Ice age art: cavemen get crafty at the British Museum – in pictures

The 'Lion Man' – a 32,000-year-old lion-headed man, carved from a mammoth tusk, from Hohlenstein-Stadel in Germany Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The oldest known portrait will go on public display for the first time at the exhibition. It is the head of a woman, carved in ivory some 26,000 years ago. It was discovered in the 20s in Dolní Věstonice, a valley in present-day Moravia that was teeming with mammoth and reindeer in the last ice age Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A 23,000-year-old abstract figure from Lespugue, France. Picasso was fascinated by it and it influenced his 30s sculptural works Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Women and bison etched on a bone Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A quote on display by critic John Berger Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A unique foot pendant made of mammoth ivory, which may have been used as a talisman against illness and bad luck Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Horse head sculpture, carved in ivory, dating from the late Ice Age – approximately 13,000 years ago Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The British Museum team arrange the exhibits in vitrines Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A spear-thrower carved into the shape of a mammoth that was found at Montastruc, in the French department of Tarn-et-Garonne Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The oldest known work of art from Wales: a horse chin decorated with zigzags Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

British Museum staff place the exhibits Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Perforated antler batons decorated with drawings, possibly symbols of power Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

British Museum curator Jill Cook (centre) inspects the displays Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Part of a weapon, made from the upper section of a reindeer antler Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian