Figurines of Balzi Rossi
Louis Alexandre Jullien discovered, between 1883 and 1895, about fifteen figurines, the greatest series ever found in only one place in Western Europe.
The text below is adapted from
http://www.quotidianoligure.it/itinerari_preistorici/balzi_rossi.htm
On the Liguria coast to the French border are the entrances of the complex of the caverns of the Balzi Rossi (literally red leaps).
The name of the locality derives from the color of the limestone walls that, because of the iron mineral presence oxidizes a red colour.
The complex is composed of numerous coves and shelters, including:Grotta dei Fanciulli, Riparo Lorenzi, Grotta di Florestano, Grotta del Caviglione, Barma Grande, Barma del Bauso da Ture (now destroyed), Grotta del Principe, Grotta Gerbai, Grotta Costantini, Riparo Mochi, Riparo Bombrini, cavernette della cava, Grotta Voronov, and Grotta Grimaldi.
The first searches occurred in 1846-57, by the prince of Monaco, Florestano I.
More recently, between 1928 and 1959, regular diggings were executed by A.C. Blanc, L. Cardini and To Mochi, on behalf of the Italian Institute of Human Palaeontology.
Figurine d'ivoire surnommée "L'Abrachiale", des grottes dei Balzi
Rossi (Ligurie - Italie) - copyright Pierre Bolduc-Montréal-Canada.
Figurine of mammoth ivory called "Abrachiale", from the caves of Balzi Rossi (Ligurie - Italy) - copyright Pierre Bolduc-Montreal-Canada.
The name means "without arms".
On the back can be seen a fine line being used to outline the spinal column. The breaks on the legs are both very old with some more recent ones. The figurine is 67.6 mm in height.
Photo and French text: "les mammouths - Dossiers
Archéologie - n° 291 - Mars 2004"
My thanks to Anya for access to this resource.
Figurine d'ivoire surnommée "La Dame Ocrée", des grottes dei Balzi
Rossi (Ligurie - Italie) - copyright Pierre Bolduc-Montréal-Canada.
Figurine of ivory called "The Ochred Lady", from the caves of Balzi Rossi (Ligurie - Italy) - copyright Pierre Bolduc-Montreal-Canada.
The text below is adapted from
http://www.civilization.ca/archeo/paleofig/palf4fra.html
Called thus because of the ochre coating which colours its nonfaded surfaces, this statuette is located well inside the standards of the gravettienne statuary of Western Europe. One finds there the superabundance characteristic of the buttocks, breasts and belly. It seems that special attention was given by the artisan to the treatment of various parts of the body such as the hair which still carries the traces of fine corrugated lines. One can also note the marked cutting of the pubis which presents a not very common relief on the other statuettes from Balzi Rossi and France. Finally, a perforation has been hollowed out from the back to the sternum, indicating that this figurine was used as a pendant.
This statuette is 75 mm high.
Photo and French text: "les mammouths - Dossiers
Archéologie - n° 291 - Mars 2004"
My thanks to Anya for access to this resource.
The Grimaldi Venus
Click on the image to see a close up |
Grimaldi Italy. Serpentine pendant depicting a pregnant woman, 23 000 BP
Made of greenish-yellow serpentine and highly polished, the figurine is 27.5 millimetres high
Photo: http://www.civilization.ca/archeo/paleofig/palf5eng.html
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This page last modified Wednesday 29 June 2005
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Armidale NSW 2350
Australia
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Figurine d'ivoire surnommée "L'Abrachiale", des grottes dei Balzi
Rossi (Ligurie - Italie) - copyright Pierre Bolduc-Montréal-Canada.
