Ice Age artists used mammoth tusk patterns in art
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Archaeologists studying 18,000-year-old figurines from the Mizyn campsite in northern Ukraine discovered that Ice Age carvers intentionally incorporated the natural growth lines of mammoth tusks into their artwork.
Researchers from the University of York, University of Stavanger, and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine used microscopic analysis and 3D modeling to examine the figurines, often called ‘Venus’ figures. They found the artists deliberately mimicked Schreger and Owen lines, growth rings within the ivory, as part of the designs.
This discovery challenges previous understandings of how Stone Age art developed in Europe. The team noted a gap of 1,000 to 3,000 years in figurine creation across the continent, coinciding with the coldest period of the last Ice Age. Figurines reappeared earlier in Eastern Europe, and artists there developed a unique style by including tusk patterns, unlike those later created in Western Europe.
The study was made possible by digital scanning of the artifacts, a necessity due to limited access caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war. The Ukrainian NGO Archaїc led heritage preservation efforts, ensuring the artifacts’ survival and allowing for continued study. Researchers hope further digital analysis will reveal even more about artistic development in Europe and preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
