Feminism in Archaeology (Paleolithic Age)

"Feminism is a movement that emerged in France in the 18th century, advocating for the political and social equality of rights for individuals of all genders, including women, men, and those with different sexual orientations.

Gender Archaeology is an archaeological method and research area that aims to interpret the social construction of genders through archaeological findings. It evaluates society in terms of gender, age, and status.

Role Distribution in Nutrition is divided into a graph where 65% is gathering and 35% is hunting. Due to the greater physical strength of men in hunting, men usually undertake the hunting, while women, with their flexible body structures, take on the gathering. However, there's a misconception that "women did not hunt." No, women did hunt, supported by archaeological evidence like cave paintings. An important aspect not often mentioned is who protected the clan's living space or cave when men went hunting. In this context, it is plausible to consider that women protected the cave. Aboriginal rock paintings depicting running women show us the role of women in hunting.

What is the role and place of women in society?
Tasks include fire-making, maintaining settlement cleanliness, and caring for children. They act as shamans and healers, making medicine from plants and animals, taking charge of disease treatments.

Social Role Distribution:
We can see that the roles attributed today were invalid during this period. A job described as "women's work" in one group might be seen as a "men's job" in another, or it might fall into a shared work area. Role distribution based on status, age, and gender is certainly possible, but is this distribution the same as today? We find the answer in burial customs and grave goods.

Findings and Interpretations:
The depiction of a woman in a mating scene in the Lausel rock shelter is associated with fertility. The Venuses found near fireplaces and inside huts are believed to have a protective and ritual function. Female genitalia made from a mammoth tusk discovered in Borno were found in male graves, symbolizing birth and death. Research also reveals that only men were not involved in making stone tools.

The Venus depiction found in the Lausel rock shelter holds a horn with 13 lines, breasts depicted prominently and plumply. The 13 lines represent the 13 months in a solar year, symbolizing ovulation periods. It is believed that the woman depicted has completed her pregnancy and is ready for childbirth. Considering this foresightful information, it can be thought that the hierarchical position of the depicted woman in society might have been high.

Conclusion and Evaluation:
We cannot see the pressure imposed on women and the patriarchal mindset in the Prehistoric period that we witness today. We observe a significant difference between today's gender structure and the prehistoric one. Although gender, age, and hierarchy determine societal roles, they do not present the same inequality as seen today.

References:
Coşkun Fırat Ayvazoğlu - "The Position and Importance of Women in the Present and Prehistoric Periods"
Neyir Kolankaya Bostancı - "Women of the Paleolithic Age"