Siberia is a region that is often overlooked when discussing human history, but it is estimated that the earliest human occupation dates back to around 40,000 years ago. By around 20,000 years ago, two principal cultural traditions had emerged in the region: the Avantovagora and the Moltar Buret. The Moltar Burek culture is named after two principal archaeological sites and has brought forth some of the most incredible finds ever recovered from the Ice Age world. Moltar, a multi-layered archaeological site, was excavated from 1928 to 1958 and contains a graffiti-like lithic industry with stone and ivory objects and 15 dwelling structures dated between 21,000 and 25,000 years ago.
Thirteen thousand artifacts have been discovered, and more than 850 items are considered totally unique to this culture. Personal ornamentation and mobile arts were clearly important to these people, who hunted reindeer and mammoths. The houses were semi-subterranean, made from reindeer antler and large animal bones, and likely covered with animal skins and sod to protect the people from the severe northerly winds. The ivory anthropomorphic sculptures at Moltar show several stages of human childhood, from infancy to teenagerhood, implying they did have some function and meaning. There are also adult figurines, generally female, sometimes with and sometimes without clothing and accessories.
