The Venus of Willendorf is the Paleolithic figurine found in Austria in 1908 and carved from oolitic limestone.
The 11.1-centimetre figure was discovered by archaeologist Josef Szombathy near Willendorf, in the Wachau region along the Danube. It is generally dated to about 30,000–25,000 BCE and is now held by the Natural History Museum in Vienna.
The figurine has an emphasized abdomen, breasts, and thighs, while its face is obscured by a patterned covering or hairstyle. Its purpose is unknown. “Venus” is a traditional label, not evidence that prehistoric people associated it with the Roman goddess of love.
It is sometimes confused with the Venus of Hohle Fels, an older ivory figurine discovered in Germany. The Willendorf figure is made of limestone, and its stone does not naturally occur at the discovery site, suggesting that the material was transported.