Neolitni kultovi masički:
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | Bulgarian |
| Published: |
Sofija
Bălgarska Akad. na Naukite, Nacionalen Archeologičeski Inst. s Muzej
2007
|
| Edition: | 1. izd. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Inhaltsverzeichnis Abstract |
| Item Description: | In kyrill. Schr., bulg. - Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Neolithic altars |
| Physical Description: | 266 S. zahlr. Ill. |
| ISBN: | 9789549158755 |
Staff View
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| 100 | 1 | |a Nikolov, Vasil |d 1951- |e Verfasser |0 (DE-588)13954335X |4 aut | |
| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a Neolitni kultovi masički |c Vasil Nikolov |
| 250 | |a 1. izd. | ||
| 264 | 1 | |a Sofija |b Bălgarska Akad. na Naukite, Nacionalen Archeologičeski Inst. s Muzej |c 2007 | |
| 300 | |a 266 S. |b zahlr. Ill. | ||
| 336 | |b txt |2 rdacontent | ||
| 337 | |b n |2 rdamedia | ||
| 338 | |b nc |2 rdacarrier | ||
| 500 | |a In kyrill. Schr., bulg. - Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Neolithic altars | ||
| 650 | 0 | 7 | |a Altar |0 (DE-588)4001381-9 |2 gnd |9 rswk-swf |
| 650 | 0 | 7 | |a Funde |0 (DE-588)4071507-3 |2 gnd |9 rswk-swf |
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| 856 | 4 | 2 | |m Digitalisierung BSB Muenchen |q application/pdf |u http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=015961980&sequence=000004&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |3 Abstract |
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Record in the Search Index
| _version_ | 1806052586933977088 |
|---|---|
| adam_text |
7
СЪДЪРЖАНИЕ
Въведение
.9
I.
Неолитни култови масички: представяне на находките и класификация
.13
II.
Неолитни култови масички: териториално-хронологически особености
и тенденции в развитието
.81
III.
Неолитни култови масички: опит за интерпретация
.105
Приложение: Халколитни култови масички: публикувани находки
.113
Цитирана литература
.129.
Summary
.137
Табла
1 - 110.155
137
Vassil Nikolov
Neolithic Altars
Summary
Introduction identified according to the position of the
An "altar" is a comparatively small
ce-
receptacle: sunken, semi-sunken and raised,
ramie artifact, which represents a three-sided
ЂР^
can also be distinguished according to
or four-sided receptacle (or platform) sup- me shaPe ofme receptacle,
ported in a horizontal position on three or four Each Neolithic altar of the first and sec-
feet, respectively. These "altars" are element ond &onP has three or four feet (UPt0 me
wałl
of the material culture discovered at the
Neo-
level)>three or four walls' respectively (from
lithic and Chalcolithic sites in Bulgaria (and
Ље
foot level to the uPPer rim of the artifect)
also all over southeast Europe) but probably
азза
a receptacle (three-sided, four-sided, with
because of their fragmentary state in the mo-
Ы^ЫУ
rounded corners or simPlY circular). A
ment
of the excavations, as well as their com- Neolithic altar of the third and fourth group
plex
interpretation, until now they have not has three or four high feet, a weakly or strongly
been an object of extensive research. expressed platform and a circular receptacle.
Altars appeared as a theme in scientific The Neolf1C altars, of ?he first
^0
. ,
ii
.
j
л
groups are usually covered with ornamenta-
hterature about a century ago and are often
.
\
.
J
.
. ,
j
, · 11·
i.· r
ι ι·ι
tion.
In order to represent that ornamentation
included in publications of archaeological
, , . . ., .-
,.,,,
tit
·■ ·
more clearly, it is necessary to identity orna-
matenal but as a rule the descriptions are m-
, ,
ти и
· *
ι
, , ,
.,, . ■,.
™ ,
mental zones. The basic ornamental zones are
complete and the illustrations are difficult to ag
ш^ %ы
foot ^ mU zQne (with
use. Certain authors make an exception to this threepossible sectors)j
Ш(Ше
upperrimzone,
rule, wh!ch is mainly due to the better graphic
Ље
zone of pkstic representations above the
representation of the artifacts. Attempts have upper rim md the 2one of the ]ower recepta.
been made at a formal classification though cle side_ The
Neolitic
altars of the third and
based on a limited archaeological material. fourth
&ααρ5
are
rarQÌy
ornamented, mainly
Many attempts have also been made to inter- on
Ље
side
Q¿ges
of the feet and, as an excep-
pret these artifacts but no evidence has so far
χ[οη^ οη
the front part,
been provided. This author has advanced the xhe Neolithic altars are made of clay;
idea that the altars with sunken receptacles can only one early Neolithic altar from Kremiko-
be interpreted as a symbol of the lower body vtsi (in the Sofia basin) is made of soft stone,
and the womb of the Mother Goddess and the At least six production techniques for these
altars with raised receptacles represent the fe- clay artifacts have been recorded so far.
male womb carried or protected by a bull. According to their size, the altars can be
The general formal classification of the classified as small artifacts in the early farm-
Neolithic altars from Bulgaria should involve ing material culture. The largest width (length)
four groups: three-sided, four-sided, three- they reach is usually between
12
and
20
cm
footed and four-footed; each groups should whereas their height is smaller. However,
include three theoretically feasible series smaller and larger altars have been recorded.
138
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
The main aim of this study is to provoke
active interest in a group of "forgotten" Neo¬
lithic artifacts from Bulgaria with a probable
ritual function. This study is far from being
exhaustive since the search at museum repos¬
itories and the consideration of all data, par¬
ticularly data on the partially preserved altars
from the Neolithic in Bulgaria, is a demand¬
ing task that requires the long-term efforts of
many experts. However, I argue that the in¬
vestigation carried out has led to the develop¬
ment of an approach to the clay altars, which
could be used as a background when evaluat¬
ing new assemblages thus bringing out com¬
parable results. I am far from pretending that
the approach proposed is absolutely new, suf¬
ficiently complete and not liable to further de¬
velopment. My contribution should be sought
in attempting to summarize certain methodo¬
logical elements of the studies devoted to al¬
tars from northwest Anatolia and southeast
Europe as well as directing the attention to
the structural patterns applied in creating dec¬
orations. On this basis, I can see a possibility
to use the altars as a relevant element in the
chronological picture of the Neolithic in Bul¬
garia and as a source for the study of the early
farming religio-mythological system.
I. Neolithic altars: systemati-
zation and classification
Scientific literature offers a collection
of photos and drawings of about
400
complete
or partially preserved Neolithic altars from
Bulgaria. A large portion of these illustrations
is difficult to use, especially the photographs.
As a rule, descriptive evidence on these finds
is either not available or limited. Many more
altars come from the excavations of Neolithic
sites than have been published.
A great number of the already published
fragments of Neolithic altars from Bulgaria
have been lost or are not easily accessible.
Therefore, the present study makes use only
of their figures. Unpublished altar assem¬
blages have served however as the basis for
writing this book. They come mainly from
excavations carried out by this author as well
as from excavations made by other archae¬
ologists. The assemblages investigated come
from the Neolithic sites at Eleshnitsa near
Ra¬
zlog,
the Neolithic site of Sofia-Slatina, the
Neolithic site of Sapareva Banya-Kremenik,
the Neolithic layers of Tell Karanovo near
Nova
Zagora
and Tell
Kapitan
Dimitrievo, the
Neolithic site of Lyubimets
-
Dana
Bunar,
the
Neolithic site of Saedinenie-Hotal near Kar-
nobat, Tell Kazanlak and the Neolithic site of
Rakitovo. Of greater relevance for this study
are also the altars from Tell Vesselinovo near
Yambol, the Neolithic site of Drama-Ger-
ena near Yambol, the Neolithic site of Nova
Zagora-Hlebozavoda, the Neolithic layer of
Tell Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe, the Neolithic site
of Chavdar near Pirdop, Tell Chelopech
-
Gi-
nova
mogiła
near Pirdop, the Neolithic site of
Kovačevo
near Sandanski, the Neolithic lay¬
ers of Vaxevo near Kyustendil, the Neolithic
site of Galabnik near Radomir, etc.
Further in this chapter the altars are rep¬
resented by sites according to the valid perio-
dization of the Neolithic and by geographical
regions: Thrace and the Rhodope Mountains,
west Bulgaria, central and northeast Bul¬
garia. A formal classification has been made
for each assemblage according to the above
matrix as well as a classification of the orna¬
mental patterns used for decorating the sides
of the altars. Usually all sides of the altars are
decorated with the same pattern.
II. Neolithic altars: spatial and
chronological patterns and devel¬
opment trends
The source material available for this
study shows considerable irregularity and in¬
equality in terms of both amount and informal
value in the various parts of the study area.
From the territories north of the Balkan Range,
published material was mostly used. The altar
assemblages of Neolithic sites such as Sam-
ovodene, Ovcharovo-Gorata, Podgoritsa,
Drinovo-Reservata and Asparuhovo-Usoe are
Summary
139
also very likely to prove sufficiently informal
though they have not been published and are
difficult to access. The territories south of the
Balkan Range are represented by multiple and
more informal assemblages, some of them be¬
coming objects of scientific research for the
first time. These are the assemblages from the
Neolithic sites of Lyubimets, Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda, Saedinenie-Hotal, Eleshnitsa,
Rakitovo (partly), Chavdar (partly),
Slatina,
and particularly,
S
apareva
Banya-Kremenik,
as well as from the tells of Karanovo (partly),
Kazanlak and
Kapitan
Dimitrievo. The altars
from Tell Azmak remain completely unknown
and the assemblages from Drama-Gerena and
Kovačevo,
which are being analyzed and in
the course of being published, as well as those
from Balgarchevo and Galabnik, are insuffi¬
ciently represented. Taking into account the
picture outlined above, any attempt at gen¬
eralizations would be untimely. In fact, due
to the highly fragmented state of the altars,
each aspect of their synthesis would reach a
different level of reliability. Since the shape
is much easier to restore on the basis of the
usually single fragments of altars available
in comparison with the ornamental pattern,
the data from the formal classification are
expected to be considerably more complete
than those obtained from the classification of
the decoration. Moreover, the altar shapes are
limited in number whereas a great variety of
ornamental patterns exist.
Formal synthesis
The artifacts analyzed hi the previous
chapter allow me to present the following for¬
mal classification and the respective spatial
distribution of the identified groups of altars
by periods:
Early Neolithic. This period offers a
great variety of altar shapes.
I. Three-sided altars
The most common early Neolithic altar
group in Bulgaria.
Λ
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most widespread type of early Neo¬
lithic altars. There is not a site
ofthat
period,
in any part of Bulgaria, where these have not
been recorded.
lb. Receptacles with highly rounded in¬
ner corners
These have been recorded as single finds
at Rakitovo, Eleshnitsa, Vaxevo and Galab¬
nik, i.e. in the areas along the upper course of
the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
le.
Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at Rak¬
itovo, Eleshnitsa, Vaxevo, Kraynitsi, Galab¬
nik and Kremikovtsi, i.e. again in the areas
along the upper course of the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
2.
Three-sided altars with semi-sunken
receptacles
2a. Three-sided receptacles
This type is represented by a single find
from Kazanlak only.
2b. Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at
Eleshnitsa and
Perník,
i.e. again in the areas
along the upper course of the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
2c. Cylindrical receptacles
Single finds come from Rakitovo, i.e.
again in the areas along the upper course of
the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
3.
Three-sided altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The only artifact of this type comes
from Karanovo.
II. Four-sided altars
This is the second most common formal
early Neolithic altar group in Bulgaria.
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
This is the most common type of the
group. It can be found as an exception in the
eastern parts of Thrace with single artifacts
(Karanovo and Kazanlak). The main distribu¬
tion area comprises the westernmost parts of
Thrace, the upper
Mesta,
the middle and up-
140
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
per Struma
as well as the territories between
the rivers
Iskar
and Skat.
lb. Circular receptacles
The only artifact of this type has been
found at Eleshnitsa.
2.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
2a. Four-sided receptacles
The only altar of this type comes from
Kardzhali.
2b. Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at
Eleshnitsa, Pernik, Kremikovtsi, Sofia-Sla-
tina and
Pobit
Karnak,
i.e. in the areas along
the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
as well as in the
Sofia basin.
2c. Cylindrical receptacles
The only known altar of this type was
found at Galabnik.
3.
Four-sided altars with raised circular
receptacles
Kardzhali is the only site in the eastern
parts of Thrace where this series has been re¬
corded. Almost all the remaining altars of this
group come from Rakitovo, Kraynitsi, Sofia-
Slatina, Tsakonitsa and Ohoden, i.e. in the ar¬
eas along the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
as well
as the territories between the rivers
Iskar
and
Skat. The altar from Koprivets is the only find
of this series in northeast Bulgaria.
III. Three-footed altars
This is the rarest early Neolithic formal
group in Bulgaria.
1.
Three-footed altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The only find of this series has been re¬
corded at
Kovačevo.
IV. Four-footed altars
This is the third most common but very
instructive early Neolithic altar group in Bul¬
garia.
1.
Four-footed altars with semi-sunken
circular receptacles
The only altar of this series comes from
S aedinenie-Hotal
.
2.
Four-footed altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The single artifacts found come from
two geographical areas: the eastern parts of
Thrace (Kardzhali and
S
aedinenie-Hotal) and
the upper
Iskar (Sofia-Slatina
and Rebarko-
vo).
The formal classification of early Neo¬
lithic altars and the spatial distribution of each
group involved in Bulgaria outline a varied
picture. In fact, this variety does not apply to
the entire study area.
In the central and eastern areas of Bul¬
garia
-
a region bordered on the west approxi¬
mately by the line that zigzags immediately
east of the rivers
Mesta
and
Iskar
-
the three-
sided altars with sunken three-sided recepta¬
cles dominated in the early Neolithic. Single
artifacts of other formal groups have been re¬
corded as exceptions which can be found ei¬
ther only in that area (three-sided altars with
semi-sunken three-sided receptacles (I.2a),
Kazanlak; four-sided altars with semi-sunken
circular receptacles (IV.
1),
Saedinenie-Hotal),
or are common in the western region but can
also be found in the eastern region (four-sided
altars with sunken circular four-sided recep¬
tacles (II.la), Karanovo and Kazanlak; four-
sided altars with raised circular receptacles
(II.
3),
Kardzhali and Koprivets; four-footed
altars with raised circular receptacles (IV.2),
Kardzhali and Saedinenie-Hotal).
In the western parts of Bulgaria
-
an
area which geographically belongs to the
Central Balkans
-
the three-sided altars with
sunken three-sided receptacles are also domi¬
nating in this early Neolithic artifact category.
Instructive for the western area however are
various four-sided altar types or altars with
circular receptacles (including receptacles
with rounded corners or cylindrical recepta¬
cles) or with both features: three-sides altars
with sunken receptacles with highly rounded
inner corners (Lib) or with circular recepta¬
cles (Lie); three-sided altars with semi-sunk¬
en circular (I.2b) or cylindrical (I.2c) recepta¬
cles; four-sided altars with sunken four-sided
(II.la) or circular (II.lb) receptacles; four-
sided with semi-sunken circular (II .2b) or
су-
Summary
141
Iindrical (11.2c) receptacles; four-sided altars
with raised circular receptacles
(11.3);
three-
footed altars with raised circular receptacles
(III.
1 );
four-footed altars with raised circular
receptacles (IV.2).
An important problem is posed by
the presence of single altars in the eastern
distribution area which belong to a formal
type common in the western area. I refer to
the above formal types from Karanovo and
Kazanlak (II.la), from Kardzhali (II.
3
and
IV.2), Saedinenie-Hotal (IV.2), and Kopriv-
ets (II.
3).
And whereas the contact routes be¬
tween the northeastern parts of Thrace and
the eastern Rhodope Mountains on the one
hand and the western area on the other hand
could be hypothesized to have run directly
through Thrace, the presence of the altars
from the other two sites is probably due to
contacts with the territories north of the Dan¬
ube. All other exceptions in Thrace
-
Kazan¬
lak (I.2a), Kardzhali (11.2a) and Saedinenie-
Hotal (IV.
1) —
are likely to have been local
innovations.
Middle Neolithic. Both assemblages of
this period include a limited number of altar
shapes:
I. Three-sided altars
L
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most common altar type in the re¬
spective layers of Karanovo and Kazanlak.
II. Four-sided altars
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
These are represented in the respective
layers of Karanovo and Kazanlak.
During the short middle Neolithic, no
essential changes occurred in the altar shapes
in the northeastern parts of Thrace. Only the
aforementioned single "exotic" shapes, result¬
ing from local innovations or contacts with
the western areas, are not found any more.
Late Neolithic. Despite the great
number of investigated altars of this period,
the number of shapes is more limited than in
the early Neolithic:
I. Three-sided altars
The most common late Neolithic altar
group in Bulgaria.
I.
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most common late Neolithic altar
type. There is not a site of this period, in any
part of Bulgaria, where these have not been
recorded.
II. Three-sided altars with one shorter
side and sunken three-sided receptacles
A new altar group that appeared in the
last phase of the late Neolithic. They were
spread both in Thrace
(Ezero
and Karanovo,
Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda) and the upper
Mesta (Eleshnitsa)
and
Strama (Damyanitsa
and Sapareva
Banya)
rivers.
III. Four-sided altars
The second most important late Neo¬
lithic formal group in Bulgaria.
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
The most common type of this group. It
has been recorded both in Thrace (Karanovo,
Kazanlak, Chavdar, Chelopech, and Lyu-
bimets
-
Dana
Bunar
and Nova
Zagora
-
Hle¬
bozavoda) and the upper
Strama
and Ogosta
rivers.
2.
Four-sided altars with semi-sunken
receptacles
2a. Circular receptacles
The only artifact of this type comes
from Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe.
3.
Four-sided altars with raised circular
receptacles
The only altar of this series comes from
Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda.
IV. Four-footed with raised circular re¬
ceptacles
This formal group is represented by a
single find from Lyubimets
-
Dana
Bunar.
The late Neolithic three-sided and four-
sided altars with
sunln
receptacles that
fol-
142
Васил Николов
—
Неопитни култови масички
low the shape of the altars
(Lia;
III.la) are
the most common types although the second
type is almost unknown between the Balkan
Range and the Danube. The three-sided altars
with one shorter side and sunken receptacles
that follow the shape of the altars (II) appear
in the last phase of the late Neolithic only in
the territories south of the Balkan range. In
fact, this is the only Neolithic formal altar
group having an intentionally modeled asym¬
metric shape. The remaining late Neolithic
formal groups (III.2a; III.3; IV) have been re¬
corded with single finds only in Thrace and
rather represent innovations than traditions in
the early Neolithic.
The origins of the four-sided altar with
sunken four-sided receptacle supported by
thick inverted conical feet (III.la) from Ka-
zanlak (Karanovo III layer) could be asso¬
ciated with the extensive contacts with the
Marmara region and particularly with the
Fikirtepe culture in the late Neolithic.
Neolithic altars: Formal traditions and
innovations
I classified the early Neolithic altars into
13
types, the middle Neolithic altars into
2
types and the late Neolithic altars into
6
types.
The reduction of formal groups in the middle
Neolithic as compared to the early Neolithic
is drastic. Only two types continued to de¬
velop which in the same order had also been
dominating in the early Neolithic: three-sided
and four-sided altars with sunken receptacles
repeating the outer shape of the altar. In fact,
the production of only these two types con¬
tinued in the late Neolithic; they continued to
dominate in the same order whereas each of
the four-sided altars with semi-sunken circular
receptacles, the four-sided altars with raised
circular receptacles and the four-footed altars
with raised circular receptacles have been rep¬
resented with one artifact only. However, anew
formal group appeared at the end of the late
Neolithic: three-sided altars with one shorter
side and sunken three-sided receptacles which
immediately occupied the third place in terms
of spatial and numerical distribution.
As has already become clear, only two
altar types continued the formal tradition of
these artifacts during the entire Neolithic.
Even the innovation in the last Neolithic
phase actually emphasized the tradition of
production of altars with sunken receptacles
following the outer shape of the artifact.
Besides the dominating formal features
used as criteria for classification of the Neo¬
lithic altars, other external elements could
also be found in these artifacts which can turn
out to be representative for a certain territory
or period.
Knobs in the upper corners of the al¬
tar. These can be found as elements of a small
number of altars in the last late Neolithic pe¬
riod (Karanovo IV and its contemporaneous
cultural phenomena) though all over the study
area. The "knobbed" altars belong to three
formal groups: three-sided altars with sunk¬
en three-sided receptacles (most common
throughout the territory of Bulgaria), four-
sided altars with sunken four-sided recepta¬
cles (single finds, only in Thrace) and three-
sided altars with one shorter side and sunken
receptacles (single finds, mainly in Thrace
but also in the upper
Struma).
The artifacts,
of the latter group have a larger knob on the
front corner that was probably most often an
anthropo-zoomorphic
protome.
The knobs on
the back corners of the altars from this group
as well as the knobs on the corners of the al¬
tars from the other two formal groups were
small, cylindrical or conical (usually broken
away and now missing), and had probably no
protome.
Exceptions to this rule are the knobs
on the upper corners of some altars from the
central and eastern parts of the territories be¬
tween the Balkan Range and the Danube; they
represent larger disks or lugs. One altar from
the site of Drama-Gerenahas a peculiar three-
sided upward-widening knob.
Concave upper receptacle rims forming
rising corners. This feature has been recorded
only on altars from the upper and middle
Stru¬
ma,
coming from sites of the last late Neolith¬
ic period (contemporaneous with Karanovo
Summary \
43
IV in Thrace); these artifacts belong to two The altars of this group come from the west-
formal groups
:
three-sided altars with sunken ern parts of Thrace and the area in the middle
three-sided receptacles and three-sided altars and upper
Struma.
A third group
orlate Neo-
with one shorter side and sunken receptacles. lithic altars, with sunken three-sided recepta-
A "sagging" receptacle bottom. This cles from the Yantra valley, have feet highly
formal feature often belongs to three-sided
al-
inclined inwards beneath the body so that a
tars with sunken three-sided receptacles; the four-sided but inverted
trapezoid
"empty" fig-
inside of the receptacle bottom is flat and
un-
ure
is formed on the altar side,
derneath it is thickened and "sagging". This Ornamental synthesis
applies to a large number of early Neolithic The attention in the previous chapter II
altars
ofthat
type from Thrace, the upper and was focused on the ornamental patterns cov-
part of the middle
Mesta
and
Struma,
and the
ering
the sides of some basic Neolithic altar
Sofia basin as well as to a small number of
al- types,
namely, the three-sided and four-sided
tars of the middle and the first half of the late altars with sunken receptacles. I will synthe-
Neolithic in Thrace. size certain results of the technique applied by
Early Neolithic altars referring to three investigating one of the possible aspects for
more formal types also have a "sagging"
bot-
each Neolithic phase in Bulgaria: ornamental
tom:
four-sided altars with sunken four-sided patterns used and their spatial distribution,
receptacles (in the western parts of Thrace and Early Neolithic
the upper
Mesta
River, relatively common Three-sided altars with three-sided
within this type), three-sided and four-sided sunken receptacles
altars with semi-sunken circular receptacles Pattern I. This pattern includes
deco¬
rare
finds in the upper
Struma
River and in rations, which continuously cover the whole
the Sofia basin). side of the altar. It is the most common or-
Inner outlines of the feet and
recepta-
namental
pattern in the early Neolithic and
cle.
Together with the surface on which the has been recorded throughout the territory of
altar stands, the inner outlines of the feet and Bulgaria.
the lower side of the receptacle usually form Pattern II. This pattern represents deco-
an approximately rectangular figure lying rations, which include a large ornamental ele-
lengthwise. Many artifacts however show par-
ment on
the entire side; the feet are not dec-
ticular features. A small group of mainly early orated. It is rare and definitely south of the
Neolithic but also some late Neolithic three- Balkan Range.
sided altars with sunken three-sided
recepta-
Pattern III. This pattern involves
trí¬
eles,
coming from the area south of the
Bal-
partite decorations; the wall is completely
kan
Range, have feet widening downwards, or partially covered with a large ornamental
i.e. their side rims are straight but inclined. element or local decoration, and the feet are
Sometimes the lower wall is curved down- decorated by one ornamental element each. It
wards and the altar side takes an M-shape. has been found all over the country's territory
Another group, the early Neolithic four-sid- and by degree of distribution it can be
com¬
ed
altars with sunken four-sided receptacles pared with Pattern I.
and four-sided altars with raised receptacles Pattern IV. This pattern comprises bi-
have feet widening upwards; the inner side partite decorations; the upper wall is covered
is straight or cut out like a step-ladder. The with one ornamental element and the lower
lower middle part of the wall, shortened by wall and the feet feature another element. It is
the upward-widened feet, is in some cases rarely found in the
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys,
shaped like a triangle or a trapeze by deep Pattern V. This pattern includes deco-
diagonal incisions towards the upper corners. rations consisting of four elements: one low
144
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
and long horizontal element covers the space
under the upper rim of the altar; the second
ornamental element occupies a large part of
the wall downwards and a large part of the
feet; low horizontal elements cover the low¬
est part of the feet. It has been recorded in the
Sofia basin only.
Pattern VI. This pattern involves tripar¬
tite decorations of apparently differently sized
ornamental elements; one large element occu¬
pies the wall (or a considerable part of it) and
large part of the feet whereas low horizontal
elements cover the lowest part of the feet. It
has been recorded in the Sofia basin only.
Pattern
VII.
This pattern includes two
fields, which occupy the upper and lower wall.
The feet are undecorated. It has been recorded
in the Sofia basin only.
Pattern
VIII.
This pattern represents
decorations consisting of four elements in
three horizontal rows with elements and local
decorations; one row occupies the upper wall
and the second one occupies the lower wall
while one small element covers the lower part
of each foot. It is relatively rarely found, south
of the Balkan Range.
Pattern IX. This pattern consists of a
large ornamental element occupying the wall
and two small elements one on top of the
other, covering the feet. It is rarely found, in
Thrace and the Sofia basin.
Pattern X. This pattern comprises dec¬
orations of two L-shaped elements, which
cover the foot and a considerable part of the
adjacent half of the wall. It is rarely found,
south of the Balkan Range.
Pattern XI. This pattern includes deco¬
rations that have three separate parts; both side
parts are represented by one vertical element
each that covers the foot and its adjacent part
of the wall whereas the middle wall is deco¬
rated with a horizontal element. It has been
recorded quite frequently but exclusively in
Thrace.
Pattern
XII.
This pattern involves deco¬
rations, which are made up of five separate
elements; both side parts have two elements
each, one on top of the other on the foot and
its adjacent part of the wall whereas the mid¬
dle wall is usually decorated with one (larger)
element. It has been recorded quite common¬
ly, south of the Balkan Range.
Pattern
XIII.
This pattern includes
seven ornamental elements: two elements per
each foot, one element in their adjacent part
of the wall and one element in the middle part
of the wall. It has been recorded in the Kazan-
lak basin only.
Pattern
XIV.
This pattern includes dec¬
orations of three separate elements, which
cover both feet and the middle part of the
wall, respectively; the side fields of the wall
have been left undecorated. It was relatively
common but exclusively south of the Balkan
Range.
Pattern XV. This pattern involves single
decorations represented by one ornamental
element in the middle part of the wall. It has
been recorded in the Kazanlak basin only.
Only three ornamental patterns have
been found in the territories north of the Bal¬
kan Range; they have been recorded however
south of it, too. The remaining
12
patterns have
so far been recorded in the territories south of
the Balkan Range only. This result is greatly a
consequence of the lack of large investigated
assemblages in the northern area.
The decoration on the upper side of
the receptacle walls represents an interesting
feature of a few artifacts of this early Neo¬
lithic altar type whose sides are decorated. It
includes various patterns but is usually found
in the corners and the middle part of the wall
rims, sometimes on the entire wall rims. It
was common in Thrace as well as in the
Mes¬
ta
and
Struma
valleys, i.e. south of the Balkan
Range. This feature has not yet been recorded
north of the Balkan Range and in the Sofia
basin it is an exception. The decoration on the
upper side of the walls combines with all or¬
namental patterns on the sides of the altars.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Summary \
45
Pattern I. This pattern comprises deco- been represented by single finds including the
rations, which continuously cover the whole Skat area north of the Balkan Range,
side of the altar. It has been found in all areas The decoration on the upper rim of the
south of the Balkan Range. walls of these altars usually covers their entire
Pattern II. This pattern consists of deco- length and combines with almost all patterns
rations, which include a large ornamental
ele-
of ornamentation on the sides. The cases of
ment
on the whole wall; the feet are not or- such combinations come again only from the
namented. It can be encountered all over the main distribution area of this type,
region of distribution
ofthat
altar type. Middle Neolithic
_
Pattern III. This pattern includes tripar- Three-sided altars with three-sided
tite decorations of separate ornamental
ele-
smkm tades
ments;
the whole wall is covered with a large pattem L
љ
gs deco_
element and the feet are decorated with one
,· ,· ,
x.
,
xl
л
,
,, , , τ
TJ.
i i j
, .
rations, which continuously cover the whole
small element each. It has been recorded
m
.,
jxl 1-L T
,
л
r
,
the western parts of Thrace and the
Mesta
and Slde °f **L ^
*
haS
ЬеШ
foUnd at Kara"
Struma valleys.
novo
and Kazanlak.
Pattern IV. This pattern includes single Pattem IL Thls ^attQm lnvolves
****■
decorations, which cover the wall and the up- tlte decoratlons; the wall is covered with
a
lo¬
per
part of both feet. It has been recorded at cal
«kcoraüon
and the feet are decorated with
Kovačevo
only one omamen1:al element each. It has been re-
Pattern V. This pattern includes bipartite corded at Karanovo and Kazanlak.
decorations of separate L-shaped ornamental Pattern III. This pattern is represented
elements; they cover the foot, the adjacent part
ЬУ а
bipartite decoration; the upper half of the
of the wall as well as one small part of it to- wall is covered with one
omamental
element
ward its center; an undecorated field remains whereas the feet and the lowest part of the
between both elements in the middle part of wall are covered with another element. It has
the wall. It is found in the
Mesta
valley. been recorded at Kazanlak.
Pattern VI. This pattern includes deco- Pattern IV. This pattern includes three
rations of five separate ornamental elements; horizontal rows: one small ornamental ele-
both side fields have two quadrilateral
ele- ment
in the lower part of each foot, one large
ments
each, one on top of the other on the element or local decoration in the lower and
foot and the adjacent wall above it; the middle One in the upper part of the wall. It has been
part of the wall is decorated with one (larger) recorded at Kazanlak.
horizontal rectangular element. It has been re- Pattern V. This pattern comprises deco-
corded in the western parts of Thrace. rations, which are composed of five separate
Pattern
VII.
This pattern represents omamental elements; both side fields have
asymmetric single decorations of separate
Шо
elements each,oneontop oftheother on
ornamental elements; the wall and one of the ^ foot ^
ш Ље ^^
m of the
^ц.
feet are covered with integral ornamentation ^
тШе
of ^ ^ ig covered ^ Qne
and the other one is undecorated. It has been
f
,
aa^v
™,~о„л
„ ,
element. It has been recorded at Karanovo and
round at Vaxevo only.
. .
Four of the above patterns have been Kazanjalc·
.
recorded at more than one site south of the j Pattern
JL Th1S
pattern consists of
Balkan Range and cover the main distribution decorations of three separate ornamental el-
area of the altar type under study; namely, the ements, which are represented on both feet
westernmost parts of Thrace, the upper
Mesta
and the middle part of the wall; the side fields
River, and the middle and upper
Struma
Riv-
of the wall have been left undecorated. It has
er.
The remaining three patterns have so far been found at Kazanlak.
146
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
All six ornamental patterns have been
represented by middle Neolithic altars from
Kazanlak and three patterns also by altars
from Karanovo. The difference is probably
due to the considerably smaller number of al¬
tars from the second site.
The upper rim of the above altars has
rarely been decorated: only at Kazanlak. Sin¬
gle cases have been recorded of combining
such decoration with wall decoration, which
belongs to three ornamental patterns.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern includes deco¬
rations, which are represented by a large or¬
namental element or local decoration on the
whole wall; the feet are left undecorated.
Pattern II. This pattern involves tripar¬
tite decorations; the wall is covered with a lo¬
cal decoration and the feet are decorated with
one element each.
Pattern III. This pattern includes deco¬
rations that have three separate parts; both side
fields are decorated with one vertical element
each, covering the foot and its corresponding
part of the wall; the middle part of the wall is
decorated with one horizontal element.
All three ornamental patterns have been
recorded at Kazanlak only.
No ornamentation on the upper wall
rims has been recorded.
Late Neolithic
Three-sided altars with three-sided
sunken receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern consists of deco¬
rations, which continuously cover the whole
side of the altar. It was the most common
ornamental pattern in the late Neolithic and
has been recorded throughout the country's
territory.
Pattern II. This pattern involves deco¬
rations that are represented only on the altar
wall. It has rarely been found, south of the
Balkan Range only.
Pattern HI. This pattern includes tripar¬
tite decorations of separate ornamental ele¬
ments; the wall is occupied by a horizontal
element or decoration and the feet are deco¬
rated with one small element each. It has been
found all over the country's territory.
Pattern IV. This pattern consists of bi¬
partite decorations; the upper field occupies a
narrow space under the upper wall rim where¬
as the lower field, which is always wider, cov¬
ers the lower part of the wall and the feet. It
has been established only in upper
Mesta
and
Struma.
Pattern V. This pattern comprises deco¬
rations of four parts structured in three hori¬
zontal fields; the upper one occupies a narrow
space under the upper wall rim, the middle one
lies in the lower part of the wall and the lower
one contains two small ornamental elements
in the lower part of the feet. It has rarely been
found, south of the Balkan Range only.
Pattern VI. This pattern includes deco¬
rations of five parts, with separate ornamental
elements of varying size: one large element oc¬
cupies the wall and two small ones, one on top
of the other, cover each foot. It appears rarely
in Thrace and in the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern
VII.
This pattern involves tri¬
partite decorations with ornamental elements
of apparently varying size; one large element
occupies the wall and the greater part of the
feet whereas one low horizontal element cov¬
ers the lowest part of each foot. It has been
recorded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Pattern
VIII.
This pattern comprises tri¬
partite decorations with separate ornamental
elements: both side elements cover the feet
and a small adjacent side part of the wall pe¬
riphery; the middle one occupies that part of
the wall between both feet as well as small
upper parts of the periphery. It has been re¬
corded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Pattern IX. This pattern presents tri¬
partite decorations with separate ornamental
elements; both side elements cover the foot,
the adjacent part of the wall and one part of
the inner wall field (i.e. they are L-shaped),
whereas the middle element (in the middle of
the wall) is smaller and often rectangular. It
has been recorded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Summary
Pattern X. This pattern includes decora-
tions with five ornamental elements, two
larg-
er
ones on the feet and the adjacent part of the
wall as well as three small ones in the middle
of the wall. It has been found in Thrace only.
Pattern XI. This pattern consists of dec-
orations with three separate parts; both side
parts are represented by one vertical element
each, covering the foot and the corresponding
part of the wall while the middle part of wall
is decorated with one small element. It has
rarely been recorded in Thrace and the upper
Struma
River as well as north of the Balkan
Range, in the Yantra valley.
Pattern
XII.
This pattern includes deco-
rations of five parts, consisting of rectangular
elements, which are arranged as follows: two
on the upper half of each foot and the adjacent
part of the wall, one in the middle field of the
wall and two on the lower part of each foot. It
has been recorded only at Sapareva
Banya.
Pattern
XIII.
This pattern consists of
decorations made up of five separate
orna-
mental elements; both side parts contain two
elements each, one on top of the other on the
foot and the adjacent side part of the wall; the
middle part of the wall is decorated with one
horizontal
element.
It is common
m
the whole
territory of Bulgaria.
_
Pattern
XIV.
This pattern comprises
decorations of separate elements
m
the mid-
die part of the
wal
and on the feet; the side
sections of the wall are left undecorated. It
has been recorded at Sapareva Banya only.
Pattern XV. This pattern includes deco-
ration of six separate elements, two
m
each
of both side sections and two
m
the middle
section of the side. Itrarely appears in Thrace
and the upper StmmaRiver.
Pattern
XVI.
This pattern includes
decorations of seven separate elements: five
of these are applied on the wall and the other
two occupy the feet. It has been recorded only
at Sapareva Banya.
Pattern
XVII.
This pattern combines
decorations of seven separate or contacting
elements: three of these occupy the wall and
two on each foot are applied. It occurs rarely
in Thrace and the area along the upper course
of the
Struma
River.
Pattern
XVIII.
This pattern involves
decorations of seven ornamental elements;
two elements cover the lower half of each
foot, another element decorates the upper
feet, the adjacent part of the wall and some of
the inner part of the wall (one on each side),
and the last element occupies the middle of
the wall. It has been found at Plovdiv
-
Yas-
satepe only.
Pattern
XIX.
This pattern comprises
decorations made up of nine elements; the feet
and the adjacent part of the wall are covered
^th three elements each, and the middle part
of me wall is decorated with three elements as
wen. It js
xaľely
found in Thrace.
pattern
χχ#
This pattem
invołves dec.
oMions of seven
е1етепЇ8;
two of these are
L-shaped and occupy large parts of the foot
^ the wall but in the upper corner they en_
close a small square or
re^g^
element; a
smaü
central section of the ^ md the low
feet m each coyered with a relatively small
rectangular element It has been
recorded at
s va Banya onl
?gfågm
χχΐ<
Шѕ ^^
consists of
decorations made of fiye elements: two el.
ements Qn each foot ^ ^ fifth one on the
шШЈе
of ^ ^ ^ side sections
Qf ^ ^ ^ ^ undecorated It has been
&ша
^ ^^
_
γ
e
wtt
tu·
« · 1
а^
Pattern
XXII.
This pattern includes
decorations of five parts arranged
m
three
fields; the upper right field occupies a space
under the upper wall rim, the wide middle
field covers the lower wall and a large part of
the &et whereas the lowest part of the feet is
covered with one narrow element per foot. It
has been recorded at
Dolni
Lozen
m
the Sofia
basm
оп1У·
Only four ornamental patterns deco-
ratinS the sides of late Neolithic altars with
sunken receptacles have been found in the
area north of the Balkan Range though these
patterns can also be found to the south; the
remaining
18
ornamental patterns have so far
148
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
been recorded only in the area south of the
Balkan Range. This result is probably due
largely to the great number of uninvestigated
big assemblages in the northern area so that it
cannot be used to make general conclusions.
Ten of the patterns have been used at one site
only, mainly at
S
apareva
Banya.
Taking into
account the fact that the biggest late Neolithic
altar assemblage comes from Sapareva
Ban¬
ya,
one could draw conclusions in two direc¬
tions; either each Neolithic site also applied
its own local ornamental patterns or those sin¬
gle patterns have not been recorded at other
sites because these sites have so far yielded
an insufficient number of altars. In fact, both
conclusions might be simultaneously valid.
It would be inconsiderate to relate certain or¬
namental patterns to some areas south of the
Balkan Range. Theoretically, pattern
4
offers
such a possibility; it has so far been recorded
in the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys.
The decoration on the upper sides of
the receptacle walls practically disappeared
in the late Neolithic. It is rarely found only in
the upper
Struma
River. Moreover, the orna¬
mentation at Sapareva
Banya
combines only
with three of the
17
ornamental patterns on
the altar sides. An interesting local feature is
manifested by some decorated altars in the
later phase of the late Neolithic in the Yantra
River valley; the corner disks are also some¬
times decorated.
Three-sided altars with one shorter side
and sunken receptacles
The sides of these altars are always cov¬
ered with decorations of a single pattern, such
that continuously cover the entire side of the al¬
tar. This applies to the whole distribution area:
Thrace and the
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern includes decora¬
tions that continuously cover the entire side of
the altar. It is the most frequently used pattern
in the ornamentation of the side of this altar
type. It can be found in Thrace and the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern II. This pattern consists of tri¬
partite decorations of separate elements; the
wall is occupied by a horizontal element or
decoration and the feet are decorated with one
small element each. It has been recorded in
Thrace and the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern III. This pattern involves deco¬
rations that are represented only on the altar
wall. It has been found in Thrace only.
No ornamentation on the upper rim has
been established.
Neolithic altars: Ornamental traditions
and innovations
Three-sided altars.
15
ornamental pat¬
terns were applied to decorate their walls in the
early Neolithic whereas in the middle Neolith¬
ic the patterns were
6
and in the late Neolith¬
ic they were
22.
Ten of these patterns appear
to be traditional for the Bulgarian Neolithic;
they have been recorded both in the early and
late Neolithic, covering the six patterns of the
middle Neolithic. Apart
йот
them, five early
Neolithic ornamental patterns did not develop
in the following periods and
12
new ornamen¬
tal patterns appeared in the late Neolithic. Be¬
sides their semantic aspects assumed, the ten
traditional patterns that I refer to as Neolithic
ornamental patterns of three-sided altars, are
important evidence for the culture continuity
in the Neolithic of this area.
Four-sided altars. Their walls were
decorated with six ornamental patterns in
the early Neolithic, with three patterns in the
middle Neolithic, and with three more in the
late Neolithic. Three of those patterns are tra¬
ditional for the whole Neolithic. They were
applied both in the early and late Neolithic,
covering the two patterns of the middle Neo¬
lithic. Three other ornamental patterns of the
early Neolithic did not develop further; one
ornamental pattern considered as innovation
for the period dropped out in the middle Neo¬
lithic and only the traditional ornamental pat¬
terns were applied in the late Neolithic. The
three traditional patterns that I refer to as Neo¬
lithic ornamental patterns of four-sided altars
are also evidence for the culture continuity in
the Neolithic of this area.
Summary \
49
The Neolithic altars' ornamental tech- functions of the artifacts investigated and they
nique
also enables me to define certain spatial can be reduced to the following three research
and chronological characteristics and trends. aspects: position in the features or cultural
de¬
in
the areas south of the Balkan Range, posits of the site, possible traces of use and
the excision and the rarely used punctations inherent instructiveness of the artifacts,
predominated (despite its slightly descending The excavations of Neolithic sites al-
gradation) almost until the end of the
Neo-
most always yield altars in a fragmentary
lithic, without its last phase contemporaneous state and usually represented by only one
with Karanovo IV. In that same area, at the part. However, there are a number of cases
same time, the use of mixed technique in- where during the exploration of a larger area
creased, excision and incision, whereas since of a given site, parts of the same altar were
the beginning of the late Neolithic the number found at a considerable distance from one
of altars incised rose considerably. In the last another. Intact altars are rare cases but a few
phase of the late Neolithic in this area, inci- were found.
sion became the key ornamental technique As regards the position of the altars in
followed by the combination of incision and me Neolithic settlements, the data available
punctation. Although rarely, pattern burnish- do not Permit a simPle solution. There are
ing was also found at this time; it was used sinSle recorded and well-known cases where
always simultaneously with incision. Paint-
Љеѕе
Sitì&cts
were found amidst remnants of
ing was used, though rarely, in the early
Neo- a
house> and moreover, by the oven, though
lithic of the areas that belong to the Central
й
is
Ы*
Probable that
ЉеУ
had their own
Balkans, the westernmost parts of Thrace, the Place in the buildinS· There m no data on al"
Mesta and
Struma
river valleys as well as the tos found in ^ assemblages or burials,
territories between the
Iskar
and Ogosta rivers
,
Of
^lcnlaľ
significance for the func-
north of the Balkan Range. In the Early
Neo-
*юпа1
interpretation of the altars would be
lithic again, mainly in the
Mesta
and
Struma
dat* on fces °{ ufzatl0I\ N° cheflcal
n
, . . „
r-
, . ,· ·
analyses have so far been made of such arti-
valleys and in the Sofia
basm,
sometimes
m
„
J
, ., . ,
,,
¿
^
_,,
л,
x.
, . ,
facts but my careful observations do not en-
the Eastern Rhodope Mountains,
certam
al-
J
±л ^
. . . ,
,,,.,.
able me to argue that there are visible traces
tars had plastic decoration.
, „
it
,.,
ul
· * *
j
· +1.·
T
, , . , _, „ „
left on them which could be interpreted
m
this
In the areas north of the Balkan Range,
, . . , , „*„„„
. . . , '
direction. I have
m
mind also traces
01
pos-
excision and punctation were almost unused ^ ^.^ as
χ
have tQ
in the Neohthic. They are very rarely found, ^
ш
^ h
ώ
of using
fhßse
in the early Neolithic only. Incision was
dom-
^ as m ^ stand ^^
mating and almost exclusively used during ^ ^
кЫШу ющЩ
made ^
соШ
the entire period. not hold a liquidj including fatj for a long
time. Many of these artifacts have recepta-
III. Neolithic altars:, an at- cies covered with some white substance and
tempt at their interpretation their bottoms have the same white coating;
In the scientific literature on the
pre-
the contact with fat would have left visible
history of southeast Europe, only vague hy- traces on the white surfaces. Some Neolithic
potheses have been made about the role of altars have a hole on one corner of the recep-
the artifacts under study in the early farming
tade
made during its modeling. Such artifacts
culture; they gravitate around profane or
ritu-
come from the early Neolithic layer of Tell
al
functions and, according to some authors, Karanovo and from the middle and late Neo-
with a possible transition from one to the oth- lithic layer of Tell Kazanlak; the feet of a late
er.
There are not many options to clarify the Neolithic altar from Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe had
150
Васил Николов
—
Неолитни култови масички
been broken but it remained to be used; other
altars were apparently intentionally broken in
two parts, holes were drilled in the walls next
to the breaking point for tying up and the al¬
tars were reused (examples are provided from
the early Neolithic site of Saedinenie-Hotal
and the late Neolithic site of Chelopech); in
many cases, mainly in the Late Neolithic, the
receptacles are too shallow. It is quite obvious
that the keeping of liquids was not one of the
functions of these artifacts.
The rich negative and often white in-
crusted decoration and the plastic decoration
as well as the millennial tradition of the three-
sided and four-sided shape of these artifacts
and the lack of data on their utilitarian use un¬
doubtedly make their ritual interpretation the
only possible one.
Of particular importance to the hypoth¬
esis about the altars' functions in the prehis¬
toric culture would be the idea of their seman¬
tics, i.e. what exactly their form and ornamen¬
tation express.
A partially preserved four-sided al¬
tar with a sunken receptacle from the early
Neolithic site of
Kovačevo,
near Sandanski
(tab.
90 1)
points to another hypothesis about
the semantics of these artifacts. The feet of
each of the four altar sides widen upward like
a step-ladder so that they almost touch under
the receptacle; from there two deep notches
come out toward the upper wall corners. The
parallel between the appearance of the side
and the iconography of the lower part of the
standing female figurines of the same time is
apparent; the figurines have upward-widening
feet and a genital triangle marked by two inci¬
sions. This assumption again allows me to in¬
terpret the altar as a womb. Other altars from
the same site (tab.
90 2),
from the early Neo¬
lithic site of Rakitovo and the late Neolithic
layer of Sapareva
Banya
-
Kremenik can be
associated with this iconography.
The development of this hypothesis is
based on the shape of the side as well as on
some features in modeling the wall outlines
and the lower side of the receptacle of the
three- and four-sided altars with sunken re¬
ceptacles. Particular attention should be paid
to the early Neolithic altars of this type, i.e.
those originating from the time of appear¬
ance and initial development of these arti¬
facts. Some altars of the above group have a
flat-topped profile of the side, i.e. they have a
straight lower wall rim between the feet and
a flat receptacle bottom underneath. Other al¬
tars of the same group feature the following
variants: the bottom wall rim is "sagging"; the
middle part of the otherwise straight wall rim
is convexly curved (i.e. shaped approximately
like an inverted triangle); the lower wall rim
is straight but the receptacle bottom under¬
neath is "sagging"; the lower wall rim and the
receptacle's bottom underneath are "sagging"
(tab.
90 3-6).
This appearance of the side,
represented by the above four variants, espe¬
cially in some more expressed cases, can be
described as M-shaped.
Of particular importance for revealing
the semantics of the altars are the plastic fe¬
male figures on the walls of early Neolithic
vessels; the lower parts of their stylized bod¬
ies remind strongly of the shape of the sides
of the altars just mentioned. These plastic rep¬
resentations depict a standing female body;
the arms are usually raised up in adoration
or one arm is up and the other is down; the
lower body (under the waist) is usually flat-
topped. It is sharply extended sideways and
the feet are wide apart, in many cases bent
in the knees and wide apart. In some cases,
the vulva is represented between the legs as
a plastic inverted triangle so that the lower
body of the
appliquéd
figure can be described
as M-shaped. Such figures have been iden¬
tified at Tell Karanovo near Nova
Zagora
(tab.
91 1, 5)
and at the early Neolithic site
of Chavdar near Pirdop. Two painted anthro¬
pomorphic figures can be added to this list;
they have been preserved on pottery sherds
from the early Neolithic site of Slatina-Sofia:
one of them repeats the iconography of the
plastic figures (tab.
91 3),
and the other one
has spindle feet, the genital triangle is exag-
Summary \S\
gerated, and the upper body is only marked their anthropomorphic character is not debat-
(tab.
91 2).
Although belonging to another able any more. The legs of these figures are
figurine type, one could add four jade amulets wide apart and therefore are M-shaped; this
to the above list; they represent stylized
strad-
position is interpreted as a birth position or
died antliropomorphic figurines in adoration readiness for coitus; therefore, we can con-
and come from the early Neolithic layer of elude that the M-shaped sign is an ornamental
Tell Azmak near
Stara Zagora
(tab.
91 4),
the variant of the female lower body in a certain
early Neolithic site of Golyam Porovets near position and is undoubtedly a female symbol.
Razgrad (tab.
91 8)
and the early Neolithic A great number of
iconographie
arguments
site of
Kovačevo
near Sandanski (tab.
91 6,
have been and can be added to prove this hy-
7).
All four amulets have similar iconography pothesis. A painted frieze of anthropomorphic
(especially in their lower parts) to that of the figures on an early Neolithic ceramic vessel
aforementioned plastic and painted figures, from Argissa Magoula (Thessaly) (tab.
92 2)
The above anthropomorphic figures can be includes figures with legs very wide apart and
associated with the Mother Goddess thus bent in the knees; their upper parts, together
making it possible to define the altars of the with the vulva, are represented as an inverted
type discussed as an isomorphic figure of the triangle (or a rhomboid with a very low up-
Mother Goddess' lower body (with the vulva) per part). A stone amulet from the early Neo-
and womb. I should remind here that the in- lithic site of Achilleion (Thessaly) (tab.
92
ner
side of the receptacle (the womb) and the
2)
represents a stylized female figurine with
altar underneath (the vulva) are often painted legs strongly bent in the knees and very wide
in white, a color symbolizing fertility and life apart, with a marked vulva; the lower body
for the early farmers in prehistoric Bulgaria, is M-shaped. A realistically modeled clay fe-
and therefore in line with the interpretation male figurine from
Hacýlar
VI (tab.
92 3)
has
proposed. legs strongly bent in the knees and very wide
Similar plastic or incised anthropomor- apart, with a marked vulva; the lower body is
phic figures could be seen on the walls of early M-shaped. This figurine obviously performed
Neolithic ceramic vessels from southeast and its ritual function lying on its stomach. The
central Europe. Of the
Starčevo
culture area, I position of the skeleton in a young woman's
will give only several examples of plastic fe- burial from the early Neolithic site of Slatina-
male figurines in adoration. The stylized
figu-
Sofia can also serve as evidence for the spe-
rines from
Slavonski Brod
and
Vinkovci
have cific role of the 'frog' position of the female
flat-topped lower bodies. Two more figurines body in the religio-mythological system of
from
Vinkovci
and from
Donja
Branjevina the early farmers; she was disposed of in a
are more realistic, their lower bodies being 'frog' position lying on her stomach, with an
also flat-topped; in the second case the vulva upright head (like the
Hacýlar
figurine),
is represented as an inverted
trapezoid.
A fig- Female figures with M-shaped lower
urine from
Szarvas
is also realistic; the legs bodies, painted on ceramic vessels or incised
are bent in the knees and wide apart, and the on other artifacts, have been known from all
vulva is modeled as well. The anthropomor- prehistoric periods in the Near East. Of par-
phic figures are also common in the
Körös ticular
relevance for the interpretation of the
culture. A large number of anthropomorphic M-shaped position of the legs is a painted
figures with legs wide apart and arms in ado- figure of a coitus scene on a vessel from the
ration, incised on the vessel walls, have been Chalcolithic Jemdet Nasr period, coming
recorded in the
Linearbandkeramik
culture from the
Tepe
Ali
Abad
cemetery at Mosul
area; because of this 'frog' position they used (Mesopotamia) (tab.
92 6);
the female lower
to be wrongly defined for some time but now body is represented in a M-shaped position.
152
Васил
Никол ов
-
Неолитни култови масички
Individual female figures with such
a posi-
then put together but in such a way that they
tion
of the lower limbs are quite numerous could be easily separated after the figurine
but I would point out those from Tall-i-Bakun had been fired. It is clear that both figurine
(tab.
92 4),
Ur, Tepe
Gawra
and other
Meso-
groups represent different states of the fe-
potamian sites (tab.
92 5, 7, 8, 9).
The earli- male character in which the upper body is
est
of all known anthropomorphic figures in only the necessary detail for identifying the
the position discussed comes from the sane- image whose focus lies on the lower body; in
tuary at
Göbekli
Tepe
(Upper Mesopotamia) the first case the character was permanently
(tab.
92 10)
which dates back to the pre-pot- ready for coitus and in the second case that
tery
Neolithic; the figure of a woman with readiness was expressed only by separating
legs wide apart and a hanging vulva has been (ritually) the lower limbs, i.e. by intention-
incised on a stone block. ally breaking the figurines. Nevertheless, in
Female figures
appliquéd
on pottery of both cases the final meaning of the female
the type investigated were also found in the figurines was provoking or marking coitus,
late Neolithic and Chalcolithic in southeast According to the interpretation proposed, the
Europe. most common Neolithic altar types represent
The only possible interpretation of the precisely and in a stylized plastic form, the
above female figures with M-shaped lower first
iconographie
variant when the anthropo-
body should associate them with a moment of morphic character was depicted as ready for
coital readiness and consider them within the matrimony.
early farming fertility ritual context. The Neolithic altars, especially those
As a result of the above consideration, with sunken receptacles, are decorated on
one can conclude that according to its appear- their entire visible surface (without the re-
ance, including the outlines of the bottom
un- ceptacle
inside and its bottom underneath)
derneath, the side of the three- or four-sided so that this ornamentation undoubtedly is in
altars with sunken receptacles (flat-topped line with the function of the artifacts. The
or M-shaped) can be visually compared with interpretation of the ornamentation is
a dif¬
ille
lower body of anthropomorphic figures of ficult and often risky undertaking though in
the same period in southeast Europe, central this particular case the instructiveness of the
Europe and the Near East. Hence, a logical shape would greatly assist in the semantic
conclusion can be drawn that the altars of this research of the decoration. Special attention
group are
iconographie
variants of a female should be paid to the odd-shaped elements
lower body (legs, vulva and womb) and cor- and patterns involved that differ from the
relate semantically with its anthropomorphic widely used decorative techniques. On the
semantics. other hand, the frequent use of certain orna-
The hypothesis set forth for the inter- mentation types also provides a solid basis
pretation of both main Neolithic altar types for interpretation. This applies mainly to the
can be supported by the comparison between checkerboard decoration whose
associa¬
rne
above anthropomorphic figures with legs
tion
with the Mother Goddess is beyond any
wide apart and the most common early and doubt. The checkerboard ornamentation is a
late Neolithic clay anthropomorphic figurines symbol of the continuity of life and its poten-
with legs pressed together. Whereas the first tial infinity.
group of figures represents a coital readiness, The second Neolithic altar type should
the second one consists of female figurines also be associated with the Mother Goddess
whose iconography can be interpreted as a cult though the semantics is different. The
state of potential coitus; in the second case plastic ornamentation of each foot of an intact
the lower limbs were modeled separately and altar from the early Neolithic site of Pernik is
Summary
153
shaped like bucranium with bulging eyes and (the most abundant class of prehistoric clay
accordingly implies that these artifacts
repre-
artifacts), the altars are broken both at the
sent a female womb (the receptacle) carried points of gluing the individual parts (there are
or protected by a bull. As an argument we at least six production variants) and at other
can use the fact that only in the distribution points. If they had been made for intentional
area of the second altar type (mainly in the (ritual) breaking, as is the case with most of
upper
Struma
valley), bull figurines with a the Neolithic anthropomorphic clay figurines,
cup on its head or back were produced.
Prob-
they would certainly have been made follow-
ably in that region the bull was considered as ing the figurine patterns and under intentional
a protector of the Mother Goddess. However, pressure would have broken in the gluing
this idea coexisted with the use of altars of points left deliberately weaker. Besides, most
the widely distributed first type as well. altars provide evidence of long-term use; for
Finally, I will recall the functions of example, the feet are rubbed off underneath,
the altars in the Neolithic culture. Undoubt- Sometimes, even after a foot had been (unin-
edly they were used in ritual contexts. At least tentionally, in my opinion) completely (Yas-
in some cases, the rituals probably included satepe) or partly broken and smoothed at a
pouring of water over them. I suppose that different height (Kazanlak, Sofia-Slatina),
they were perhaps used in rain summoning the altars remained in use. Serious arguments
and rituals for land fertility, for provoking against the intentional fragmentation are the
the sexual activity of male and female
prin-
above-mentioned altars from Saedinenie-Ho-
cipals in universe. In this line of thought, I
tal
and Chelopech which, after having been
guess that the
iconographie
association of unintentionally broken, were "repaired" by
the lower bodies of some stylized Neolithic
<™иѕ
holes near
Ше
breaking points and
female figurines (presented above) as well as to tied md reused·
ріпа11У> а
comparison
the side of some altars of various types with is
песеѕѕагУ
to be made: the
ПеоШс
&-
the back part of the Neolithic frog figurines male
^
inei> maf for
intonai
breaking
is not accidental; both have an M-shape. The ^reproduced without unnecessary diligence
frog obviously played an important role in the where£* a §reat df °£
*?е ^.
effo* ™S
kt
ľ+i.·
·*. 1
ju
1·
í·
1 +
A* -a invested in most altars, both
m
their modeling
Neolithic rivals and beliefs related to provid- ^
Μ£ηΜ
which does not fit the idea
mg the vitally necessary ram and fertility
m ^
forthcoming ritual breaking> Howeverj it
Є
a~y"
, . , 1
n t j
corresponds to the desire for long-term utili-
It has been suggested that the altars had & h thesis supported by the above
been intentionally broken, most probably
dur-
1TV,aT,tc,
,
iii·
ЗГйіДІІІСІІІо«
mg
the rituals. This idea has been largely in¬
fluenced by incomplete or false data,
includ-
.
1
л
.
л
ing on the production variants of those
arti-
Appendix: Chalcolithic altars,
facts. It is true that the altars have come down published finds
to us in a highly fragmented state but that is All published Chalcolithic altars from
the case with all non-miniature clay artifacts Bulgaria are included here, by sites and ac-
in the prehistoric material culture. Further- cording to the information from the respec-
more, as is the case with the pottery vessels
tive
publications. |
| adam_txt |
7
СЪДЪРЖАНИЕ
Въведение
.9
I.
Неолитни култови масички: представяне на находките и класификация
.13
II.
Неолитни култови масички: териториално-хронологически особености
и тенденции в развитието
.81
III.
Неолитни култови масички: опит за интерпретация
.105
Приложение: Халколитни култови масички: публикувани находки
.113
Цитирана литература
.129.
Summary
.137
Табла
1 - 110.155
137
Vassil Nikolov
Neolithic Altars
Summary
Introduction identified according to the position of the
An "altar" is a comparatively small
ce-
receptacle: sunken, semi-sunken and raised,
ramie artifact, which represents a three-sided
ЂР^
can also be distinguished according to
or four-sided receptacle (or platform) sup- me shaPe ofme receptacle,
ported in a horizontal position on three or four Each Neolithic altar of the first and sec-
feet, respectively. These "altars" are element ond &onP has three or four feet (UPt0 me
wałl
of the material culture discovered at the
Neo-
level)>three or four walls' respectively (from
lithic and Chalcolithic sites in Bulgaria (and
Ље
foot level to the uPPer rim of the artifect)
also all over southeast Europe) but probably
азза
a receptacle (three-sided, four-sided, with
because of their fragmentary state in the mo-
Ы^ЫУ
rounded corners or simPlY circular). A
ment
of the excavations, as well as their com- Neolithic altar of the third and fourth group
plex
interpretation, until now they have not has three or four high feet, a weakly or strongly
been an object of extensive research. expressed platform and a circular receptacle.
Altars appeared as a theme in scientific The Neolf1C altars, of ?he first
^0
. ,
ii
.
j
л
groups are usually covered with ornamenta-
hterature about a century ago and are often
.
\
.
J
.
. ,
j
, · 11·
i.· r
ι ι·ι
tion.
In order to represent that ornamentation
included in publications of archaeological
, , . . ., .-
,.,,,
tit
·■ ·
more clearly, it is necessary to identity orna-
matenal but as a rule the descriptions are m-
, ,
ти и
· *
ι
, , ,
.,, . ■,.
™ ,
mental zones. The basic ornamental zones are
complete and the illustrations are difficult to ag
ш^ %ы
foot ^ mU zQne (with
use. Certain authors make an exception to this threepossible sectors)j
Ш(Ше
upperrimzone,
rule, wh!ch is mainly due to the better graphic
Ље
zone of pkstic representations above the
representation of the artifacts. Attempts have upper rim md the 2one of the ]ower recepta.
been made at a formal classification though cle side_ The
Neolitic
altars of the third and
based on a limited archaeological material. fourth
&ααρ5
are
rarQÌy
ornamented, mainly
Many attempts have also been made to inter- on
Ље
side
Q¿ges
of the feet and, as an excep-
pret these artifacts but no evidence has so far
χ[οη^ οη
the front part,
been provided. This author has advanced the xhe Neolithic altars are made of clay;
idea that the altars with sunken receptacles can only one early Neolithic altar from Kremiko-
be interpreted as a symbol of the lower body vtsi (in the Sofia basin) is made of soft stone,
and the womb of the Mother Goddess and the At least six production techniques for these
altars with raised receptacles represent the fe- clay artifacts have been recorded so far.
male womb carried or protected by a bull. According to their size, the altars can be
The general formal classification of the classified as small artifacts in the early farm-
Neolithic altars from Bulgaria should involve ing material culture. The largest width (length)
four groups: three-sided, four-sided, three- they reach is usually between
12
and
20
cm
footed and four-footed; each groups should whereas their height is smaller. However,
include three theoretically feasible series smaller and larger altars have been recorded.
138
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
The main aim of this study is to provoke
active interest in a group of "forgotten" Neo¬
lithic artifacts from Bulgaria with a probable
ritual function. This study is far from being
exhaustive since the search at museum repos¬
itories and the consideration of all data, par¬
ticularly data on the partially preserved altars
from the Neolithic in Bulgaria, is a demand¬
ing task that requires the long-term efforts of
many experts. However, I argue that the in¬
vestigation carried out has led to the develop¬
ment of an approach to the clay altars, which
could be used as a background when evaluat¬
ing new assemblages thus bringing out com¬
parable results. I am far from pretending that
the approach proposed is absolutely new, suf¬
ficiently complete and not liable to further de¬
velopment. My contribution should be sought
in attempting to summarize certain methodo¬
logical elements of the studies devoted to al¬
tars from northwest Anatolia and southeast
Europe as well as directing the attention to
the structural patterns applied in creating dec¬
orations. On this basis, I can see a possibility
to use the altars as a relevant element in the
chronological picture of the Neolithic in Bul¬
garia and as a source for the study of the early
farming religio-mythological system.
I. Neolithic altars: systemati-
zation and classification
Scientific literature offers a collection
of photos and drawings of about
400
complete
or partially preserved Neolithic altars from
Bulgaria. A large portion of these illustrations
is difficult to use, especially the photographs.
As a rule, descriptive evidence on these finds
is either not available or limited. Many more
altars come from the excavations of Neolithic
sites than have been published.
A great number of the already published
fragments of Neolithic altars from Bulgaria
have been lost or are not easily accessible.
Therefore, the present study makes use only
of their figures. Unpublished altar assem¬
blages have served however as the basis for
writing this book. They come mainly from
excavations carried out by this author as well
as from excavations made by other archae¬
ologists. The assemblages investigated come
from the Neolithic sites at Eleshnitsa near
Ra¬
zlog,
the Neolithic site of Sofia-Slatina, the
Neolithic site of Sapareva Banya-Kremenik,
the Neolithic layers of Tell Karanovo near
Nova
Zagora
and Tell
Kapitan
Dimitrievo, the
Neolithic site of Lyubimets
-
Dana
Bunar,
the
Neolithic site of Saedinenie-Hotal near Kar-
nobat, Tell Kazanlak and the Neolithic site of
Rakitovo. Of greater relevance for this study
are also the altars from Tell Vesselinovo near
Yambol, the Neolithic site of Drama-Ger-
ena near Yambol, the Neolithic site of Nova
Zagora-Hlebozavoda, the Neolithic layer of
Tell Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe, the Neolithic site
of Chavdar near Pirdop, Tell Chelopech
-
Gi-
nova
mogiła
near Pirdop, the Neolithic site of
Kovačevo
near Sandanski, the Neolithic lay¬
ers of Vaxevo near Kyustendil, the Neolithic
site of Galabnik near Radomir, etc.
Further in this chapter the altars are rep¬
resented by sites according to the valid perio-
dization of the Neolithic and by geographical
regions: Thrace and the Rhodope Mountains,
west Bulgaria, central and northeast Bul¬
garia. A formal classification has been made
for each assemblage according to the above
matrix as well as a classification of the orna¬
mental patterns used for decorating the sides
of the altars. Usually all sides of the altars are
decorated with the same pattern.
II. Neolithic altars: spatial and
chronological patterns and devel¬
opment trends
The source material available for this
study shows considerable irregularity and in¬
equality in terms of both amount and informal
value in the various parts of the study area.
From the territories north of the Balkan Range,
published material was mostly used. The altar
assemblages of Neolithic sites such as Sam-
ovodene, Ovcharovo-Gorata, Podgoritsa,
Drinovo-Reservata and Asparuhovo-Usoe are
Summary
139
also very likely to prove sufficiently informal
though they have not been published and are
difficult to access. The territories south of the
Balkan Range are represented by multiple and
more informal assemblages, some of them be¬
coming objects of scientific research for the
first time. These are the assemblages from the
Neolithic sites of Lyubimets, Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda, Saedinenie-Hotal, Eleshnitsa,
Rakitovo (partly), Chavdar (partly),
Slatina,
and particularly,
S
apareva
Banya-Kremenik,
as well as from the tells of Karanovo (partly),
Kazanlak and
Kapitan
Dimitrievo. The altars
from Tell Azmak remain completely unknown
and the assemblages from Drama-Gerena and
Kovačevo,
which are being analyzed and in
the course of being published, as well as those
from Balgarchevo and Galabnik, are insuffi¬
ciently represented. Taking into account the
picture outlined above, any attempt at gen¬
eralizations would be untimely. In fact, due
to the highly fragmented state of the altars,
each aspect of their synthesis would reach a
different level of reliability. Since the shape
is much easier to restore on the basis of the
usually single fragments of altars available
in comparison with the ornamental pattern,
the data from the formal classification are
expected to be considerably more complete
than those obtained from the classification of
the decoration. Moreover, the altar shapes are
limited in number whereas a great variety of
ornamental patterns exist.
Formal synthesis
The artifacts analyzed hi the previous
chapter allow me to present the following for¬
mal classification and the respective spatial
distribution of the identified groups of altars
by periods:
Early Neolithic. This period offers a
great variety of altar shapes.
I. Three-sided altars
The most common early Neolithic altar
group in Bulgaria.
Λ
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most widespread type of early Neo¬
lithic altars. There is not a site
ofthat
period,
in any part of Bulgaria, where these have not
been recorded.
lb. Receptacles with highly rounded in¬
ner corners
These have been recorded as single finds
at Rakitovo, Eleshnitsa, Vaxevo and Galab¬
nik, i.e. in the areas along the upper course of
the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
le.
Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at Rak¬
itovo, Eleshnitsa, Vaxevo, Kraynitsi, Galab¬
nik and Kremikovtsi, i.e. again in the areas
along the upper course of the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
2.
Three-sided altars with semi-sunken
receptacles
2a. Three-sided receptacles
This type is represented by a single find
from Kazanlak only.
2b. Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at
Eleshnitsa and
Perník,
i.e. again in the areas
along the upper course of the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
2c. Cylindrical receptacles
Single finds come from Rakitovo, i.e.
again in the areas along the upper course of
the rivers
Mesta
and
Struma.
3.
Three-sided altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The only artifact of this type comes
from Karanovo.
II. Four-sided altars
This is the second most common formal
early Neolithic altar group in Bulgaria.
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
This is the most common type of the
group. It can be found as an exception in the
eastern parts of Thrace with single artifacts
(Karanovo and Kazanlak). The main distribu¬
tion area comprises the westernmost parts of
Thrace, the upper
Mesta,
the middle and up-
140
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
per Struma
as well as the territories between
the rivers
Iskar
and Skat.
lb. Circular receptacles
The only artifact of this type has been
found at Eleshnitsa.
2.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
2a. Four-sided receptacles
The only altar of this type comes from
Kardzhali.
2b. Circular receptacles
Single finds have been recorded at
Eleshnitsa, Pernik, Kremikovtsi, Sofia-Sla-
tina and
Pobit
Karnak,
i.e. in the areas along
the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
as well as in the
Sofia basin.
2c. Cylindrical receptacles
The only known altar of this type was
found at Galabnik.
3.
Four-sided altars with raised circular
receptacles
Kardzhali is the only site in the eastern
parts of Thrace where this series has been re¬
corded. Almost all the remaining altars of this
group come from Rakitovo, Kraynitsi, Sofia-
Slatina, Tsakonitsa and Ohoden, i.e. in the ar¬
eas along the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
as well
as the territories between the rivers
Iskar
and
Skat. The altar from Koprivets is the only find
of this series in northeast Bulgaria.
III. Three-footed altars
This is the rarest early Neolithic formal
group in Bulgaria.
1.
Three-footed altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The only find of this series has been re¬
corded at
Kovačevo.
IV. Four-footed altars
This is the third most common but very
instructive early Neolithic altar group in Bul¬
garia.
1.
Four-footed altars with semi-sunken
circular receptacles
The only altar of this series comes from
S aedinenie-Hotal
.
2.
Four-footed altars with raised circu¬
lar receptacles
The single artifacts found come from
two geographical areas: the eastern parts of
Thrace (Kardzhali and
S
aedinenie-Hotal) and
the upper
Iskar (Sofia-Slatina
and Rebarko-
vo).
The formal classification of early Neo¬
lithic altars and the spatial distribution of each
group involved in Bulgaria outline a varied
picture. In fact, this variety does not apply to
the entire study area.
In the central and eastern areas of Bul¬
garia
-
a region bordered on the west approxi¬
mately by the line that zigzags immediately
east of the rivers
Mesta
and
Iskar
-
the three-
sided altars with sunken three-sided recepta¬
cles dominated in the early Neolithic. Single
artifacts of other formal groups have been re¬
corded as exceptions which can be found ei¬
ther only in that area (three-sided altars with
semi-sunken three-sided receptacles (I.2a),
Kazanlak; four-sided altars with semi-sunken
circular receptacles (IV.
1),
Saedinenie-Hotal),
or are common in the western region but can
also be found in the eastern region (four-sided
altars with sunken circular four-sided recep¬
tacles (II.la), Karanovo and Kazanlak; four-
sided altars with raised circular receptacles
(II.
3),
Kardzhali and Koprivets; four-footed
altars with raised circular receptacles (IV.2),
Kardzhali and Saedinenie-Hotal).
In the western parts of Bulgaria
-
an
area which geographically belongs to the
Central Balkans
-
the three-sided altars with
sunken three-sided receptacles are also domi¬
nating in this early Neolithic artifact category.
Instructive for the western area however are
various four-sided altar types or altars with
circular receptacles (including receptacles
with rounded corners or cylindrical recepta¬
cles) or with both features: three-sides altars
with sunken receptacles with highly rounded
inner corners (Lib) or with circular recepta¬
cles (Lie); three-sided altars with semi-sunk¬
en circular (I.2b) or cylindrical (I.2c) recepta¬
cles; four-sided altars with sunken four-sided
(II.la) or circular (II.lb) receptacles; four-
sided with semi-sunken circular (II .2b) or
су-
Summary
141
Iindrical (11.2c) receptacles; four-sided altars
with raised circular receptacles
(11.3);
three-
footed altars with raised circular receptacles
(III.
1 );
four-footed altars with raised circular
receptacles (IV.2).
An important problem is posed by
the presence of single altars in the eastern
distribution area which belong to a formal
type common in the western area. I refer to
the above formal types from Karanovo and
Kazanlak (II.la), from Kardzhali (II.
3
and
IV.2), Saedinenie-Hotal (IV.2), and Kopriv-
ets (II.
3).
And whereas the contact routes be¬
tween the northeastern parts of Thrace and
the eastern Rhodope Mountains on the one
hand and the western area on the other hand
could be hypothesized to have run directly
through Thrace, the presence of the altars
from the other two sites is probably due to
contacts with the territories north of the Dan¬
ube. All other exceptions in Thrace
-
Kazan¬
lak (I.2a), Kardzhali (11.2a) and Saedinenie-
Hotal (IV.
1) —
are likely to have been local
innovations.
Middle Neolithic. Both assemblages of
this period include a limited number of altar
shapes:
I. Three-sided altars
L
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most common altar type in the re¬
spective layers of Karanovo and Kazanlak.
II. Four-sided altars
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
These are represented in the respective
layers of Karanovo and Kazanlak.
During the short middle Neolithic, no
essential changes occurred in the altar shapes
in the northeastern parts of Thrace. Only the
aforementioned single "exotic" shapes, result¬
ing from local innovations or contacts with
the western areas, are not found any more.
Late Neolithic. Despite the great
number of investigated altars of this period,
the number of shapes is more limited than in
the early Neolithic:
I. Three-sided altars
The most common late Neolithic altar
group in Bulgaria.
I.
Three-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Three-sided receptacles
The most common late Neolithic altar
type. There is not a site of this period, in any
part of Bulgaria, where these have not been
recorded.
II. Three-sided altars with one shorter
side and sunken three-sided receptacles
A new altar group that appeared in the
last phase of the late Neolithic. They were
spread both in Thrace
(Ezero
and Karanovo,
Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda) and the upper
Mesta (Eleshnitsa)
and
Strama (Damyanitsa
and Sapareva
Banya)
rivers.
III. Four-sided altars
The second most important late Neo¬
lithic formal group in Bulgaria.
1.
Four-sided altars with sunken recep¬
tacles
la. Four-sided receptacles
The most common type of this group. It
has been recorded both in Thrace (Karanovo,
Kazanlak, Chavdar, Chelopech, and Lyu-
bimets
-
Dana
Bunar
and Nova
Zagora
-
Hle¬
bozavoda) and the upper
Strama
and Ogosta
rivers.
2.
Four-sided altars with semi-sunken
receptacles
2a. Circular receptacles
The only artifact of this type comes
from Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe.
3.
Four-sided altars with raised circular
receptacles
The only altar of this series comes from
Nova
Zagora
-
Hlebozavoda.
IV. Four-footed with raised circular re¬
ceptacles
This formal group is represented by a
single find from Lyubimets
-
Dana
Bunar.
The late Neolithic three-sided and four-
sided altars with
sunlœn
receptacles that
fol-
142
Васил Николов
—
Неопитни култови масички
low the shape of the altars
(Lia;
III.la) are
the most common types although the second
type is almost unknown between the Balkan
Range and the Danube. The three-sided altars
with one shorter side and sunken receptacles
that follow the shape of the altars (II) appear
in the last phase of the late Neolithic only in
the territories south of the Balkan range. In
fact, this is the only Neolithic formal altar
group having an intentionally modeled asym¬
metric shape. The remaining late Neolithic
formal groups (III.2a; III.3; IV) have been re¬
corded with single finds only in Thrace and
rather represent innovations than traditions in
the early Neolithic.
The origins of the four-sided altar with
sunken four-sided receptacle supported by
thick inverted conical feet (III.la) from Ka-
zanlak (Karanovo III layer) could be asso¬
ciated with the extensive contacts with the
Marmara region and particularly with the
Fikirtepe culture in the late Neolithic.
Neolithic altars: Formal traditions and
innovations
I classified the early Neolithic altars into
13
types, the middle Neolithic altars into
2
types and the late Neolithic altars into
6
types.
The reduction of formal groups in the middle
Neolithic as compared to the early Neolithic
is drastic. Only two types continued to de¬
velop which in the same order had also been
dominating in the early Neolithic: three-sided
and four-sided altars with sunken receptacles
repeating the outer shape of the altar. In fact,
the production of only these two types con¬
tinued in the late Neolithic; they continued to
dominate in the same order whereas each of
the four-sided altars with semi-sunken circular
receptacles, the four-sided altars with raised
circular receptacles and the four-footed altars
with raised circular receptacles have been rep¬
resented with one artifact only. However, anew
formal group appeared at the end of the late
Neolithic: three-sided altars with one shorter
side and sunken three-sided receptacles which
immediately occupied the third place in terms
of spatial and numerical distribution.
As has already become clear, only two
altar types continued the formal tradition of
these artifacts during the entire Neolithic.
Even the innovation in the last Neolithic
phase actually emphasized the tradition of
production of altars with sunken receptacles
following the outer shape of the artifact.
Besides the dominating formal features
used as criteria for classification of the Neo¬
lithic altars, other external elements could
also be found in these artifacts which can turn
out to be representative for a certain territory
or period.
Knobs in the upper corners of the al¬
tar. These can be found as elements of a small
number of altars in the last late Neolithic pe¬
riod (Karanovo IV and its contemporaneous
cultural phenomena) though all over the study
area. The "knobbed" altars belong to three
formal groups: three-sided altars with sunk¬
en three-sided receptacles (most common
throughout the territory of Bulgaria), four-
sided altars with sunken four-sided recepta¬
cles (single finds, only in Thrace) and three-
sided altars with one shorter side and sunken
receptacles (single finds, mainly in Thrace
but also in the upper
Struma).
The artifacts,
of the latter group have a larger knob on the
front corner that was probably most often an
anthropo-zoomorphic
protome.
The knobs on
the back corners of the altars from this group
as well as the knobs on the corners of the al¬
tars from the other two formal groups were
small, cylindrical or conical (usually broken
away and now missing), and had probably no
protome.
Exceptions to this rule are the knobs
on the upper corners of some altars from the
central and eastern parts of the territories be¬
tween the Balkan Range and the Danube; they
represent larger disks or lugs. One altar from
the site of Drama-Gerenahas a peculiar three-
sided upward-widening knob.
Concave upper receptacle rims forming
rising corners. This feature has been recorded
only on altars from the upper and middle
Stru¬
ma,
coming from sites of the last late Neolith¬
ic period (contemporaneous with Karanovo
Summary \
43
IV in Thrace); these artifacts belong to two The altars of this group come from the west-
formal groups
:
three-sided altars with sunken ern parts of Thrace and the area in the middle
three-sided receptacles and three-sided altars and upper
Struma.
A third group
orlate Neo-
with one shorter side and sunken receptacles. lithic altars, with sunken three-sided recepta-
A "sagging" receptacle bottom. This cles from the Yantra valley, have feet highly
formal feature often belongs to three-sided
al-
inclined inwards beneath the body so that a
tars with sunken three-sided receptacles; the four-sided but inverted
trapezoid
"empty" fig-
inside of the receptacle bottom is flat and
un-
ure
is formed on the altar side,
derneath it is thickened and "sagging". This Ornamental synthesis
applies to a large number of early Neolithic The attention in the previous chapter II
altars
ofthat
type from Thrace, the upper and was focused on the ornamental patterns cov-
part of the middle
Mesta
and
Struma,
and the
ering
the sides of some basic Neolithic altar
Sofia basin as well as to a small number of
al- types,
namely, the three-sided and four-sided
tars of the middle and the first half of the late altars with sunken receptacles. I will synthe-
Neolithic in Thrace. size certain results of the technique applied by
Early Neolithic altars referring to three investigating one of the possible aspects for
more formal types also have a "sagging"
bot-
each Neolithic phase in Bulgaria: ornamental
tom:
four-sided altars with sunken four-sided patterns used and their spatial distribution,
receptacles (in the western parts of Thrace and Early Neolithic
the upper
Mesta
River, relatively common Three-sided altars with three-sided
within this type), three-sided and four-sided sunken receptacles
altars with semi-sunken circular receptacles Pattern I. This pattern includes
deco¬
rare
finds in the upper
Struma
River and in rations, which continuously cover the whole
the Sofia basin). side of the altar. It is the most common or-
Inner outlines of the feet and
recepta-
namental
pattern in the early Neolithic and
cle.
Together with the surface on which the has been recorded throughout the territory of
altar stands, the inner outlines of the feet and Bulgaria.
the lower side of the receptacle usually form Pattern II. This pattern represents deco-
an approximately rectangular figure lying rations, which include a large ornamental ele-
lengthwise. Many artifacts however show par-
ment on
the entire side; the feet are not dec-
ticular features. A small group of mainly early orated. It is rare and definitely south of the
Neolithic but also some late Neolithic three- Balkan Range.
sided altars with sunken three-sided
recepta-
Pattern III. This pattern involves
trí¬
eles,
coming from the area south of the
Bal-
partite decorations; the wall is completely
kan
Range, have feet widening downwards, or partially covered with a large ornamental
i.e. their side rims are straight but inclined. element or local decoration, and the feet are
Sometimes the lower wall is curved down- decorated by one ornamental element each. It
wards and the altar side takes an M-shape. has been found all over the country's territory
Another group, the early Neolithic four-sid- and by degree of distribution it can be
com¬
ed
altars with sunken four-sided receptacles pared with Pattern I.
and four-sided altars with raised receptacles Pattern IV. This pattern comprises bi-
have feet widening upwards; the inner side partite decorations; the upper wall is covered
is straight or cut out like a step-ladder. The with one ornamental element and the lower
lower middle part of the wall, shortened by wall and the feet feature another element. It is
the upward-widened feet, is in some cases rarely found in the
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys,
shaped like a triangle or a trapeze by deep Pattern V. This pattern includes deco-
diagonal incisions towards the upper corners. rations consisting of four elements: one low
144
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
and long horizontal element covers the space
under the upper rim of the altar; the second
ornamental element occupies a large part of
the wall downwards and a large part of the
feet; low horizontal elements cover the low¬
est part of the feet. It has been recorded in the
Sofia basin only.
Pattern VI. This pattern involves tripar¬
tite decorations of apparently differently sized
ornamental elements; one large element occu¬
pies the wall (or a considerable part of it) and
large part of the feet whereas low horizontal
elements cover the lowest part of the feet. It
has been recorded in the Sofia basin only.
Pattern
VII.
This pattern includes two
fields, which occupy the upper and lower wall.
The feet are undecorated. It has been recorded
in the Sofia basin only.
Pattern
VIII.
This pattern represents
decorations consisting of four elements in
three horizontal rows with elements and local
decorations; one row occupies the upper wall
and the second one occupies the lower wall
while one small element covers the lower part
of each foot. It is relatively rarely found, south
of the Balkan Range.
Pattern IX. This pattern consists of a
large ornamental element occupying the wall
and two small elements one on top of the
other, covering the feet. It is rarely found, in
Thrace and the Sofia basin.
Pattern X. This pattern comprises dec¬
orations of two L-shaped elements, which
cover the foot and a considerable part of the
adjacent half of the wall. It is rarely found,
south of the Balkan Range.
Pattern XI. This pattern includes deco¬
rations that have three separate parts; both side
parts are represented by one vertical element
each that covers the foot and its adjacent part
of the wall whereas the middle wall is deco¬
rated with a horizontal element. It has been
recorded quite frequently but exclusively in
Thrace.
Pattern
XII.
This pattern involves deco¬
rations, which are made up of five separate
elements; both side parts have two elements
each, one on top of the other on the foot and
its adjacent part of the wall whereas the mid¬
dle wall is usually decorated with one (larger)
element. It has been recorded quite common¬
ly, south of the Balkan Range.
Pattern
XIII.
This pattern includes
seven ornamental elements: two elements per
each foot, one element in their adjacent part
of the wall and one element in the middle part
of the wall. It has been recorded in the Kazan-
lak basin only.
Pattern
XIV.
This pattern includes dec¬
orations of three separate elements, which
cover both feet and the middle part of the
wall, respectively; the side fields of the wall
have been left undecorated. It was relatively
common but exclusively south of the Balkan
Range.
Pattern XV. This pattern involves single
decorations represented by one ornamental
element in the middle part of the wall. It has
been recorded in the Kazanlak basin only.
Only three ornamental patterns have
been found in the territories north of the Bal¬
kan Range; they have been recorded however
south of it, too. The remaining
12
patterns have
so far been recorded in the territories south of
the Balkan Range only. This result is greatly a
consequence of the lack of large investigated
assemblages in the northern area.
The decoration on the upper side of
the receptacle walls represents an interesting
feature of a few artifacts of this early Neo¬
lithic altar type whose sides are decorated. It
includes various patterns but is usually found
in the corners and the middle part of the wall
rims, sometimes on the entire wall rims. It
was common in Thrace as well as in the
Mes¬
ta
and
Struma
valleys, i.e. south of the Balkan
Range. This feature has not yet been recorded
north of the Balkan Range and in the Sofia
basin it is an exception. The decoration on the
upper side of the walls combines with all or¬
namental patterns on the sides of the altars.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Summary \
45
Pattern I. This pattern comprises deco- been represented by single finds including the
rations, which continuously cover the whole Skat area north of the Balkan Range,
side of the altar. It has been found in all areas The decoration on the upper rim of the
south of the Balkan Range. walls of these altars usually covers their entire
Pattern II. This pattern consists of deco- length and combines with almost all patterns
rations, which include a large ornamental
ele-
of ornamentation on the sides. The cases of
ment
on the whole wall; the feet are not or- such combinations come again only from the
namented. It can be encountered all over the main distribution area of this type,
region of distribution
ofthat
altar type. Middle Neolithic
_
Pattern III. This pattern includes tripar- Three-sided altars with three-sided
tite decorations of separate ornamental
ele-
smkm tades
ments;
the whole wall is covered with a large pattem L
љ
gs deco_
element and the feet are decorated with one
,· ,· ,
x.
,
xl
л
,
,, , , τ
TJ.
i i j
, .
rations, which continuously cover the whole
small element each. It has been recorded
m
.,
jxl 1-L T
,
л
r
,
the western parts of Thrace and the
Mesta
and Slde °f **L ^
*
haS
ЬеШ
foUnd at Kara"
Struma valleys.
novo
and Kazanlak.
Pattern IV. This pattern includes single Pattem IL Thls ^attQm lnvolves
****■
decorations, which cover the wall and the up- tlte decoratlons; the wall is covered with
a
lo¬
per
part of both feet. It has been recorded at cal
«kcoraüon
and the feet are decorated with
Kovačevo
only one omamen1:al element each. It has been re-
Pattern V. This pattern includes bipartite corded at Karanovo and Kazanlak.
decorations of separate L-shaped ornamental Pattern III. This pattern is represented
elements; they cover the foot, the adjacent part
ЬУ а
bipartite decoration; the upper half of the
of the wall as well as one small part of it to- wall is covered with one
omamental
element
ward its center; an undecorated field remains whereas the feet and the lowest part of the
between both elements in the middle part of wall are covered with another element. It has
the wall. It is found in the
Mesta
valley. been recorded at Kazanlak.
Pattern VI. This pattern includes deco- Pattern IV. This pattern includes three
rations of five separate ornamental elements; horizontal rows: one small ornamental ele-
both side fields have two quadrilateral
ele- ment
in the lower part of each foot, one large
ments
each, one on top of the other on the element or local decoration in the lower and
foot and the adjacent wall above it; the middle One in the upper part of the wall. It has been
part of the wall is decorated with one (larger) recorded at Kazanlak.
horizontal rectangular element. It has been re- Pattern V. This pattern comprises deco-
corded in the western parts of Thrace. rations, which are composed of five separate
Pattern
VII.
This pattern represents omamental elements; both side fields have
asymmetric single decorations of separate
Шо
elements each,oneontop oftheother on
ornamental elements; the wall and one of the ^ foot ^
ш Ље ^^
m of the
^ц.
feet are covered with integral ornamentation ^
тШе
of ^ ^ ig covered ^ Qne
and the other one is undecorated. It has been
f
,
aa^v
™,~о„л
„ ,
element. It has been recorded at Karanovo and
round at Vaxevo only.
. .
Four of the above patterns have been Kazanjalc·
.
recorded at more than one site south of the j Pattern
JL Th1S
pattern consists of
Balkan Range and cover the main distribution decorations of three separate ornamental el-
area of the altar type under study; namely, the ements, which are represented on both feet
westernmost parts of Thrace, the upper
Mesta
and the middle part of the wall; the side fields
River, and the middle and upper
Struma
Riv-
of the wall have been left undecorated. It has
er.
The remaining three patterns have so far been found at Kazanlak.
146
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
All six ornamental patterns have been
represented by middle Neolithic altars from
Kazanlak and three patterns also by altars
from Karanovo. The difference is probably
due to the considerably smaller number of al¬
tars from the second site.
The upper rim of the above altars has
rarely been decorated: only at Kazanlak. Sin¬
gle cases have been recorded of combining
such decoration with wall decoration, which
belongs to three ornamental patterns.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern includes deco¬
rations, which are represented by a large or¬
namental element or local decoration on the
whole wall; the feet are left undecorated.
Pattern II. This pattern involves tripar¬
tite decorations; the wall is covered with a lo¬
cal decoration and the feet are decorated with
one element each.
Pattern III. This pattern includes deco¬
rations that have three separate parts; both side
fields are decorated with one vertical element
each, covering the foot and its corresponding
part of the wall; the middle part of the wall is
decorated with one horizontal element.
All three ornamental patterns have been
recorded at Kazanlak only.
No ornamentation on the upper wall
rims has been recorded.
Late Neolithic
Three-sided altars with three-sided
sunken receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern consists of deco¬
rations, which continuously cover the whole
side of the altar. It was the most common
ornamental pattern in the late Neolithic and
has been recorded throughout the country's
territory.
Pattern II. This pattern involves deco¬
rations that are represented only on the altar
wall. It has rarely been found, south of the
Balkan Range only.
Pattern HI. This pattern includes tripar¬
tite decorations of separate ornamental ele¬
ments; the wall is occupied by a horizontal
element or decoration and the feet are deco¬
rated with one small element each. It has been
found all over the country's territory.
Pattern IV. This pattern consists of bi¬
partite decorations; the upper field occupies a
narrow space under the upper wall rim where¬
as the lower field, which is always wider, cov¬
ers the lower part of the wall and the feet. It
has been established only in upper
Mesta
and
Struma.
Pattern V. This pattern comprises deco¬
rations of four parts structured in three hori¬
zontal fields; the upper one occupies a narrow
space under the upper wall rim, the middle one
lies in the lower part of the wall and the lower
one contains two small ornamental elements
in the lower part of the feet. It has rarely been
found, south of the Balkan Range only.
Pattern VI. This pattern includes deco¬
rations of five parts, with separate ornamental
elements of varying size: one large element oc¬
cupies the wall and two small ones, one on top
of the other, cover each foot. It appears rarely
in Thrace and in the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern
VII.
This pattern involves tri¬
partite decorations with ornamental elements
of apparently varying size; one large element
occupies the wall and the greater part of the
feet whereas one low horizontal element cov¬
ers the lowest part of each foot. It has been
recorded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Pattern
VIII.
This pattern comprises tri¬
partite decorations with separate ornamental
elements: both side elements cover the feet
and a small adjacent side part of the wall pe¬
riphery; the middle one occupies that part of
the wall between both feet as well as small
upper parts of the periphery. It has been re¬
corded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Pattern IX. This pattern presents tri¬
partite decorations with separate ornamental
elements; both side elements cover the foot,
the adjacent part of the wall and one part of
the inner wall field (i.e. they are L-shaped),
whereas the middle element (in the middle of
the wall) is smaller and often rectangular. It
has been recorded at Sapareva
Banya
only.
Summary
Pattern X. This pattern includes decora-
tions with five ornamental elements, two
larg-
er
ones on the feet and the adjacent part of the
wall as well as three small ones in the middle
of the wall. It has been found in Thrace only.
Pattern XI. This pattern consists of dec-
orations with three separate parts; both side
parts are represented by one vertical element
each, covering the foot and the corresponding
part of the wall while the middle part of wall
is decorated with one small element. It has
rarely been recorded in Thrace and the upper
Struma
River as well as north of the Balkan
Range, in the Yantra valley.
Pattern
XII.
This pattern includes deco-
rations of five parts, consisting of rectangular
elements, which are arranged as follows: two
on the upper half of each foot and the adjacent
part of the wall, one in the middle field of the
wall and two on the lower part of each foot. It
has been recorded only at Sapareva
Banya.
Pattern
XIII.
This pattern consists of
decorations made up of five separate
orna-
mental elements; both side parts contain two
elements each, one on top of the other on the
foot and the adjacent side part of the wall; the
middle part of the wall is decorated with one
horizontal
element.
It is common
m
the whole
territory of Bulgaria.
_
Pattern
XIV.
This pattern comprises
decorations of separate elements
m
the mid-
die part of the
wal
and on the feet; the side
sections of the wall are left undecorated. It
has been recorded at Sapareva Banya only.
Pattern XV. This pattern includes deco-
ration of six separate elements, two
m
each
of both side sections and two
m
the middle
section of the side. Itrarely appears in Thrace
and the upper StmmaRiver.
Pattern
XVI.
This pattern includes
decorations of seven separate elements: five
of these are applied on the wall and the other
two occupy the feet. It has been recorded only
at Sapareva Banya.
Pattern
XVII.
This pattern combines
decorations of seven separate or contacting
elements: three of these occupy the wall and
two on each foot are applied. It occurs rarely
in Thrace and the area along the upper course
of the
Struma
River.
Pattern
XVIII.
This pattern involves
decorations of seven ornamental elements;
two elements cover the lower half of each
foot, another element decorates the upper
feet, the adjacent part of the wall and some of
the inner part of the wall (one on each side),
and the last element occupies the middle of
the wall. It has been found at Plovdiv
-
Yas-
satepe only.
Pattern
XIX.
This pattern comprises
decorations made up of nine elements; the feet
and the adjacent part of the wall are covered
^th three elements each, and the middle part
of me wall is decorated with three elements as
wen. It js
xaľely
found in Thrace.
pattern
χχ#
This pattem
invołves dec.
oMions of seven
е1етепЇ8;
two of these are
L-shaped and occupy large parts of the foot
^ the wall but in the upper corner they en_
close a small square or
re^g^
element; a
smaü
central section of the ^ md the low
feet m each coyered with a relatively small
rectangular element It has been
recorded at
s va Banya onl
?gfågm
χχΐ<
Шѕ ^^
consists of
decorations made of fiye elements: two el.
ements Qn each foot ^ ^ fifth one on the
шШЈе
of ^ ^ ^ side sections
Qf ^ ^ ^ ^ undecorated It has been
&ша
^ ^^
_
γ
e
wtt
tu·
« · 1
а^
Pattern
XXII.
This pattern includes
decorations of five parts arranged
m
three
fields; the upper right field occupies a space
under the upper wall rim, the wide middle
field covers the lower wall and a large part of
the &et whereas the lowest part of the feet is
covered with one narrow element per foot. It
has been recorded at
Dolni
Lozen
m
the Sofia
basm
оп1У·
Only four ornamental patterns deco-
ratinS the sides of late Neolithic altars with
sunken receptacles have been found in the
area north of the Balkan Range though these
patterns can also be found to the south; the
remaining
18
ornamental patterns have so far
148
Васил Николов
-
Неолитни култови масички
been recorded only in the area south of the
Balkan Range. This result is probably due
largely to the great number of uninvestigated
big assemblages in the northern area so that it
cannot be used to make general conclusions.
Ten of the patterns have been used at one site
only, mainly at
S
apareva
Banya.
Taking into
account the fact that the biggest late Neolithic
altar assemblage comes from Sapareva
Ban¬
ya,
one could draw conclusions in two direc¬
tions; either each Neolithic site also applied
its own local ornamental patterns or those sin¬
gle patterns have not been recorded at other
sites because these sites have so far yielded
an insufficient number of altars. In fact, both
conclusions might be simultaneously valid.
It would be inconsiderate to relate certain or¬
namental patterns to some areas south of the
Balkan Range. Theoretically, pattern
4
offers
such a possibility; it has so far been recorded
in the upper
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys.
The decoration on the upper sides of
the receptacle walls practically disappeared
in the late Neolithic. It is rarely found only in
the upper
Struma
River. Moreover, the orna¬
mentation at Sapareva
Banya
combines only
with three of the
17
ornamental patterns on
the altar sides. An interesting local feature is
manifested by some decorated altars in the
later phase of the late Neolithic in the Yantra
River valley; the corner disks are also some¬
times decorated.
Three-sided altars with one shorter side
and sunken receptacles
The sides of these altars are always cov¬
ered with decorations of a single pattern, such
that continuously cover the entire side of the al¬
tar. This applies to the whole distribution area:
Thrace and the
Mesta
and
Struma
valleys.
Four-sided altars with four-sided sunk¬
en receptacles
Pattern I. This pattern includes decora¬
tions that continuously cover the entire side of
the altar. It is the most frequently used pattern
in the ornamentation of the side of this altar
type. It can be found in Thrace and the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern II. This pattern consists of tri¬
partite decorations of separate elements; the
wall is occupied by a horizontal element or
decoration and the feet are decorated with one
small element each. It has been recorded in
Thrace and the upper
Struma
River.
Pattern III. This pattern involves deco¬
rations that are represented only on the altar
wall. It has been found in Thrace only.
No ornamentation on the upper rim has
been established.
Neolithic altars: Ornamental traditions
and innovations
Three-sided altars.
15
ornamental pat¬
terns were applied to decorate their walls in the
early Neolithic whereas in the middle Neolith¬
ic the patterns were
6
and in the late Neolith¬
ic they were
22.
Ten of these patterns appear
to be traditional for the Bulgarian Neolithic;
they have been recorded both in the early and
late Neolithic, covering the six patterns of the
middle Neolithic. Apart
йот
them, five early
Neolithic ornamental patterns did not develop
in the following periods and
12
new ornamen¬
tal patterns appeared in the late Neolithic. Be¬
sides their semantic aspects assumed, the ten
traditional patterns that I refer to as Neolithic
ornamental patterns of three-sided altars, are
important evidence for the culture continuity
in the Neolithic of this area.
Four-sided altars. Their walls were
decorated with six ornamental patterns in
the early Neolithic, with three patterns in the
middle Neolithic, and with three more in the
late Neolithic. Three of those patterns are tra¬
ditional for the whole Neolithic. They were
applied both in the early and late Neolithic,
covering the two patterns of the middle Neo¬
lithic. Three other ornamental patterns of the
early Neolithic did not develop further; one
ornamental pattern considered as innovation
for the period dropped out in the middle Neo¬
lithic and only the traditional ornamental pat¬
terns were applied in the late Neolithic. The
three traditional patterns that I refer to as Neo¬
lithic ornamental patterns of four-sided altars
are also evidence for the culture continuity in
the Neolithic of this area.
Summary \
49
The Neolithic altars' ornamental tech- functions of the artifacts investigated and they
nique
also enables me to define certain spatial can be reduced to the following three research
and chronological characteristics and trends. aspects: position in the features or cultural
de¬
in
the areas south of the Balkan Range, posits of the site, possible traces of use and
the excision and the rarely used punctations inherent instructiveness of the artifacts,
predominated (despite its slightly descending The excavations of Neolithic sites al-
gradation) almost until the end of the
Neo-
most always yield altars in a fragmentary
lithic, without its last phase contemporaneous state and usually represented by only one
with Karanovo IV. In that same area, at the part. However, there are a number of cases
same time, the use of mixed technique in- where during the exploration of a larger area
creased, excision and incision, whereas since of a given site, parts of the same altar were
the beginning of the late Neolithic the number found at a considerable distance from one
of altars incised rose considerably. In the last another. Intact altars are rare cases but a few
phase of the late Neolithic in this area, inci- were found.
sion became the key ornamental technique As regards the position of the altars in
followed by the combination of incision and me Neolithic settlements, the data available
punctation. Although rarely, pattern burnish- do not Permit a simPle solution. There are
ing was also found at this time; it was used sinSle recorded and well-known cases where
always simultaneously with incision. Paint-
Љеѕе
Sitì&cts
were found amidst remnants of
ing was used, though rarely, in the early
Neo- a
house> and moreover, by the oven, though
lithic of the areas that belong to the Central
й
is
Ы*
Probable that
ЉеУ
had their own
Balkans, the westernmost parts of Thrace, the Place in the buildinS· There m no data on al"
Mesta and
Struma
river valleys as well as the tos found in ^ assemblages or burials,
territories between the
Iskar
and Ogosta rivers
,
Of
^lcnlaľ
significance for the func-
north of the Balkan Range. In the Early
Neo-
*юпа1
interpretation of the altars would be
lithic again, mainly in the
Mesta
and
Struma
dat* on fces °{ ufzatl0I\ N° cheflcal
n
, . . „
r-
, . ,· ·
analyses have so far been made of such arti-
valleys and in the Sofia
basm,
sometimes
m
„
J
, ., . ,
,,
¿
^
_,,
л,
x.
, . ,
facts but my careful observations do not en-
the Eastern Rhodope Mountains,
certam
al-
J
±л ^
. . . ,
,,,.,.
able me to argue that there are visible traces
tars had plastic decoration.
, „
it
,.,
ul
· * *
j
· +1.·
T
, , . , _, „ „
left on them which could be interpreted
m
this
In the areas north of the Balkan Range,
, . . , , „*„„„
. . . , '
direction. I have
m
mind also traces
01
pos-
excision and punctation were almost unused ^ ^.^ as
χ
have tQ
in the Neohthic. They are very rarely found, ^
ш
^ h
ώ
of using
fhßse
in the early Neolithic only. Incision was
dom-
^ as m ^ stand ^^
mating and almost exclusively used during ^ ^
кЫШу ющЩ
made ^
соШ
the entire period. not hold a liquidj including fatj for a long
time. Many of these artifacts have recepta-
III. Neolithic altars:, an at- cies covered with some white substance and
tempt at their interpretation their bottoms have the same white coating;
In the scientific literature on the
pre-
the contact with fat would have left visible
history of southeast Europe, only vague hy- traces on the white surfaces. Some Neolithic
potheses have been made about the role of altars have a hole on one corner of the recep-
the artifacts under study in the early farming
tade
made during its modeling. Such artifacts
culture; they gravitate around profane or
ritu-
come from the early Neolithic layer of Tell
al
functions and, according to some authors, Karanovo and from the middle and late Neo-
with a possible transition from one to the oth- lithic layer of Tell Kazanlak; the feet of a late
er.
There are not many options to clarify the Neolithic altar from Plovdiv
-
Yassatepe had
150
Васил Николов
—
Неолитни култови масички
been broken but it remained to be used; other
altars were apparently intentionally broken in
two parts, holes were drilled in the walls next
to the breaking point for tying up and the al¬
tars were reused (examples are provided from
the early Neolithic site of Saedinenie-Hotal
and the late Neolithic site of Chelopech); in
many cases, mainly in the Late Neolithic, the
receptacles are too shallow. It is quite obvious
that the keeping of liquids was not one of the
functions of these artifacts.
The rich negative and often white in-
crusted decoration and the plastic decoration
as well as the millennial tradition of the three-
sided and four-sided shape of these artifacts
and the lack of data on their utilitarian use un¬
doubtedly make their ritual interpretation the
only possible one.
Of particular importance to the hypoth¬
esis about the altars' functions in the prehis¬
toric culture would be the idea of their seman¬
tics, i.e. what exactly their form and ornamen¬
tation express.
A partially preserved four-sided al¬
tar with a sunken receptacle from the early
Neolithic site of
Kovačevo,
near Sandanski
(tab.
90 1)
points to another hypothesis about
the semantics of these artifacts. The feet of
each of the four altar sides widen upward like
a step-ladder so that they almost touch under
the receptacle; from there two deep notches
come out toward the upper wall corners. The
parallel between the appearance of the side
and the iconography of the lower part of the
standing female figurines of the same time is
apparent; the figurines have upward-widening
feet and a genital triangle marked by two inci¬
sions. This assumption again allows me to in¬
terpret the altar as a womb. Other altars from
the same site (tab.
90 2),
from the early Neo¬
lithic site of Rakitovo and the late Neolithic
layer of Sapareva
Banya
-
Kremenik can be
associated with this iconography.
The development of this hypothesis is
based on the shape of the side as well as on
some features in modeling the wall outlines
and the lower side of the receptacle of the
three- and four-sided altars with sunken re¬
ceptacles. Particular attention should be paid
to the early Neolithic altars of this type, i.e.
those originating from the time of appear¬
ance and initial development of these arti¬
facts. Some altars of the above group have a
flat-topped profile of the side, i.e. they have a
straight lower wall rim between the feet and
a flat receptacle bottom underneath. Other al¬
tars of the same group feature the following
variants: the bottom wall rim is "sagging"; the
middle part of the otherwise straight wall rim
is convexly curved (i.e. shaped approximately
like an inverted triangle); the lower wall rim
is straight but the receptacle bottom under¬
neath is "sagging"; the lower wall rim and the
receptacle's bottom underneath are "sagging"
(tab.
90 3-6).
This appearance of the side,
represented by the above four variants, espe¬
cially in some more expressed cases, can be
described as M-shaped.
Of particular importance for revealing
the semantics of the altars are the plastic fe¬
male figures on the walls of early Neolithic
vessels; the lower parts of their stylized bod¬
ies remind strongly of the shape of the sides
of the altars just mentioned. These plastic rep¬
resentations depict a standing female body;
the arms are usually raised up in adoration
or one arm is up and the other is down; the
lower body (under the waist) is usually flat-
topped. It is sharply extended sideways and
the feet are wide apart, in many cases bent
in the knees and wide apart. In some cases,
the vulva is represented between the legs as
a plastic inverted triangle so that the lower
body of the
appliquéd
figure can be described
as M-shaped. Such figures have been iden¬
tified at Tell Karanovo near Nova
Zagora
(tab.
91 1, 5)
and at the early Neolithic site
of Chavdar near Pirdop. Two painted anthro¬
pomorphic figures can be added to this list;
they have been preserved on pottery sherds
from the early Neolithic site of Slatina-Sofia:
one of them repeats the iconography of the
plastic figures (tab.
91 3),
and the other one
has spindle feet, the genital triangle is exag-
Summary \S\
gerated, and the upper body is only marked their anthropomorphic character is not debat-
(tab.
91 2).
Although belonging to another able any more. The legs of these figures are
figurine type, one could add four jade amulets wide apart and therefore are M-shaped; this
to the above list; they represent stylized
strad-
position is interpreted as a birth position or
died antliropomorphic figurines in adoration readiness for coitus; therefore, we can con-
and come from the early Neolithic layer of elude that the M-shaped sign is an ornamental
Tell Azmak near
Stara Zagora
(tab.
91 4),
the variant of the female lower body in a certain
early Neolithic site of Golyam Porovets near position and is undoubtedly a female symbol.
Razgrad (tab.
91 8)
and the early Neolithic A great number of
iconographie
arguments
site of
Kovačevo
near Sandanski (tab.
91 6,
have been and can be added to prove this hy-
7).
All four amulets have similar iconography pothesis. A painted frieze of anthropomorphic
(especially in their lower parts) to that of the figures on an early Neolithic ceramic vessel
aforementioned plastic and painted figures, from Argissa Magoula (Thessaly) (tab.
92 2)
The above anthropomorphic figures can be includes figures with legs very wide apart and
associated with the Mother Goddess thus bent in the knees; their upper parts, together
making it possible to define the altars of the with the vulva, are represented as an inverted
type discussed as an isomorphic figure of the triangle (or a rhomboid with a very low up-
Mother Goddess' lower body (with the vulva) per part). A stone amulet from the early Neo-
and womb. I should remind here that the in- lithic site of Achilleion (Thessaly) (tab.
92
ner
side of the receptacle (the womb) and the
2)
represents a stylized female figurine with
altar underneath (the vulva) are often painted legs strongly bent in the knees and very wide
in white, a color symbolizing fertility and life apart, with a marked vulva; the lower body
for the early farmers in prehistoric Bulgaria, is M-shaped. A realistically modeled clay fe-
and therefore in line with the interpretation male figurine from
Hacýlar
VI (tab.
92 3)
has
proposed. legs strongly bent in the knees and very wide
Similar plastic or incised anthropomor- apart, with a marked vulva; the lower body is
phic figures could be seen on the walls of early M-shaped. This figurine obviously performed
Neolithic ceramic vessels from southeast and its ritual function lying on its stomach. The
central Europe. Of the
Starčevo
culture area, I position of the skeleton in a young woman's
will give only several examples of plastic fe- burial from the early Neolithic site of Slatina-
male figurines in adoration. The stylized
figu-
Sofia can also serve as evidence for the spe-
rines from
Slavonski Brod
and
Vinkovci
have cific role of the 'frog' position of the female
flat-topped lower bodies. Two more figurines body in the religio-mythological system of
from
Vinkovci
and from
Donja
Branjevina the early farmers; she was disposed of in a
are more realistic, their lower bodies being 'frog' position lying on her stomach, with an
also flat-topped; in the second case the vulva upright head (like the
Hacýlar
figurine),
is represented as an inverted
trapezoid.
A fig- Female figures with M-shaped lower
urine from
Szarvas
is also realistic; the legs bodies, painted on ceramic vessels or incised
are bent in the knees and wide apart, and the on other artifacts, have been known from all
vulva is modeled as well. The anthropomor- prehistoric periods in the Near East. Of par-
phic figures are also common in the
Körös ticular
relevance for the interpretation of the
culture. A large number of anthropomorphic M-shaped position of the legs is a painted
figures with legs wide apart and arms in ado- figure of a coitus scene on a vessel from the
ration, incised on the vessel walls, have been Chalcolithic Jemdet Nasr period, coming
recorded in the
Linearbandkeramik
culture from the
Tepe
Ali
Abad
cemetery at Mosul
area; because of this 'frog' position they used (Mesopotamia) (tab.
92 6);
the female lower
to be wrongly defined for some time but now body is represented in a M-shaped position.
152
Васил
Никол ов
-
Неолитни култови масички
Individual female figures with such
a posi-
then put together but in such a way that they
tion
of the lower limbs are quite numerous could be easily separated after the figurine
but I would point out those from Tall-i-Bakun had been fired. It is clear that both figurine
(tab.
92 4),
Ur, Tepe
Gawra
and other
Meso-
groups represent different states of the fe-
potamian sites (tab.
92 5, 7, 8, 9).
The earli- male character in which the upper body is
est
of all known anthropomorphic figures in only the necessary detail for identifying the
the position discussed comes from the sane- image whose focus lies on the lower body; in
tuary at
Göbekli
Tepe
(Upper Mesopotamia) the first case the character was permanently
(tab.
92 10)
which dates back to the pre-pot- ready for coitus and in the second case that
tery
Neolithic; the figure of a woman with readiness was expressed only by separating
legs wide apart and a hanging vulva has been (ritually) the lower limbs, i.e. by intention-
incised on a stone block. ally breaking the figurines. Nevertheless, in
Female figures
appliquéd
on pottery of both cases the final meaning of the female
the type investigated were also found in the figurines was provoking or marking coitus,
late Neolithic and Chalcolithic in southeast According to the interpretation proposed, the
Europe. most common Neolithic altar types represent
The only possible interpretation of the precisely and in a stylized plastic form, the
above female figures with M-shaped lower first
iconographie
variant when the anthropo-
body should associate them with a moment of morphic character was depicted as ready for
coital readiness and consider them within the matrimony.
early farming fertility ritual context. The Neolithic altars, especially those
As a result of the above consideration, with sunken receptacles, are decorated on
one can conclude that according to its appear- their entire visible surface (without the re-
ance, including the outlines of the bottom
un- ceptacle
inside and its bottom underneath)
derneath, the side of the three- or four-sided so that this ornamentation undoubtedly is in
altars with sunken receptacles (flat-topped line with the function of the artifacts. The
or M-shaped) can be visually compared with interpretation of the ornamentation is
a dif¬
ille
lower body of anthropomorphic figures of ficult and often risky undertaking though in
the same period in southeast Europe, central this particular case the instructiveness of the
Europe and the Near East. Hence, a logical shape would greatly assist in the semantic
conclusion can be drawn that the altars of this research of the decoration. Special attention
group are
iconographie
variants of a female should be paid to the odd-shaped elements
lower body (legs, vulva and womb) and cor- and patterns involved that differ from the
relate semantically with its anthropomorphic widely used decorative techniques. On the
semantics. other hand, the frequent use of certain orna-
The hypothesis set forth for the inter- mentation types also provides a solid basis
pretation of both main Neolithic altar types for interpretation. This applies mainly to the
can be supported by the comparison between checkerboard decoration whose
associa¬
rne
above anthropomorphic figures with legs
tion
with the Mother Goddess is beyond any
wide apart and the most common early and doubt. The checkerboard ornamentation is a
late Neolithic clay anthropomorphic figurines symbol of the continuity of life and its poten-
with legs pressed together. Whereas the first tial infinity.
group of figures represents a coital readiness, The second Neolithic altar type should
the second one consists of female figurines also be associated with the Mother Goddess
whose iconography can be interpreted as a cult though the semantics is different. The
state of potential coitus; in the second case plastic ornamentation of each foot of an intact
the lower limbs were modeled separately and altar from the early Neolithic site of Pernik is
Summary
153
shaped like bucranium with bulging eyes and (the most abundant class of prehistoric clay
accordingly implies that these artifacts
repre-
artifacts), the altars are broken both at the
sent a female womb (the receptacle) carried points of gluing the individual parts (there are
or protected by a bull. As an argument we at least six production variants) and at other
can use the fact that only in the distribution points. If they had been made for intentional
area of the second altar type (mainly in the (ritual) breaking, as is the case with most of
upper
Struma
valley), bull figurines with a the Neolithic anthropomorphic clay figurines,
cup on its head or back were produced.
Prob-
they would certainly have been made follow-
ably in that region the bull was considered as ing the figurine patterns and under intentional
a protector of the Mother Goddess. However, pressure would have broken in the gluing
this idea coexisted with the use of altars of points left deliberately weaker. Besides, most
the widely distributed first type as well. altars provide evidence of long-term use; for
Finally, I will recall the functions of example, the feet are rubbed off underneath,
the altars in the Neolithic culture. Undoubt- Sometimes, even after a foot had been (unin-
edly they were used in ritual contexts. At least tentionally, in my opinion) completely (Yas-
in some cases, the rituals probably included satepe) or partly broken and smoothed at a
pouring of water over them. I suppose that different height (Kazanlak, Sofia-Slatina),
they were perhaps used in rain summoning the altars remained in use. Serious arguments
and rituals for land fertility, for provoking against the intentional fragmentation are the
the sexual activity of male and female
prin-
above-mentioned altars from Saedinenie-Ho-
cipals in universe. In this line of thought, I
tal
and Chelopech which, after having been
guess that the
iconographie
association of unintentionally broken, were "repaired" by
the lower bodies of some stylized Neolithic
<™иѕ
holes near
Ше
breaking points and
female figurines (presented above) as well as to tied md reused·
ріпа11У> а
comparison
the side of some altars of various types with is
песеѕѕагУ
to be made: the
ПеоШс
&-
the back part of the Neolithic frog figurines male
^
inei> maf for
intonai
breaking
is not accidental; both have an M-shape. The ^reproduced without unnecessary diligence
frog obviously played an important role in the where£* a §reat df °£
*?е ^.
effo* ™S
kt
ľ+i.·
·*. 1
ju
1·
í·
1 +
A* -a invested in most altars, both
m
their modeling
Neolithic rivals and beliefs related to provid- ^
Μ£ηΜ
which does not fit the idea
mg the vitally necessary ram and fertility
m ^
forthcoming ritual breaking> Howeverj it
Є
a~y"
, . , 1
n t j
corresponds to the desire for long-term utili-
It has been suggested that the altars had & h thesis supported by the above
been intentionally broken, most probably
dur-
1TV,aT,tc,
,
iii·
ЗГйіДІІІСІІІо«
mg
the rituals. This idea has been largely in¬
fluenced by incomplete or false data,
includ-
.
1
л
.
л
ing on the production variants of those
arti-
Appendix: Chalcolithic altars,
facts. It is true that the altars have come down published finds
to us in a highly fragmented state but that is All published Chalcolithic altars from
the case with all non-miniature clay artifacts Bulgaria are included here, by sites and ac-
in the prehistoric material culture. Further- cording to the information from the respec-
more, as is the case with the pottery vessels
tive
publications. |
| any_adam_object | 1 |
| any_adam_object_boolean | 1 |
| author | Nikolov, Vasil 1951- |
| author_GND | (DE-588)13954335X |
| author_facet | Nikolov, Vasil 1951- |
| author_role | aut |
| author_sort | Nikolov, Vasil 1951- |
| author_variant | v n vn |
| building | Verbundindex |
| bvnumber | BV022756335 |
| ctrlnum | (OCoLC)219829003 (DE-599)BVBBV022756335 |
| edition | 1. izd. |
| format | Book |
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| geographic | Bulgarien (DE-588)4008866-2 gnd |
| geographic_facet | Bulgarien |
| id | DE-604.BV022756335 |
| illustrated | Illustrated |
| index_date | 2024-07-02T18:32:46Z |
| indexdate | 2024-07-31T00:32:44Z |
| institution | BVB |
| isbn | 9789549158755 |
| language | Bulgarian |
| oai_aleph_id | oai:aleph.bib-bvb.de:BVB01-015961980 |
| oclc_num | 219829003 |
| open_access_boolean | |
| owner | DE-12 DE-188 |
| owner_facet | DE-12 DE-188 |
| physical | 266 S. zahlr. Ill. |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publishDateSearch | 2007 |
| publishDateSort | 2007 |
| publisher | Bălgarska Akad. na Naukite, Nacionalen Archeologičeski Inst. s Muzej |
| record_format | marc |
| spelling | Nikolov, Vasil 1951- Verfasser (DE-588)13954335X aut Neolitni kultovi masički Vasil Nikolov 1. izd. Sofija Bălgarska Akad. na Naukite, Nacionalen Archeologičeski Inst. s Muzej 2007 266 S. zahlr. Ill. txt rdacontent n rdamedia nc rdacarrier In kyrill. Schr., bulg. - Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Neolithic altars Altar (DE-588)4001381-9 gnd rswk-swf Funde (DE-588)4071507-3 gnd rswk-swf Neolithikum (DE-588)4075272-0 gnd rswk-swf Bulgarien (DE-588)4008866-2 gnd rswk-swf Bulgarien (DE-588)4008866-2 g Altar (DE-588)4001381-9 s Funde (DE-588)4071507-3 s Neolithikum (DE-588)4075272-0 s DE-604 Digitalisierung BSBMuenchen application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=015961980&sequence=000003&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Inhaltsverzeichnis Digitalisierung BSB Muenchen application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=015961980&sequence=000004&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Abstract |
| spellingShingle | Nikolov, Vasil 1951- Neolitni kultovi masički Altar (DE-588)4001381-9 gnd Funde (DE-588)4071507-3 gnd Neolithikum (DE-588)4075272-0 gnd |
| subject_GND | (DE-588)4001381-9 (DE-588)4071507-3 (DE-588)4075272-0 (DE-588)4008866-2 |
| title | Neolitni kultovi masički |
| title_auth | Neolitni kultovi masički |
| title_exact_search | Neolitni kultovi masički |
| title_exact_search_txtP | Neolitni kultovi masički |
| title_full | Neolitni kultovi masički Vasil Nikolov |
| title_fullStr | Neolitni kultovi masički Vasil Nikolov |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neolitni kultovi masički Vasil Nikolov |
| title_short | Neolitni kultovi masički |
| title_sort | neolitni kultovi masicki |
| topic | Altar (DE-588)4001381-9 gnd Funde (DE-588)4071507-3 gnd Neolithikum (DE-588)4075272-0 gnd |
| topic_facet | Altar Funde Neolithikum Bulgarien |
| url | http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=015961980&sequence=000003&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=015961980&sequence=000004&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nikolovvasil neolitnikultovimasicki |