"Scattered across the archeological sites of the Eurasian continent, hundreds of female-shaped statues have resurfaced, dating back to more than 40,000 years ago. Colloquially known as "Venus" statues, the figurines typically possess exaggerated breasts, hips, and stomachs (see Venus of Willendorf, circa 41,000 years ago at Google Images). The recurrence of these female sculptures denotes a pattern and yet continues to mystify archaeologists as to their intended purpose."
"They theorized that the evolution of technition was revealed in the archeological record by four major signposts: simple stone tools, handaxes, hafting stone tips to wood spears, and finally, bow-and-arrow technology. However, they stopped short of viewing figurines as part of technition. We believe that the advent of Venus figurines also reflects an aspect of technical thinking, particularly because it may involve a heretofore unrecognized aspect of technology, and that is aesthetics."
Venus figurines with exaggerated breasts, hips, and stomachs appear across Eurasia and date to more than 40,000 years ago. The earliest known human figurine, the Venus of Hohle Fels, dates to about 41,000 years ago and was carved from mammoth ivory, likely worn as an amulet. The repeated production of female-shaped sculptures presents a patterned but enigmatic phenomenon. Interpretations vary, with one common assumption linking the function of the figurines to the cognitive capacities of their makers. A model of hominin technical cognition called technition identifies technological signposts, and the figurines may reflect a technical-aesthetic dimension of that cognition.
Read at Psychology Today
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