The microstructure and the origin of the Venus from Willendorf

Weber, Gerhard W.; Lukeneder, Alexander; Harzhauser, Mathias; Mitteroecker, Philipp; Wurm, Lisa; Hollaus, Lisa-Maria; Kainz, Sarah; Haack, Fabian; Antl-Weiser, Walpurga und Kern, Anton (2022): The microstructure and the origin of the Venus from Willendorf. In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2926

Abstract

The origin and key details of the making of the similar to 30,000 year old Venus from Willendorf remained a secret since its discovery for more than a hundred years. Based on new micro-computed tomography scans with a resolution of 11.5 mu m, our analyses can explain the origin as well as the choice of material and particular surface features. It allowed the identification of internal structure properties and a chronological assignment of the Venus oolite to the Mesozoic. Sampling numerous oolite occurrences ranging similar to 2500 km from France to the Ukraine, we found a strikingly close match for grain size distribution near Lake Garda in the Southern Alps (Italy). This might indicate considerable mobility of Gravettian people and long-time transport of artefacts from South to North by modern human groups before the Last Glacial Maximum.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Veterinary Medicine > Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• Language: English