Final answer:
The Venus of Hohle Fels is the oldest portable art in Europe, found in Germany and dated to about 40,000 years ago, made by Homo sapiens. Earlier cave paintings in Spain suggest Neanderthals were also creating art around 65,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oldest known portable art in Europe is a figurine known as the Venus of Hohle Fels, discovered in Germany. Carved from mammoth ivory, it is approximately 40,000 years old, making it the oldest such object found to date. Representational imagery in the form of portable art was significant for Paleolithic humans, reflecting both the nomadic nature of their lifestyles and their cognitive abilities in art-making. Furthermore, before the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe, it appears that Neanderthals were creating cave paintings, as evidenced by discoveries in Spain dated to around 65,000 years ago. Meanwhile, non-representational ornamentation such as pierced snail shells covered with red ochre, dating back to 82,000 years in Morocco, are among some of the earliest forms of art found in Africa.