Valeska Becker | University of Münster (original) (raw)

Books by Valeska Becker

Studien zum Altneolithikum in Italien, 2018

The book deals with the Italian early Neolithic (ca. 6000-4800 calBC) from a cultural-historical ... more The book deals with the Italian early Neolithic (ca. 6000-4800 calBC) from a cultural-historical point of view. It includes a brief overview of the various cultural phenomena in northern, central and southern Italy including their material remains, settlement organization and chronological framework. A special focus is placed on the northern Italian Fiorano culture which can be seen as an important link to the Balkan early Neolithic on the one hand and the early Neolithic cultures in southern France on the other hand. Detailed studies highlight the country's raw materials and their distribution as well as religious remains such as burials and figurines and finally the organization of space in the early Neolithic villages of southern Italy.

Since the earliest use of pottery, vessels have been associated with both the general shape and s... more Since the earliest use of pottery, vessels have been associated with both the general shape and specific parts of the human body. The production of human-shaped pottery might be understood as one element of the spectrum of figural art in prehistoric communities. The idea of studying anthropomorphic pottery and the return of human beings into a body made of clay, which forms the core theme of this collection of 12 papers, stems from work on anthropomorphic features of Neolithic communities between the Near East and Europe. Contributors are engaged in questions about the analysis of human features and characteristics on vessels, their occurrence, function and disposal. Beginning with the European Neolithic and moving on through the Bronze and Iron Ages, papers focus on diachronic archaeological patterns and contexts as well as on the theoretical background of this particular type of container in order to shed light on similarities and differences through the ages and to understand possibilities and limits of interpretation.

Review: https://journals.openedition.org/acost/2486

In 2010, the end of the first excavations of the Neolithic cemetery of Rössen (a part of Leuna), ... more In 2010, the end of the first excavations of the Neolithic cemetery of Rössen (a part of Leuna), Saalekreis, had their 120th anniversary. This site represents an important stage for the beginning of Neolithic research between the Alps and the North and Baltic Seas. The inventories of this necropolis have since played a major part in the discussion of the chronological placement of finds comparable to those of Rössen and of their cultural-historical interpretation. The papers collected in this publication aim at illustrating new insights into the fifth millennium BC in central Europe, especially in connection with natural science. The publication places new accents on the understanding of the diverse cultural history of this "short" but still important millennium and presents new approaches to social differentiation between the end of the first agrarian societies with Linear Pottery at the end of the 6th millennium BC and the beginning of the TRB builders of megaliths at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. The papers reflect on interaction, acculturation and innovation in settlement, economical, landscape and ritual archaeology; papers dealing with the history of research and the consequences of new AMS data complement the book.

Anthropomorphe Plastik der westlichen Linearbandkeramik. Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskund... more Anthropomorphe Plastik der westlichen Linearbandkeramik.

Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskunde Band 83.
Dr. Rudolf Habelt Verlag GmbH, Bonn 2011.
ISBN978-3-7749-3724-6
2 volumes, 882 pages with 43 figures and 183 plates.

Anthropomorphic figurines of the Linear Pottery Culture (LPC) never gained the same attention as other categories of find material of this culture. The aim of this book, therefore, was to analyze anthropomorphic figurines of the LPC with respect to their meaning in the central European middle Neolithic. The procedure included the draft of a catalogue of figural finds, an analysis of features concerning shape and decoration as well as sex, the state of preservation, find situation and the method employed when making them. Subsequently, further figural finds – anthropomorphic vessels, applicated and incised anthropomorphic representations and lugs and knobs – were analyzed and compared with the figurines.

The analyses concerning the shape of anthropomorphic figurines yielded two different groups: group 1, containing figurines whose body is hardly structured, shaped columnar and without legs or feet; and group 2, featuring figurines whose body is structured with more details and who can be subdivided, according to the shaping of their legs, into seated and standing figurines, including some bearing vessels. These two types occur in the whole distribution area of the LPC. Decoration styles reveal regional groups oriented along Europe's main river systems (Danube, Elbe, Rhine).

In order to find out the origin of the figurines and the other figural finds, the investigations were then directed to the south-east European early Neolithic. Briefly figural finds of the Alföld Linear Pottery and, marginally, the early Vinča culture, were examined to define differences and similarities to the LPC. Finally, a glance was thrown on figural finds of the late Neolithic, with the Lengyel, Tisza and Stroked Pottery cultures and the Hinkelstein-Großgartach-Rössen cultural complex. The results gained in the single analyses culminated in a new interpretation of figural finds of the LPC.

Since anthropomorphic figurines are often connected with presumed fertility rites, the analysis of sexual characteristics was necessary. The result was that only one third of all figurines displays a sexual characteristic (mostly female). Combinations of sexual characteristics on different body parts (breasts on the upper body, a pubic triangle on the lower body) are very rare; this means that a fragment without any characteristic can be of no help to determine the sex of the figurine it originally belonged to. The rendering of sexual characteristics is restricted neither to a certain region within the LPC nor to a certain chronological phase.

Both types can likewise be found in the Starčevo-Körös-Criş preceding the LPC and also occur in other cultural groups of the south-east European early Neolithic. Further features like the rare appearance of sexual characteristiscs, the fact that figurines were found exclusively in settlements and that they were regularly and most likely deliberately destroyed can be found in both cultural regions as well. However, the eastern LPC resp. Alföld Linear Pottery culture which is contemporary to the LPC does not feature the two clearly distinguishable types of figurines that are common in the early and middle Neolithic. In contrast, anthropomorphic vessels, especially those from the Szakálhát group, can very well be compared to those from the LPC.

During the late Neolithic, in the western part of the distributional area of the LPC figurines and other figural finds are no longer used while in the east their making flourishes. Reasons for the abandonment of this custom might be pressure from the inside, like changes within the economic or social system, or changes from the outside, like, e.g. the climate, or maybe a mixture of the both, which led to a new orientation in the set of beliefs in the west. The west maybe adopted customs from the Cardial and Epicardial cultures which do not know any figural finds.
Finally the results gained in the analysis were merged and interpreted. Circumstances like a standard production of two different times over a ling time and far geographic distances lead to the conclusion that anthropomorphic figurines of the LPC cannot be seen as toys. Their abstraction which manifests itself in form and decoration seems to point to the fact that no actually existing persons were meant. Sexual characteristics are not overly common and not strongly accentuated, so it is questionable whether figurines were part of some sort of fertility cult. They are not found in a special "cultic architecture" like rondels or caves but rather in ordinary settlements. If their fragmentation can be seen as an act of destruction or a killing and if the repetition of this act is taken into consideration, this might point to the conclusion that it was not worship of a numinous power that played a major role but rather the remembering of a certain incidence – a sacrifice? – which was supposed to be kept in cultural memory in this way.

Papers by Valeska Becker

Mobile images of ancestral bodies: a millenniumlong perspective from Iberia to Europe, 2021

In the vast amount of pottery fragments from Neolithic sites all over Europe, anthropomorphic ves... more In the vast amount of pottery fragments from Neolithic sites all over Europe, anthropomorphic vessels can be found every once in a while. They are quite rare in comparison to regular pottery but nonetheless interesting because they are probably connected to religious rites and beliefs. Whereas no anthropomorphic containers are known from the Palaeolithic or even the pre-pottery Neolithic, they first emerge during the late seventh millennium calBC in the early Neolithic of the Fertile Crescent and continue to be used, with chronological and spatial gaps, until the fourth millennium calBC.
Anthropomorphic vessels, which can be divided into figural vessels that display the whole human body, vessels rendering only single parts such as face vessels or footed vessels, and face lids, can sometimes carry decoration, although many of them are undecorated and seemingly naked. Decorational motives can be interpreted as depictions of clothes or jewellery and sometimes even bones. However, in some cases, the decoration probably also had a symbolic significance whose meaning is unknown to us. In any case, there are various similarities to anthropomorphic figurines both in decoration and in posture. Many of the vessels display female sexual characteristics. However, there are also male vessels, and a lot of them do not have any sexual features.
Unfortunately, the original content of the anthropomorphic vessels is never preserved. Their different shapes suggest that they were used for a wide variety of liquids and food. The vessels may have held beverages like
alcohol, milk, water or blood or solid food like fruit, cereals, meat or vegetables.
In some cases, the context in which anthropomorphic vessels were found is extraordinary. They can be associated with bone or stone tools, animal bones, antlers, colours or other pottery. However, in most cases they are just part of the regular settlement rubbish which makes their interpretation very difficult. Their facial expression mostly portrays a look of serenity and peacefulness, with closed eyes and, ever so rarely, a smile.

Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2024

This article offers a comprehensive survey of figurative finds from Neolithic northern Europe. Th... more This article offers a comprehensive survey of figurative finds from Neolithic northern Europe. The survey shows that the immediate absence of figurative representation in the region is real and that the almost complete lack of figuration stands out from the previous Mesolithic and the contemporary northern and northeastern European Neolithic hunter-gatherer groups. Furthermore, the absence of figurative representations contrasts strongly with the thousands of clay figurines that characterize the southeastern European and Anatolian Neolithic. The survey provides a welldocumented basis for discussing the significant differences between a figurative southeastern European Neolithic and an imageless northwestern European Neolithic. We suggest that the absence of figurative representations indicates that severe sociocultural and religious/ideological changes took place within the Neolithic communities as agriculture spread from southeastern Europe via central Europe to northern and western Europe.

Journal of Neolithic Archaeology, 2024

The beginning of the 5th millennium calBC saw profound changes, with the disintegration of the Li... more The beginning of the 5th millennium calBC saw profound changes, with the disintegration of the Linear Pottery culture (LBK) into smaller post-LBK cultural phenomena. The discussion about what brought about this shift is still ongoing, but it is clear that, although with regional variations, all aspects of society were affected, such as population density, house construction, pottery, flint distribution and other aspects. Violent events resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals also occurred. In this article, we seek to shed light on anthropomorphic figurines at the end of the LBK, which are similarly affected by changes: in the west, their use ceases, whilst in the east, especially in the Lengyel culture, the numbers of finds of these figurines increase dramatically. Lengyel figurines are, however, not just a simple continuation of LBK figurines. They show influences from the neighbouring Vinča culture, but also include traits that are reminiscent of the Starčevo culture several hundred years earlier, such as distorted body proportions and accentuated hips and buttocks, as well as typical and standardized breakage patterns. It seems that, in an attempt to cope, the post-LBK communities adopted different strategies: the west stopped using figurines, whereas the east hoped to manage the circumstances better with more figurines than ever before, thus returning to earlier practices.

Desde su primera aparición a principios del Neolítico cerámico hasta su declive durante el IV mil... more Desde su primera aparición a principios del Neolítico cerámico hasta su declive durante el IV milenio cal a. C., las vasijas antropomorfas se producían como parte de varios fenómenos culturales a lo largo de toda Europa, Anatolia y Oriente Próximo. En comparación con la cerámica común, son escasas y destacan entre los millones de fragmentos de cerámica que constituyen el total del material recuperado. Las vasijas antropomorfas cumplían funciones básicas como recipientes, contenedores, conservadores y dispensadores, pero no han llegado hasta nosotros muchas de las que se vinculaban a su uso: la naturaleza de su contenido, los rituales en los que participaban o el trato que recibían en el ocaso de su utilización. Su decoración muestra elementos que podemos comprender y con los que nos podemos relacionar, como vestimenta, desnudez o accesorios, aunque también hay símbolos y motivos que nos resultan indescifrables y que refuerzan el abismo existente entre los tiempos prehistóricos y los modernos. Sin embargo, cuando miramos sus serenos y a veces sonrientes rostros, ese abismo parece reducirse.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Aug 1, 2020

Abstract In a selected area in the region of Apulia, Italy, an ongoing project is currently deali... more Abstract In a selected area in the region of Apulia, Italy, an ongoing project is currently dealing with the comprehension of how prehistoric communities moved in their territory and how they exploited the landscape during the Neolithic and the early Bronze Age. Apulia is especially interesting in early prehistory. It is characterized by fertile soils, a favourable climate and an abundance of valuable raw materials, especially high-quality flint, and obsidian sources off the coast. Thus, the density of settlements is very high through all of prehistory, and it is not surprising that the region played an important role as a bridge between the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the inner peninsular areas during pre- and protohistoric times. Ideas, artefacts and people travelled from east to west and from north to south. The scope of the work presented here is based on a collection and re-evaluation of sites from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in northern Apulia. We outline the results of first GIS analysis (visibility analysis and least-cost path analysis) which were conducted in order to understand the networks of ties and relationships between sites. Furthermore, we describe the results of surveys undertaken to verify the position of sites, their chronological setting and their placement in the landscape. The high percentage of finds, mostly pottery sherds and a modest quantity of flint, confirms the placement of settlements recorded during the 70 s and allows examine the relationship between the sites in depth in the course of time and how the communities related with their landscape.

In: M. Dębiec/J. Gorski/J. Müller/M. Nowak/A. Pelisiak/Th. Saile/P. Włodarczak (eds.), From Farmers to Heroes? Archaeological Studies in Honor of Sławomir Kadrow. Universitätsforsch. Prähist. Arch. 376 (Bonn 2022) 17–31., 2022

The paper sheds light on the earliest Neolithic cultural phenomenon in northern Italy, the Fioran... more The paper sheds light on the earliest Neolithic cultural phenomenon in northern Italy, the Fiorano culture. It is contemporary to, or only slightly
younger than, the Linear Pottery culture of Austria and Transdanubia and characterized by a special set of pottery shapes and decorations, among
them the so-called tazza carenata, a carinated cup with a handle. Settlements are small and contain house remains mostly in the shape of various pits, but also settlement ditches and palisades. Burials are virtually unknown. The origin of the Fiorano culture is still debated. It appears in northern Italy fully developed, without predecessors. The paper argues for a possible origin in the late Starčevo culture of Transdanubia and close relations with the neighbouring Sopot, Malo Korenovo, Danilo and Linear Pottery cultures.

. In: V. Nikolov/W. Schier (Hrsg.), Der Schwarzmeerraum vom Neolithikum bis in die Früheisenzeit (6000 – 600 v. Chr. Kulturelle Interferenzen in der Zirkumpontischen Zone und Kontakte mit ihren Nachbargebieten. Prähist. Arch. in Südosteuropa 30 (Rahden/Westf. 2016) 243–258., 2016

On the basis of three categories among the small finds unearthed at the settlement hill of Drama-... more On the basis of three categories among the small finds unearthed at the settlement hill of Drama-”Merdžumekja”, southeast Bulgaria, connections can be constituted between Thrace and the northwest Pontic. Various motifs on clay stamps (pintaderas), first of all spirals, which occur at Drama and also at other sites in Bulgaria, often appear also in Gumelniţa contexts and in the cultural phenomena in the north and east. Such contacts to these regions become even more obvious regarding the analysis of the second category among the small finds, so-called plaques.
They are especially common in the Stoicani-Aldeni group, in Bulgaria, in contrast, they are quite rare; Drama, having yielded over 70 examples of this find category, represents a large exception. Moreover, depictions of the plaques on anthropomorphic figurines give information of a possible former use and the way of wearing them. Also representatives of the third category of small finds, T-shaped bone objects resp. violin idols, are spread supraregionally and occur up to the northwest Pontic. In that way, small finds enable us to trace far-reaching communication systems in these regions during the Copper Age.

In: T. Valchev (Red.), Studia in honorem Iliae Iliev. Регионален исторически музей - Яамбол. Вести на Яамболския музей VI, брой 9 (Yambol 2019) 80–99., 2019

A quick overview of male figurines in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of southeastern Europe, exem... more A quick overview of male figurines in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of southeastern Europe, exemplified by the late Neolithic male figurine of Drama, reveals both problems and possibilities. The high grade of stylization of figurines makes it difficult to identify males and females, but we may suspect that among the many figurines without sexual characteristics, some were probably meant to represent males. Besides the depiction of genitals, facial features present at least a chance to identify further male representations in the corpus of finds.
The reasons for the stylization in general and the rare direct representation of sex may be manifold and cannot be precisely determined. Based on the assumption that some figurines could have represented ancestors, possible explanations may be that sex was represented by other means such as elements of decoration we do not recognize as such; or that the depiction of a certain sex was normally unimportant because the figurines portrayed not real human beings but an abstract idea of ancestors without a clearly fixed sex. A onesided predetermination of the figurines as deities and indicators for a fertility cult certainly does not suffice in any case.
The idea to produce figurines with male features in the area of the southeastern European Neolithic has its roots obviously in the centres of early Neolithisation of Anatolia and southwest Asia. Although their number is comparably small, their existence and their stylistic affinity to the overall more numerous female figurines bear witness to the growing relevance of men in the family structure of sedentary communities. Biological fatherhood as a basis of the representation of individualised ancestors may have gained in importance institutionally in the settlement communities of the Neolithic. Viewed in this light, the Neolithic figurines with male features may prove to be an important indicator for the living together of the sexes.

In: A. O'Neill/J. Pyzel (Hrsg.), Siedlungsstrukturen im Neoltihikum – zwischen Regel und Ausnahme. Fokus Jungsteinzeit. Berichte der AG Neolithikum 7 (Kerpen-Loogh 2019) 15–33., 2019

Caves have been used only rarely in the early Neolithic of Central Europe. We may think, for exam... more Caves have been used only rarely in the early Neolithic of Central Europe. We may think, for example, of the Jungfernhöhle, Bamberg district, which was used as a place for secondary burials in Bandkeramik times.
In contrast, caves were frequented extensively in the same time in the regions south of the Alps. Different use spheres become apparent: For one, caves were used, just like the Jungfernhöhle, as cemeteries. The number of inhumations fluctuates between one and over 30 individuals. But it would be wrong to classify all Italian caves in the Neolithic as places for ritual actions and burials. Places for inhumations are accompanied by caves frequented by hunter-gatherers seasonally and in a profane context. For example, layers of dung and an “impoverished” pottery point to the use of caves by shepherds that could house their livestock sheltered in the night. Other caves stand out in terms of their special placement close to natural ressources and were thus visited by hunters or specialised craftsmen. The designation of a cave as a place for ritual or profane actions reveals itself only after an analysis of features and finds.

In: M. Dębiec/Th. Saile (eds.), A planitiebus usque ad montes. Studia archaeologica Andreae Pelisiak vitae anno sexagesimo quinto oblata (Rzeszow 2020) 93 –120., 2020

The importance of animals for humans is evident and has led, in the past two decades, to the form... more The importance of animals for humans is evident and has led, in the past two decades, to the formation of human-animal studies as an academic discipline. Prehistoric archaeology can partake in this subject, for there is an abundance of sources that can be evaluated in light of the lives of humans and animals in all periods of prehistory and protohistory. In this paper, human-animal relations are considered for Early Neolithic Poland. For this, archeozoological records are evaluated alongside with finds and features that can be interpreted with respect to the treatment, value, and use of animals. It becomes clear that animal remains must not be viewed exclusively with consideration to economic aspects. Rather, the symbolic and emotional significance of animals has to be considered in order to
paint a more complete picture of human-animal relations in prehistory.

Spawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018

This paper discusses anthropomorphic representations from two Ukrainian sites that can be dated t... more This paper discusses anthropomorphic representations from two Ukrainian sites that can be dated to the
Linear Pottery Culture. They can be categorized as applications and incised human representations. Although
their posture is similar, their significance was likely different. The applications were fixed to vessels’ walls in such
a way that they look inside the container, whereas the incised representations look outward, facing anyone that
would approach them. We may conclude that applications like the ones from the Ukrainian sites are part of
a common set of beliefs comprising collective consumption from the same vessel, but we can only speculate
about the original content, which may have been something extraordinary like alcohol or something ordinary
like meat, milk or soup. On the other hand, the incised representations with their faces directed away from the
vessel wall may be seen as guardians of the vessels’ content.

In: M. Koch (Hrsg.), Archäologentage Otzenhausen 3. Archäologie in der Großregion. Beiträge des internationalen Symposiums zur Archäologie in der Großregion in der Europäischen Akademie Otzenhausen vom 14. - 17. April 2016 (Nonnweiler 2017) 123–138., 2017

The Linear Pottery Culture is characterized – apart from typical house-plans and the eponymous po... more The Linear Pottery Culture is characterized – apart from typical house-plans and the eponymous pottery – also by igural representations. They appear in the form of figurines, vessels, applications, knobs and lugs, incised figural representations and figural finds made from bone. Their interpretation, however, is still being discussed.
On the one hand, it is possible that they served profane purposes, for example as toys. On the other hand, some researchers believe them to be an expression of Neolithic religious beliefs: igurines may have represented goddesses and gods or ancestors, figural vessels may have been used for collectively celebrated rituals and probably contained special substances. The paper deals with the figural finds from the Linear Pottery Culture east of the river Rhine and sets them in a larger context to pinpoint possible interpretations.

Abb. 1 Schnitt durch den Erdwerksgraben. Erkennbar ist das U-förmige Grabenprofil im helleren Lös... more Abb. 1 Schnitt durch den Erdwerksgraben. Erkennbar ist das U-förmige Grabenprofil im helleren Löss, rechts das kleinere Palisadengräbchen (Foto: LWL-Archäologie für Westfalen/M. Müller-Delvart).

Figurliche Funde sind in der westlichen und ostlichen Peripherie der linearbandkeramischen Kultur... more Figurliche Funde sind in der westlichen und ostlichen Peripherie der linearbandkeramischen Kultur immer noch sehr selten. Daher stellt das kleine Fragment einer anthropomorphen Figurine aus Horiv einen zentralen Beleg fur diese Fundgattung dar. Das wichtigste Merkmal an dem Bruchstuck ist die Verzierung auf dem Rucken, die aus einer vertikalen Ritzlinie besteht, von der diagonale Linien abzweigen. Dieses sogenannte Tannenzweigmotiv findet sich auch auf einigen anderen Figurinen hauptsachlich aus Niederosterreich und Transdanubien, aber auch aus anderen Regionen Mitteleuropas. Die Interpretation dieser speziellen Verzierung ist schwierig, da es keine ubereinstimmenden Grabbeigaben gibt. Eventuell handelt es sich dabei um die Darstellung von Skelettelementen, was darauf hinweisen konnte, dass die Figurinen eher mit dem Totenritual als mit Fruchtbarkeitskulten in Verbindung zu bringen sind.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

In a selected area in the region of Apulia, Italy, an ongoing project is currently dealing with t... more In a selected area in the region of Apulia, Italy, an ongoing project is currently dealing with the comprehension of how prehistoric communities moved in their territory and how they exploited the landscape during the Neolithic and the early Bronze Age. Apulia is especially interesting in early prehistory. It is characterized by fertile soils, a favourable climate and an abundance of valuable raw materials, especially high-quality flint, and obsidian sources off the coast. Thus, the density of settlements is very high through all of prehistory, and it is not surprising that the region played an important role as a bridge between the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the inner peninsular areas during pre- and protohistoric times. Ideas, artefacts and people travelled from east to west and from north to south. The scope of the work presented here is based on a collection and re-evaluation of sites from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in northern Apulia. We outline the results of fir...

Studien zum Altneolithikum in Italien, 2018

Review: https://journals.openedition.org/acost/2486

Anthropomorphe Plastik der westlichen Linearbandkeramik. Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskund... more Anthropomorphe Plastik der westlichen Linearbandkeramik.

Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskunde Band 83.
Dr. Rudolf Habelt Verlag GmbH, Bonn 2011.
ISBN978-3-7749-3724-6
2 volumes, 882 pages with 43 figures and 183 plates.

Mobile images of ancestral bodies: a millenniumlong perspective from Iberia to Europe, 2021

Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2024

Journal of Neolithic Archaeology, 2024

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Aug 1, 2020

In: A. O'Neill/J. Pyzel (Hrsg.), Siedlungsstrukturen im Neoltihikum – zwischen Regel und Ausnahme. Fokus Jungsteinzeit. Berichte der AG Neolithikum 7 (Kerpen-Loogh 2019) 15–33., 2019

In: M. Dębiec/Th. Saile (eds.), A planitiebus usque ad montes. Studia archaeologica Andreae Pelisiak vitae anno sexagesimo quinto oblata (Rzeszow 2020) 93 –120., 2020

Spawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

Desde su primera aparición a principios del Neolítico cerámico hasta su declive durante el IV mil... more Desde su primera aparición a principios del Neolítico cerámico hasta su declive durante el IV milenio cal a. C., las vasijas antropomorfas se producían como parte de varios fenómenos culturales a lo largo de toda Europa, Anatolia y Oriente Próximo. En comparación con la cerámica común, son escasas y destacan entre los millones
de fragmentos de cerámica que constituyen el total del material recuperado.
Las vasijas antropomorfas cumplían funciones básicas como recipientes, contenedores, conservadores y dispensadores, pero no han llegado hasta nosotros muchas de las que se vinculaban a su uso: la naturaleza de su contenido, los rituales en los que participaban o el trato que recibían en el ocaso de su utilización. Su decoración muestra elementos que podemos comprender y con los que nos podemos relacionar, como vestimenta, desnudez o accesorios, aunque también hay símbolos y motivos que nos resultan indescifrables y que refuerzan el abismo existente entre los tiempos prehistóricos y los modernos. Sin embargo, cuando miramos sus serenos y a veces sonrientes rostros, ese abismo parece reducirse.

In: H. Schwarzberg/V. Becker (eds.), Bodies of Clay. On Prehistoric Humanized Pottery. Proceedings of the Session at the 19th EAA Annual Meeting at Pilsen, 5th September 2013 (Oxford 2017) 63–82., 2017

In many ways, Italy is unique as far as the characteristics of the early Neolithic settlers’ mate... more In many ways, Italy is unique as far as the characteristics of the early Neolithic settlers’ material remains are concerned. Vessel shapes and motives, decoration techniques, but also settlement structures and mortuary rites are very specific and difficult to parallelize with neighbouring Neolithic cultural phenomena.
The paper outlines elements that can be used to connect rather than to separate. Face vessels, especially those with a sign underneath the mouth or nose, find close parallels to examples from the eastern Linear Pottery Culture, and although we have yet to find an explanation for this phenomenon, the similarities are striking. They become all the more intriguing when we remember that these objects are an integral part of the Italian Impresso culture but do not occur in the eastern Adriatic Impresso which is both geographically and culturally closer.
Either, these parallels can be attributed to far-reaching networks, maybe fuelled by an exchange of certain raw materials such as spondylus, flint or other, perishable goods. In such a case, they may point to common sets of religious belief. Or they are the result of a shared origin and developed similar, yet independently. It may be worthwhile to further analyse material remains of these distant regions comprehensively in order to pinpoint other parallels.

In: S. Horstmann (Hrsg.), Interspezies Lernen. Grundlinien interdisziplinärer Tierschutz- und Tierrechtsbildung. Human-Animal Studies 27 (Bielefeld 2021) 29–60., 2021

Wenn über Tierrechte und Tierschutz heute diskutiert wird, so ist es unabdinglich zu wissen, wohe... more Wenn über Tierrechte und Tierschutz heute diskutiert wird, so ist es unabdinglich zu wissen, woher wir und die Tiere an unserer Seite gekommen sind. Die gemeinsame Geschichte von Mensch und Tier geht Jahrtausende – Jahrmillionen, wenn man auch die Menschwerdung miteinbezieht – zurück, und die Haus- und Heimtiere, mit denen wir uns heute umgeben, sind die Nachfahren jener Individuen, die vor langer Zeit gefangen, domestiziert und für immer und unumgänglich verändert wurden, was ihren Körper und ihr Verhalten betrifft. Hinzu kommt, dass durch den Menschen die Wildvorfahren einiger Haustiere ausgelöscht wurden, etwa der Auerochse oder das Wildpferd.
Die Vorgeschichtsforschung lehrt, wie eng Menschen und Tiere zusammenlebten, und macht die Abhängigkeiten von menschlichen Individuen, aber auch ganzen Gesellschaften von Tieren deutlich; Abhängigkeiten, die bis heute existieren, aber aus unserem unmittelbaren Blickfeld verdrängt sind.
Damit sind nicht allein Ressourcen wie Fleisch, Fett, Milch, Eier oder Wolle gemeint. Auch in symbolisch-religiöser und emotionaler Hinsicht bestehen enge Verflechtungen zwischen Menschen und Tieren, die die ur- und frühgeschichtliche Archäologie aufdecken und erklären kann. Dabei muss feststehen, dass Vergangenheit nicht idealisiert werden darf: Tierrechte und Tierschutz, wie sie heute im Gesetz verankert sind – und mögen sie auch manchem zu kurz gegriffen erscheinen – existierten in der Vorgeschichte nicht. Andere Formen der Achtung vor dem Tier – der respektvolle Umgang mit dem Jagdwild, das Tabu auf besonderen Wildtieren oder geliebten Heim- und Haustieren oder auch der hohe materielle Wert, der Tieren zugewiesen wurde – können als rudimentäre Äquivalente angesehen werden, in denen der Keim für unsere heutigen Verordnungen und Gesetze angelegt ist.

Im Jahr 1974 erfolgten Ausgrabungen auf der geplanten Autobahntrasse der A 30 bei Ibbenbüren-Lehe... more Im Jahr 1974 erfolgten Ausgrabungen auf der geplanten Autobahntrasse der A 30 bei Ibbenbüren-Lehen, Hof Mutert. Die Fläche schien vielversprechend: Im Gebiet um Ibbenbüren liegen zahlreiche Fundplätze vor-und frühgeschichtlicher Zeitstellung und auf dem Gelände des Hofes Mutert waren bereits 1958 beim Abbau von Sand Überreste zweier Gefäße gefunden worden. Das größere Gefäß enthielt Reste kalzinierter Knochen und diente offenbar als Urne. Die Funde wiesen auf eine Datierung in die späte Bronze-oder Eisenzeit und ließen vermuten, dass sie Teil eines größeren Gräberfeldes sein könnten. Grabungen in Ibbenbüren. Eine ausführliche Vorlage der Funde und Befunde unterblieb jedoch. Erst zu Beginn des Wintersemesters 2013/ 2014 wurde die Bearbeitung des Platzes wieder aufgenommen. Es bot sich die Möglichkeit, das Fundmaterial im Rahmen einer Übung an der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster zu untersuchen. Der Bachelor-Studiengang »Archäologie-Geschichte-Landschaft« beinhaltet ein Praxismodul, in dem die Studierenden Veranstaltungen zur Analyse und Dokumentation archäologischer Funde besuchen können (Abb. 2).

Varia Neolithica X, 2020

Westeuropa umfasste in der Vorgeschichte atlantisch geprägte Makroregionen mit vielfältigen kultu... more Westeuropa umfasste in der Vorgeschichte atlantisch geprägte Makroregionen mit vielfältigen kulturellen Phänomenen, deren Naturräume, Subsistenzgrundlagen, Transport- und Kontaktmöglichkeiten vielfach durch die Nähe zum Meer bestimmt wurden. Die Kontakte mit dem westeuropäischen Raum prägten zu allen Zeiten die Urgeschichte Zentraleuropas, das in ein dichtes Kommunikationsnetzwerk mit Großbritannien, Irland, den BeNeLux-Staaten, Frankreich und der Iberischen Halbinsel eingebunden war. Dabei wurden Verbindungen teilweise über weiträumig verbreitete Kulturgruppen bzw. -kreise, wie z. B. den Glockenbecher-Horizont oder die Urnenfelderkultur, geschaffen. In vielen Epochen waren interkulturelle Kontakte entscheidend, sei es zwischen La Hoguette, Limburg und der Linearbandkeramik, in der Verbreitung der westeuropäischen Megalithgruppen oder bei der Genese der frühbronzezeitlichen Metallurgie. Mit der Entstehung und Verdichtung dieser Netzwerke eng verknüpft war der Austausch von Rohmaterial, Fertigprodukten und Techniken sowie von Bildsymbolen und religiösen Vorstellungen. Paneuropäischen Ideentransfer zeigen u. a. auch die Einflüsse bei den spätbronzezeitlichen Zeremonialwagen.
Das Ziel der gemeinsamen Sitzung der AG Neolithikum und der AG Bronzezeit war es, explizit die Verbindungen zwischen Zentral- und Westeuropa zu betrachten. Dies sollte sowohl in Bezug auf die theoretischen Grundlagen der Kulturkontaktphänomene als auch auf deren materielle, soziokulturelle und ikonographische Ausdrucksformen geschehen. Diesen Themen widmeten sich ca. 40 Referenten in 23 Vorträgen und sieben Posterpräsentationen.
Im Mittelpunkt der Beiträge stand die kulturelle Diversität der Kontakte zwischen Zentral- und Westeuropa, die sich einer generalisierten Interpretation als überwiegend Ost-West-verlaufende Prozesse entzogen und stattdessen als komplexe Phänomene eines gegenseitigen Austauschs darstellten. Der programmatische "Go West!" - Aufruf des Tagungsthemas wurde somit kritisch hinterfragt und auf seine Kohärenz mit den aktuellen landschaftsarchäologischen, typochronologischen und genanalytischen Forschungsergebnissen überprüft. Es zeigte sich u. a., dass die Vermittlung von Objekten und Ideen von den spezifischen naturräumlichen Bedingungen abhängig war, an denen sich die kontinentüberspannende Mobilität vom Frühneolithikum bis zur Spätbronzezeit orientierte.

call for papers für die Sitzung der AG Neolithikum

Halle (Saale), 19.-22.03.2018 Call for papers für die Sitzung der AG Neolithikum Thema: Soziale B... more Halle (Saale), 19.-22.03.2018 Call for papers für die Sitzung der AG Neolithikum Thema: Soziale Beziehungen, Netzwerke und Sozialstrukturen im Neolithikum Europas Vor zehn Jahren -auf dem 6. Deutschen Archäologiekongress in Mannheim -tagte die AG Neolithikum zum Thema "Familie -Verwandtschaft -Sozialstrukturen". Bei der Tagung des MOVA und des WSVA vom 19. bis 22.03.2018 in Halle (Saale) soll es erneut um diesen Themenkomplex gehen, wobei der Fokus besonders auf theoretischen Konzepten zu Sozialstrukturen und sozialen Beziehungen sowie konkreten methodischen Herangehensweisen liegen soll. Besonders soll diesbezüglich die Frage diskutiert werden, in wie weit genetische Analysen neben ihrem unzweifelhaft großen Potential für die Erforschung der Vorgeschichte tatsächlich einen Erkenntnismehrwert hinsichtlich des Konzepts "Familie" und der Rekonstruktion sozialer Beziehungen liefern. Was sagt Verwandtschaft bzw. ‚Nicht-Verwandtschaft' tatsächlich dazu aus? Bei der Rekonstruktion von Sozialstrukturen und der sozialhistorischen Interpretation archäologischer Befunde bedient sich die archäologische Wissenschaft stets aus der Soziologie und Ethnologie entlehnten Begriffen wie Macht, Status und Prestige oder soziopolitischen Organisationsformen wie Häuptlingstümern oder big man-Systemen. Der jeweils postulierte Grad an sozialer Stratifizierung wird z. B. mit egalitär, segmentär oder hierarchisch beschrieben. Die einzelnen Studien bewegen sich dabei jedoch meist auf unterschiedlichen Maßstabsebenen, wofür dennoch der gleiche Begriffskanon verwendet wird. Eine Differenzierung und dezidierte Diskussion des Untersuchungsgegenstandes im Kontext der jeweiligen Maßstabsebenen ist daher absolut notwendig. Zielen Analysen eher auf soziale Beziehungen innerhalb von Siedlungen und zwischen Siedlungen einzelner Regionen ab, die geprägt sind von Alter, Geschlecht, Arbeitsteilung und wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen bzw. Netzwerken sowie Heiratsbeziehungen, oder geht es konkret um übergreifende politische Systeme, bei denen beispielsweise bestimmte Gruppen oder Einzelpersonen Einfluss auf wirtschaftliche Netzwerke und die Verteilung von Gütern ausüben und über eine Gemeinschaft Macht besitzen? Die Verwendung aus der Ethnografie übernommener Begrifflichkeiten ist in jedem Fall kritisch zu hinterfragen und auf ihre Anwendbarkeit auf prähistorische Quellen zu überprüfen. Folgende Themenfelder sollen auf der Tagung behandelt werden:  Theorie: Welche Formen sozialer Organisation und Sozialstrukturen begegnen uns im alteuropäischen Neolithikum? Wie lassen sie sich in den archäologischen Quellen fassen? Was lässt sich zur Begriffsgenese und -geschichte aussagen -welche Begriffe werden verwendet, woher stammen sie und wie werden sie definiert?  Forschungsgeschichte: Forschungsgeschichte sozialhistorischer Deutungen in der Urund Frühgeschichte im Allgemeinen und zum Neolithikum im Speziellen (z.B. auch Unterschiede in den Herangehensweisen und Interpretationen zwischen den

In the joint session of AG Neolithikum and AG Bronzezeit, we will focus on the large geographic r... more In the joint session of AG Neolithikum and AG Bronzezeit, we will focus on the large geographic region of Western Europe and its interactions with Central Europe. In prehistory, Western Europe covered Atlantic-influenced macro-regions including various cultural phenomena. The natural environment, subsistence as well as transport and contact options were determined by the proximity to the sea. We would like to use the meeting in Mainz to explicitly address the ties between Central and Western Europe, both regarding the theoretical basics of phenomena of cultural contacts as well as their material, socio-cultural and iconographic expressions.

The prehistory of Central Europe was shaped by the contacts with Western Europe at all times, being integrated into a network with Great Britain, Ireland, the Benelux countries, France and the Iberian Peninsula. The focus will be on joint cultural groups or circles (Bell Beaker period, “Atlantic Bronze Age” etc.) as well as on intercultural contacts (La Hoguette/Limburg/Linear Pottery Culture, Michelsberg Culture, western European megalithic Culture, Early Bronze Age metallurgy etc.). Closely linked to the emergence and consolidation of these networks was the exchange of raw material, finished products and techniques.

Please submit your papers (not exceeding 400 characters) and the contact details of the authors (postal and email address) to the AG Speakers by 20 January 2017. Please note that the presentations (PowerPoint format) will be strictly limited to 20 minutes.

Poster contributions are also welcome. Please send your registration for a poster including the project title and the contact details of the author to the AG Speakers by 20 January 2017. In the planned poster session the authors will be able to present their projects to the conference participants.

In the joint session of AG Neolithikum and AG Bronzezeit held at the German Archaeology Congress ... more In the joint session of AG Neolithikum and AG Bronzezeit held at the German Archaeology Congress in Mainz on July 3-8, 2017, we will focus on the large geographic region of Western Europe and its interactions with Central Europe. In prehistory, Western Europe covered Atlantic-influenced macro-regions including various cultural phenomena. The natural environment, subsistence as well as transport and contact options were determined by the proximity to the sea. We would like to use the meeting in Mainz to explicitly address the ties between Central and Western Europe, both regarding the theoretical basics of phenomena of cultural contacts as well as their material, socio-cultural and iconographic expressions.
Deadline for paper submissions is January 20, 2017.

Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 2016

Analecta Archaeologica Ressoviensia

Rezension zu: Wamser, L. (2016). Mauenheim und Bargen. Zwei Grabhügelfelder der Hallstatt- und Fr... more Rezension zu: Wamser, L. (2016). Mauenheim und Bargen. Zwei Grabhügelfelder der Hallstatt- und Frühlatènezeit aus dem nördlichen Hegau (Forschungen und Berichte zur Archäologie in Baden-Württemberg 2). Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag. ISBN 978-3-95490-216-3. 500 Seiten mit zahlr. Abb.

Rezension zu: Gifford-Gonzalez, D. (2018). An Introduction to Zooarchaeology. New York: Springer ... more Rezension zu: Gifford-Gonzalez, D. (2018). An Introduction to Zooarchaeology. New York: Springer Nature. 604 S., zahlreiche Abb. (s/w u. farbig). ISBN 978-3-319-65680-9