Some scholars believe clay figurines like the Jōmon Venus, from ancient Japan, served as charms to call upon the divine gods for protection. Other researchers say the figurines were female because they were made – and owned – by women intent on seeing them as symbols of reproduction and the regeneration of life. The most famous of its kind in Japan, the Jōmon Goddess has helped pack a museum with visitors. With replicas 3D printed using technology from Stratasys, visitors are now welcome to see and feel the statue. Susumu Abe, the Vice Director of the Yamagata Prefectural Museum, says 45,000 people visited during 2013 alone, adding that he expects 3D printed replicas of the iconic piece will provide a way for visitors to learn about the past by allowing them to touch and feel history. Check out the whole story of the project:‎ http://3dprint.com/30574/jomon-venus-3d-printed/

Below is a photo of the 3D printed Jōmon Venus: