Deepenings

Museum of: Bucharest

Name of the artefact: The Seated Woman

The figurine, named The Seated Woman, was discovered with the Thinker in the same funerary context

WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

STATE

Department:

Archaeology

Preservation:

Good

Inventory number:

15907

Restauration:

Restored

Name of the artefact:

The Seated Woman

Completeness:

Almost Complete

Object type:

Human figurine

Material:

Clay

Methof of manufacture:

Shaping, firing

Decoration type:

No decoration

Distinctive mark:

DIMENSIONS

PERIOD OF USE

Length (mm):

Epoque:

Neolithic

Heigth (mm):

115

Culture:

Hamangia

Diameter (mm):

Period:

Late Neolithic

Width (mm):

Face:

Thickness (mm):

Absolute chronology:

5000 BC

Weight (g):

DISCOVERY

Date:

1956

Country:

Romania

District:

Constanţa

Town hall affiliation:

Columbia

Village:

Cernavodă

Discovery findspot:

Columbia

Condition of discovery:

Chance Discovery

Discovery type:

Grave

ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS

FILLED IN BY

Type:

Name:

Radian Andreescu, Katia Moldoveanu

Laboratory:

Institution:

Romanian National History Museum

No./Code:

Date:

23/02/2005

DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:

The statuette, companion of The Thinker, is named The Seated Woman. It is made of dark-grey, polished clay and some parts of the body are accentuated by sharp edges. A long neck supports the oval head. The triangular impressions depict the eyes, the nose is modelled and a small hole marks the mouth. The back is flat and the shoulders, the hips and the abdomen are emphasized by exaggerating the modelling of these areas. The stretched left leg is laid down and the right one is bending. The hands are resting on the right knee suggesting a relaxing, resting attitude.

Decoration:

Inscription:

Analogies:

The Seated Woman stands out among the other similar figurines by the position in which it is modelled, even though they are similar as morphology. Figurines modelled in resting position are very rare, such an example being discovered in Thessaly, Greece. A rather similar category is represented by the squatting figurines, holding with their hands the tightly drown-up knees as discovered at Fafos, Vinča culture, Sultana and Căscioarele, Gumelniţa culture.

Interpretation:

This statuette’s attitude of resting could suggest some connection with death, considering that the artefact belongs to a funerary context.

Bibliography:

Author: Berciu, D. Title: Deux chefs d'oeuvre de l'art néolithique en Roumanie: le "couple" de la civilisation de Hamangia Periodical: Dacia (N.S.) Volume: VI Place: Bucureşti Year: 1962 2. Author: Berciu, D. Title: Contribuţii la problemele neoliticului în România în lumina noilor cercetări Publishing House Place: Bucureşti Year: 1961 3. Author: Dumitrescu, Vl. Title: Arta preistorică în România Place: Bucureşti Year: 1974