The head was found in 1999, and for years, archaeologists believed it to be a horse. Now they're debating what animal is meant to be represented by the ancient carving, according to a press release from the University of Tübingen. In the press release, Nicholas Conard, a professor at the University, said there are two main theories: a cave lion or a cave bear. Conard himself believes that it's a cave bear — a prehistoric bear species that inhabited Europe — because the figurine's "pronounced bear hump" matches the height of its shoulders and appears to imitate a bear's gait. "It therefore makes sense to look extra carefully for the missing parts of this animal in the years to come."

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Persons: Nicholas Conard, Conard, Fels, Ria Litzenberg Organizations: Service, University of Tübingen, University, Tubingen Locations: Germany, Wall, Silicon, Swabian Jura, —, Europe, Blaubeuren