‘Venus figurine’ is an umbrella term which covers a number of woman portrayed with similar physical attributes dating from the upper Paleolithic. Approximately 100 of these figurines have been found, mostly in Europe but they do extend as far as Siberia. With the emphasis on the woman’s body shape much speculation has arisen to their meaning. This in turn as led the figurines to become the modern day icon of European paleolithic art and one of the most studied pieces.
There are several plausible explanations behind the Venus figurines. These include:
Cause and effect magic–Clive Gamble noted that their flowing coincided with a climatic downturn and he stress that the figurines important role in social negotiation. They represent birth and the continuation of life, an idea that was very important with the climatic downturn and the decrease of resources.
Some archaeologists suggested that they figurines represented females at different stages of their lives–young, middle-ages and pregnant and old. This theory was supported with a study carried out that examined the life stage of each known figurine. From 132 it was concluded that 23% were young, 17% were middle-aged and pregnant and 38% were old.
This idea also stresses the importance of the female and life however it is more concerned with the circle of life; birth, aging, death, than it is with new life. Perhaps these figurines had some afterlife spirality connected with them. The majority of figurines were found in male graves.
Not pregnant but fat–It has been suggested that these figurines were fat rather then pregnant. These theory suggest a life of relative leisure but considering that the artists were from a hunter gatherer population luxury does not seem very likely. However, it is possible that these women were catered to by others, that they didn’t have to contribute to the hard labour. This suggests a hierarchy within the group, that these women were some kind of leader or ruler. This idea is supported by the highly stylistically complexity of the figurines. They were often covered in ocher and many have been dressed in textile adornments such as belts and bands.
The main problem with this theory is that not all the figurines at fat, many at quite skinny!
Whatever the meaning behind the figurines they still represent a highly sophisticated art style that occurred in a wide area. These figurines were made to be carried around, even, in some cases, were carried to the grave. So, more than anything, they are deeply personal items, made with love, and treated with care.
For further information see http://blog.aurorahistoryboutique.com/chauvet-cave-a-prehistory-masterpiece/
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