The Adorant: The Ice Age Sculpture That Is the Oldest Figurative Representation of a Constellation

In the Geißenklösterle cave, located in the Swabian Jura near Blaubeuren, Germany, an exceptional piece of prehistoric art was discovered in 1979: a carved mammoth ivory plaque, dated between 35,000 and 32,000 years ago. Known as The Adorant (Der Adorant), this small work of art from the Upper Paleolithic is one of the most striking sculptures of the Aurignacian culture and may represent the oldest figurative depiction of a constellation.

The rectangular piece measures just 38 mm in height, 14 mm in width, and 4.5 mm in thickness. Its obverse features an anthropomorphic figure in relief, with raised arms and extended legs, without visible hands. The posture of this humanoid being suggests a gesture of worship, which led to its name. It has been speculated that the figure may be wearing a belt and a sword, although these elements could be natural formations in the ivory.

The reverse of the piece presents 88 notches arranged in rows. Some researchers believe that this series of marks could constitute a counting system based on lunar phases, as 88 days roughly equal three complete lunar cycles. Additionally, this number coincides with the period during which the star Betelgeuse, part of the Orion constellation, would disappear annually from the sky about 33,000 years ago.

Adorant sculpture paleolithic constellation — The Geisenklösterle cave, the site of the find. Credit: Ötzi / Wikimedia Commons

According to this hypothesis, the figure depicted on the plaque bears a resemblance to the Orion constellation, whose visibility in the sky approximately coincided with the duration of human pregnancy. This has led some researchers to associate the image with fertility symbolism and the cycle of life.

Another hypothesis, based on the ten evenly spaced cuts on the back, suggests that the object may have served as a pregnancy calendar based on lunar months. In this context, the appendix between the figure’s legs could be interpreted as a fetus at the moment of birth.

Some studies have revealed the presence of traces of manganese and ochre on the surface of the piece, elements that were often used in Paleolithic rituals. This suggests that The Adorant may have played a ceremonial or symbolic role within its community.

Excavations in the Geißenklösterle cave began in 1973 and continued until 1991, with resumptions in 2001. Among the many objects discovered at the site, The Adorant stands out for its level of detail and its possible connection to prehistoric astronomy.

Currently, the original piece is housed in the collection of the Landesmuseum Württemberg in Stuttgart, where it is only accessible for scientific study. For educational purposes and public exhibitions, exact replicas have been made.

The Adorant of Geißenklösterle is a testament to the symbolic thinking and cultural sophistication of the first Homo sapiens in Europe. Along with other figurative works found in the cave, this sculpture reinforces the idea that art and spirituality were already deeply rooted in Aurignacian society.

This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on April 3, 2025: El Adorador, la escultura de la Edad del Hielo que es la más antigua representación figurativa de una constelación

SOURCES

Joachim Hahn, Eine aurignacienzeitliche Menschendarstellung aus dem Geißenklösterle bei Blaubeuren, Alb-Donau-Kreis. Bd. 9 Nr. 2 (1980). doi.org/10.11588/nbdpfbw.1980.2.14281

Timothy Insoll, The Oxford Handbook of Prehistoric Figurines

Museum-Digital Baden-Württemberg, Adorant aus dem Geißenklösterle im Achtal bei Blaubeuren-Weiler

Wikipedia, Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave