y. Out of the 132 figurines used for the study, it was determined that 23% were of women under the age of 15. 17 % were statuettes of pregnant women. 38% were of non-pregnant women in the reproductive stage, and 22% were of , post reproductive women. It was then concluded by Rice that there is no evidence to support the traditional view that the Paleolithic Venuses represent fertility since the largest group of statues were of adult women while the smallest group were made up of pregnant females. However, these results did not completely satisfy her. She then raised the question that since these figurines were not sculptured for fertility purposes, then why were these sculptures made? Rice believes that the answers to this question lie in the cultural aspects in the Paleolithic society. IN the article she discusses the roles and status of women in the society. She talks about the various responsibilities that women have in each stage of their lives. The three important jobs that women had in the society are being the reliable source of food, providing a stable home including social and sexual partnership, being the givers of life.Four other interpretations of these figurines include; the association with a fertility cult, erotic art, calendar counting, and the theory these figures represent the leaders of the Paleolithic era. These interpretations cannot answer for all of the different figurines. The interpretation dealing with the fertility cult only takes into account a small portion of the Paleolithic Venus figurines that are of pregnant women. This interpretation can be related to the term couvade and Tylor’s argument that men become resentful because of the matriarchy society and want to be in charge or their own. Thus creating “womb envy”. Alexander Marshack’s interpretation of calendar counting has to do with women’s menstrual cycle, possibly a pregnancy calendar. It is believed that men used these c...
