Westray Wife

Second figure found

The statuette from the Grooved Ware period ( Neolithic ), known as Westray Wife or Orkney Venus , was found during an excavation on Westray , one of the Orkney Islands , in 2009 and was the first prehistoric representation of humans found in Scotland . In the meantime, two more more heavily damaged figures have been found on Westray.

description

The figure is made of red sandstone . It is 3.5 cm × 3 cm in size and flat. A round head sits, clearly set off, on a diamond-shaped body. The face with heavy brows, dots for the eyes and possibly an elongated nose is represented by incisions. Scratches on the skull could indicate hair. The figure's eyebrows are identical to the “eyebrow motif” in the Cairn Dis o'the Holm on the Holm of Papa , a neighboring island to Westray. The 20 m long megalithic complex of the Maes Howe type (MH) with numerous side chambers has rock carvings on eleven stones, including " eye idols ", circles, dots and zigzags . Two circles on the chest of the Westray figure are interpreted as breasts or clothing. The arms were scratched. Regular intersecting markings on the back can represent fabric or patterns of clothing. The figure is approx. 5000 years old.

Location

The figures were found during excavations in the Links of Noltland on Westray. The Links of Noltland are located in sand dunes behind Grobust Bay on the northwest coast of Westray. The dunes are subject to severe wind erosion, a problem that is exacerbated by rabbit activity. Archaeologist George Petrie made the first discoveries in the 19th century . But it wasn't until the 20th century that the area was explored. The figure was found in the garbage heap of a house. The archaeologists discovered skulls of ten animals in the wall of a Neolithic house. All were positioned upside down with their horns in the ground. The prehistoric inhabitants kept cattle and sheep, ate game and cultivated barley.

classification

So far, only a few figurative representations from the Neolithic have been found in the British Isles , including the Bell Track God-dolly and the Dagenham Idol . When Nab Head (Wales) was a Mesolithic plastic found which is interpreted as a representation of man.

Individual evidence

^ Andrew David: Palaeolithic and mesolithic settlement in Wales. With special reference to Dyfed (= BAR. British Series. 448). Archaeopress, Oxford 2007, ISBN 978-1-4073-0146-4 (also: Lancaster, University, dissertation, 1990); Image under Archived Copy ( Memento from November 20, 2008 in the Internet Archive ).

Web links

Commons : Westray Wife - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

[1]
Find description and illustration , www.orkneyjar.com (English)

[1] Andrew David: Palaeolithic and mesolithic settlement in Wales. With special reference to Dyfed (= BAR. British Series. 448). Archaeopress, Oxford 2007, ISBN 978-1-4073-0146-4 (also: Lancaster, University, dissertation, 1990); Image under Archived Copy ( Memento from November 20, 2008 in the Internet Archive ).