Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Venus of Brassempouy: The 23,000-year-old ivory carving found in the Pope's Grotto
Live Science ^ | July 16, 2024 | Jennifer Nalewicki

Posted on 07/17/2024 6:18:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

·What it is: A lifelike figurine of a Neolithic woman carved out of the ivory core of a mammoth tusk.
·Where it was found: Inside the Grotte du Pape ("Pope's Cave") in Brassempouy, a village in France, in 1894.
·When it was made: Approximately 23,000 years ago

What it tells us about the past: Also known as "The Lady with the Hood," this prehistoric carving of a woman is prized for both its attention to detail and its realism, which can be seen in the crosshatched pattern used to create her headpiece and her distinct facial features, including her pupils, forehead, nose and chin. The piece is one of the earliest examples of a carving of a human face, according to France's National Archaeological Museum.

The artifact, which measures 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters) tall, is one of many Venus figures dating to the Upper Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Researchers think the figurine was once attached to a body, which has never been found, according to Visual Arts Cork.

The purpose of the piece is unknown, but as with other examples of Venus figurines, it may have been created as a symbol of fertility, according to the World History Encyclopedia.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: art; godsgravesglyphs; history; ivory; neolithic; venusofbrassempouy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
The carving of a woman was made out of a mammoth tusk.
Image credit: Smudge Whisker via Alamy
Image credit: Smudge Whisker via Alamy

1 posted on 07/17/2024 6:18:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 07/17/2024 6:19:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That looks like Thulsa Doom.


3 posted on 07/17/2024 6:25:19 PM PDT by JZelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

As an artist, I find it fascinating that that whomever carved this used a technique in showing the pupils of the eye still used in carvings and statues today. That is to make a hole in the eye to create a shadow giving the impression of pupils.


4 posted on 07/17/2024 6:27:43 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Why did they censor the pic?


5 posted on 07/17/2024 6:28:52 PM PDT by rfp1234 (E Porcibus Unum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

It’s been suggested that what appears as braided hair on these venues, is not really hair, but a knit cap of some type.


6 posted on 07/17/2024 6:40:07 PM PDT by PUGACHEV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Most amazing artifact I’ve seen yet I think. I don’t know what I expected a woman from 23,000 years ago to look like, but somehow is not what I expected. Somehow seems more modern or something like that.


7 posted on 07/17/2024 6:42:30 PM PDT by MNDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Cave paintings are impressive, but sculptures really demonstrate just how developed the creative spirit of Neolithic man was. One can’t help but wonder if the model was someone’s mother, sister or love.


8 posted on 07/17/2024 6:44:14 PM PDT by blueplum ("...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JZelle

It sure does.


9 posted on 07/17/2024 6:51:57 PM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

no mouth??? hummm...


10 posted on 07/17/2024 6:55:39 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNDude

i keep thinkimg....just because the tusk is 32,999 tears old, doesn’t mean the carving is that old.


11 posted on 07/17/2024 6:59:17 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Chode

mother in law.....wishful thinking


12 posted on 07/17/2024 7:00:31 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

lol...


13 posted on 07/17/2024 7:10:57 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
crosshatched pattern used to create her headpiece and her distinct facial features,

How do they know that's not braided hair?

14 posted on 07/17/2024 7:11:01 PM PDT by Lee N. Field ("And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" Gal 3:29)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

An interesting theory of their purpose and the side by side comparisons of the figurines with photos seems pretty well thought out — self-representation?

https://www.gusher.co.za/articles/the-beautiful-missing-perspective-venus-figurines-and-female-self-representation


15 posted on 07/17/2024 7:16:24 PM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

The ivory may be that age, but the carving could be much later. I have some Mammoth Ivory stocks on my 1911. I assure you, my Colt is not 5000 years old.


16 posted on 07/17/2024 7:26:39 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURNGreat speech! He was a cla OF THE JEDI. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

That’s an interesting perspective. Perhaps the carver was a woman. I don’t think they were fertility symbols, I think they were lactation symbols. Every one of those carvings seems to be of a lactating woman .
Western people aren’t familiar with the natural body of lactating women anymore.


17 posted on 07/17/2024 7:34:50 PM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: blueplum

Side view made me think daughter


18 posted on 07/17/2024 7:47:27 PM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Varda

Women didn’t live for decades in those days so most women were procreating and thus lactating a lot. They had to.


19 posted on 07/17/2024 7:53:08 PM PDT by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane

Yes exactly. Natural women lived very different lives than modern ones.
For instance they had a few periods in their lives. The monthly period is an effect of birth control. They also were lactating most of their adult years.

I have sometimes wondered if the big breasted fat woman statues were of a special person in the tribe. A woman who the families paid ( food) tribute to so that if lactation failed or if a mother died, the babies would have someone to feed them.


20 posted on 07/17/2024 8:05:35 PM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson