Deepenings

Museum of: Bucharest

Name of the artefact: Vessel

Burnt clay vessel belonging to the spectacular Cucuteni culture, famous for its painted pottery

WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

STATE

Department:

Archaeology

Preservation:

Good

Inventory number:

15894

Restauration:

Restored

Name of the artefact:

Vessel

Completeness:

Almost Complete

Object type:

Vessel/Anphora

Material:

Clay

Methof of manufacture:

Shaping, firing

Decoration type:

Painting

Distinctive mark:

DIMENSIONS

PERIOD OF USE

Length (mm):

Epoque:

Neolithic

Heigth (mm):

370

Culture:

Cucuteni

Diameter (mm):

380

Period:

Eneolithic

Width (mm):

Face:

Thickness (mm):

Absolute chronology:

4000-3500 BC

Weight (g):

DISCOVERY

Date:

Country:

Romania

District:

Iaşi

Town hall affiliation:

Village:

Cucuteni

Discovery findspot:

Cetăţuia

Condition of discovery:

Unknown

Discovery type:

Deposit

ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS

FILLED IN BY

Type:

Name:

Laboratory:

Institution:

No./Code:

Date:

20/09/2005

DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:

The vessel's body, made of clay, is formed by three parts: the high neck with the rim turned on the exterior, the rounded body and the conical narrow base.

Decoration:

The vessel is painted with black colour and less red colour on cream slip. The vessel's neck is decorated with red and black bands. The body paint is divided in four registers. Each contains 2 triangles which have between them concentric circles with a cross ended with black bowlines. The registers are separated by zigzag lines painted with red and black lines. The vessel's base is painted with simple geometric patterns painted with black colour.

Inscription:

Analogies:

The vessel belongs to the Cucuteni culture’s late phase (B), characterized by the predominance of painted decoration with black colour on a cream-yellowish or whitish background. Vessels painted in a similar way were found in Romania (Frumuşica, Târgu Ocna, Valea Lupului), Republic of Moldova, Ukraine.

Interpretation:

The complex geometric decoration might have a symbolic meaning: the four circles with a cross in the centre can represent the four phases of the moon, each circle being decorated with a horn. The vessel can also be a prestige good.

Bibliography:

Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: La ceramica dipinta della cultura eneolitica di Cucuteni (Romania) Periodical: Atti della Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei Volume: CCCLXIX Place: Roma Year: 1973 2. Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: Arta preistorică în România Place: Bucureşti Year: 1974 3. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe Place: London Year: 1974 4. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The language of the Goddess Place: San Francisco Year: 1989