Geissenklösterle

Geissenklösterle (Geißenklösterle) is an archaeological site of significance for the central European Upper Paleolithic, located near the town of Blaubeuren in the Swabian Jura in Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany.

First explored in 1963, the cave contains traces of early prehistoric art from between 43,000 and 30,000 years ago, including some of the oldest-known musical instruments and several animal figurines.

The Aurignacian levels date to between 43,000 and 32,000 years ago, and have yielded stone tools, artefacts made from antlers, bones and ivory.

Among the most notable items are two flutes carved from bird bone and mammoth ivory, the oldest known musical instruments with an age of 42,000 to 43,000 years.

Called the Adorant of Geißenklösterle, it depicts a figure with raised arms and rows of small notches on the reverse.