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Art of the First Cities
Death and Burial: Western Central Asia
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This object, included in the exhibition Web feature and the catalogue, was not available for display.
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Composite seated female figure, late 3rd–early 2nd millennium B.C. Western Central Asia, Gonur-depe, Tomb 1799. Steatite or chlorite; H. without head: 7 cm (2 3/4 in.); W. 9.8 cm (3 7/8 in.). The National Museum of Turkmenistan Named After Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, Ashgabat.
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Excavations at Gonur in Turkmenistan have revealed several similar composite sculptures of seated females. The figure is composed of two separately made body parts carved to represent a tufted garment. Independently made is a light colored stone head, with no hair or covering preserved, and hands, the latter designed to rest on the female's lap. Nearly all examples depict the female either seated or squatting, with her lap extend forward. The majority of bodies were carved in one piece, but at least ten, including this one, are made in two neatly joining parts. Similar females also appear decorating metal vessels, pins, and stamp seals, sometimes winged and astride dragons. Such depictions might suggest that the female is a divinity or has supernatural connections.
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