Artifact discovered on Polish farm confirmed as 6,000-year-old Venus figurine

An item discovered by chance on a farm in Poland has been confirmed as a figurine depicting a woman dating back to around the 5th century BC.

Nicknamed the “Venus of Kołobrzeg” due to its similarity to other ancient statuettes depicting women, it has been described as the “find of the century” by the museum in the city of Kołobrzeg on Poland's northern Baltic coast at which it will now be displayed.

The object, made of limestone and measuring 12 centimeters in height, was found in December 2022 but only now has its authenticity and age been confirmed by researchers.

“I received information that a farmer from Obroty [a village near Kołobrzeg] found an object resembling a human figure while working,” Jan Orliński, the head of a local group of history enthusiasts, told National Geographic .

His organization determined that the item was man-made and most likely some kind of symbol of fertility. They handed it over to the provincial conservator of monuments, a state official, who worked with the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg to determine its provenance.

“I can safely say that this is the find of the century,” the museum's director, Aleksander Ostasz, told National Geographic . “What was discovered…is truly something phenomenal, extraordinary. It absolutely pushes the boundaries of our history of Kołobrzeg.”

In a statement, the museum also pointed to the fact that the find is “unique in Poland, where we have not yet found anything analogous”. They believe the figurine was the work of the first farmers who settled around the nearby Parsęta River.

“The stylized form of the Kołobrzeg Venus reveals high artistic skill and, despite the simplicity of its form, stands out for its exceptional aesthetic values,” wrote the museum, which noted that it was made “with an emphasis on showing sexual characteristics.”

Such so-called Venus figurines, which have been discovered in various parts of Europe, are believed to have had ritual or symbolic functions, in particular in relation to femininity and fertility.

“There are subtle traces of smoothing visible on the convex parts of the body, especially around the breasts and hips, which may suggest that the figurine was used,” wrote the museum. “The back is relatively flat, which may indicate that the figurine was placed vertically or attached to some kind of base.”

The Kołobrzeg City Museum, which is a branch of the Polish Arms Museum in the city, is currently preparing to showcase the Venus in its permanent collection, where it will be one of the oldest items on display.

The oldest Venus figurine discovered in Europe – and also the oldest undisputed example of a depiction of a human being – is the Venus of Hohle Fels, discovered in Germany in 2008. Carved from mammoth ivory, it has been dated to around 41,000 years ago.

Another famous example is the Venus of Willendorf, found in Austria in 1908 and dated to around 30,000 years ago.

Main image credit: Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg