Narrative Knowledge, Archaeology, and Gender Roles: How We Use Today’s Stories to Make Sense of the Past

Using the Venus of Willendorf as a foundational example I explore the interplay between narrative knowledge and the construction of gender roles in archaeological interpretation. Archaeological narratives, often developed from sparse data and bridged by speculative connective elements, significantly shape public perception and academic understanding. These narratives, while attempting to fill gaps in archaeological records, inadvertently reflect contemporary societal structures, particularly in the assignment of gender roles. The study scrutinises the tendency within archaeology to project modern gender norms onto the past. This projection frequently occurs in the absence of definitive evidence, leading to reconstructions that may not only misrepresent but also oversimplify the complex nature of past gender roles. By critically analysing these narrative practices and their reliance on cognitive biases, the research aims to reveal how historical gender roles are constructed and the potential inaccuracies this process entails.