Scientists: Venus of Věstonice made of rock and fossils

Venus of Dolní Věstonice, the world's oldest ceramic figurine, was found to be made from fragments of rocks and tiny fossils, not mammoth bones as previously believed. The discovery was made by researchers at the Moravian Museum using micro-CT scanning. The figurine, dating back 25,000 to 29,000 years, is a crucial piece of evidence about prehistoric life and primitive art in this part of Europe. It contains extensive cracks that increase the risk of it breaking. The Venus was crafted from a single piece of loess, requiring significant skill. The figurine is rarely displayed and is kept in a vault, with a public exhibition planned for next year to mark the 100th anniversary of its discovery.