The site where the relief with three female figures was discovered is called „Roc-aux-Sorciers", the so-called „Sorcerers' Rock", which lies in the French commune of Angles sur l'Anglin. In 1927[1], the Paleolithic habitation was discovered and in 1950 a relief wall carving (18 meters long and 2.5 meters high) was found inside the cave. The quality of the engravings and reliefs is exceptional, monumental and incomparable for these times. It is mostly composed of animals, occasionally there are human profiles as well as the „Three Graces" as they are affectionately called in France. The three women stand next to each other and are depicted from the breast downwards, although the legs are only suggested. The figures are headless and footless. Thus, it is not a naturalistic representation of a certain woman but rather the image or symbol of woman. For researchers this carving represents a female genealogy[2], that is, woman in different stages of life: a young, a pregnant and an old woman. Remarkable is the focus on the distinctive vulva of all three women. The left figure, who is possibly pregnant, is seen in profile view and possesses abundant buttocks. The vulva of this woman is depicted as triangle, whereby the upper most line is concave and bends upwards[3]. Vierzig assumes this to be an indication of the „lunar symbolic" which is similar to the Venus of Laussel and the indication of the cyclic renewal of life, the moon cycle and the menstrual cyle[4]. The vagina, or the pudental cleft of the figure on the left is shown by means of a vertical line upwards which ends approx. In the middle of the vulva triangle. The central figure is shown partly on one side and partly profile. Again, the upper line of the vulva triangle is rounded and thus emphasizes the navel. In this case, the sex is depicted most clearly, and the vagina opening is stressed. The third and last of the female figures is very slim compared to the other two. The vulva triangle shows no concave bend, but is marked with a straight line. As with the first figure, the pudental cleft is formed like a simple line. It is presumed that this woman is the elder of the three. Similar to all other figures, statuettes, signs and reliefs of this period, the meaning behind this relief can only be presumed. The most probable interpretation is that woman is depicted in different stages of life as well as woman being life-giver and sustainer of human kind.

(Translation: C. Wilhelm)