Had they been dolls, they would have been intended to be used by children.
The first supposition might be supported by the fact that carving any of these would have required much work, which might have not been justified for just making toys.
On the other hand it is easier to imagine children playing with such small statues than a busy adult using them for any purpose. It is unlikely that the kind of dwellings that may have existed at that time included any part that could have been decorated with such figures.
The article contains the supposition that they may have been used as some kind of home guardians, but the choice of a small feisty female figure does not seem very appropriate for such a role (instead of a more scary guardian).
Perhaps they could have been owned by some shamans who used them in some rituals and they were small to be easily carried in their luggage, but being just toys for children seems an equally likely possibility.