Living with gods: the 40,000-year-old Lion Man

About this video

• Video Title: Living with gods: the 40,000-year-old Lion Man
• Channel: The British Museum
• Speakers: None explicitly named
• Duration: 00:04:56

Overview

This video discusses the significance of the 40,000-year-old Lion Man figurine, an artifact made of mammoth ivory. It explores how the creation of such symbolic objects reflects a fundamental human characteristic of communicating with beings beyond nature and underscores the role of beliefs in social cohesion, meaning-making, and overcoming fear throughout human history.

Key takeaways

• Belief systems and communication with non-natural beings appear to be inherent human characteristics, evident from early human history.
• The Lion Man, a 40,000-year-old sculpture combining human and lion features, is the oldest known object clearly demonstrating a conversation with something beyond nature.
• The figurine is meticulously crafted from mammoth ivory, depicting a fierce cave lion with a human-like body, suggesting a combination of human and animal elements.
• The wear on the Lion Man indicates it was passed from hand to hand, suggesting its importance in social rituals, storytelling, and bonding around a fire.
• Belief in other worlds and beings has historically been crucial for social cohesion, providing meaning, understanding, and confidence to human societies.