Venus of Laussel: 13 Marks Connect Moon to Reproduction. Venus figurine from abri de Laussel - site de fouilles préhistoriques, France Depicts woman with exaggerated reproductive features Holds a horn with 13 marks carved into it

The Venus of Laussel, a limestone bas-relief from abri de Laussel - site de fouilles préhistoriques, France, estimated to be 20,000-25,000 years old, depicts a nude woman with exaggerated reproductive features holding a horn. The horn is often thought to represent the crescent moon, though the claim of exactly 13 marks carved into it—frequently cited to match lunar or menstrual cycles—remains a subject of scholarly debate, with some researchers noting this interpretation may be overstated.

Key Facts

  • Venus figurine from abri de Laussel - site de fouilles préhistoriques, France
  • Depicts woman with exaggerated reproductive features
  • Holds a horn with 13 marks carved into it
  • Horn represents crescent moon, notches represent menstrual cycles
  • 13 marks correspond to menstrual cycles per year or lunations
  • Menstrual cycle and lunar cycle are the same period of time
  • Many hunter-gatherer cultures believed moon influences pregnancy
  • Ancient peoples may have used moon to time and manage pregnancies

Related site: Abri de la Madeleine — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.