Recent discoveries by archaeologists in Orkney have revealed no less than 5 Neolithic figurines, which up to now, have been almost unheard of in Britain, at least for the Neolithic period. These figures are featured on the Orkney Archaeology News website under the heading, Orkney Venus.
Naturally, other Neolithic figurines may come to light, but for the moment, the 5 that have been found show a clear pattern close to major megalithic sites. There are not enough of them as yet to draw statistical conclusions about their distribution, yet, having said that, it would appear that they had an important relationship within the context of these major megalithic sites.
No less than 3 of these figurines have been found at the Links of Noltland settlement just to the north east of Noltland Castle. This remarkable concentration of Neolithic figurines was found only half a mile slightly south of west from the equally remarkable Pierowall chambered tomb at HY 4389 4905; remarkable because it had beautiful megalithic passage grave artwork, comparable with Barclodiad y Gawres on Mona (Anglesey), Newgrange on the Boyne in Ireland and in Brittany. Such sites are sufficiently rare that we may consider them special in some particular way, which given the extensive mythology at Newgrange is not in question. Similarly, Barclodiad y Gawres, the apronful of the giantess, is a powerful site. The goddess Ceridwen is known from Welsh folklore to be this giantess who dumped her apron load of stones to become this burial chamber, which then became a centre for her mysteries. Frances Lynch Prehistoric Anglesey 1991, page 73, tells us that a ritual fire was lit in the centre of the chamber, later quenched by pebbles and remains of wrassel, eel, whiting, frog, toad, natterjack, grass snake, mouse, shrew and hare; all of which sounds remarkably like the remains of a magic cauldron which Ceridwen brewed in the tale of Taliesin.
Here at Noltland, the castle has its own guardian spirit, haunted by a friendly old man, now simply a spectral light which appears to herald the birth or marriage of the Balfour family. Pierowall itself is a chambered tomb surrounded by 7 chambered tombs within about 4 miles, besides cairns and a standing stone and doubtless many sites now destroyed by modern agriculture.
As for the other two Neolithic figurines, both were found close to the megalithi complex of Stenness. At site 14, Brodgar near the huge stone circle of Brodgar, a crude small figurine was found, while at Grimeston, 2 miles to the east, a so called 'Venus' figurine was found. The name Grimeston may originate in 'Grima', the hooded one, one of the many by-names for Woden or Odin who in Welsh was Gwydion or Roman Mercury. The relationship of Woden/Odin married to Freyja as Venus is comparable to Gwydion's consort Gwenhudwy, whose links to the sea indicate she is Venus. Likewise Gwyddon in Welsh means witch. The stone of Odin near Brodgar was destroyed but local folklore (which some believe was invented in recent times although that is mere speculation)  informs us that when couples married they would visit the stone circle of Stenness or Temple of the Moon and the woman  prayed to Woden and then go to the nearby  stone circle at Brodgar or Temple of the Sun where the man prayed to Woden. Then the couple joined hands through the hole in the stone of Odin/Woden which sealed their marriage vow; as if at one between Mercury and Lady Venus. These two stone circles are huge, comparable with the size of Callanish on the Isle of Lewis, Stonehenge, Avebury and Arbor Low in Derbyshire. Furthermore, one mile to the east of Stenness, is the important chambered tomb of Maes Howe, with its roof box practically identical to that at Newgrange. The figurine at Grimeston was found only 2 miles north of Maes Howe and it is possible that at one time this tomb may have been decorated with some interesting artwork, though evidence for this is now sadly lacking.
However, the mythology at Newgrange features a tangled relationship between the Dagda, and an underworld river goddess, evidently Venusian, who gave her name to the river Boyne or Buvinda of Ptolemy, meaning white cow. We know from ancient cultures how figurines share similar mythological links to animals just as Venusian Isis of Egypt, was linked to cows. A study of these figurines worldwide would surely give us further clues as to their relationship within the context of important ancient sacred sites, but for the moment we may await further archaeological finds with interest.