DIN NOU DESPRE SIMBOLURI. SCURTE CONSIDERAȚII DESPRE PINTADERELE DIN NEOLITICUL ROMÂNIEI
AGAIN ABOUT SYMBOLS. SHORT CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ROMANIAN NEOLITHIC STAMP SEALS

Summary/Abstract: The “stamp seals” were first discovered in sites belonging to the Anatolian Neolithic, and subsequently also identified throughout the Balkan-Carpathian space and acknowledged as finds specific to the early Neolithic civilizations of this territory. Widespread, the “stamp seals” were “fashionable” items all along the Neolithic and Eneolithic. Shapes, dimensions, and ornaments of such clay stamps vary from case to case, but not from site to site, suggesting certain uniformity, although several types of ornaments could be noticed on “stamp seals” found in the same settlement. The earliest researches on the “stamp seals” indicated their special role, and led to their understanding as special artifacts, archaeologists emphasizing in general the role and importance of this category of artifacts. In this paper, the author makes an attempt of synthesizing the information on the “stamp seals” specific to the Starčevo-Criș and Vinča Neolithic cultures, pointing out shapes and sizes, and inventorying types of symbols. By means of an integrated analysis, the author focuses on the significance hereof, from the perspective of the social hierarchies (body painting implements, amulets, dies, marks/seals of some personages enjoying a certain social status – community leaders, craftsmen, merchants).

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