The Hardness and the Eternal. Petrification Processes of Prehistoric Human Figurines

The formalization of human images as figurines can be seen as a relevant act of self-representation, reflecting an idea of the human being and possibly of the sacred. Many figurines are made of stone, but unbaked clay, pottery, bone or ivory, and other materials also occur. The formation processes of the archaeological record are obviously relevant, as the use of perishable materials for multi-material figurines can rarely be ascertained.