Museum of: Bucharest
    Name of the artefact: Statuette with two heads
   
Fragmentary anthropomorphic figurine made of burnt clay representing double headed torso
                                 
 
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
 
STATE
Department:
Archaeology
Preservation:
Poor
Inventory number:
12100
Restauration:
Restored
Name of the artefact:
Statuette with two heads
Completeness:
Incomplete
Object type:
Human figurine
 
Material:
Clay
Methof of manufacture:
Shaping, firing
Decoration type:
Incision
Distinctive mark:
-
DIMENSIONS
 
PERIOD OF USE
Length (mm):
-
Epoque:
Neolithic
Heigth (mm):
78
Culture:
Vinča
Diameter (mm):
-
Period:
Late Neolithic
Width (mm):
75
Face:
-
Thickness (mm):
-
Absolute chronology:
5000 BC
Weight (g):
-
DISCOVERY
Date:
1943
Country:
Romania
District:
Dolj
Town hall affiliation:
Rast
Village:
Rast
Discovery findspot:
Gârla Ţifarului
Condition of discovery:
Archaeological excavation
Discovery type:
Deposit
 
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 made of grey clay has two heads. Two little prominences mark the breasts on the common body. The arms are laterally and down orientated and they are perforated in the shoulders zone. The heads, one of bigger size, are relatively flat on the back side. The noses are well shaped, the eyes and the brows are figurate by arched incisions, possibly filled in with white paste. The mouths are figurate by little holes suggesting that the personages are shouting or screaming.

Decoration:

The body is decorated with geometric incised lines, filled in with white paste. Some red paint traces prove the fact that it was painted with this colour and possibly with white colour as well.

Inscription:

-

Analogies:

Similar representations were discovered in Serbia, at Vinča and Gomolava.

Interpretation:

This type of artefact is special in the context of the Neolithic art. Representations of a pair of figurines, man and woman, are very rare, being characteristic especially for Gumelniţa civilization. The Vinča figurines have two heads modelled on the same body and it is difficult to say if they can be interpreted as a feminine and a masculine one. As Gumelniţa culture’s pairs, these artefacts were interpreted as being a feminine goddess and its masculine acolyte.
Bibliography:
Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: Arta preistorică în România Place: Bucureşti Year: 1974 2. Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: The Neolithic settlement at Rast Periodical: BAR International Series Volume: 72 Place: Oxford, UK Year: 1974 3. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe Place: London Year: 1974