Seven figurines made on mammoth metapodials were found at Predmost but only five survive. It is impossible to determine whether they represent male or female figures. As in this example, the head is sculpted above a well defined neck but the body, is formed by the natural relief of the bone. Given the realism of other figurative sculpture from this site it may be asked, if not answered, whether these formless figures might represent shamans, spirits or ghosts.

Predmost open site, Moravia, Czech Republic.

Brno Museum, Czech Republic.

Culture taking its name from the La Gravette site, Dordogne, France, and lasted from about 28,000 years ago until 22,000 years ago. Original elements in Gravettian cave art include the use of hand stencils, and the type of female statuette widely but incorrectly known as 'Venus' first appear in the portable art of this period.

Source: Dr Jean Clottes

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