The figurine was found beneth layer 9 of site Willendorf II, not far from a big fire place together with Gravettian stone tools. The lack of face feet and the tiny arms on the one hand and the focus on primary and secondary sex characteristics is typical for the Gravettian female statuettes. The Gravettian statuettes follow a certain scheme often interpreted as a common idea of fertility, motherhood or protection. Their exact place in the imagination of the ice age hunters can only be supposed.
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
Department: Prehistory
Inventory number: 44.686
Artefact's name: Venus from Willendorf
Material: Oolithic limstone
Method of manufacture: Sculptered with stone tools<
Decoration type: No decoration
Distinctive mark:
STATE
Preservation: Very good
Restauration: No restored
Completeness: Complete
DIMENSIONS
Length (mm): 11cm
Heigth (mm):
Diameter (mm):
Width (mm):
Thickness (mm):
Weight (g):
PERIOD OF USE
Epoque: Palaeolithic
Culture: Gravettian
Period: Upper Palaeolithic
Phase: Willendorf-Kostenki
Absolute chronology: 25000 bc
DISCOVERY
Date: 7. 8. 1908
Country: Austria
District: Krems
Town hall affiliation:
Village: Willendorf
Discovery findspot:
Condition of discovery: Archaeological excavation
Discovery type: Dwelling
DEEPENINGS
Morphology of the object:
The completely preserved statuette is made of oolithic limestone. It shows a naked women with heavy breasts, stout hips and a prominent belly. Upon weak shoulders there is a relatively big head showing a rather complicated hairstyle or a hat. Thighs and lower legs are very realistic but shortened. The feet and the face are completely missing and the arms are worked out allusively. On both of her arms are bracelets. Originally the figurine was completely covered with red ochre.
Decoration:
Inscription:
Analogies:
Comparable figurines can be found in Gravettian context from France to Russia. The Venus from Willendorf combines some characteristics of the West European and the East European figurines. The closest similarities can be found at the statuettes from Kostenki and Gagarino.
Interpretation:
May be the statuettes should express the idea of fertility or motherhood, perhaps also protection. Their exact place in the imagination of ice age hunters can only be supposed. Many of the statuettes were found near fire places or in pits covered with red ochre - red ochre being often interpreted as symbol for life.
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