| Session Problems of the Social Reproduction and of the Visible and Invisible Social Powers in Prehistoric Eurasia (How were the Advancement and the Social Astuteness Fuelled in Prehistory?) organized by Lolita Nikolova (Bulgaria and USA) and Marco Merlini (Italy) The 13th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists Zadar, Croatia, 18-23.09.2007 The Session's abstract (.pdf) Session program (updated August 12th, 2007) (.pdf) Session presentation summary and photogallery Participants Lolita Nikolova (USA/Bulgaria) Marco Merlini (Italy) Michel Seferiades (France) (no presentation in Zadar)* Svetlana Ivanova (Ukraine) (no presentation in Zadar)* Alenka Tomaž (Slovenia) Mikola Kryvaltsevich (Belarus)* Stilian Stanimirov (Bulgaria)* Stefan Stamenov (Bulgaria)* Paola Demattè (USA) Cristian Schuster (Romania) Alexandra Comsa (Romania) Tinaig Clodoré-Tissot (France) Paola Ucelli Gnesutta (Italy) *only abstract |
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| Abstracts |
Figurative and abstract themes in mobile art of the Grotta delle
Settecannelle (Viterbo - Italy). Implications and interpretations within
the context of late Palaeolithic culture (by Paola Ucelli Gnesutta, Italy)
(e-mail)
The Epigravettian layers of Grotta delle Settecannelle, a cave situated
near Viterbo in Northern Latium, have yielded about 40 engraved objects
discovered in situ, with flint instruments and faunal remains, in connection
with fireplaces. Few of these incised artifacts come from the level of
Evolved Epigravettian, dated to 15.700 BP, while the majority of mobile art
was found in levels of Final Epigravettian, dated between 12700 and
12000 BP, and of late Epigravettian, dated 10.700 BP.
Two pebbles used as retouchers have engraved animal figures. The other
finds, stone and bone tools, non-utilitarian objects and body ornaments
are decorated with abstracts and geometric patterns that appear at a
relatively early stage at Grotta delle Settecannelle.
From archaeological evidences, it is possible to assume that and religious
ceremonies, were not performed in special and secret sites, but took
place in the same space where daily activity was practised, as observed in
“open air sanctuaries” of France and of Spain. The presence of body
ornaments indicate differences of status and role inside the human group.
Technological and stylistic analysis of the engravings and of the themes
represented has pointed out similarities between Settecannelle art and
contemporary manifestations discovered in Italian and European sites and
reveals the emergence of new spiritual conceptions, common to a large
part of Europe in Tardiglacial age.
Shamanism through the Balkans area during the Neolithic, Eneolithic and
Early Bronze Age (by Michel Louis Séfériadès, France) (e-mail)
ABSTRACT – This paper focuses on researches, using a lot of recent data,
related to the ancient religions and old ways of thinking (1962, Levi-
Strauss’“La pensée sauvage”) of the Balkans area from the beginning of
the Neolithic period and until the dawn of the Bronze Age.
Late Palaeolithic Anietovka 2 on the Bug, green polished Mushrooms
(probably hallicinogen ?) stones from Vinca, the well known Otzaki Proto-
Sesklo sherd (dancing shamans), the Gomolava and Szentes-Ilonopart
dancing shamans from Serbia and Southern Hungary etc, the Serbian and
Bulgarian actual folk customs, as, for example, the Sourvaraki in Pernik
district, show the continuity and the last impacts of the old shamanistic
behaviours and the actual Balkanic (South-Eastern Europe) cultural
heritage.
KEY WORDS – Shamanism, Europe, Balkans, Neolithic/Eneolithic and Early
Bronze Age.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SEFERIADES M. 2002. La représentation de l'élan de la Mer Baltique au
lac Baïkal". In Dolukhanov P., Séfériadès M. (sous la direction de),
"Russie, carrefour de l'Homo Sapiens, les révélations de l'archéologie
russe", Dossiers d'Archéologie, Dijon, n° 270, 32-37.
SEFERIADES M. 2005. Note shamanique : à propos du bucrane néolithique
de Dikili-Tash (Macédoine orientale grecque). In Honorem Silvia
Marinescu-Bïlcu 70 de ani, Cultura si Civilizatie la Dunarea de Jos,
Calarasi, 97-114.
SEFERIADES M. (forthcoming). L’ours néolithique des Balkans.
How to Interpret the Neolithic Social Personality? (by Lolita Nikolova,
USA/Bulgaria) (e-mail)
My approach will try to construct a framework for the interpretation of the
prehistoric social personally in terms of the already obtained results and
perspectives of research. Placing the concepts of R. Tringham, J.
Chapman and D. Bailey in the context of the modern understanding of
the social personally, we will try mostly to point to some similarities and
differences among the regional cultures in the Balkans that may have
been a result of social practices related to specific concepts of social
identity. We will also discuss the role of the archaic mythology and the
handcraft for the reproduction of the certain concepts of social personality
in the different regions of the Balkans. Finally, we will point to misuse of
the Neolithic in the contemporary hypocrite literature on Prehistory.
Did Southeastern Europe develop a rudimentary system of writing in Neo-
Eneolithic times? (by Marco Merlini, Italy) (e-mail)
Merlini’s presentation inspects the internal structuring of the sign system
developed in Neo-Eneolithic times in the Danube basin exploiting a
database that accounts more than 3000 signs from 647 inscribed objects
and 756 inscriptions according to 118 variables. The statistics from the
database give new information to verify if these cultures might have
expressed an early form of writing (i.e. the so called “Danube script”) and
to investigate the organizing principles of this possible system of writing.
A specific notice will be done on the overall composition of the sign
inventory utilized by the communities of the Danube civilization (How
many hundreds of signs were in use? And which were they?), the
investigation of sign employment on objects according to their typology (i.
e. figurines, pots cult vessels, mignon altars, spindle whorls…), the
frequency of sign use with the regional differences and the time frame.
The origins of Chinese writing: signs and symbols in archaeological context
(by Paola Demattè, USA) (e-mail)
The earliest deciphered and widely accepted form of writing from China
are the late Shang dynasty oracle bones inscriptions (ca. 1300 cal bce).
While some scholars believe a number of inscriptions carved on ritual
bronze vessels, pottery, or jade may be slightly earlier (middle Shang, ca.
1500 bce), Chinese writing is generally said to have begun in the Shang
dynastic period (ca. 1600-1300 bce) during the Middle Bronze Age.
This understanding of the origins of Chinese writing is based on a purely
linguistic analysis of the writing phenomenon, which ignores the
archaeological context and associated socio-political evidence. As a result
of this linguist approach signs such as pot-marks, single graphs,
indecipherable inscriptions, and pottery decorations which existed before
the Shang period but whose exact linguistic value is still uncertain, are
ignored. However, these Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (ca. 3500-
2000 bce) signs suggest that signing activities were well developed before
full blown writing became widespread during the Shang period. In
addition, archaeological evidence indicates that mature writing evolved
from these earlier signing systems as a result of the increasing social and
political complexity of the societies of the Late Neolithic.
This paper will analyze as number of early signing systems which may
have led to the mature Chinese writing of the Shang oracle bone
inscriptions, and will argue that non-linguistic visual signing (from pot-
marks to pottery decorations or rock art) play a role in the development
of writing systems.
Ornament as a symbolic and social communication mean
(Structure, rhythm and meaning) (by Stefan Stamenov, Bulgaria) (e-
mail)
The analysis of the ornament requires destucturing two categories –
composition and rhythm. The former is connected with the category of
space, and the latter with the concept of time. It is well known that we
have structure (or composition) in every picture. It is not so with the
rhythm, which is considered specific for the art of ornament.
Investigating the structure of the ornament we can use the classical three
hierarchical levels – composition, motive, element. If the ornament is
geometrical the elements are represented by geometrical figures. Almost
every one of them has its meaning, considered as symbolic meaning. An
attempt to divide the elements to their presumable parts will lead to
appearing of meaningless strokes and curves. This can be an argument
that there is some level at which an image is able to transmit information.
At the same time, composing a motive or group of motives shows that
the location of the ornamental elements on the field forms patterns, that
has geometrical shapes, which is an argument that the composition itself
can’t be meaningless. It is also an argument that the ornamental
structure consists of two parts. First part is compounded of the motives
and elements that are painted on the surface. Second part consists of the
composition itself, the arrangement of the motives and elements on the
surface that forms shapes too, although not painted. The problem, which
arise here is about the arrangement of the ornamental elements. Can we
discover some rules that will predict this arrangement?
The other category, the rhythm, as it was mentioned is connected with
time. The main question here is how an unmoving picture can express
time. The widespread conception is that the rhythm, being repetition of
similar elements has connection with the time category, which can be
presented as a repetition of similar events ( natural or cultural ). But is
every repetition able to create rhythm? In my opinion it is not, because
the rhythm needs some regularity. Although the rhythm may be of the so-
called irregular type, it is in some way regular. And since the ornament is
a visual art, another question arises. Is the rhythm connected with the
shape of the elements and the composition of the ornamental picture. I
will try to argue that it is, and that this connection along with the logic of
building ornamental structure can give us clue to the meaning of the
ornamental picture.
The ornament was one of the strongest symbolic and social
communication means in Prehistory when it functioned to connect
communities and generations through reproduction of specific traditions or
innovations and was used for distribution even of coded messages.
Symbols of Power in the Prehistoric Society (According to the
Archaeological Findings from the Varna Eneolithic Necropolis) (by Stiliyan
Stanimirov, Bulgaria) (e-mail)
The Varna Eneolithic Necropolis is a lurid science discovery which
significance exceeds the limits of the Prehistory of modern Bulgaria.
The finds from the Necropolis have been curated in the Archaeological
museum in Varna city where they are arranged in three exhibit halls. The
larger part of the gold objects, as well as the most representative other
types of the findings belong to three graves only. The staffs or the
sceptres – a symbol of the temporal power or religious authority are a
distinguishing feature mark of those graves. Another group of three
graves have been represented by sculptures of human faces from clay (by
one in each grave). Gold subjects have been appliquéd on the distinctive
points of the face - the forehead, the eyes, the mouth and the ears, as
symbols of social power.
The discovered gold objects are more from 3 000 and are with a common
weight of over 6 kilograms. Unusually, their kind is over 38 different
types. There is a great number of the findings of the other materials.
Copper findings are over 160, flint - over 230, and near 90 objects are
made of rock and marble . A multitude of nearly 1 100 ornaments -
bracelets, beads and appliqués made of Mediterranean mollusks shells
were found. The chinaware is quite frequently found among the grave
inventory, too – over 650 earthen vessels.
The findings as type, placement and a quantity, the types of graves of
the Varna necropolis, the large complex of sunk settlements, and another
facts give reason as well it is accepted that in the Varna lakes region was
born the first European civilisation. It seems that the settlements near the
Varna lakes have been a center of a big region.
The graves from the Varna necropolis illustrate a range of social
othernesses in reference to the material status, the temporal power or
religious authority.
The Ceramic Jewelry in the Fifth Millennium Cal BCE (by Alenka Tomaz,
Slovenia) (e-mail)
Decorating the human body with different colours or ornamental items
such as jewellery has been one of the most common practices since the
earliest stage of the human civilization. We could say that it is old as are
the human beings themselves. The oldest examples of small artificial
personal ornaments were made from stones, shells, bones, antlers, etc.
However, with the boom of pottery production, one of the most important
technological innovations in the Neolithic period, and it wide use in the
everyday life, the production of adornments took a new turn. Personal
ornaments made of fired clay are relatively rare discovered from in the
Neolithic period and therefore deserve a special attention; especially
because they exhibit a series of elements, which can help us reconstruct
some specific social and cultural aspects of past.
At Catez–Sredno polje, which is located beside the Sava river in southern
Slovenia, small personal ornaments and other parts of ceramic jewellery
were discovered in settlement contexts dated from the first half of the
fifth millennium cal BCE. Beads of different shapes made from fired clay,
as well as perforated ceramic discs made from broken pots can be
recognized as parts of jewellery. In our approach we are introducing some
aspects of their production, use and distribution. And most importantly we
are exploring a range of possible visible and invisible elements of social
powers that make the personal ornaments what they are, embodying
something individual on the one hand, and something social, on the
other hand.
The Early Metal on the Territory of Belarus: Periods, Ways of Supply,
Cultural and Social Implications (by Mikola Kryvaltsevich, Belarus) (e-
mail)
The territory of Belarus is stretching from the Bug region and the Prypiats
catchment area to the Dzvina and the Upper Nioman regions and to the
Upper Dnieper, outlying copper and bronze minefields explored for early
raw-materials extraction.
First metal articles emerged in the Upper Dnieper region in the Middle-
Dnieper Culture (MDC) burials. The MDC burial complexes containing
copper and bronze articles date back to the end of III millennium BC –
1700 BC and are simultaneous with the period Br A1 (2350 – 1700 BC) of
the Central European Bronze Age. Initially in the Upper Dnieper region the
dominant role belonged to the metal coming from South-Eastern steppe
and forest-steppe zones, primarily from the Catacomb Culture
communities. Later, separate metal artefacts (including tin bronze ones)
started to come from the metal work centres around Carpathians. Metal,
as well as some other prestigious articles came from the communities of
around Carpathians epicorded cultural area. Basing on oblique data, one
can assume that separate articles could have been made directly by the
MDC population.
According to their functional use, the earliest metal articles detected on
the territory of South-Eastern Belarus fit in the categories of jewellery and
armour. Predominantly they are part of prestigious burial inventory
complexes and accompany dead males. Metal articles as well as other
rare imported artefacts (amber pendants, faience bead, sophisticated
stone articles made of imported raw materials etc.) acquired a symbolic
implication emphasizing a relatively high social status of certain dead
persons and kin groups they belonged to.
In other Belarusian regions, namely in Prypiats and Brest Palessie, the
Upper Nioman and the Dzvina regions one can trace only occasional
copper and bronze articles. The earliest of them could have been brought
from Central Europe at the end of I – II Bronze Age periods (according to
Northern European dating). The later spread of metal articles compared to
South-Eastern Belarus can be explained by the lack of need for metal as
an element of prestige. In this case it may signify that the communities
residing on this territory had long been characterized by egalitarianism,
preserving the traditional, sub-Neolithic mode of life.
From the III period of Bronze Age on metal articles penetrate to the
territory of Belarus with grater intensity. Part of them has analogies
among the articles of the Lusatian Culture. Supply routs of certain metal
articles are being established from Central Europe and Baltic region.
Nevertheless, bronze articles do not become abundant. These are mainly
armour and jewellery.
In general, socio-cultural life on the territory of Belarus in the epoch of
Central European Bronze Age was distinguished by a relatively long sub-
Neolithic period. Copper and bronze articles were not in large demand,
which makes one judge about certain peculiarities of social institutions’
development, some of which preserved conservatism and often remained
at the level of sub-Neolithic period. Probably, only with the rise of iron
industry utilizing local raw materials, one can observe the upsurge of
social and cultural life as well as building of fortified settlements – hill
forts.
Social differentiation in the Bronze Age of Romania.
An anthropological approach (by Alexandra Comşa, Romania) (e-mail)
The territory of Romania was an area of major changes during the Bronze
Age and that was due to the significant population movements which
occured at that time. They resulted in more intense mixtures among the
local and alogeneous communities, but also in relative changes of the
funerary rituals or the appearance of new ones. Besides, in some cases,
we consider that even the rite employed could be a rank mark of the
individual, of course, when considering the archaeological context.
Sometimes, the large families were grouped together, sometimes there
were other criteria for burials.
In our paper, we try to use data regarding the sex or age category of the
individuals, but also funerary aspects of ritual and rite, in order to point
out the existence of a certain social stratification in the material cultures
of the Bronze Age in Romania.
The Social Structure of the Communities, as Rendered by the Bronze Age
Cemeteries in Southern Romania (by Cristian Schuster, Romania) (e-mail)
It is, generally, considered that, the funerary monuments from the
prehistorical communities on the Lower Danube would reflect the social
stratigraphy in its various moments. This is the case of the cemeteries, of
the isolated Neolithic and Eneolithic burials. Subsequently, during the
transitional period to the Bronze Age, the situation was rather different in
this regard and not only. A cultural „crumble” could be detected, being
also reflected by the inventory of the burials. Many of the funerary
monuments lack the inventory. It is evident that the social structure
faced changes, determined by the intense mobility of the populations
(movements from the east to the west), of their economical life (a
sudden decrease in the plant cultivation and increase of the cattle
breeding activities) and of the religious beliefs.
These trends were also maintained in many of the cultural manifestations
of the Bronze Age. For the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (the
Zimnicea-Mlăjet group) a slight social differentiation could be observed in
the case of the funerary monuments, as examples being relevant the
necropolises from Zimnicea (Romania) and Batin (Bulgaria). Later on,
during the Glina culture, they completely disappeared. The situation was
somewhat identical in the Middle Bronze Age (during the Tei and
Verbicioara cultures), but the social stratification became evident and
nuanced especially in the Late Bronze Age (during the Gârla Mare culture).
Of course, the possible and probable social stratification which could be
detected by the use of the funerary monuments, should have been
corroborated with their traces in the habitat forms, namely: the features
of the settlements, their distribution upon a certain territory, their
architecture. The civilian and /or military constructions should be helpful in
this sense, the same like those with religious character.
In the analysis regarding the social structure of the communities in the
Bronze Age on the Lower Danube, the demographic dynamics, the
proportion between the „vernaculars” and the alogeneous, the cultural
influence directly or indirectly induced from the neighboring or remote
areas (northern Black Sea, Greece, Anatolia, Central Europe) could not be
neglected.
Problems of the Social Reproduction in the Pit Grave Culture communities
(by Svetlana Ivanova, Ukraine) (e-mail)
The long history of the Kurgan communities from the Early Bronze Age of
Northwest Pontic and respectively the traditions of the kurgan burials
provide a rich database for a detailed analysis of different aspects of the
social reproduction of the prehistoric population of Eurasia. As a result of
the study of the burial goods and changing dimensions of the tombs, we
will offer some criteria to distinguish social status from and within sex and
age groups.
We will point to the fact that the ritual burial goods and adornments are
linked with children, adolescents and young males. The data show that
the most various burial goods were deposited in male burials -
implements made of flint, stone, bone; metal knives, awls, weapons
(darts, bone and flint arrows), ritual burial goods (fragments of axes,
astragals), adornments (silver spirals, compound copper bracelets).
Implements, weapons and anthropomorphic steles are related to male
burials of mature and senile age. Some categories of burial goods are
common for males, females and children. As for chariots, their distribution
relates to all age groups.
The presence of children’s burials with specific categories of burial goods
perhaps testifies some aspects of inheritance of the social status; though
we believe that the social status was not steady in the Pit Grave society
and it varies through ages. Based upon the data from the Pit Grave
Culture, we will also discuss some opportunities to differentiate an
inherent and attained social status in Prehistory.
"Musical instruments of the Bronze Age Europe" : Sounds and Prestige
(by Tinaig Clodoré-Tissot, France)
Sounding artefacts and musical instruments have been found in Europe
(Central Europe, Scandinavia, and Occidental Europe) in different
archaeological contexts, for the Bronze Age period ( 2300/2100 B.C.-
750 B.C) . Most of these instruments are similar to the sounding
instruments of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, but for the
very first time musical instruments made of bronze do their
apparition, in the Bronze Age. Most of these bronze musical
instruments are considered as prestige goods. Archaeological analysis
of the main sites categories and the discovery contexts, in which
these instruments have been found, added to ethnological comparisons
helped us to understand the musical thought, the significance of
sounds and their uses during these periods.
I will present the sounds of a selection of instruments excavated in
Europe, such as bone flutes and whistles, clay rattles, clay and
bronze horns.
Settecannelle (Viterbo - Italy). Implications and interpretations within
the context of late Palaeolithic culture (by Paola Ucelli Gnesutta, Italy)
(e-mail)
The Epigravettian layers of Grotta delle Settecannelle, a cave situated
near Viterbo in Northern Latium, have yielded about 40 engraved objects
discovered in situ, with flint instruments and faunal remains, in connection
with fireplaces. Few of these incised artifacts come from the level of
Evolved Epigravettian, dated to 15.700 BP, while the majority of mobile art
was found in levels of Final Epigravettian, dated between 12700 and
12000 BP, and of late Epigravettian, dated 10.700 BP.
Two pebbles used as retouchers have engraved animal figures. The other
finds, stone and bone tools, non-utilitarian objects and body ornaments
are decorated with abstracts and geometric patterns that appear at a
relatively early stage at Grotta delle Settecannelle.
From archaeological evidences, it is possible to assume that and religious
ceremonies, were not performed in special and secret sites, but took
place in the same space where daily activity was practised, as observed in
“open air sanctuaries” of France and of Spain. The presence of body
ornaments indicate differences of status and role inside the human group.
Technological and stylistic analysis of the engravings and of the themes
represented has pointed out similarities between Settecannelle art and
contemporary manifestations discovered in Italian and European sites and
reveals the emergence of new spiritual conceptions, common to a large
part of Europe in Tardiglacial age.
Shamanism through the Balkans area during the Neolithic, Eneolithic and
Early Bronze Age (by Michel Louis Séfériadès, France) (e-mail)
ABSTRACT – This paper focuses on researches, using a lot of recent data,
related to the ancient religions and old ways of thinking (1962, Levi-
Strauss’“La pensée sauvage”) of the Balkans area from the beginning of
the Neolithic period and until the dawn of the Bronze Age.
Late Palaeolithic Anietovka 2 on the Bug, green polished Mushrooms
(probably hallicinogen ?) stones from Vinca, the well known Otzaki Proto-
Sesklo sherd (dancing shamans), the Gomolava and Szentes-Ilonopart
dancing shamans from Serbia and Southern Hungary etc, the Serbian and
Bulgarian actual folk customs, as, for example, the Sourvaraki in Pernik
district, show the continuity and the last impacts of the old shamanistic
behaviours and the actual Balkanic (South-Eastern Europe) cultural
heritage.
KEY WORDS – Shamanism, Europe, Balkans, Neolithic/Eneolithic and Early
Bronze Age.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SEFERIADES M. 2002. La représentation de l'élan de la Mer Baltique au
lac Baïkal". In Dolukhanov P., Séfériadès M. (sous la direction de),
"Russie, carrefour de l'Homo Sapiens, les révélations de l'archéologie
russe", Dossiers d'Archéologie, Dijon, n° 270, 32-37.
SEFERIADES M. 2005. Note shamanique : à propos du bucrane néolithique
de Dikili-Tash (Macédoine orientale grecque). In Honorem Silvia
Marinescu-Bïlcu 70 de ani, Cultura si Civilizatie la Dunarea de Jos,
Calarasi, 97-114.
SEFERIADES M. (forthcoming). L’ours néolithique des Balkans.
How to Interpret the Neolithic Social Personality? (by Lolita Nikolova,
USA/Bulgaria) (e-mail)
My approach will try to construct a framework for the interpretation of the
prehistoric social personally in terms of the already obtained results and
perspectives of research. Placing the concepts of R. Tringham, J.
Chapman and D. Bailey in the context of the modern understanding of
the social personally, we will try mostly to point to some similarities and
differences among the regional cultures in the Balkans that may have
been a result of social practices related to specific concepts of social
identity. We will also discuss the role of the archaic mythology and the
handcraft for the reproduction of the certain concepts of social personality
in the different regions of the Balkans. Finally, we will point to misuse of
the Neolithic in the contemporary hypocrite literature on Prehistory.
Did Southeastern Europe develop a rudimentary system of writing in Neo-
Eneolithic times? (by Marco Merlini, Italy) (e-mail)
Merlini’s presentation inspects the internal structuring of the sign system
developed in Neo-Eneolithic times in the Danube basin exploiting a
database that accounts more than 3000 signs from 647 inscribed objects
and 756 inscriptions according to 118 variables. The statistics from the
database give new information to verify if these cultures might have
expressed an early form of writing (i.e. the so called “Danube script”) and
to investigate the organizing principles of this possible system of writing.
A specific notice will be done on the overall composition of the sign
inventory utilized by the communities of the Danube civilization (How
many hundreds of signs were in use? And which were they?), the
investigation of sign employment on objects according to their typology (i.
e. figurines, pots cult vessels, mignon altars, spindle whorls…), the
frequency of sign use with the regional differences and the time frame.
The origins of Chinese writing: signs and symbols in archaeological context
(by Paola Demattè, USA) (e-mail)
The earliest deciphered and widely accepted form of writing from China
are the late Shang dynasty oracle bones inscriptions (ca. 1300 cal bce).
While some scholars believe a number of inscriptions carved on ritual
bronze vessels, pottery, or jade may be slightly earlier (middle Shang, ca.
1500 bce), Chinese writing is generally said to have begun in the Shang
dynastic period (ca. 1600-1300 bce) during the Middle Bronze Age.
This understanding of the origins of Chinese writing is based on a purely
linguistic analysis of the writing phenomenon, which ignores the
archaeological context and associated socio-political evidence. As a result
of this linguist approach signs such as pot-marks, single graphs,
indecipherable inscriptions, and pottery decorations which existed before
the Shang period but whose exact linguistic value is still uncertain, are
ignored. However, these Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (ca. 3500-
2000 bce) signs suggest that signing activities were well developed before
full blown writing became widespread during the Shang period. In
addition, archaeological evidence indicates that mature writing evolved
from these earlier signing systems as a result of the increasing social and
political complexity of the societies of the Late Neolithic.
This paper will analyze as number of early signing systems which may
have led to the mature Chinese writing of the Shang oracle bone
inscriptions, and will argue that non-linguistic visual signing (from pot-
marks to pottery decorations or rock art) play a role in the development
of writing systems.
Ornament as a symbolic and social communication mean
(Structure, rhythm and meaning) (by Stefan Stamenov, Bulgaria) (e-
mail)
The analysis of the ornament requires destucturing two categories –
composition and rhythm. The former is connected with the category of
space, and the latter with the concept of time. It is well known that we
have structure (or composition) in every picture. It is not so with the
rhythm, which is considered specific for the art of ornament.
Investigating the structure of the ornament we can use the classical three
hierarchical levels – composition, motive, element. If the ornament is
geometrical the elements are represented by geometrical figures. Almost
every one of them has its meaning, considered as symbolic meaning. An
attempt to divide the elements to their presumable parts will lead to
appearing of meaningless strokes and curves. This can be an argument
that there is some level at which an image is able to transmit information.
At the same time, composing a motive or group of motives shows that
the location of the ornamental elements on the field forms patterns, that
has geometrical shapes, which is an argument that the composition itself
can’t be meaningless. It is also an argument that the ornamental
structure consists of two parts. First part is compounded of the motives
and elements that are painted on the surface. Second part consists of the
composition itself, the arrangement of the motives and elements on the
surface that forms shapes too, although not painted. The problem, which
arise here is about the arrangement of the ornamental elements. Can we
discover some rules that will predict this arrangement?
The other category, the rhythm, as it was mentioned is connected with
time. The main question here is how an unmoving picture can express
time. The widespread conception is that the rhythm, being repetition of
similar elements has connection with the time category, which can be
presented as a repetition of similar events ( natural or cultural ). But is
every repetition able to create rhythm? In my opinion it is not, because
the rhythm needs some regularity. Although the rhythm may be of the so-
called irregular type, it is in some way regular. And since the ornament is
a visual art, another question arises. Is the rhythm connected with the
shape of the elements and the composition of the ornamental picture. I
will try to argue that it is, and that this connection along with the logic of
building ornamental structure can give us clue to the meaning of the
ornamental picture.
The ornament was one of the strongest symbolic and social
communication means in Prehistory when it functioned to connect
communities and generations through reproduction of specific traditions or
innovations and was used for distribution even of coded messages.
Symbols of Power in the Prehistoric Society (According to the
Archaeological Findings from the Varna Eneolithic Necropolis) (by Stiliyan
Stanimirov, Bulgaria) (e-mail)
The Varna Eneolithic Necropolis is a lurid science discovery which
significance exceeds the limits of the Prehistory of modern Bulgaria.
The finds from the Necropolis have been curated in the Archaeological
museum in Varna city where they are arranged in three exhibit halls. The
larger part of the gold objects, as well as the most representative other
types of the findings belong to three graves only. The staffs or the
sceptres – a symbol of the temporal power or religious authority are a
distinguishing feature mark of those graves. Another group of three
graves have been represented by sculptures of human faces from clay (by
one in each grave). Gold subjects have been appliquéd on the distinctive
points of the face - the forehead, the eyes, the mouth and the ears, as
symbols of social power.
The discovered gold objects are more from 3 000 and are with a common
weight of over 6 kilograms. Unusually, their kind is over 38 different
types. There is a great number of the findings of the other materials.
Copper findings are over 160, flint - over 230, and near 90 objects are
made of rock and marble . A multitude of nearly 1 100 ornaments -
bracelets, beads and appliqués made of Mediterranean mollusks shells
were found. The chinaware is quite frequently found among the grave
inventory, too – over 650 earthen vessels.
The findings as type, placement and a quantity, the types of graves of
the Varna necropolis, the large complex of sunk settlements, and another
facts give reason as well it is accepted that in the Varna lakes region was
born the first European civilisation. It seems that the settlements near the
Varna lakes have been a center of a big region.
The graves from the Varna necropolis illustrate a range of social
othernesses in reference to the material status, the temporal power or
religious authority.
The Ceramic Jewelry in the Fifth Millennium Cal BCE (by Alenka Tomaz,
Slovenia) (e-mail)
Decorating the human body with different colours or ornamental items
such as jewellery has been one of the most common practices since the
earliest stage of the human civilization. We could say that it is old as are
the human beings themselves. The oldest examples of small artificial
personal ornaments were made from stones, shells, bones, antlers, etc.
However, with the boom of pottery production, one of the most important
technological innovations in the Neolithic period, and it wide use in the
everyday life, the production of adornments took a new turn. Personal
ornaments made of fired clay are relatively rare discovered from in the
Neolithic period and therefore deserve a special attention; especially
because they exhibit a series of elements, which can help us reconstruct
some specific social and cultural aspects of past.
At Catez–Sredno polje, which is located beside the Sava river in southern
Slovenia, small personal ornaments and other parts of ceramic jewellery
were discovered in settlement contexts dated from the first half of the
fifth millennium cal BCE. Beads of different shapes made from fired clay,
as well as perforated ceramic discs made from broken pots can be
recognized as parts of jewellery. In our approach we are introducing some
aspects of their production, use and distribution. And most importantly we
are exploring a range of possible visible and invisible elements of social
powers that make the personal ornaments what they are, embodying
something individual on the one hand, and something social, on the
other hand.
The Early Metal on the Territory of Belarus: Periods, Ways of Supply,
Cultural and Social Implications (by Mikola Kryvaltsevich, Belarus) (e-
mail)
The territory of Belarus is stretching from the Bug region and the Prypiats
catchment area to the Dzvina and the Upper Nioman regions and to the
Upper Dnieper, outlying copper and bronze minefields explored for early
raw-materials extraction.
First metal articles emerged in the Upper Dnieper region in the Middle-
Dnieper Culture (MDC) burials. The MDC burial complexes containing
copper and bronze articles date back to the end of III millennium BC –
1700 BC and are simultaneous with the period Br A1 (2350 – 1700 BC) of
the Central European Bronze Age. Initially in the Upper Dnieper region the
dominant role belonged to the metal coming from South-Eastern steppe
and forest-steppe zones, primarily from the Catacomb Culture
communities. Later, separate metal artefacts (including tin bronze ones)
started to come from the metal work centres around Carpathians. Metal,
as well as some other prestigious articles came from the communities of
around Carpathians epicorded cultural area. Basing on oblique data, one
can assume that separate articles could have been made directly by the
MDC population.
According to their functional use, the earliest metal articles detected on
the territory of South-Eastern Belarus fit in the categories of jewellery and
armour. Predominantly they are part of prestigious burial inventory
complexes and accompany dead males. Metal articles as well as other
rare imported artefacts (amber pendants, faience bead, sophisticated
stone articles made of imported raw materials etc.) acquired a symbolic
implication emphasizing a relatively high social status of certain dead
persons and kin groups they belonged to.
In other Belarusian regions, namely in Prypiats and Brest Palessie, the
Upper Nioman and the Dzvina regions one can trace only occasional
copper and bronze articles. The earliest of them could have been brought
from Central Europe at the end of I – II Bronze Age periods (according to
Northern European dating). The later spread of metal articles compared to
South-Eastern Belarus can be explained by the lack of need for metal as
an element of prestige. In this case it may signify that the communities
residing on this territory had long been characterized by egalitarianism,
preserving the traditional, sub-Neolithic mode of life.
From the III period of Bronze Age on metal articles penetrate to the
territory of Belarus with grater intensity. Part of them has analogies
among the articles of the Lusatian Culture. Supply routs of certain metal
articles are being established from Central Europe and Baltic region.
Nevertheless, bronze articles do not become abundant. These are mainly
armour and jewellery.
In general, socio-cultural life on the territory of Belarus in the epoch of
Central European Bronze Age was distinguished by a relatively long sub-
Neolithic period. Copper and bronze articles were not in large demand,
which makes one judge about certain peculiarities of social institutions’
development, some of which preserved conservatism and often remained
at the level of sub-Neolithic period. Probably, only with the rise of iron
industry utilizing local raw materials, one can observe the upsurge of
social and cultural life as well as building of fortified settlements – hill
forts.
Social differentiation in the Bronze Age of Romania.
An anthropological approach (by Alexandra Comşa, Romania) (e-mail)
The territory of Romania was an area of major changes during the Bronze
Age and that was due to the significant population movements which
occured at that time. They resulted in more intense mixtures among the
local and alogeneous communities, but also in relative changes of the
funerary rituals or the appearance of new ones. Besides, in some cases,
we consider that even the rite employed could be a rank mark of the
individual, of course, when considering the archaeological context.
Sometimes, the large families were grouped together, sometimes there
were other criteria for burials.
In our paper, we try to use data regarding the sex or age category of the
individuals, but also funerary aspects of ritual and rite, in order to point
out the existence of a certain social stratification in the material cultures
of the Bronze Age in Romania.
The Social Structure of the Communities, as Rendered by the Bronze Age
Cemeteries in Southern Romania (by Cristian Schuster, Romania) (e-mail)
It is, generally, considered that, the funerary monuments from the
prehistorical communities on the Lower Danube would reflect the social
stratigraphy in its various moments. This is the case of the cemeteries, of
the isolated Neolithic and Eneolithic burials. Subsequently, during the
transitional period to the Bronze Age, the situation was rather different in
this regard and not only. A cultural „crumble” could be detected, being
also reflected by the inventory of the burials. Many of the funerary
monuments lack the inventory. It is evident that the social structure
faced changes, determined by the intense mobility of the populations
(movements from the east to the west), of their economical life (a
sudden decrease in the plant cultivation and increase of the cattle
breeding activities) and of the religious beliefs.
These trends were also maintained in many of the cultural manifestations
of the Bronze Age. For the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (the
Zimnicea-Mlăjet group) a slight social differentiation could be observed in
the case of the funerary monuments, as examples being relevant the
necropolises from Zimnicea (Romania) and Batin (Bulgaria). Later on,
during the Glina culture, they completely disappeared. The situation was
somewhat identical in the Middle Bronze Age (during the Tei and
Verbicioara cultures), but the social stratification became evident and
nuanced especially in the Late Bronze Age (during the Gârla Mare culture).
Of course, the possible and probable social stratification which could be
detected by the use of the funerary monuments, should have been
corroborated with their traces in the habitat forms, namely: the features
of the settlements, their distribution upon a certain territory, their
architecture. The civilian and /or military constructions should be helpful in
this sense, the same like those with religious character.
In the analysis regarding the social structure of the communities in the
Bronze Age on the Lower Danube, the demographic dynamics, the
proportion between the „vernaculars” and the alogeneous, the cultural
influence directly or indirectly induced from the neighboring or remote
areas (northern Black Sea, Greece, Anatolia, Central Europe) could not be
neglected.
Problems of the Social Reproduction in the Pit Grave Culture communities
(by Svetlana Ivanova, Ukraine) (e-mail)
The long history of the Kurgan communities from the Early Bronze Age of
Northwest Pontic and respectively the traditions of the kurgan burials
provide a rich database for a detailed analysis of different aspects of the
social reproduction of the prehistoric population of Eurasia. As a result of
the study of the burial goods and changing dimensions of the tombs, we
will offer some criteria to distinguish social status from and within sex and
age groups.
We will point to the fact that the ritual burial goods and adornments are
linked with children, adolescents and young males. The data show that
the most various burial goods were deposited in male burials -
implements made of flint, stone, bone; metal knives, awls, weapons
(darts, bone and flint arrows), ritual burial goods (fragments of axes,
astragals), adornments (silver spirals, compound copper bracelets).
Implements, weapons and anthropomorphic steles are related to male
burials of mature and senile age. Some categories of burial goods are
common for males, females and children. As for chariots, their distribution
relates to all age groups.
The presence of children’s burials with specific categories of burial goods
perhaps testifies some aspects of inheritance of the social status; though
we believe that the social status was not steady in the Pit Grave society
and it varies through ages. Based upon the data from the Pit Grave
Culture, we will also discuss some opportunities to differentiate an
inherent and attained social status in Prehistory.
"Musical instruments of the Bronze Age Europe" : Sounds and Prestige
(by Tinaig Clodoré-Tissot, France)
Sounding artefacts and musical instruments have been found in Europe
(Central Europe, Scandinavia, and Occidental Europe) in different
archaeological contexts, for the Bronze Age period ( 2300/2100 B.C.-
750 B.C) . Most of these instruments are similar to the sounding
instruments of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, but for the
very first time musical instruments made of bronze do their
apparition, in the Bronze Age. Most of these bronze musical
instruments are considered as prestige goods. Archaeological analysis
of the main sites categories and the discovery contexts, in which
these instruments have been found, added to ethnological comparisons
helped us to understand the musical thought, the significance of
sounds and their uses during these periods.
I will present the sounds of a selection of instruments excavated in
Europe, such as bone flutes and whistles, clay rattles, clay and
bronze horns.
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EAA 2007 Zadar:
Photogalleries
Official opening
ceremony
Our favorites from
Zadar
What is Archaeological
Culture?
Problems of the Social
Reproduction
LBK Dialogue continues
Photogalleries
Official opening
ceremony
Our favorites from
Zadar
What is Archaeological
Culture?
Problems of the Social
Reproduction
LBK Dialogue continues
