Ancient Venus figurines carved from mammoth tusks nearly 18,000 years ago may reveal how Ice Age artists found inspiration in the natural patterns of ivory. A new study of 18 figurines discovered in northern Ukraine suggests that prehistoric craftspeople deliberately copied the internal structure of mammoth tusks when creating their intricate designs.
The findings, published in the journal npj Heritage Science, offer new insight into some of Europe’s earliest examples of abstract human figures. The research, led by Simon Radchenko of the University of Stavanger in Norway, shows that the ivory itself played an important role in shaping prehistoric art.
Ancient figurines reveal patterns hidden in mammoth ivory
The figurines come from Mizyn, an important archaeological site in northern Ukraine. Researchers date them to approximately 18,800 to 17,400 years ago, shortly after the coldest period of the last Ice Age.
Archaeologists recovered the objects during excavations in the early 1900s. The site also contains large circular arrangements of mammoth bones, which researchers believe formed parts of prehistoric dwellings. Similar mammoth-bone structures in Eastern Europe have provided evidence of how Ice Age communities built shelters using animal remains.
Unlike more realistic Ice Age sculptures, the Mizyn figurines feature simplified human forms. Many have narrow upper sections, wider middle portions, and engraved geometric patterns.
What secret lies hidden inside 18,000-year-old Venus figurines? Archaeologists studying ancient carvings from Ukraine discovered that Ice Age artists may have copied natural patterns found inside mammoth tusks. The findings offer a new glimpse into prehistoric creativity. pic.twitter.com/XcxpQp8u8G
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 12, 2026
The researchers examined 18 figurines, including 14 with engraved surfaces. Eleven display geometric decorations such as zigzags, curved lines, and repeating angular patterns. Their analysis suggests these designs were not simply decorative. Instead, they closely resemble natural markings found inside mammoth tusks.
Mammoth ivory contains intersecting patterns called Schreger lines and curved growth markings known as Owen’s lines. Researchers found that ancient artists reproduced both types of markings on the figurines. In several examples, the engraved patterns appear precisely where similar natural structures would have been visible in the ivory.
Digital technology uncovers Ice Age carving techniques
The research team used high-resolution 3D imaging and microscopic examination to investigate how the figurines were made. In 2022, Ukraine’s National Museum of the History of Ukraine granted researchers limited access to the collection. The work formed part of an effort to digitally preserve cultural objects threatened by Russia’s invasion.
The digital models allowed researchers to study tiny cuts, scratches, and surface details without extensive handling of the fragile artifacts. Their findings revealed a carefully organized production process. Craftspeople first extracted pieces from the central portions of mammoth tusks. They then shaped the ivory using cutting, scraping, and polishing techniques. After preparing the surface, they outlined human features and geometric decorations. Flint tools helped create the final engravings.
Microscopic evidence also showed that artists used different cutting movements for different elements. Some lines required repeated sawing motions, while others involved carefully controlled cuts. The consistency of these techniques suggests that the makers followed established artistic practices rather than carving without a plan.
Figurines may represent a distinct prehistoric art tradition
The study also challenges earlier interpretations of the Mizyn sculptures. Some figurines had previously been classified as bird-shaped or phallic objects because of their unusual outlines. However, the researchers suggest that these forms may represent variations of the same underlying approach to depicting human bodies.
The team also examined 650 published radiocarbon dates associated with European Ice Age figurines. Their analysis places the Mizyn collection among the earliest known simplified human representations in Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum.
Other discoveries have also revealed the importance of human figures in prehistoric art. In southern Turkey, archaeologists identified 19,000-year-old stone figurines that provide evidence of symbolic expression during the late Ice Age. The researchers argue that the Mizyn objects may represent a distinct artistic tradition rather than an early version of styles that later spread across Central Europe.
Mammoths may have carried deeper symbolic meaning
The findings also raise questions about the relationship between prehistoric communities and mammoths.
At Mizyn, mammoth bones served practical purposes, including the construction of shelters. Their tusks also provided material for ornaments and sculptures. Three figurines were reportedly discovered beneath or possibly inside a mammoth skull incorporated into one of the site’s bone structures.
Researchers suggest this placement may have held symbolic significance, although its original meaning remains uncertain. The engraved patterns offer another possible connection. By reproducing the internal markings of mammoth ivory, artists may have intentionally linked human figures with the animals that supplied the material.
Evidence of early symbolic expression extends much further into prehistory. Another study examined 40,000-year-old signs engraved on ivory and other materials in Europe, highlighting the long history of abstract markings in prehistoric societies. However, the Mizyn study cannot establish whether the patterns carried spiritual meaning or primarily guided artistic design.
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