A find of major importance!

Whilst walking across the dunes and links this morning I came across this beautifully crafted female figurine. After discussion with an archaeological friend we have come to the conclusion that it is of ritual significance, probably a fertility figure of some antiquity.

The object clearly has close affinities with the Venus figurines from the European Upper Palaeolithic. Most of them have small faceless heads, wide hips, and legs that taper to a point. Various figurines exaggerate the abdomen, hips, breasts, thighs, or vulva. In contrast, arms and feet are often absent, and the head is usually small and faceless.

However, our figurine is much more finely crafted than those from the stone age and we have come to the conclusion that it is Roman, probably dating from the second century A.D. As with most Venus figurines the head is small and in this case fashioned in the form of a cup. We feel confident that it was used to support an egg, that ancient symbol of fertility, as shown in the photograph.

Archaeology is such jolly good fun, isn't it?