Increasing population densities. Population of new parts of the world. Manufacture of non-utilitarian objects. Appear first in Gravettian period about 30,000 years ago. Some scholars have suggested that appearance of figurines has been subjected to sweeping generalizations that have gotten in the way of true observation.
Some figurines show polish from use.
Commonly recovered near walls, in or near hearths. Widespread distribution of figurines,combined with somewhat standardized appearance suggests widespread contact, and a common systme of ritual. Compared modern bodies with prehistoric artifacts.