Archaeology

The Undescribed Venus is a Venus figurine carved from opaque green Soapstone found at Balzi Rossi measuring 37.5 mm high, 12 mm at maximum width and maximum 13mm in thickness.

Undescribed Venus

The Undescribed Venus

Appearance[]

The oval head and the torso are of normal form and proportions, but the facial features are sketchy, with just sockets for eyes and the outline of a nose. The neck is well formed, the breasts, highly elongated from top to bottom, are separated from each other and the rest of the chest by very deep incisions. Two other deep incisions separate the trunk from the mass of the buttocks, strongly projected backwards, giving the small of the back a very high arch, similar to that of the Polichinelle and the statues of Tursca and Sireuil.

The material has changed in nature, and in part has converted to iron hydroxide, while maintaining the fibrous appearance of the original rock.

The lower part is broken, we can not know if the statue was in a semi-sitting or standing position, or what was the form of the legs. The surface of the piece is less polished than others in the series, and is also much encrusted with iron concretions.