Eneolithisation of the human figures: figural imagery in the Early Eneolithic Bubanj-Hum I culture

Abstract

One of the most important traits of the Late Neolithic Vinča culture, widespread in the territories of the central Balkans and the southern Carpathian basin, was rich figural imagery. Anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and hybrid figurines were particularly frequent, and there are also findings of prosopomorphic lids, zoomorphic vessels, and altars and other vessels with zoomorphic protomes. These types of objects were frequent on all Vinča culture sites; reaching up to several hundred of figurine fragments, and often display high quality of production. Early Eneolithic Bubanj-Hum I culture, widespread in the parts of previous Vinča culture areas, on the other hand, has very limited evidence for figural imagery. Clay figurines are scarce, and usually produced with limited labour investment. On the other hand, stone figurines, rare in the Vinča culture, now disappear completely, but figurines are now occasionally produced from bone – raw material that was never used in the Vinča culture. This change in quantity, quality and stylistic characteristics points to the significant changes in the symbolic value of the figural imagery, as well as overall changes in social and ritual lives of these prehistoric communities. However, Eneolithic figurines received very little attention in the archaeological literature thus far. In this paper will be provided an overview of evidence for figural imagery from the Early Eneolithic Bubanj-Hum I culture, part of the Bubanj-Sălcuţa-Krivodol cultural complex, from the sites on the territory of central Balkans. Figurines will be presented from stylistic and technological viewpoint, and also their place in the context of the Early Eneolithic will be discussed.