The Museum of the City of Kołobrzeg hosted a press conference devoted to one of the most important archaeological discoveries of recent years. The subject of the meeting, organised on 13 June 2025, was a stone figurine of a woman from the Neolithic period, found in the Podczele district. The event was attended by representatives of the city authorities, researchers and others interested in the discovery. The Kołobrzeg Venus, as the artefact was named, is one of the oldest relics of Western Pomerania
A unique monument from the Neolithic Age
In 2022, an unusual stone figurine was found in the area of Kołobrzeg’s Podczele. The find was then handed over to Waldemar Sadowski, a member of the Parsęta Exploration Group operating at the Society of Friends of the Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg. A year later, the president of the group, Jan Orliński, presented the figurine to archaeologist Marcin Krzepkowski of the Relicta Foundation. The specialist confirmed the exceptional nature of the object. The conservation services and the management of the Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg were therefore informed about the find.
Research work and future plans
The relic has been handed over to a research team coordinated by Marcin Krzepkowski. The figurine is to be added to the collection of the Museum of Polish Arms, and preparations are currently underway for changes to the permanent exhibition at a branch of the Museum of the City of Kołobrzeg. The aim of the new exhibition is to present artefacts related to the most ancient history of the region. The Kołobrzeg Venus, as the find was named, is to occupy a key place in it as one of the oldest relics of Western Pomerania.
TheKolobrzeg Venus – characteristics ofthe figurine
Made of beige limestone, the figurine measures about 12 centimetres in height and dates to the Neolithic period, with fragments of shells and polychaete tubes covering its surface. The find depicts a simplified figure of a woman with a massive body and clearly marked sexual features. The upper torso and head are scaled down in relation to the short legs. The author of the figure has barely outlined her shoulders, her face has been deprived of detail and her breasts have been covered with her arms bent at the elbows. The back of the body shows traces of machining, probably done with a hard tool. The surface of the figure also shows traces of smoothing, especially around the breasts and hips, which may be indicative of its use. The back of the figure is almost flat, suggesting that the object may have been placed vertically or attached to some surface.
Archaeological significance
Stylized representations of human figures of this type are known from Neolithic sites from the 6th and 5th millennia BC, mainly in areas of south-eastern Europe and Anatolia. The figurines were usually made of clay, less often of stone. The Kołobrzeg Venus remains a find unique in Poland and currently has no direct analogues in this part of Europe. This type of artefact is interpreted as a symbol of femininity and fertility, often linked to ritual practices. Their form attests to the high level of skill of their makers. The figurine from Kołobrzeg, despite its simplified shape, has clear artistic qualities.
The Kołobrzeg Venus and ongoinganalysis
The object is currently being studied by an interdisciplinary scientific team. Participating in the work are, among others, Dr Iwona Sobkowiak-Tabaka from the Faculty of Archaeology at Adam Mickiewicz University, Dr Grzegorz Szczurek from the University of Kalisz, Dr Barbara Studencka from the Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Dr Aldona Kurzawska from the Adam Mickiewicz University and Dr Agata Hałuszko from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. The team is conducting detailed analyses of the raw material and technology used to make the monument. The results of this work will soon be known.
Source: Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg
Read also: Monument | Stone | History | Sculpture | Curiosities
