The Venus figurines of Petersfels are several small female statuettes from the Upper Paleolithic era, carved from jet lignite. The tallest figurine is called the Venus of Engen.[1] The figurines were discovered in the Petersfels caves near Engen, Baden-Württemberg, excavated in 1927–1932 by Eduard Peters und Volker Toepfer and then in 1974–1976 and 1978 by Gerd Albrecht.[2] They stand between 1.5 and 4 cm tall and are about 15,000 to 11,500 years old, created during the Magdalenian era. They are housed in the Museums of Freiburg im Breisgau and Engen.
| Venus figurines of Petersfels | |
|---|---|
From the left: Venus figurine from Petersfels, reproduction (The so-called Venus of Engen), beetle and two further female figurines from Petersfels; Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
| |
| Material | Jet |
| Created | 15,000 to 11,500 years |
| Discovered | 1908 Engen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany |
47°51′41″N 8°48′21″E / 47.86139°N 8.80583°E / 47.86139; 8.80583