A miniature Valdivian Palmer Stone phase 3-4. For those who adore miniatures, here is a charming, well detailed Venus Stone. Right arm extended to chin. Full length is 1.625” / 4.12 cm.  Choice condition. Salinas, Ecuador. Ca. 2300 - 2000 BC. Ultra Rare

Similar Examples: El Ecuador Antiguo - Cultura, Ceramicas y Creatividad 3000-300 A.C.

Palmers Stones represents the earliest known appearance of human figurines in the New World. The range from simple ground plaques (Phase 1) to elaborately carved representations in which the facial features are clearly indicated and hands are depicted as a feather or rake-like design. The stone prisms are turned into human effigies by low relief carving emphasizing  the eyes and hands. The progressive sequence of stone figurines are from the simple rectangular plaque, to plaques with a groove indicating the division between the legs, to the more detailed depiction of the human face and limbs (Phase 2).