Strange

Archaeology: Move Over Venus of Willendorf

by Barbara McPherson | May 14, 2009 at 09:54 am

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For the past hundred years the carved figure known as the Venus of Willendorf has been among the oldest carved artworks.

It was discovered in a village in Austria and dated to between 22 000 and 24 000 BC.

Now a new discovery highlighted in the Nature Publishing Journal pushed earliest confirmed female figure back to as far as 35 000 years BC.

Discovery of the sexually explicit figurine of a woman, dating to 35,000 years ago, provides striking evidence of the symbolic explosion that occurred in the earliest populations of Homo sapiens in Europe.

On page 248 of this issue1, Nicholas Conard describes an archaeological discovery of considerable significance — arguably the world's oldest depiction of a human figure, carved in impressive detail from a solid piece of mammoth ivory, and only 60 millimetres long.

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Jarrett Martineau

at 10:06 on May 14th, 2009

Thanks for the post. I believe the statue was discovered in Germany:

Named the Venus of Hohle Fels after the cave in southwestern Germany where it was recently excavated, the object dates to at least 35,000 to 40,000 years ago, based on more than 30 radiocarbon measurements conducted at the site. The statue is also “bordering on the pornographic” by our modern standards, one expert says, with its huge, bulbous breasts and oversized genitalia.

Here's a photo of the statue: Venus of Hohle Fels

René

at 10:34 on May 14th, 2009

Wow, that is gross. No wonder there is so much misogyny! What a hateful image of woman. and this started over 35,000 years ago?

Jarrett Martineau

at 10:38 on May 14th, 2009

Why is that a hateful image?

Amy Judd

at 11:37 on May 14th, 2009

I think finds are this are such a fascinating look into the past.

René

at 22:24 on May 15th, 2009

Not playing, guys. Notice the mysogynistic defense only from males. It is plain ugly, obscene and designed to terrify young boys. uh, girls too. I'm sure Venus is highly offended that men would dare name these ugly little effigies after her.

Have a realistic view here. How in any rational mindframe can anyone call these things attractive or inducive to love, much less sex?

It is plainly a hateful image. Can see just how deeply ingrained the mistrust and hatred of women actually is. 35,000 years ago.

Barbara McPherson

at 07:36 on May 16th, 2009

I'll have to agree with Roy here. The image speaks to me of the importance of fertility with the important parts emphasized. The ability of women to 'magically' produce new humans was a revered act in ancient times. I'm not an anthropologist, but what I've observed is that as humans became more 'civilized' the emphasis was more and more placed on phallic symbols. Just my take on it.