Upper Paleolithic Venus Figurines and Interpretations of Prehistoric Gender Representations

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Title: Upper Paleolithic Venus Figurines and Interpretations of Prehistoric Gender Representations
Author: Kaylea R Vandewettering
Faculty Sponsor: Robin Smith
Abstract: Interpretations of Upper Paleolithic Venus figurines pose an interesting challenge for archaeologists. Scholars who have studied these prehistoric representations of the female form have reached a variety of conclusions that may be better seen as a reflection of modern sociocultural values and ideals than being representative of the peoples who made the Venuses. I argue that by transposing our own ideals onto the Venus figurines, we act as colonizers and appropriators of the past. Reviewing archaeological literature regarding the Venuses, we gain a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to interpreting representations of gender. These lessons serve as a starting point for constructing archaeological methods of interpreting representations of gender and gender relations in a way that more accurately reflects the ancient peoples who crafted these figurines.
Subject: Archaeological Anthropology; Other Feminist; Gender; and Sexuality Studies; Upper Paleolithic; Venus figurines; gender; feminist archeology; Goddess movement
Rights: Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/01/2023, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Type: Text
volume: 4
Date Published: 5/29/2015
Note: Robin Smith
Alternative Title: Upper Paleolithic Venus Figurines: Interpreting Gender
Identifier: pure/vol4/iss1/7
Language: eng