Upper Paleolithic Venus Figurines and Interpretations of Prehistoric Gender Representations

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