Venus figures (Palaeolithic)

AbstractThis paper challenges the traditional "fertility cult" and "ritual object" interpretations of the so-called "Venus" figurines (Upper Paleolithic) and their later counterparts, such as Valdivia figurines (Ecuador) and Dogu (Japan). Based on the archaeological context of the Kostenki sites (Russia) and early sedentary hubs, the author proposes a functional-logistical hypothesis. It is argued that these figurines served as sealing devices (plugs) for storage containers (animal bladders/skins) and as fractional receipts (tokens) in a centralized resource-management system. The "broken leg" phenomenon is interpreted as a deliberate two-factor authentication key for verifying ownership of stored assets (primarily mammoth fat).