Venus of Dolní Věstonice

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The Venus of Dolní Věstonice (Věstonická Venuše in Czech) is a Venus figurine, a statuette of a nude female figure dated to 29,000–25,000 BCE (Gravettian industry). This figurine, together with a few others from nearby locations, is the oldest known ceramic in the world.

It has height of 111 millimeters (4.4 inches), and a width of 43 millimeters (1.7 inches) at its widest point and made of weakly burned clay.

1 Since discovery
2 The Venus of Dolní Věstonice
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Since discovery

The palaeolithic settlement of Dolní Věstonice in Moravia, then Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic has been under systematic archaeological research since 1924, led by Karel Absolon. In addition to the Venus figurine, clay items including figures of animals - bear, lion, mammoth, horse, fox, rhino and owl - and more than 2,000 balls of burnt clay have been found at Dolní Věstonice.

The figurine was discovered on July 13th, 1925 in a layer of ash, broken into two pieces. Once on display at the Moravian Museum in Brno, it is now protected and no longer accessible to the public.

Scientists periodically examine the statuette. A tomograph scan in 2004 found a fingerprint of a child estimated at between 7 and 15 years of age [1].

[edit] The Venus of Dolní Věstonice

Venus of Dolní Věstonice (front view)

Venus of Dolní Věstonice (back)

Venus of Dolní Věstonice

[edit] References

National Geographic Society. Wonders of the Ancient World; National Geographic Atlas of Archaeology, Norman Hammond, Consultant, Nat'l Geogr. Soc., (Multiple Staff authors), (Nat'l Geogr., R.H.Donnelley & Sons, Willard, OH), 1994, 1999, Reg or Deluxe Ed., 304 pgs. Deluxe ed. photo (pg 248): "Venus, Dolni Vèstonice, 24,000 B.C." In section titled: The Potter's Art, pp 246-253.