Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dm. Ulyanov str., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russia
Gavrilov Konstantin N., PhD., k_gavrilov.68@mail.ru
Introduction. Semantic richness of anthropomorphic portable art of the Upper Paleolithic makes this kind of archaeological materials is particularly valuable for both traditional archaeological research and paleo-historical reconstructions. Materials and methods. The classification of the figurines developed by M.D. Gvozdover served as a starting point in the study. Most of the studied figurines can be attributed to Kostenki-Avdeevo (Kostenkian) and Gagarino-Khotylevo types. The reality of this classification was confirmed by the technological analyses. However, these types do not include the whole iconographic range of women’s sculptures. The article discusses the results of a comparative analysis of female statuettes, as well as their archaeological context. Results and Discussion. The previously known iconographic series of female statuettes should be complemented by figures that show women who have not given birth, and who have come out of childbearing age. Images of women immediately before childbirth, as well as after it or before conception should be considered as independent iconographic types. An independent iconographic type is represented by a sitting female figurine from Khotylevo 2. It can be merged with the figure of Pavlov I in one type – Pavlov type. The presence of statues related to Kostenkian and Gagarino-Khotylevo types in the same archaeological complex was recorded in the Gagarino and Khotylevo 2 sites. There are also statues of different iconographic types in the “new” object of Avdeevo and in the second complex of Kostenok I, 1st layer. This indicates the common semantic area of figurative anthropomorphic art in the Late Eastern Gravettian. However, the certain combination of iconographic types, as well as the archaeological context of the statues are specific for the sites of Kostenkian culture, and for Gagarino and Khotylevo 2, respectively. Conclusion. The statuettes depict women of different ages, as well as in various stages of pregnancy. The uniformity of poses of female figurines belonging to various iconographic types, as well as the regularities in the placement of various types of figurines on the Eastern Gravettian sites, allows us to consider these objects of primitive art as evidence of the ritual actions of Gravettian population.
Upper Palaeolithic; Eastern Gravettian; female figurines; Kostenki, Avdeevo; Zaraysk; Gagarino; Khotylevo
DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2018.4.093-109
Цит.: Gavrilov K.N. Typology, iconography and archaeological context of female statuettes of the Eastern Gravettian of the Russian Plain // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2018; 4/2018; с. 93-109
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