The Neolithic And the Chalcolithic Periods in Northern Thrace

67 Pages·2016·6.82 MB·English

TÜBA AR VI (2Û03J
The Neolithic A nd the Chalcolithic
Periods in Northern Thrace
Neolitik ve Kalkolitik
Devirlerde Kuzey Trakya
•Vassil NİKOLOV
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Klasik tanımlamayla Trakya'nın tarihöncesi devirlerinde "Kuzey Trakya" diye
adlandırılan bölge, orta ve yukarı Meriç arasındaki havzayı ve bu nehrin kollan olan
Tunca ve Arda nehirlerini kapsar. Yerleşmelerde iki ana grup egemendir: düz
yerleşmeler ve höyükler. Bölgede bakır cevheıi ve çakmaktaşı gibi ham maddeler
oldukçu azdır. Rodop dağlarının doğusunda Son Kalkolitik Devre tarihienen küçük
tapınaklar mevcuttur.
Yazar bölgede yürütülen tarihöncesi araştırmaların tarihçesini irdelemekte. Doğu
Balkanlardaki Neolitik gelişimin başlangıcına ve Kuzey Trakya'nın Neolitik ve
Kalkolitik devirlere ait tarihlerinin güncelîeştirilmesîne dikkati çekmektedir. Ayrıca
çanak çömlek topluluğunun nitelikleri, evler yerleşme düzenleri, ölü gömme adetleri,
insan biçimli kaplar ve heykelcikler, pişmiş topraktan sunaklar ve ev ve/yahut tapınak
modelleri hakkında biigi verilmektedir. Gene Kuzey Trakya bölgesinde Neolitik ve
Kalkolitik süreçteki terimsel ayrımlar üzerinde durulmaktadır.
Northern Thrace1, a classic region for has been focused on the mounds, whose
prehistoric studies in Thrace, covers the dimensions (with height up to 18 m and
catchment area of the Lower and Middle diameters up to £50 m) make them the
Maritsa River, including its tributaries - most significant sources of diverse data
the Tundza and Aid a rivers. The basic Ne­ about the prehistoric period (Neolithic.
olithic and Chalcolithic sites types are Chalcolithic. Bronze Age),
the remains of settlements, classified in
two main groups: open-air settlements Three antiquity loving Frenchmen
and mounds (tells). The remains of raw conducted the first excavations of prehis­
material procurement (copper mines and toric sites İn Northern Thrace in the iate
flint deposits) are quite rare. In the Late 19th and the early £0th centuiy. However.
Chalcolithic, there were also small sanc­ V Mi kov initiated prehistoric research in
r
tuaries on several peaks of the Eastern the area by trenching tells Yunatsite (ne­
Rhodope Mountains. Until now. attention ar Pazarcık) and Vesselinovo (near Yam-
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bol) In the 1930s. In 1947-57, V. Mikov and cessible information about excavated si­
G. L Georgiev excavated a part of the Tell tes comes from Karanovo. Azmak, Jasate-
Karanovo (near Nova Zagora). In the 40*s pe. Kazanlık, Rakitovo. Çavdar. Muldava,
and P. Detev excavated the tell at Ka- Kap i tan Dimitrievo, Drama, and Hleboza­
.'in'-.
pilan Dimilrievo (near Pestuera). Jásale- voda. Tell Karanovo is the most impor­
pe (in Plovdiv), and Bikovo (near Nova Za­ tant of all since its stratigraphy is the ba­
gora). The 60's. 70"s. and the early 80's we­ sis for the Karanovo sequence. This sequ­
re a period in which the most intensive in¬ ence was established by V. Mikov and G.
vestigations in Northern Thrace took pla­ I. Georgiev. reworked by G, 1- Georgiev
ce. G- I. Georgiev thoroughly excavated (Georgiev 1961). and complemented by
Tell Azmak (near Stara Zagora) and Tell the author of this study (Nikolov 1997a;
Kazanlık as well as the multi-layer settle­ Nikolov 1997b: Nikolov 1998a) - based on
ment Çavdar (near Zlatitsa). M. Dimitrov the results of the continuing Bulgarian-
thoroughly excavated mound Çatalka (ne­ Austrian archaeological excavations (Hil¬
ar Çırpan) and trenched Tell Starozagors- ler, Nikolov 1997). The sequence includes
ki Mineralni Bani (near Stara Zagora). nine stages, the first six being related to
Tell Mftdreiz (near Radnevo). Tell Okrázh- the Neolithic, the next two - to the Chalco-
na Bolnitza in Stara Zagora. and the Kalo- lithic. and the last one to the Early Bron­
yanovetz open air settlement (near Stara ze age. The validity of the Karanovo sequ­
Zagora). P. Detev investigated a large part ence is applicable to nearly all parts of
of the Muldava open-air settlement (near Northern Thrace. Recently emerged evi­
Assenovgrad). E. Cernich and A. Radunc- dence proves, however, that a number of
heva explored the Aibunar copper mines specific features of the culture, which de­
near Stara Zagora. A. Raduncheva enti¬ veloped in the westernmost parts of the
rely excavated Rakotovo and the Sime- area, allow, at least for certain chronolo­
•novgrad open-air settlements, as well as gical periods, the differentiation of local
parts of mound Sedlare near Krumovg- cultural phenomena.
rad. and M. Kânçev partially excavated
the mound of Sâdievo (near Nova Zagora)
The Neolithic Period
and the Hlebozavoda open-air settlement
in Nova Zagora. The number of surveys
The conventional model of the Neolit­
decreased in the second half of the SO's
hic cultural phenomena in Northern
and 90 s- The excavations at Tell Karano­
Thrace was proposed by G. I. Georgiev in
vo (V, Nikolov and S. HiUer) and Tell Ka-
1959/1961 and includes four successive
pitan Dimilrievo were renewed. J. Llchar-
Neolithic periods that affected the entire
dus started the investigations of the Dra­
region. It positively influenced the way
ma micro-region near Yambo!. A. Radunc­
investigators have thought about the ge­
heva started the excavations at Dolnosiav
neral pattern of the Neolithic İn Southe­
Tell near Assenovgrad. The results of the
ast Europe, but excavations in the follo­
excavations would form a reliable basis to
wing two decades showed that the deve­
reconstruct the late prehistoric life-way
lopment of Neolithic culture in Thrace
patterns of the region. However, only
was much more varied than had been
short reports have been published on the­
previously outlined. The "dynamic" mo­
se excavations and this makes the comp­
del of the Neolithic in Thrace includes
lex study more difficult. There are no ge­
six stages (Nikolov 1993: 165-186; Nikolov
neral studies reflecting the most recent
1998a) and is presented in brief as fol­
activity in the study area.
lows:
The most important, comprehensive, Stage I. The Early Neolithic pottery as­
reliable and thoroughly or partially ac­ semblage almost covers the whole of
The Neolithic Hd ¡he Chalcoiithie- Periods
Thrace, i.e., nearly the whole catchment and tall cylindrical necks, hole-mouth
area of the Maritsa river as well as the jars with a relatively short neck, the wan¬
Upper Mesta region and (in its first pha nens with a slightly S-shaped profile or
se) the Sofia Basin. convex sides, jar-like bowls, bowls with a
rounded body, and semi-spherical plates
Stage II. The Early Neolithic Karano (the last three types are often on a short
vo II pottery assemblage develops in the cylindrical base).
northeastern part of Northern Thrace
(excluding the Kazanhk area), while the The Karanovo 11 Early Neolithic pot
development of Karanovo I culture conti tery assemblage in the northeastern
nues in the rest of the region. parts of Northern Thrace preserves al
most all the features of the previous peri
Stage III. The Middle Neolithic Froto- od, but the red slipped (and white pain
Karanovo III pottery assemblage covers ted) wares totally disappear. All other
the northeastern parts of Northern Thra technological groups and types continue
ce while the development of Karanovo I their development, though some display
culture continues in the rest of the regi certain specific features; at least one new
on. shape appears: a wanne on a pedestal ba
se. Fluted and channeled decorations are
also quite common.
Stage IV. The Late Neolithic pottery
assemblage, Karanovo III, exists in the
northeastern parts of Northern Thrace The Proto-Karanovo III Middle Neolit
while the development of Karanovo I cul hic pottery assemblage in the northeas
ture continues in the rest of the region. tern parts of Northern Thrace preserves a
lot of features typical for the preceding
Stage V. The Late Neolithic pottery as assemblage; the basic Early Neolithic wa
semblage Karanovo III-IV covers almost re types continue to exist. However, at le
all of Northern Thrace. ast two new shapes appear and soon spre
ad on a relatively wide area: they develop
Stage VI. The Late Neolithic pottery (though slightly modified) until the end
assemblage. Karanovo IV, covers the of the Neolithic. The flat-based tall
northeastern parts of Northern Thrace cylindrical mugs have a strip or stick-like
(east from the Kasanhk-Haskovo line), knobbed handle, the knob being conical,
while Kapitan Dimitrievo pottery assemb cylindrical, or with concave walls. The
lage develops in the western parts of dishes with relatively big rim diameters
Northern Thrace. have a slightly thickened rim that is eit
her undecorated or decorated with shal
low oblique channelling. There are also
The red slipped ware, sometimes pain
certain indications for the appearance of
ted white, is the most characteristic fe
small jugs. The new shapes have dark,
ature of the Karanovo I Early Neolithic
very well smoothed or burnished surfa
pottery assemblage in Northern Thrace.
ces. The decorative element are quite si
The rest of the fine (thin-walled) ware is
milar to the Early Neolithic ones - inci
gray or brown, well or very well smoot
sed, excised, pricked dots, channelled
hed, decorated with plastic ornaments or
and plastic ornamentation - though with
in some eases with Outings, incisions, or
certain peculiarities, e. g. vertical and es
a pattern of dots. The following shapes
pecially horizontal or oblique wide chan
are among the most typical for the pot
nelling covers the entire body of the ves
tery assemblage: tulip-shaped vessels on
sel, burnished bands filled with dots and
a pedestal base, flat-based tulip-shaped
compositions with such bands, round
beakers, vessels with a spherical body
• Thr minor UK* the rarman term Wuinc ml W»nnon| !• Ocmnhe . certain tj-jxr ..I a iij>lahi-Blded bowl. SLMW ihonr !• no BppioprUi* lorni Ln Mu
llah, the gentian word will be until In Llic text.
£4 Vassil NIKQM3V
plastic appliqués with a shallow finger ware is usually dark, very well smoothed
impression, plastic knobs, etc. The Proto- or burnished- The sophisticated decorati­
Karanovo III pottery assemblage is repre­ on techniques from the previous period
sented by two versions. The Karanovo II- continue but new ones appear as well
III variant is recorded in the northeas­ and the decoration gets more complica­
tern parts of Northern Thrace, and its ted. The re-production of tall mugs with a
range coincides with the range of the Ka­ tall vertical knobbed handle continues,
ranovo II cultural phenomenon: the Kara­ and is sometimes mushroom-shaped. The
novo II-IIl pottery assemblage shows the pear-shaped jugs with a tall vertical knob­
transition from Karanovo IT to Karanovo bed handle undergoes change; the body
III. Karanovo ITII is found only in Tell is often biconical and bigger than before;
Kazanlık, where Karanovo II culture does the vessels are flat based or on four legs
not develop; the Karanovo I-III pottery as­ of medium height. The tall vertical hand­
semblage possesses features typical for le has certain peculiarities; there is a
the transition from Karanovo I to III. plastic or channeled decoration on the
upper part of the mushroom-shaped knob
and/or on the handle itself. The thicke­
Together with the shapes from the
ned-rim dishes have four tall legs or very
preceding period, plates and bowls with
wide cylindrical pedestal bases; someti­
rounded sides and open and hole-mouth
mes the rim is slightly profiled upwards.
jars, the Karanovo III Late Neolithic pot­
The carinated plates are a new shape and
tery assemblage from northeastern parts
become a typical element of the discus­
of Northern Thrace also includes several
sed pottery assemblage. The carination is
specific significant pottery types that rep­
just below the rim; the rim is specifically
resent, mainly, the grey-black very well
profiled, sometimes with channelled de­
smoothed wares or burnished wares:
coration. The base is small and flat. Ho­
thickened-rim dishes on four tall cylind­
wever, some of these vessels are flared,
rical legs; deep bowls with thickened
have a complicated rim and a tall hollow
parts at the rim and a flat base; pear-sha­
pedestal with vertical rectangular ope­
ped jugs with tall vertical handles with
nings. Wannen are cylindrical or conical.
mushroom-shaped knobs, and flat-based
A new series of wannen appears and be­
On four short cylindrical legs; cylindrical
comes one of the most important charac­
mugs with tall vertical strips or stick-like
teristic features of the pottery assembla­
knobbed handles; cylindrical or conical
ge: the bowler-shaped hat wannen with a
wannen; biconical bowls, whose rounded
conical body and flared rim. often decora­
carination is in the middle of the body.
ted. The new bowls with biconical body
The decoration, incised or channeled, is
and a shorter upper part are also typical
mostly on the thickened part of dishes
for the assemblage- They usually have a
and on bowl rims. Plastic ornaments and
thickened carination and thinner rim.
incisions are relatively rare (on the exte­
and channeling sometimes covers the up­
rior surface of the vessel). The barrel-sha­
per body part. The bowls with cylindrical
ped bowl with a rough exterior surface,
upper and conical lower part are quite
decorated with impressions and plastic
massive and the upper part is sometimes
ornaments becomes an important signifi­
decorated with horizontal S-shaped reli­
cant shape.
ef. Deep bowls with almost cylindrical up­
per part and a vertical knobbed handle
The development of the aforementi­ appear. Shallow bowls, with an almost
oned shapes continues in the Karanovo cylindrical or carinated body on four tall
Ill-TV Late Neolithic pottery assemblage, cylindrical legs, are rare but a firm indi­
though some new shapes appear, but cator of the period.
they most often form a new series. The
The Neolithic and she Clutieolithtc Periods S3
The Karanovo IV Late Neolithic pot cm) and interwoven with (hazel) twigs;
tery assemblage in the eastern parts of both sides of the construction are daubed
Northern Thrace shares most of the featu with clay. The gabled roof was covered
res of the previous one: cylindrical wan¬ with straw or reed. The buildings in the
nen, tall knob handled pear-shaped jugs, settlements were used only as living pla
cylindrical mugs with tall knobbed hand ces though production activities were al
les, thickened-rim dishes sometimes on so performed there and. at least in some
four tall legs, barrel-shaped bowls with case, rituals related to the house cult.
plastic decoration, and carinated plates. The houses were square, rectangular or
The most typical vessels, however, are slightly trapezoid in plan and consist of
the conical plates with deeply incised de one. rarely two or extremely rare three ro
coration filled with white plaster on both oms. There was a small number of houses
exterior and interior sides, the biconical (at Tell Karanovo mainly) with a small ro
bowls, the jars with biconical bodies and om annex attached to one of the walls.
relatively tall necks (sometimes with two The houses were one-storey as a rule, but
opposite knobbed handles) and the jars recent evidence for two-story houses has
covered with channelling. This last ware come to light at Tell Karanovo and Tell
is dark and the surface is often coated Kapitan Dimitrievo. An earthen rampart
with a smeared reddish slip and most of protected some of the settlements. For so
ten burnished or polished. me parts of the overbuilt area, a precon
ceived plan was followed.
The Kapitan Dimitrievo IV Late Neolit
hic pottery assemblage in the western The richest evidence for Early Neolit
parts of Northern Thrace preserves a lot hic houses comes from TelE Karanovo (at
of the elements of the preceding Karano least 20 houses), from the South sector
vo III-IV assemblage. The ware is dark, mainly (Hiller 1997). Most of them were
black, grey-black or dark brown, very well square, rectangular, or slightly trapezo
smoothed or burnished, and rarely polis idal, and contained a single room, tho
hed. The most characteristic forms are ugh a few contained two rooms; one of
the carinated plates, the biconical bowls the houses was of the megaron type. The
with short upper part (in both cases the rest were square or rectangular, single-
carination is thickened and the exterior room or two-room (as an exception) but
upper part of the body is covered with with an annex. The area of the single-ro
channelling), deep or shallow thickened- om houses varied between 21-53 sq. m,
rim plates (the rim is often decorated with and the two-room houses varied between
channelling or incised and encrusted li 49-63 sq. m. The houses with an annex
nes), wannen with flared rims, conical were between 45-67 sq. m. The entrance
plates with straight or slightly concave si was usually in the southern or the eas
des (in some cases their interior surface tern wall (except the megaron-house,
is covered with incised wide lines), jugs whose entrance was at the western wall).
with tall handle (few examples), biconical The oven was usually close to one of the
jars with two strip handles, and big jars house walls; there were ovens in some of
with cylindrical neck and two small hand the annexes as well. The houses in the
les (Nikolov 1999b: tabl. 4-9), South sector were re-built in the same lo
cation or near the same location for cen
turies; they were situated along a street
The Neolithic architecture in. Nort
oriented NNE-SSW, ca. 2 m wide and pa
hern Thrace ts relatively well studied. All
ved with pebbles, sherds and animal bo
houses were built on the ground. The
nes. The houses in the Northeastern sec
walls were made of wooden (oak) posts,
tor were situated along two streets cros-
fixed in the ground (at a depth of 70-90
tfessi/ NIKOLOV
sing each other, oriented along the four groups of three or four and faced the
cardinal points, and paved as described northeast or the northwest. A cult struc
above (Georgiev 1961: 62). ture was found in one of them.
The earliest Early Neolithic villages at Part of a two-storey house was uneart
Tell Azmak were enclosed by an earthen hed in the Early Neolithic layer of Tell
rampart. The excavator (Georgiev 1967: Kapitan Dimitrievo (Nikolov 1999a: 14¬
¡46-148) wrote about 23 houses (most of 18). A big domed oven, a quern with a
them single-room), which varied between grinding stone to the side, and several
22-50 sq. m. The only exception was a big bins were found on the ground floor. The
three-room building (chain-like plan), re was at least one domed oven on the up
which had a total area of 109 sq. m and per floor. This is the earliest excavated
ovens in all premises. The interior walls two-story building in Southeast Europe.
of one square house were decorated with
a plastic geometric composition. A massi The four Early Neolithic houses exca
ve three-partial quern with a grinding sto vated at the multi-component settlement
ne was unearthed in another building. of Muldava were single-roomed houses,
Remains of ovens and clay bins were fo approximately square, and between 16-49
und in all houses. sq, m in size (Detev 1968: 13-41). They we
re built close to each other, and their di
The Early Neolithic layer of Tell Ok- agonals were oriented along according
razhna Bolnitza yielded the remains of the four cardinal directions.
two single-room houses adjoined; both
were destroyed by fire with their house Well-preserved houses at Tell Karano-
hold inventory intact. The total area of vo, in the Late Neolithic deposits, are re
the adjoined houses was 47 sq. m, and Che lated to the Karanovo III period. They we
entrances faced east. The numerous re destroyed by fire. The two houses exca
cylindrical bins, the quern, and the two vated in the Northeastern sector have
domed ovens were very well preserved. specific plans (Nikolov 1997c), The first
one was rectangular with a small annex
The Early Neolithic multi-layer settle attached to the eastern wall and a total
ment. Cavdar, was surrounded from its area of 46 sq, m: the main room consisted
three sides by an earthen rampart, whose of a rectangular room and an L-shaped
ends reached the bank of the adjacent ri "corridor" along its northern and wes
ver, protecting the forth side. The founda tern walls. The second house was rectan
tions (plans) of more than a dozen of ho gular, 57 sq. m; its interior was divided by
uses were unearthed, single-room and se two walls into a big room and two "corri
veral two-room, square, rectangular, and dors" along its northern and western
slightly trapezoidal in plan (Georgiev walls. Part of a big burnt two-story house,
1981: 69-81). Their area varied between rectangular in plan, was excavated in the
26-55 sq. m. The entrances faced south or N-S sector. The oven, the grinding stone
southeast, and the oven was usually at and the bins were on the second (residen
the opposite wall. tial) floor, supported by a great number
of posts. The ground floor had obviously
been used for economic activities since
The Early Neolithic multi-layer settle
no traces of structures or installations
ment at Rakotovo yielded the remains of
were found there.
at least 18 single and two-room houses,
being predominantly elongated and tra
pezoidal in plan, and vajying between 23¬ The Late Neolithic deposits of Tell Ka-
49 sq. m in size. They were arranged in zanhk (Karanovo III period) yielded the
27
The Neolithic and the Chalcolithic Periods
remains of four rectangular houses, var were related to several single burials, inc
ying between 38-51 sq. m. Three of them luding the rare case of a scull buried sepa
were single-room structures, and the rately from the body. There is an exclusi
forth one was a three-room structure ve group, the double burial of an adult
(chain-like plan) with an oven in one of and a child. The orientation of the bodies
the rooms. in the pit was obviously unregulated by
Neolithic burial rites; orientation in all di
rections was documented, with slightly
The excavations at the Hlebozavoda
more bodies aligned between the West
Late Neolithic open-air settlement. (Kara-
and the North. Children and old people
novo IV period) revealed 15 single and
were primarily buried in villages, with fe
two-room rectangular houses (three of
males prevailing among elderly individu
them being megaron-houses). oriented
als. There are veiy few burials of middle-
predominantly N-S, the entrances face so
aged people. The selection of people buri
uth (Kangev. Kangeva 1988). The two-ro
ed within the village could be related to
om houses had an oven in one of the ro
certain aspects of the prevailing religi
oms only. The area of the houses varied
ous-mythological system; old farmers pro
between 27-54 sq, m and were situated
bably believed that the bodies of deceased
either in groups or at a certain distance
children had to remain in the village to
from each other.
quickly facilitate reincarnation, and the
souls of respectable adult members of the
It is hard to estimate how long a Ne
community had to likewise remain in the
olithic house might have been used; it is
village to help or protect their living rela
commonly thought to be a period between
tives. However, another theory also seems
30-50 years. One thing is for sure, the pe
reasonable; individuals of lower status
riodic reconstruction of the settlement
(mostly children and women) were buried
was carried out only if the settlement was
within the village; higher status individu
destroyed or abandoned. Every building
als were buried in a different way that re
was renewed after its destruction (intenti
quired greater effort and care. Quite a few
onal or otherwise) in the same place and
burial goods were found in graves, and al
following the same approximate plan.
most all, without exception, in the graves
of adults; there was only one object as a
About seventy Neolithic burials were rule (a vessel, a bone pin. a flint tool) and.
documented in Northern Thrace 3. All of quite rarely, several grave goods (a vase
them were found within the settlements, and a grinding stone, a bead and a pebb
between houses as a rule, though someti le, bone pins and beads; bone awls and a
mes beneath house floors. The burials (in stone ball). No Neolithic cemeteries were
humations in a flexed position) were in found in Northern Thrace- Where and
small and shallow grave pits (in some ca how all the other thousands of inhabi
ses garbage pits were reused); the body tants of the area were buried is a question
placed most often on its side (left or right) still awaiting an answer.
and, quite rarely, on its back. The excepti
ons were burials where the body was pla
ced in a flexed position on its abdomen, It is impossible to discuss all aspects
in an extended position on its back, and of Neolithic culture in Northern Thrace
in an extended position on its abdomen. within the framework of this paper. 1 will,
Two graves were excavated at Tell Kara- therefore, mention just a few more ele
no vo. containing skeletal remains of ments.
many individuals, and in no anatomic or
der (i.e.. collective secondary burials).
Most of the Early Neolithic anthropo
There is evidence that secondary burials
morphic vessels have a nearly spherical
• IT,. • . : , i ,- ii 1 OB dM* collected by K. B«v»n™. [B*cann Iflfll] milium I unKFaleM
Vasstl NIKQLQV
lower body and a tall relatively narrow (Georgiev 1967: Abb. 7a). A relief band
neck. The details are then modelled in outlines the upper part of the fane, the
relief. The face is always depicted just nose and the eyebrows are also modeled
below the rim. The nose and the eyeb­ in relief, and the eyes are depicted by
rows are in relief, and the eyes are usu­ oval finger impressions. There are two
ally marked by incision. In some cases, vertical incisions below the nose that gi­
the face is shaped in relief and stands ve grounds to interpret the image as a fe­
against the surface as if attached to the male one.
neck by applique. The mouth is rarely
marked. Sometimes two or more vertical The main iconographic type of the
öt oblique parallel lines are incised be­ Early Neolithic anthropomorphic clay fi­
low or around the eyes. A vase presents gurines is a female figure with massive
the richest evidence from Tell Kazanlık buttocks, the legs joined or slightly set
(Georgiev 1972: Taf. VI, 3). Besides the fa­ apart, the upper part of the body is relati­
ce, the breasts, the vulva, and the arms vely short, narrow, and oval or flattened.
had been shaped. One of the hands po­ The upper part of the head is flat, and the
ints to the genitals, and the other is ra­ main features on the face are usually the
ised upwards. Within the context of the relief nose and the incised eyes. The pu­
Mother-Earth (the anthropomorphic ves­ bic triangle is also marked. In many ca­
sels are related to the cult of the Mother- ses the figurines have flat feet and could
Earth), this pose could be interpreted as stand upright. Some figurines have their
a request to the Sky God for a matrimoni­ upper torso slightly bent forward. All fi­
al alliance, i.e.. the birth or harvesting of gurines described are made of three
a new crop. parts: the two buttocks were modelled se­
parately and then joined, and the upper
part of the body was added later. The
An anthropomorphic vessel of unusu­
arms are sometimes omitted. Often they
al shape was found at Tell Jasatepe and is
are depicted as two relatively short hori­
related to the Late Neolithic (Georgiev
zontal stumps. There are figurines with
1961: Taf. XIIL 2). Its body consists of a
arms quite naturalistic ally rendered, the
tall cylindrical neck turned downward in­
right hand is behind the body and reac­
to two arched pipes (maintaining the
hes the haunch, and the left one is in
neck diameter), both of which reach the
front and. holds the belly up (Georgiev
oval flat base. The central part of the
1961: Abb. 3. 1). The buttocks of the figu­
body remains hollow. The anthropomorp­
rines are sometimes decorated with pa­
hic face (a relief nose and eyes-incisions)
rallel-incised lines Or dots. The upper
is modeled below the rim.
part of the figurines is undecorated. The
only exceptions are several figurines
Another type of anthropomorphic ves­
with an incised line or zigzag below the
sel is extremely rare and is related to the
relief nose. This element, and some other
Early Neolithic. The only vessel, entirely
features, closely relates the figurines to
preserved, came from Rakitovo (Matsano-
the anthropomorphic Early Neolithic va­
va 1996: tab. 6, 1). It is a standing hollow
ses. The figurines should be Interpreted
st eat opy go us anthropomorphic figure
In a similar way. i. e. as images of the
with a short upper body. The vessel is red
Mother Goddess. The Early Neolithic fi­
slipped and white-painted. A relief nose
gurines are fragmented in almost all ca­
is modeled below the rim. The hands are
ses. Since they were made from three
on the abdomen.
parts they could easily be broken under
certain circumstances, e.g.. during certa­
An anthropomorphic face is modeled in rituals.
on an Early Neolithic pot from tell Azmak
Tha Neolithic unit the Chaicoiilhic Periods SO
The second Early Neolithic iconog- se, and the eyes are sometimes marked
rap hie type includes figurines with a by incisions or (2) widened a little toward
massive conical or prismatic schematic a cylindrical neck, and the face is mode
body, made of one piece of clay. These fi led by two concave surfaces, the eyes are
gurines present a schematic standing hu modeled in relief. Sometimes the hair is
man body with some indications of anth marked on the back of the cylindrical he
ropomorphic features. The upper part is ad (with horizontal incisions). Two plas
flattened and the hair is usually marked tic knobs mark the breasts and the trian
by incision. The eyes and the relief nose gular stumps-arms are sometimes hori
are also rendered, and there are finger zontally perforated. This main iconograp
impressions or vertical strokes below the hie type is usually covered with rich de
face. The breasts are sometimes model coration, incisions and/or dots. The pubis
led. The lower part of the body is decora is often indicated (the vulva is sometimes
ted with parallel incised lines. marked with a lozenge), and the neckline
is marked by incisions. Incisions or
bands with dots decorate the lower part
The Early Neolithic figurines made of
of the figurine. A relatively rare version
white marble are relatively rare and rep
of this type has quite naturalistically ren
resent a standing female anthropomorp
dered lower part of the body, a more ro
hic figure. The lower part is usually roun
unded upper part and a cylindrical head.
ded and the Legs are slightly set apart.
One of the best specimens of this version
The waist is relatively slender, the arms
(from Tell Karanovo) represents a her
are two horizontal stumps, and the head
maphrodite (Georgiev 1961: Abb. 3. 2): be
is cylindrical and rounded. A figurine
side the breasts the male and female ge
from Tell Azmak (Georgiev 1967: Abb, 11)
nitals are modeled. The figurine is deco
is elaborated very carefully; it has massi
rated with brown paint. Beside the relief
ve buttocks and the pubis triangle is inci
nose, the eyes (and the eyelashes) and
sed.
the eyebrows are indicated. The hair is
marked, and a kind of braid or hanging
The seated anthropomorphic figuri
ornament is attached to It. A wide belt,
nes are very rare in the Early Neolithic.
decorated with hanging ornaments, en
They represent women. The lower part of
circles the waist. A second hermaphrodi
a figurine from Tell Karanovo is decora
te figurine was found recently (at Tell Ka-
ted with dark paint.
pitan Dimitrievo). The upper part of the
body is flat and widened, the legs are
The second Late Neolithic monograp slightly set apart, the breasts and the ma
hic type includes cylindrical or prismatic le genitals are modeled.
anthropomorphic figurines. They have
relatively small dimensions and are very
schematic. The face consists of a relief The third Late Neolithic iconographie
nose and incised eyes. The hair is often type unites the relatively naturalistic se
indicated, and the body is sometimes de ated female figurines that appear in this
corated with incisions. period. They are very few in number, but
their appearance indicate a change in be
The lower part of the Late Neolithic fi lief about the Mother Goddess. The first
gurines is schematized as a rule, the legs version is represented by female figures
are added later. The waist is indicated sitting on a movable chair (a rounded ob
and the upper torso is wider and relati ject), and the second, in which the chair
vely flat, rounded, or modeled with two is modelled inseparably from the female
short triangular stumps. The head is: (1) body. The legs are always joined toget
elongated and cylindrical with a relief no her, the upper torso is rounded, the arm-
in Vassil NIKOI.OV
stumps rendered, and the head is cylind ges most probably represent the Mother
rical. The most exquisite representatives Goddess.
of this group are two figurines from Tell
Karanovo and. Drama. The first figurine The Neolithic tripods (altars) consist
has a very tall cylindrical head with a re of bowls elevated by three or (as an excep
lief nose and rich, red and brown painted tion) four legs (Vandova 1997). They are
decoration. The breasts and the pubic tri made of clay, shaped as an equilateral tri
angle are marked. The breasts and the angle (only a few pieces are square). The
knees of the second figurine (Fob Katin- outer surface of the tripods is usually de
carov. Lichardus 1989: Taf. 35) are mar corated with incisions or dots, almost al
ked by relief knobs, the nose and the ears ways filled with white matter. The inner
are also modelled in relief. There is a surface and the lower part of the receptac
shallow hole at the top of the cylindrical le are very often painted white (a symbol
head. of fertility). The described female relief
images on big vases are of crucial impor
tance for the understanding of the tri
The first male figurines appear in the
pod's denotation. There is an obvious pa
Late Neolithic period. The denotation of
rallel between these images and every
these images was probably a man of high
single side of the tripod. The anthropo
social status (a tribal chieftain?), wors
morphic images are related to the Mother
hipped while still living, or as a spirit-pat
Goddess, which enables the interpretati
ron. Unfortunately, not one single whole
on of the tripods as a symbol of the Mot
male figurine is preserved, and several
her Goddess's womb. Two versions of this
well-elaborated heads are interpreted as
tripod could be regarded as a good illust
male.
ration of such an interpretation: tripods
with a convex-shaped central part of the
Several marble female figurines came
lower edge, and the ones with a "han
from the Late Neolithic sites. They repre
ging'' middle part of the receptacle.
sent a standing female figure with folded
arm. The heads of the two figurines from
Tell Jasatepe (Detev 1976: obr. 54) are The so-called "sling bullets" are quite
cylindrical and absolutely schematic, the common at the Neolithic sites. They are
pubic triangle and the line separating the relatively small objects with an elongated
legs are marked by incisions. The but symmetrically rounded biconical shape
tocks are fat and the upper part of the or oval and elongated with slightly poin
body is flat. The preserved torso of the fi ted ends. They are made of clay and are
gurine from tell Kazanhk (Katingarov well fired, and their cross-section is ro
1969) seems to have been elaborated very und or oval. The objects are usually re
carefully. garded as sling (bolas) "bullets" but the
traditional interpretation could hardly
The Early Neolithic is the time when explain why the "sling bullets" are often
relief anthropomorphic images appear found in groups (up to 15-20 pieces) near
on the exterior surface of certain ceramic the oven or quern of Neolithic houses.
vases. They represent standing female fi These objects are probably seed models
gures with their legs thrown open and and were used in certain rites of the Ne
the triangle between them marking the olithic farmers, probably in the ritual
vulva. The arms are in various positions: cycle, related to the sowing of cereals.
raised up in a gesture of adoration, one
hand raised up and the other on the abdo A big Early Neolithic vase in the sha
men (pointing to the vulva sometimes), pe of a deer came from the multi-layer
or both arms point down. The relief ima settlement of Muldava (Detev 1968: obr.