nscArchaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of EurasiaАрхеология, этнография и антропология Евразии1563-0110IAET SB RASnsc-17Research ArticlePALEOENVIRONMENT. THE STONE AGEПАЛЕОЭКОЛОГИЯ. КАМЕННЫЙ ВЕКANALYZING FERTILITY AND ATTRACTION IN THE PALEOLITHIC: THE VENUS FIGURINESФЕРТИЛЬНОСТЬ И ПРИВЛЕКАТЕЛЬНОСТЬ В ЭПОХУ ПАЛЕОЛИТА: ПАЛЕОЛИТИЧЕСКИЕ ВЕНЕРЫТриппЭ. Дж.TrippA. J.

аспирантка

allisonjtripp@gmail.comШмидтН. Е.SchmidtN. E.

доцент

nschmidt@nmsu.eduУниверситет Виктории, Канада University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3050, STN CSC, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 3P5 E-mail:КанадаUniversity of Victoria, PO Box 3050, STN CSC, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 3P5CanadaУниверситет штата Нью-Мексико, США MSC 3CQ, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM, 88001, USAСоединённые Штаты АмерикиMSC 3CQ, New Mexico State University, PO Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM, 88001, USAUnited States2013140320165425460Copyright © Tripp A.J., Schmidt N.E., 20162016Трипп Э.Д., Шмидт Н.Е.Tripp A.J., Schmidt N.E.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://journal.archaeology.nsc.ru/jour/article/view/17

Countless hypotheses have focused on the enigmatic “Venuses,” but most are not testable. The current authors investigate a hypothesis suggested by R.D. Guthrie involving the waist-to-hip ratio. This measurement determines fertility, beauty, and health in modern females; a 0.7 indicates cross-cultural beauty and fertility. Guthrie argued that the statuettes share an average waist-to-hip ratio of 0.655, indicating that Paleolithic males preferred curvier women. We sought to test this and analyze regional data. Our mean was significantly different than Guthrie’s and we found evidence for regional differences. While some statuettes may have served as Paleo-erotica, it seems unlikely that they all did. 

Значению и функции загадочных палеолитических Венер посвящено множество гипотез, однако большинство из них не поддается научной проверке. В данном исследовании предлагается проверка гипотезы Р.Д. Гатри, связанной с соотношением обхватов талии и бедер. Этот индекс определяет фертильность, красоту и здоровье у современных женщин, оптимальное его значение 0,7. Гатри утверждает, что у палеолитических статуэток среднее соотношение обхватов талии и бедер сходно – 0,655. Это, по его мнению, свидетельствует о том, что палеолитические мужчины предпочитали женщин с более выраженными талией и бедрами. Полученное нами на основе анализа данных по разным регионам среднее значение индекса намного больше приведенного Гатри. Кроме того, обнаружены географические различия. Некоторые статуэтки могли служить образцами эротического искусства, но вряд ли все палеолитические Венеры принадлежат к этой категории.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.