Prehistoric Oriental 'Venus' Carved On Cliff Discovered In Ningxia

Peoples Daily ^ | 12-23-2003

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Prehistoric oriental 'Venus' carved on cliff discovered in Ningxia

A figure of a pregnant woman carved into a cliff, known as a prehistoric oriental "Venus", the Goddess of love, has been discovered by Chinese archaeologists in Zhongwei county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The "Venus" has a plump figure, full breasts and a bulbous belly. The woman, standing straight with her legs together, has slender fingers but no facial features.

The image was a typical reproduction of figures of naked women carved on stone by ancients in the late Paleolithic period, said Zhou Xinhua, curator of the museum of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Such stone or cliff carvings are valuable for studying the development process of primitive society, plastic arts and ideology, Zhang said.

A stone-carved figure of a naked woman, dating back to the late Paleolithic period, was first discovered in Europe and similar carvings have also been unearthed in Austria.

But this was the first time that a prehistoric figure of a woman carved on cliff has ever been found in China, Zhang said.

Archaeologists said that Beishan Mountain in Zhongwei County, where the image was found, has some 3,000 groups of cliff carvings and over 10,000 carvings of individual figures.

Near the Zhongwei county seat, Damaidi area, part of the Beishan Mountain area, is crowded with 1,509 group cliff carvings and over6,000 individual figures carved into a cliff.

These cliff carvings contain images of the sun, the moon, rivers, mountain stones and also images of sheep, horses, oxen, deer, tigers, swords and axes. They also have images of men and women, hunters and warriors. Some of the cliff carvings reflect wars, daily life and recreational activities.

A 12-square meter rock is carved with more than 200 images of human beings, animals, hunting activities and various symbols.

The density of figures carved on this rock was rarely seen elsewhere, experts said.

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Ping.

[ValerieUSA]

An ancient graffiti rock. Cool!

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Example of 'Venus' figurines (Not from article)

[RightWhale]

Lots more attractive than these stick-figure newsbabes. Needed to be said.

[Dr. Frank fan]

Yes, an ancient primitive stone carving of a pregnant woman must necessarily be a prehistoric oriental "Venus", the Goddess of love.

It can't possibly be an attempted caricatured depiction of, like, a pregnant woman or anything.

Similarly, if they find stone carvings of elephants, this is evidence of ancient, Chinese, Republicans.

[MHGinTN]

Just what ARE you pouring into your eggnog?

[StatesEnemy]

Ancient BBW's

[BenLurkin]

Venus, L.A. style.

[RightWhale]

Okay, so I have my paleolithic side. Meetings of PA--Paleolithics Anonymous--are not like these other 12-step thingys where they try to get you to stop something. Oh, no, we encourage each other. Back to our roots.

[greenwolf]

Elaine Morgan says all people used to be fat to insulate back when humans were aquatic. Could be skinny has only been desirable for the last 10,000 years or so.

[MHGinTN]

Funny! Merry Christmas RW.

[catpuppy]

Similarly, if they find stone carvings of elephants, this is evidence of ancient, Chinese, Republicans.

**choke** THAT IS TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS

[Sacajaweau]

It's the old "prove me wrong" thing.

These dudes conclusions are similar to ink blots...it depends what you're thinking at the time.

[blam]

"Elaine Morgan says all people used to be fat to insulate back when humans were aquatic. Could be skinny has only been desirable for the last 10,000 years or so."

Yup. I've read some things along that line too. Women have more fat on their bodies because they spend more time in the water with the childern.
The enduring tradition of long hair for women comes from that period because the 'kids' held onto it while in the water.

[duckman]

"Example of 'Venus' figurines (Not from article)"

Don't exactly make you feel like making whoopie, do they?

[Tax-chick]

Don't exactly make you feel like making whoopie, do they?

When women are THAT pregnant, they'd rather be shot, anyhow. The figurines carrying the babies in arms might be more interested :-).

[Henchman]

LAMO

[gcruse]

That's terrific! LOL

[gd124]

Venus just refers to a particular type of statue (pregnant females), mostly found in Europe, which are among the earliest known sculptures. They don't literally mean statues of the Roman goddess.