Venus of Tan-Tan facts for kids
The Venus of Tan-Tan is a very old and mysterious stone object found in Morocco. It looks a bit like a human figure. Scientists believe it was made or shaped by early humans a very long time ago. This makes it one of the oldest pieces of art or tools ever discovered!
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Discovering the Ancient Venus of Tan-Tan
The Venus of Tan-Tan was found in 1999 during an archaeological dig. It was discovered in a riverbed on the north bank of the Draa River in Morocco. This area is known for having many ancient sites.
How Old is This Mysterious Object?
Scientists have studied the Venus of Tan-Tan very carefully. They believe it is incredibly old, dating back between 300,000 and 500,000 years! To give you an idea, this means it existed long before the first modern humans appeared. It was around during a time called the Middle Paleolithic period.
What Makes the Venus of Tan-Tan Special?
Most other "Venus figurines" found around the world are small statues that clearly look like women. They often have exaggerated features. However, the Venus of Tan-Tan is different. It doesn't clearly look like a male or a female figure.
Is It Art or a Natural Rock?
The Venus of Tan-Tan is a piece of quartzite rock. It is about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long. It has some natural grooves and shapes. But what makes it special are the small marks that look like they were made by tools. These marks suggest that someone might have carved or scratched lines onto the rock. There are also traces of a reddish color, possibly from a pigment like ochre.
Scientists are still debating if it's truly an early form of art. Some think it's just a naturally shaped rock. Others believe early humans saw something special in it and enhanced its shape. If it was indeed modified by humans, it would be one of the earliest examples of symbolic thought or art. This would show that early humans were thinking in complex ways much earlier than we once thought.
See also
In Spanish: Venus de Tan-Tan para niños
