Bernsteinelch von Weitsche

The amber elk figurine measures approximately 10 centimeters in length and displays a head lowered toward the ground with detailed features including eyes, ears, and nostrils.

The figure was discovered in fragments between 1994 and 2004 near Weitsche village in Lower Saxony, dating back approximately 14,000 years to the Upper Paleolithic period.

The elk representation serves as the earliest animal figure found in the North European Plain, providing insights into artistic expressions of the Federmesser culture.

Visitors can examine this prehistoric artifact at the Landesmuseum Hannover, where it forms part of the permanent Menschenwelten exhibition collection.

The surface of the amber sculpture transformed from its original honey-yellow color to a reddish-brown patina over thousands of years of natural aging.

Location: Lüchow

Made from material: amber

Part of: Upper Paleolithic

GPS coordinates: 53.01231,11.12797

Latest update: March 6, 2025 04:59