A cast of the Willendorf Venus figurine from Willendorf, Austria. Measuring 4.5 inches (11 cm) in height, the original Venus figurine is about 25,000 years old. Animal, human, and other figurines were created by modern humans beginning at least 35,000 years ago. Human figurines like this shown here were made by modern humans within a broad area of Europe over a period of about 15,000 years. The various sizes, shapes, and styles show that different groups made them. The act of creating the figurines, and the beliefs behind them, may have united these groups.
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