Two human figurines carved from stone and believed to be 19,000 years old have been discovered in a prehistoric cave in southern Turkey, according to researchers from Ankara University.
The discovery is considered the oldest of its kind in Anatolia and provides new evidence about early symbolic behavior during the late Ice Age.
The figurines were uncovered at Kızılin, an Epipaleolithic cave settlement near the village of Yağca in Antalya’s Döşemealtı district. The site sits 407 meters above sea level, overlooking the Kızılin Stream and the surrounding Tufa Plain.
Nestled at the entrance of a narrow valley beneath the Western Taurus Mountains, Kızılin is one of several important prehistoric sites in the region, alongside Öküzini, Karain-B, and Çarkini.
Researchers stated that the figurines were discovered in the terrace section of the site, embedded within red-colored sediment layers known as Geological Level IIa. These layers also contained geometric microliths—small, shaped stone tools—indicating that the area was a hub of daily activity and craftsmanship.
Radiocarbon analysis of marine mollusk shells found in the same layers confirmed that the site was occupied between 19,455 and 13,621 B.C., placing the figurines thousands of years earlier than other symbolic carvings found in Turkey, such as those at Çatalhöyük and Hacılar.
One of the figurines, called Kızılın 1, is a partial sculpture of a human head. It features delicately carved eyes and fine incisions that may represent a headdress or hair. Though the body is missing and the gender remains unclear, the piece bears stylistic similarities to Upper Paleolithic female figurines from Europe.
The second artifact, named Kızılın 2, is a complete carving of conjoined human figures. Symmetrical grooves divide the piece into two mirrored halves, making it one of the earliest known representations of conjoined twins in Anatolian history.
Professor Metin Kartal, who leads the excavation project, said that these are not merely isolated artistic expressions, but cultural statements from an era where identity, belief, and representation were beginning to take tangible form.
In addition to the figurines, the site has yielded a wide range of artifacts, including chipped stone tools, bone implements, and ornamental beads made from marine shells. The discovery of both geometric and non-geometric microliths across different layers suggests long-term occupation and the development of tool-making techniques.
Although some bone tools show signs of use, many are fragmented, making their exact purpose difficult to determine. Still, the figurines have captured global attention for their craftsmanship and symbolic depth.
With only six excavation seasons completed, large areas of the cave remain untouched. Researchers plan to investigate the unexcavated interior in future campaigns, which is currently inaccessible due to erosion and sediment buildup.
The discovery at Kızılin is now helping reshape the timeline of artistic and cultural development in prehistoric Anatolia.
