REPREZENTĂRI SPECIALE PE CERAMICA DE TIP COŢOFENI. ASPECTE ALE CULTULUI URANO-SOLAR ÎN PREISTORIE
SPECIAL IMAGERY ON THE COŢOFENI-TYPE CERAMICS

Summary/Abstract: This study is based on the analysis of some special imagery to be found on the Coţofenitype ceramics and we shall dwell on the problems posed by this fact. Seen either as extreme stylisation of human figures (P. Roman, I. Emödi) or as stylisated anthropomorphical images (I. T. Lipovan), the images hereby analysed are know from the sites of Almaş Sălişte, Bretea Mureşană, Cozia, Cugir, Deva, Igriţa, Miercurea Sibiului, Nandru, Sebeş, Turdaş and Zlatna. In his approach, the author, in order to substantivate his point of view, will refer not only to expect opinions, but also to the interpretetion of symbols and the role thereof within a community, more specifically, a Coţofenitypes one. One can distinguish two main types of special imagery on ceramics: Type I. The image consist of a circular flattened button with a diameter of between 2,5 and 4 cm, from wich stars a radial prolongation seems to have had vertical position, wich has been recently certified by the Cozia sample. The exception is supplied by the Igriţa vessel, where the image envice an oblique, upward prolongation. On the edge of button, 4 sample (Almaş Sălişte, Sebeş, Cozia, Igriţa, Răchita) have incision, placed radially, in other 2 cases (Cugir and Zlatna), the incisions center around the button. In all situations, the radial prolongation is decorated with incisions. Variant 1. The images is smaller in a size than the main type, having however the some morphology with 2 main components: a circular flattened button, much smaller in diamter (1,5-2 cm) and vertical radial prolongation, but downward unlike the previous type, one doesn’t encointer here any radial incisions on and around the button. Variant 2. This types so far illustrated by one only, the Turdaş one, could be considered as a variant of main type, given some similarities, in matters of form and rnamentation. It is, however, basically different from the main type representations, in that from the flattened button (of 5 cm in diameter) there are 4 downward prolongations. Type II. The images consist of a triangular print with rounded corners and one of the angles strongly elongated downwards. In the adges of the print, incisions similar to the those on type 1. The author thinks that this print contains anthropomorphic solar images, strongly tylisated, in wich the deity’s head is replaced by the solar disk whereas the head is a mere radial prolongation. Such images are known, both on ceramics and stone on vast area of Europe (Cleargh, Capcir, Vivarais, Ilkey, Măgura and in Scandinavia), places where those images are also said to represent an anthropomorphic solar deity, here are analogue images on some engravings in Roumania in the Peştera Cizmei (county Hunedoara) as well as on a dolmen leg ar Gura Haitii (county Suceava). An interesting aspect in provided by the Igriţa vessel wich served as main vessel of the “A” inhumation grave. The finding, attributed I.

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