It’s all too easy to think of art as a relatively recent invention - the product of the last few thousand or so years. The Romans and Greeks sculpted, we have stunning tapestries from the Medieval period and majestic paintings from the Renaissance. But humans have always had the urge to create works of art. And no single piece highlights that better than the Lion Man, of Ulm Museum.

This astonishing work of art is believed to be around 40,000 years old. He stands just 31cm tall, with the head of lion on a human body, upright on his toes with legs slightly apart. However, even though the body is human in form this too has a distinct cat-like quality.    

His eyes seem to stare right back at the viewer, with detail and character in the face almost hinting that this creature is listening, watching and waiting – perhaps getting ready to pounce.

This small but beautiful statue is the oldest known artwork to depict a physical form that does not naturally occur. It suggests a belief in the other, the mythical or even the magical. 

It's impossible to know why he was made, or indeed, who made him. What we do know is that he was found in a cave in southern Germany in 1939. He is made from a mammoth tusk and depicts a type of lion that was once prevalent in this part of Europe but long since extinct. 

This European lion was slightly larger than its African cousin, with no mane. It’s almost certain that lions like those depicted, and humans like those who carved this piece of art would have come into regular contact. Though who was the hunter and who the hunted is impossible to know. Perhaps this piece is an offering or totem reflecting the artist's respect for the other creatures with whom they shared a world. 

What we can be certain of is that this is not a casual piece of work. Experiments with the materials and form have shown it would have taken around 400 hours to carve. This is a huge amount of time given contemporary lifestyles and the fact this artwork had no practical purpose that could aid survival. But then, maybe it was something more important than that?

The statue was found in Stadel Cave, a north facing, cold and damp environment. Not a place where anyone could have lived permanently. Lion Man was found in a small antechamber, stashed away in the darkness. Whoever put it there was hiding it or keeping it safe, so it must have had great significance. 

In fact, Lion Man may be the oldest known evidence we have for religious belief. In 2017, UNESCO acknowledged this fact by recognising Stadel Cave as a World Heritage Site. 

Can you find the Jadeite Cabbage? Click and move around to explore the Street View...

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This piece of jade is almost completely identical to a piece of bok choy cabbage.

As the museum says, "Carved from verdant jadeite, the familiar subject, purity of the white vegetable body, and brilliant green of the leaves all create for an endearing and approachable work of art."

The National Palace Museum says, "Let's also not forget the two insects that have alighted on the vegetable leaves! They are a locust and katydid, which are traditional metaphors for having numerous children."

"This work originally was placed in the Forbidden City's Yong-he Palace, which was the residence of the Guang-xu Emperor's (r. 1875-1908) Consort Jin." 

"For this reason, some have surmised that this piece was a dowry gift for Consort Jin to symbolize her purity and offer blessings for bearing many children."