A solid Venus figurine from the Machalilla culture, Ecuador. Supersedes in form, the modeled figurines of terminal Valdivian “Venus” types. Coffee bean eyes and salient nose. Light red pigment stripes on face and legs, possible indication of tattooing. A peculiarity among Machalilla figurines are rows of perforations along the edge of the head or along the edges of the ears - probably used to suspend hair, feathers or other material as a form of adornments. Measures 2.75”/6,98 cm in height. La Ponga, Ecuador. 1100-1500 BC. Very scarce item.

Reference: Karl Dieter Gartelmann, Digging up prehistory - The Archaeology of Ecuador. Pg. 54