Post #1576398

2025-02-11 12:28 UTC

In fact, two plausible social alternative interpretations of the figurines are that they were used as bartering currency or alliance/marriage tokens, which has a larger intercultural cross-communal survival chance. We know from wear patterns that they were handled regularly and that they were commonly found hundreds of kilometres away from the material's source location. Seen that way, the figurine's could indicate communal growth and continuation, for which you need mothers. (10/12)

Replies (1)

@cassana@the-crossroads-inn.com 2025-02-11 12:28

I personally favour these social interpretations due to their wider intercultural utility, yet I also don't want to step into the "one interpretation fits all" trap, so these figurines may have had secondary functions as, e.g., prosperity or good luck charms (similar to many Lucky Coin traditions across the world nowadays) or status symbols gifted to and worn by mothers who survived child-bearing, and perhaps a wider heirloom tradition from mother to mother. (11/12)

Open ##1576399