The female menhir of Algund

Prehistoric people made large stone sculptures in many parts of Europe. The statues represent people. Archaeologists call them menhirs or standing stones.

They are from the Copper Age and are between 70 cm and 3 m high. The style varies according to the area in which they’re found. The menhirs represent male and female figures.

Menhirs also occur in the area where this museum is situated. Weapons can be seen on the male menhirs, mostly daggers and axes, but also arrows and bows.

The female menhirs are much smaller and simpler. There’s a hint of a female breast and sometimes the folds of a dress, such as on this marble stone found near the village of Algund in South Tirol.