The carving of a woman was made out of a mammoth tusk.Image credit: Smudge Whisker via Alamy
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 ...
The carving of a woman was made out of a mammoth tusk.Image credit: Smudge Whisker via Alamy
That looks like Thulsa Doom.
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.
Why did they censor the pic?
It’s been suggested that what appears as braided hair on these venues, is not really hair, but a knit cap of some type.
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.
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.
It sure does.
no mouth??? hummm...
i keep thinkimg....just because the tusk is 32,999 tears old, doesn’t mean the carving is that old.
mother in law.....wishful thinking
lol...
crosshatched pattern used to create her headpiece and her distinct facial features,
How do they know that's not braided hair?
An interesting theory of their purpose and the side by side comparisons of the figurines with photos seems pretty well thought out — self-representation?
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.
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.
Side view made me think daughter
Women didn’t live for decades in those days so most women were procreating and thus lactating a lot. They had to.
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.
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