Mammoth ivory female figurine “The Venus of Hohler Fels”. Upper Paleolithic period, Aurignacian culture, c. 40 000 – 35 000 BP. Found in 2008 in Hohler Fels cave, Ach Valley, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Height: 5.97 cm. Urgeschichtliches Museum Blaubeuren, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. (3000×2300)

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  1. **Mammoth ivory female figurine “The Venus of Hohler Fels”**

    Upper Paleolithic period, Aurignacian culture, c. 40 000 – 35 000 BP.

    Found in 2008 in Hohler Fels cave, Ach Valley near Schelklingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Universität Tübingen excavations led by Nicholas J. Conard.

    Height: 5.97 cm, reassembled from 6 fragments.

    Urgeschichtliches Museum Blaubeuren, Blaubeuren, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

    Lender: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg.

    Sources: Ice Age art: arrival of the modern mind by Jill Cook, The British Museum Press, 2013. Photo: Hilde Jensen / © University of Tübingen

    https://www.donsmaps.com/hohlefelsvenus.html

    http://donsmaps.com/images29/hohlefelsvenusimg417.jpg

    The Venus of the Hohle Fels (Hollow Rock) is the oldest known man-made female figure to date.

    The statuette is 40,000 – 35,000 years old and was carved from a mammoth tusk. It broke in the soil in the course of time. Six fragments could be put together to form an almost complete figure. Instead of the head there is an eyelet in the neck area. The Venus of the Hohle Fels was once worn as an amulet or piece of jewelry.

    The overly clear sexual characteristics immediately catch the eye. The breasts are ample and protrude far forward. The pubic triangle with the open vulva is clearly visible. The waist is relatively narrow in proportion. Thus, the image does not show a pregnant woman. In contrast to the feet, the arms and hands are finely worked out. The careful notches, lines and markings are undoubtedly of symbolic significance.

    Science cannot yet give a conclusive explanation of the Venus of the Hohle Fels. Gender seems to be the central message of the figurine. The figurine signals femininity and sexuality in itself, in a way that is detached from the identity of a real existing woman.

    https://www.urmu.de/de/Forschung-Archaeologie/Eiszeitkunst/Venus

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