The 25,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf and More

At almost 11 cm high, the Venus of Willendorf is an important piece of early European art, made around 25,000 years ago. 

Interestingly, the figure of the Venus is made of a rock called "oolite" which is not found in or around Willendorf, a village in the Wachau valley in Lower Austria.

Now, researchers from the University of Vienna have found that the material from which the Venus was carved appears to come from northern Italy, during Paleolithic times (Old Stone Age).

Found on August 7, 1908, by a workman named Johann Veran, the Venus of Willendorf is a sculpture of a faceless woman with plaited hair.  

Traditionally, such carvings are referred to in archaeology as "Venus figurines", as parts of the female body related to fertility and childbearing are emphasised. And so, it is believed the figures may be early fertility deities or mother goddesses.

The Venus of Willendorf is part of the permanent exhibition of the Natural History Museum of Vienna.

Venus of Willendorf

The Venus of Galgenberg

Dated to about 30,000 years ago, the Venus of Galgenberg is a Venus figurine of the Aurignacian era ( Upper Paleolithic). This figure was discovered in 1988 close to Stratzing, Austria, not far from the site of the Venus of Willendorf.

This figurine, which has a "dancing pose", measures 7.2 centimetres (2.8 in) in height and weighs 10 g. It is made from shiny green serpentine rock which is found in the immediate vicinity of where the figurine was unearthed.

Venus of Galgenberg made of green serpentine 30,000 years ago. Aiwok