Publication detail

Micro-computed tomography of the fired clay venus of Dolni Vestonice (Czech Republic)

NERUDA, P. HAMROZI, P. PATÁKOVÁ, Z. PYKA, G. ZELENKA, F. HLADILOVÁ, Š. OLIVA, M. ORSÁGOVÁ, E.

Original Title

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Small figurines made from fired clay belonging to the Gravettian (Pavlovian) culture (30-25 ka cal BP) represent one of the main forms of spectacular Palaeolithic art. The most well-known example is the Venus from Dolni Vestonice I in the Czech Republic, which is the biggest and best-preserved human figurine made from clay. Due to its high cultural value, exploration of the internal structures of this figurine has represented a huge challenge, as only non-destructive methods could be applied. Thanks to tremendous technological advancements, we were able to use high-resolution micro-CT imaging. This imaging revealed the structural compositions of the ceramic paste, the technology of the statuette's shaping procedure, and the taphonomy of this piece of art. We reveal that the ceramic paste was prepared from loess sediment containing stones, microfossils, and carbonate aggregates from the basement complex as an natural admixture. The particles are randomly distributed. We did not find any bones or ivory remnants inside the body. Missing joined areas of different parts of the body of the Venus indicate that the figurine was made from a single piece of clay using the non-additive method of shaping. The internal cracks in the body of the Venus statuette represent the main feature of its taphonomy and influence the way it will be manipulated in the future.

Keywords

Palaeolithic art; Burnt clay; mu-CT scan; Ceramic composition; Ceramic matrix provenience; Shaping technology; Venus taphonomy; Gravettian

Authors

NERUDA, P.; HAMROZI, P.; PATÁKOVÁ, Z.; PYKA, G.; ZELENKA, F.; HLADILOVÁ, Š.; OLIVA, M.; ORSÁGOVÁ, E.

Released

1. 9. 2024

Publisher

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Location

LONDON

ISBN

0305-4403

Periodical

JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Number

169

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages count

URL

https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/272428/1-s2.0-S0305440324X00072/1-s2.0-S030544032400102X/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOX%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIDgZNT8wu43bHqfFrjKq5OPF9caVSU1rtCsNlpieszcMAiA1t%2FD8bOnra9IufuZ6ybzPsJp6inE3NygHU6o6x3BxaCqyBQheEAUaDDA1OTAwMzU0Njg2NSIMg2slcTPzZbVnXlxaKo8FPOUoZYHQh6VXaZos%2BLstv1JpMCHF0QkI6EJvBBAIp9XjrlgbU4WMCZZfJOTEiuYc%2BziEqgmamD7ZHwCpQ4v88xzqbelmlPu8Z7nehrtDOKcs3wDfRr2gpMFxAOmueOO9AT4PMj0Y1%2FlKIbCgLkooddKDE2f3n0gg6Zx8Egl5f

BibTex

@article{BUT197623,
  author="Petr {Neruda} and Petr {Hamrozi} and Zuzana {Patáková} and Grzegorz {Pyka} and František {Zelenka} and Šárka {Hladilová} and Martin {Oliva} and Eva {Orságová}",
  title="Micro-computed tomography of the fired clay venus of Dolni Vestonice (Czech Republic)",
  journal="JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE",
  year="2024",
  number="169",
  pages="28",
  doi="10.1016/j.jas.2024.106034",
  issn="0305-4403",
  url="https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/272428/1-s2.0-S0305440324X00072/1-s2.0-S030544032400102X/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOX%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIDgZNT8wu43bHqfFrjKq5OPF9caVSU1rtCsNlpieszcMAiA1t%2FD8bOnra9IufuZ6ybzPsJp6inE3NygHU6o6x3BxaCqyBQheEAUaDDA1OTAwMzU0Njg2NSIMg2slcTPzZbVnXlxaKo8FPOUoZYHQh6VXaZos%2BLstv1JpMCHF0QkI6EJvBBAIp9XjrlgbU4WMCZZfJOTEiuYc%2BziEqgmamD7ZHwCpQ4v88xzqbelmlPu8Z7nehrtDOKcs3wDfRr2gpMFxAOmueOO9AT4PMj0Y1%2FlKIbCgLkooddKDE2f3n0gg6Zx8Egl5f"
}