Anthropomorphic and Zoomorphic Figurines of Paleolithic Era

Date

2024-1

Author

Demiröz, Ceren

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Venus figurines from the Upper Paleolithic period are among the most mysterious objects ever produced by humanity. Most of the research conducted so far has been based on the idea that prehistoric figurines represent women as symbols of fertility. Recent studies, however, reveal that the use and meaning of these figurines have varied extensively over time and space. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the concentration of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines from the Upper Paleolithic period in terms of location, raw material, and type, and to elucidate the ways in which these figurines were used. In line with this goal, this thesis systematically gathers all published figurines from the Upper Paleolithic period, originating from Central Europe, Southern Europe, Russia, and Siberia. Statistical analyses are conducted to shed light on the usage and meanings of figurines in different cultural contexts and to reveal possible patterns of cultural interaction among these contexts. In these analyses, the regions and time period in which the figurines were found, their raw materials, context, intra- site context, associated materials and typological features are categorized individually. This study, reaching the conclusion that figurines serve as indicators of symbolic communication and simultaneously unite human communities through shared rituals or daily activities, is expected to demonstrate the power of new methodologies in material culture studies and the necessity of applying them to archaeology. These methodologies not only aid in understanding past perceptions and social structures but also highlight fundamental differences between our modern perceptions and those of the past.

Subject Keywords

Upper Paleolithic Period, Venus Figurines, Context, Raw Material, Rituals

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/108227

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis