Twenty nine ivory female figures were found on the open site of Mal'ta. They differ from contemporary representations in Russia, Central and Western Europe in that they are shown clothed rather than nude, most have faces and the body shapes are straight or tapering below large, round heads. Some are also perforated to be worn as pendants. On this example, the sex of the figure is clear from the breasts and sexual triangle which are overlain with small incisions to suggest the texture of fur clothing. The face, carved in relief, is framed by a fur hood.

Open site of Mal'ta , Irkutsk, Siberia.

Institute of Archaeology, St Petersburg.

Culture which succeeded the Gravettian about 22,000 years ago and lasted until 17,000 years ago in some areas. Identified at the Solutré site in east-central France near Mâcon, and found mostly in France and Spain, the Solutrean is famous for its exquisite flint-knapping.

Source: Dr Jean Clottes

→ Ice Age Art Index
→ Ice Age Art Gallery
→ Bison of Tuc D'Audoubert