From artifact to icon: an analysis of the Venus figurines in archaeological literature and ...

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Durham E-Theses
From artifact to icon: an analysis of the Venus (cid:28)gurines
in archaeological literature and contemporary culture
Lander, Louise Muriel
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Lander, Louise Muriel (2005) From artifact to icon: an analysis of the Venus (cid:28)gurines in archaeological
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2
FROM ARTIFACT TO ICON:
An Analysis of the Venus Figurines in
Archaeological Literature and Contemporary
Culture
Volume 5 of5
Louise Muriel Lander
A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
University of Durham
Department of Archaeology
2004
A copyright of this thesis rests
with the author. No quotation
from it should be published
without his prior written consent
and information derived from it
should be acknowledged.
~ 3 JUN 2005
CONTENTS
VOLUMES
APPENDIX C: TABLES 465
BIBLIOGRAPHY 521
DIRECTORY OF WEBSITES/PATHS 546
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
I
FIGURE VENUS FEMME AU TROU LE BUSTE BRNO LA POIRE L'EBAUCHE LE MANCHE LA
IMPVDIQUE RENNE MAGRITE DU FEMME DE POIGNARD FILLETTE
~; ~ ~~t :~ rf.,'1 ~ ~
w·.·
ILLUSTRATION I •
~1(~ '47.1\ ~ I
~ ~ (
DATE OF Unknown, 1860's 1867 1888 1891 1892 1892 1894 1894
DISCOVERY around 1864
FIRST Breuil 1907 Piette 1895 Dupont 1872 Piette 1888 Makowsky 1892 Piette 1893 Piette 1893 Piette 1895 Piette 1895
PUBLICATION
FINDSPOT Laugerie-Basse; Laugerie-Basse; Trou Magrite; Le Mas d' Azil; Francouzska Grotte du Grotte du Grotte du Pape, Grotte du
discovered by the found by !'Abbe third ossified Piette only states Street, Brno; in Pape, Pape, Brassempouy; Pape,
Marquis de Vibraye. Landesque layer that it was found male grave Brassempouy; Brassempouy; left part of the Brassempouy;
Nothing further is during the right side of right part of avenue left side of
known of the course of cave, near the cave avenue
circumstances of excavations wall
discovery
CONTEXT I Nothing known of Unknown Layer attributed Unspecified Burial; male Layer£, Layer£, Layer£, Layer£,
the stratigraphic to Upper skeleton, grave accompanied accompanied accompanied by accompanied
position of the Palaeolithic, goods, by Upper by Upper Upper by Upper
figure containing decorative Perigordian/ Perigordian/ Perigordian/ Perigordian/
Aurignacian and objects and a Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian
Gravettian types marnmoth industry industry industry industry
shoulder blade
AGE/ Site considered Site considered Possibly Site considered Pavlovian or Considered Considered Considered Considered
ATTRIBUTION Magdalenian Magdalenian Gravettian Magdalenian IV Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian
PRESENT First known Considered Gravettian Considered Now considered Considered Considered Considered Considered
STANDING Palaeolithic Magdalenian; attribution not Magdalenian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian;
statuette. not included in certain; not not included in possibly male; Brassempouy Brassempouy Brassempouy Brassempouy
Considered later discussions included in later later discussions figure excluded figures figures figures included figures
Magdalen ian; not of Venus discussions of of Venus from Gamble included in all included in all in all included in all
included in later figurines Venus figurines figurines (1982) and discussions of discussions of discussions of discussions of
discussions of McDermott Venus Venus Venus figurines Venus
Venus figurines ( !996) analyses figurines figurines figurines
465
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
I
FIGURE FIGURINE A FIGURINE A TETE A LA EBAUCHE DE LE TORSE PREDMOSTI PREDMOSTI PREDMOSTI PREDMOSTI
LA CEINTURE LA P&ELERINE CAPUCHE POUPEE STATUETTE STATUETTE STATUETTE STATUETTE
Th
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ILLUSTRATION I
DATE OF 1894 1894 Unknown 1896 c.l894 c.l894 c.l894 c. 1894
DISCOVERY
FIRST Piette 1895 Piette 1895 Piette 1895 Piette 1907 Piette and de I Breuil 1924 I Breuil 1924 I Breuil 1924 I Breuil 1924
PUBLICATION Laporterie 1897 I I I I
FINDSPOT Grotte du Pape, Grotte du Pape, Grotte du Pape, Grotte du Pape, Grotte du Pape, Predmosti; Predmosti; Predmosti; Predmosti;
Brassempouy; Brassempouy; Brassempouy; Brassempouy. Brassempouy; unspecified Unspecified Unspecified unspecified
right side, near next to the left side of 20 metres from
entrance figurine a la avenue entrance
I
ceinture
CONTEXT I Layer£, Layer£, Layer£, Unspecified by Layer£, I Unspecified I Unspecified I Unspecified I Unspecified
accompanied by accompanied by accompanied by Piette accompanied by
Upper Upper Upper Upper
Perigordian/ Perigordian/ Perigordianl Perigordian/
Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian
industry industry industry industry
AGE/ Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian;
ATTRIBUTION Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian 26-27000 BP 26-27000 BP 26-27000 BP 26-27000 BP
PRESENT Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered Considered
STANDING Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; not Gravettian; not Gravettian; Gravettian;
Brassempouy Brassempouy Brassempouy Brassempouy Brassempouy included in included in later not included not included
figures included figures included figures included figures included figures included later discussions of in later in later
in all in all in all in all in all discussions of Venus figurines discussions of discussions of
discussions of discussions of discussions of discussions of discussions of Venus Venus Venus
Venus figurines Venus figurines Venus figurines Venus figurines Venus figurines figurines figurines figurines
466
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
FIGURE STATUETTE FEMME AU THE JANUS THE BUST TETE L'HERMAP- LA LE STATUETTE
EN STEATITE GOITRE NEGROIDE HRODITE POL!CHINELLE LOSANGE NON DECRITE
,.,
JAUNE
' ' t I I I i f
ILLUSTRATION ~i~ '
... ~
!
DATE OF 1883 1883 1883-4; Uncertain; Uncertain; Uncertain; Uncertain; Uncertain; Uncertain;
DISCOVERY retained by Jul1ien 1883-95 1883-95 1883-95 1883-95 1883-95 possibly 1892-4
FIRST Reinach 1898 Piette 1902 Breuil 1928 Breuil 1928 Piette 1902 Piette 1902 Piette 1902 Piette 1902 Piette 1907
PUBLICATION
FINDSPOT Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi: Grimaldi: Grimaldi: Possibly Grimaldi: Grimaldi;
Possibly Barma Possibly Barma Possibly Barma Grotte du Prince Possibly Grotte Possibly Grotte Grotte du Prince Possibly Possibly Grotte
Grande cave, Grande cave, Grande, depth or Barma du Prince du Prince Grotte du du Prince
depth 4.2-4.7m depth 3.0-4.2m 6m Grande Prince
CONTEXT Accompanied Layer Layer specified Sediment may Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
by Gravette containing small only as indicate Sarma
points; absence backed points "Archaeological" Grande, but
ofNoailles and scrapers by Jullien context
burins unknown
AGE/ Epi-Gravettian Epi-Gravettian Gravettian Traditionally Traditionally Traditionally Traditionally Traditionally Traditionally
ATTRIBUTION c.l7,200 years 16-14,000 considered considered considered considered considered considered
old years old Gravett ian Gravett ian Gravett ian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian
PRESENT Original Original Considered Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi Grimaldi figures
STANDING Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian; are usually are usually are usually are usually figures are are usually
attribution attribution Grimaldi figures considered considered considered considered usually considered
recently revised; recently revised; are included in all Gravettian and Gravettian and Gravettian and Gravettian and are considered Gravettian:
Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures discussions of are included in are included in are included in included in all Gravettian; included in all
are included in are included in Venus figurines recent analyses all discussions all discussions discussions of included in all discussions of
all discussions all discussions as such of Venus of Venus Venus figurines discussions of Venus figurines
of Venus of Venus figurines figurines Venus
____ fi~urines figurines figurines
- .... - ---------- -
467
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
FIGURE BROWN IVORY FLeATIENED RED OCHRE TWO-HEADED DOUBLE THE MASK PREDMOSTI SIREUIL WILLENDORF
, t
FIGURINE FIGURINE FIGURINE FIGURINE FI3GURINE STYLISED I
1
1'~0~ .·~· ,~
fLLUSTRATION ,
DATE OF 1883-95: Lost 1883-95: Lost 1883-95: Lost 1883-95: Lost 1883-95: Lost 1883-95: Lost until 1895 1900 1908
DISCOVERY until 1994 until 1994 until 1994 until 1994 until 1994 1994
FIRST Bisson & Bolduc Bisson & Bolduc Bisson & Bisson & Bisson & Bisson & Bolduc Kfizl896 Breuil & Szombathy 1909
PUBLICATION 1994 1994 Bolduc 1994 Bolduc 1994 Bolduc 1994 1994 Peyrony 1930
FINDSPOT Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; Grimaldi; possibly Predmosti Sireuil; Willendorf; in
possibly Grotte possibly Grotte possibly Grotte possibly Grotte possibly Grotte Grotte du Prince chance find loess 25 em
du Prince du Prince du Prince du Prince du Prince on a path below charcoal
stratum (hearth)
CONTEXT Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Gravettian layer None Layer 9;
containing Accompanied
hearths and by Gravettian
structures industry
AGE/ Included with Included with Included with Included with Included with Included with Site dated to the Gravettian Gravettian;
ATTRIBUTION Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures in Gravettian; attribution on Layer 9
in the Gravettian, in the Gravettian, in the in the in the the Gravettian, 26-27000 BP the basis of c.24000 BP
although other although other Gravettian, Gravettian, Gravettian, although other stylistic
Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures although other although other although other Grimaldi figures similarity,
now thought now thought Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures now thought particularly to
earlier earlier now thought now thought now thought earlier Tursac figure
earlier earlier earlier
PRESENT Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Grimaldi figures Considered Considered Considered
STANDING are usually are usually are usually are usually are usually are usually Gravettian; has Gravettian; Gravettian;
considered considered considered considered considered considered been compared included in all included in all
Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; to Venus discussions of discussions of
included in recent included in recent included in included in included in included in recent figurines despite Venus Venus figurines
analyses as such analyses as such recent analyses recent analyses recent analyses analyses as such different figurines
as such as such as such medium
L__ ________ IL___ __ ----- ------- _______ _IL___ _ ----- --
468
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
FIGURE MEZINE PECHIALET DOUBLE FEMME A LA VENUS DE TETE THE ARCHER TERME LESPUGUE
STA~TUETTES ~<:· ~~.·U~RE ~; ~E;~ Q~~ii' ~ ;~~~R~ ,.~,
r.~,t -'!1.~~· ..." -\~, 111 t.if?-.J .I ... '. r.;!'f;~.\.~:.._. ....: 'f' .a.:·
ILLUSTRATION t ~.~~ · au,.~'k ~"\;;.. ~l~ ~~-~~ 'ft'
· · I
~ r.~: ~~ r.?<r~~ ~
~~~~~~-.--~~--~----~~--~--~ 1
DATEOF 1909 c.l910 1911 1911 Probablyl911 1911 1912 c.1914 1922
DISCOVERY
FIRST Volkov 1912 Breuil 1927 Lalanne 1911 Lalanne 1912 Lalanne and Lalanne 1912 Lalanne 1912 Delugin 1914 Saint-Perier
PUBLICATION Bouyssonie 1946 1922
FINDSPOT Mezine; Pechialet; found Laussel; the Laussel; facing the Laussel; the Laussel; the Laussel; the Tenne-Pialat Grotte des
cultural level, in debris from 'Sanctuary', bas- direction of the 'Sanctuary'; stolen 'Sanctuary', 'Sanctuary', Rideaux,
at the bottom superficial relief block cave, bas-relief from site block originally block originally Lespugue;
of a depression excavation originally attached block found in situ attached to cave attached to cave found in a
to cave wall attached to cave wall wall hearth under a
wall fallen rock
CONTEXT Cultural level None Figures said to Figures said to Figures said to Figures said to Figures said to Bas-relief on Layer Din
of settlement delimit a small delimit a small delimit a small delimit a small delimit a small block; hearth;
site area. With layer area. With layer area. With layer area. With layer area. With layer Noailles No associated
containing containing containing containing containing burins also industry
Noailles burins Noailles burins Noailles burins Noailles burins Noailles burins found
AGE/ Possibly Site contains Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian Attributed to Gravettian
ATTRIBUTION Magdalenian Gravettian Gravettian
Noailles burins
PRESENT Researchers Considered Considered Considered Sold to Berlin Considered Considered Considered Considered
STANDING disagree on Gravettian; still Gravettian; Gravettian; Museum; now lost. Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian; Gravettian;
gender/ human included in Laussel bas-relief Laussel bas- relief Laussel figures Laussel figures possibly male, included with included in all .
attribution of discussions of figures included in figures included in considered included in although bas-relief discussions of :
figures; only Venus figurines some discussions some discussions Gravettian; some included with figures in Venus
included in of Venus figurines of Venus figurines included in some discussions of Laussel figures Gamble figurines
early on grounds of on grounds of discussion of Venus figurines in some ( 1982)
discussions of similar style similar style Venus figurines on grounds of discussions of
Venus similar style Venus figurines
figurines
469
Table 1 FIGURINES REFERRED TO IN DISCUSSIONS OF VENUS FIGURINES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
I
I I I
FIGURE KOSTENKI MAINZ- MArNZ- SA VIGNANO DOLNI DOLNI WILLENDORF 2 GAGARINO I
STATUETTE 1 LINSENBERG LINSENBERG VESTONICE I VESTONICE
FRAGMENT A FRAGMENT 8 II
i 9
~ ~ ~. I , ~ 9~
v
\J/1 ~ ~ ~ ~
ILLUSTRATION I '
DATE OF 1923 1922-4 1922-4 1924 (although 1925 1923-6 1926 1927
DISCOVERY some say 1925)
I I I I
FffiST Reinach 1924 Neeb 1924 Neeb I 924 1924 (published in Absolon I 929 Luquet 1934 Bayer I 926 Golomshtok I 933
PUBLICATION I 926)
FINDS POT Kostenki I -1, Square Mainz-Linsenberg Mainz-Linsenberg Savignano; Chance Dolni Dolni Willendorf; Gagarino; near the
D-6, habitation find by workmen Vestonice: Vestonice: Layer 9 wall of a small round
structure no. I, digging the Upper zone of 'Found' subterranean
storage pit no.l2 foundations of a site; discovered during the dwelling
farmhouse; found in the ashes of a digging of a
I m below ground hearth. well near
the site
I
CONTEXT Found in pit Possibly Gravettian Possibly Gravettian No associated Hearth in None Layer 9; Settlement site;
associated with open air settlement; open air settlement; industry circular hut Gravettian accompanied by
settlement; although contains although contains identified as kiln industry Gravettian flint
Gravettian industry distinct types distinct types on the basis of industry
I I I the numbers of
I fired ceramics
AGE/ Gravettian; Possibly Gravettian Possibly Gravettian Gravettian Gravettian; None Gravettian Gravettian; dates
ATTRIBUTION 22.300 ± 230- attribution on the upper zone c.24000 BP provided include
24, I 00 ± 500 BP grounds of stylistic dated to 25 950 20,150 ± 300,
I similarity + 630 -580 BP 21,800 ± 300 BP
PRESENT Considered Uncertain attribution Uncertain attribution Considered Considered Recognised as Considered Considered
STANDING Gravettian; included as Gravettian, but as Gravettian but Gravettian; always Gravettian; fraudulent Gravettian; Gravettian; included
in all discussion of included in most included in most included in included in all included only in in all discussions of
Venus figurines discussions of Venus discussions of Venus discussions of discussion of some discussions Venus figurines
figurines figurines Venus figurines Venus figurines of Venus figurines
470