An enigmatic creature, half human half lion, confronts us here. What significance did the depiction have for its creator? The lion-man motif in Ice Age art has so far been limited to the Swabian Jura. Another impressive example of such a figure is the well-known Lion Man from the Hohlenstein-Stadel in the Lone Valley, which is over 30 centimetres tall. Both works of art focus on the transformation of a human being into an animal. Could this this representation be an indication of the existence of shamans? In other words, people who wore animal robes and performed various religious-cultic practices whilst in a trance, invoking the spirits for the benefit of the community?
The arrangement of the notches and dots on the plate does not seem to be random. Did these markings have a purely aesthetic character or rather a symbolic one? This ambiguity has led to a variety of interpretations. Frequently, the dots and notches have been interpreted as lunar calendars. In combination with the worshipper (Adorant) on the front, the object possibly served as a calendar for shamanic rituals. It is certain that the observation of the moon served as measure of the passage of time more than any other natural phenomenon. This helped people to plan their lives – lives that were closely tied to the rhythm of the seasons.
What are your thoughts on this work of art?
