues to fuel the imaginations of scholars and the public, evoking questions about the origins of human culture and artistic expression.