Westray Wife

The Westray Wife.

The second figurine.

The Westray Wife (also known as the Orkney Venus) is a small Neolithic figurine, 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in height, carved from sandstone that was discovered during an Historic Scotland dig at the Links of Noltland, on Westray, Orkney, Scotland, in the summer of 2009.^[1] It was the first Neolithic carving of a human form to have been found in Scotland, and to date it is the earliest depiction of a face found in the United Kingdom.^[2]

A second figurine of about the same size and shape as the Westray Wife, but made from clay, and missing its head, was discovered by archaeologists at the same Links of Noltland site during the summer of 2010.^[3] This figurine, 3.4 centimetres (1.3 in) in height, has a rectangular panel decorated with triangles on the front of its torso, which may represent a tunic, and a punched hole in the centre of its stomach. A number of small clay balls have also been discovered at the site, and it is possible that these were intended for use as heads for similar figurines.^[3]

It has been noted that the original figure's eyes bear a resemblance to "eyebrow motif" carvings found in a chambered cairn on the Holm of Papa. Archaeologist Richard Strachan has said:

Initial comparisons do show a similarity in use of this eyebrow motif and may point to the possibility that the markings in the cairn are meant to show human eyebrows and eyes, as the style is very similar to the figurine. Alternatively, we may be seeing the re-use of a motif familiar to the carver and applied to different contexts with different meaning.^[4]

Despite the figurine's name, it not certain that the Westray Wife does represent a female form, as the marks initially interpreted as breasts may in fact represent clothing fasteners and clothing fabric.^[3]

The figurine is on display in the Westray Heritage Centre in Pierowall for the summer of 2010, and enterprising local bakers WFM Brown have created "Westray Wifie" shortbread replicas for sale.^[5][6] In 2010 some local businesses reported a 45% increase in turnover since the discovery of the figurine.^[7]

See also

• Venus figurines

References

1. ^ "Orkney Venus closes in on key prize 5,000 years after Neolithic creation". The Scotsman. 16 June 2010. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Orkney-Venus--closes-in.6364105.jp. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
2. ^ "Orkney Venus". Historic Scotland. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/orkneyvenus. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "SALON - the Society of Antiquaries of London Online Newsletter: The Orkney Venus gets a partner". Society of Antiquaries of London. http://www.sal.org.uk/salon/#section11. ^{[not in citation given]}
4. ^ "Eyebrows link Westray figurine with burial chamber". Orkneyjar. http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/holmpapay.htm. Retrieved 17 July 2010. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ "The Westray Wife comes home to a huge welcome". Westray Heritage Centre. http://www.westrayheritage.co.uk/. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
6. ^ "Westray Wife returns home". Orkney Today. 14 May 210. http://www.orkneytoday.co.uk/news_item.asp?newsItem=6555. Retrieved 16 June 2010. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Briefing: Boom for Orkney after Venus find". Glasgow: The Herald. 15 July 2010.