Salantai Stone Woman

The Stone Woman of Salantai (Salantų Akmens Boba) is one of Lithuania's most enigmatic archaeological artifacts. This crude but powerful stone sculpture depicting a woman — roughly a meter tall — was found near the town and is believed to date from the medieval period or possibly earlier. Its original purpose is debated: it may have been a pagan idol, a boundary marker, or a memorial. The sculpture now stands in Salantai's town center, a compelling presence that connects the modern town to its deep past. The figure's stylized features — heavy body, simplified face, crossed arms — suggest a ritual or symbolic function. Similar stone figures are found across the Baltic region, linking Lithuania to a wider Northern European tradition of stone sculpture.