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A Cladistics Analysis Exploring Regional Patterning of the Anthropomorphic Figurines from the Gravettian

2016; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-319-25928-4_8

2199-3076

Allison Tripp,

Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

Numerous studies have interpreted the anthropomorphic “Venus” statuettes of the Gravettian. However, few of these studies have scrutinized the figurines at an individual level or used quantitative analyses in order to understand similarities within sites or between regions. This study tests two hypotheses. The first one, by Leroi-Gourhan, suggests that the Gravettian statuettes share core similarities regardless of where they were created. If correct, statuettes should not be grouped according to the region that they were made. The second hypothesis, by Gvozdover, suggests a Kostenki-Avdeevo unity. Her hypothesis suggests blending among cultures in the Russian Plains and that there are “types” of statuettes that are not restricted to a particular site. Here cladistics methods are used in order to understand whether ethnogenesis (blending) or cladogenesis (branching) has occurred in the production of “Venus” making. Results confirm and extend Gvozdover’s hypothesis suggesting cultural and ideological connections for “Venus” making in the Russian Plains and also support the uniqueness of a few European statuettes.