Experts from the Polish Conservator of Monuments have authenticated a Neolithic Venus carving discovered by a Polish farmer in 2022. The Venus of Kołobrzeg, a 6,000-year-old limestone sculpture, is one of the oldest artifacts from an agricultural community in this part of Europe. The figurine, now owned by the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg, was unveiled after extensive analysis including microscopic residue analysis that found traces of mussel and snail shells. Unlike other prehistoric Venus figures, it lacks distinct facial features but shares the characteristic pronounced breasts and voluptuous hips.
This discovery matters because it pushes back the known boundaries of Neolithic culture in northern Europe, indicating a more widespread common symbolism than previously understood. The Venus of Kołobrzeg was found much further north than similar pieces like the Hohle Fels Venus from Germany or the Venus of Willendorf from Austria, which are typically found south and southeast of the Carpathian Mountains. The find challenges existing assumptions about the geographic distribution of prehistoric fertility symbols and suggests that agricultural communities in the Baltic region shared cultural motifs with their southern counterparts. The museum plans further research and will display the artifact for the first time this fall.