Were the Swabians the first cultural people of humankind? This is the question raised by Nicholas Conard, an archaeologist from Cincinnati and professor at the University of Tübingen, following the sensational discovery of the Venus of Schelklingen. The female figurine, carved from mammoth ivory, was found in September 2008 during excavations in the Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen in the Alb-Donau district and has now been presented to the public for the first time.

The figurine measures just 60 millimetres and is estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 years old. It is remarkable how delicately our ancestors were already working at that time. They were clearly not only artists, but also gifted tinkerers.

Despite all the enthusiasm, I find myself wondering whether such a figure could also be produced on a Haas Multigrind® grinding machine today. It would certainly be worth a try. And for anyone interested in learning more about how the Swabians lived during the Stone Age, I recommend Rulaman, a story set in the age of the cave dwellers. It used to be required reading in elementary school.