Art Class - Venus of the Paleolithic

Carved from mammoth ivory in the Upper Paleolithic period, Venus of Brassempouy is considered the earliest known representation of a human face.

It was found in Brassempouy, France in 1894, inside the Pope's Cave (Grotte du Pape).  It is believed to have been made with a burin, or cold chisel, from the Gravettian culture.

The people from the Upper Paleolithic period made numerous Venus figurines of the body, such as Venus of Hohle Fels, which is the oldest piece found to date.  Also made from mammoth ivory, it was found in Hohle Fels cave in Germany.  

Venus of Hohle Fels belongs to the Aurignacion culture, which preceded the Gravettian.  These people are associated with the earliest presence of Cro-Magnon in Europe.  Other pieces of art have been interpreted as early evidence of religion as well as the oldest instrument ever found - the bone flute.

Photos from Wikipedia