Museum of: Berlin
    Name of the artefact: Bell beaker
   
The vessel in form of a bell was well conserved. Only two little pieces at the upper edge were completed. The height corresponds to the width in the middle part of the vessel. The surface of the beaker was covered with shining red colour. The decoration consisting of lines and stamps covers the vessel from the bottom to the top
                                 
 
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
  
STATE
Department:
Museum for Pre- and Early History
Preservation:
 Very good
Inventory number:
IVd 2915
Restauration:
 Restored
Name of the artefact:
Bell beaker
Completeness:
 Complete
Object type:
Vessel/Anphora
  
Material:
Clay
Methof of manufacture:
Pottery
Decoration type:
Incision
Distinctive mark:
Vessel in form of a bell
DIMENSIONS
  
PERIOD OF USE
Length (mm):
-
Epoque:
Neolithic
Heigth (mm):
114
Culture:
Bell beaker culture
Diameter (mm):
max 122
Period:
Late Neolithic
Width (mm):
-
Face:
-
Thickness (mm):
-
Absolute chronology:
2000 BC
Weight (g):
292
DISCOVERY
Date:
Bought by the museum in 1904
Country:
Hungary
District:
Kom. Pest
Town hall affiliation:
-
Village:
Tököl
Discovery findspot:
Isle of Csepel
Condition of discovery:
Chance Discovery
Discovery type:
Other
 
ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS
 
FILLED IN BY
Type:
-
Name:
Dr. Manfred Nawroth
Laboratory:
-
Institution:
Museum for Pre- and early History
No./Code:
-
Date:
11/11/2005
 
DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:
The vessel in form of a bell was well conserved. Only two little pieces at the upper edge were completed. The height corresponds to the width in the middle part of the vessel. The surface of the beaker was covered with shining red colour. The decoration consisting of lines and stamps covers the vessel from the bottom to the top

Decoration:
The decoration of the vessel was planned and elaborated by using an elastic rule and several stamps. There are three bands in form of chessboards with a height and width of 12 mm. Four horizontal stripes, each consisting of three incised lines and a width of 9 mm are dividing the patterns. At least there are two zones of 18 and 21 mm width, which are completely filled with stamp ornament. Originally the ornament of the red coloured vessel was incrusted with a white paste of lime.

Inscription:
-

Analogies:
Bell beakers are the most characteristic form vessels of the so called Bell beaker culture, spread from Portugal over France and Germany to Hungary in the late Neolithic period. In form and decoration the bell beakers show regional differences. The Museum for Pre- and Early History owns a similar vessel, also found in Tököl.

Interpretation:
The decoration of the bell beaker of Tököl was systematically planned and elaborated by using a rule. Maybe the symbols and patterns of the bell beakers could have and deeper and communicative meaning.
Bibliography:
-