Stone Age statuettes don disputed apparel
By Bruce Bower
Ancient carved figurines of women have long attracted speculation as possible fertility symbols, mother goddesses, gynecological teaching devices, or even Stone Age erotica. More than 200 of these figures have been found at archaeological sites from France to Russia and have been dated to around 27,000 to 20,000 years ago.
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These ancient creations, known as Venus figurines, often display exaggerated genitals, breasts, stomachs, and buttocks. On closer inspection, however, many Venus figurines wear carved renderings of finely woven caps, hairnets, belts, bands across the chest, and skirts, as well as necklaces and bracelets, according to a controversial report in the August–October Current Anthropology.