Papers by Maja Pasarić
Studia mythologica Slavica, 2018
Science, 2020
Dogs were the first domestic animal, but little is known about their population history and to wh... more Dogs were the first domestic animal, but little is known about their population history and to what extent it was linked to humans. We sequenced 27 ancient dog genomes and found that all dogs share a common ancestry distinct from present-day wolves, with limited gene flow from wolves since domestication but substantial dog-to-wolf gene flow. By 11,000 years ago, at least five major ancestry lineages had diversified, demonstrating a deep genetic history of dogs during the Paleolithic. Coanalysis with human genomes reveals aspects of dog population history that mirror humans, including Levant-related ancestry in Africa and early agricultural Europe. Other aspects differ, including the impacts of steppe pastoralist expansions in West and East Eurasia and a near-complete turnover of Neolithic European dog ancestry.
Cambridge archaeological journal , 2019
This contribution explores modes of human- animal interactions in hunter-gatherer communities in ... more This contribution explores modes of human- animal interactions in hunter-gatherer communities in near-contemporary eastern Siberia and the Mesolithic of northwest Europe. By discussing notions of care and control, and drawing on syntheses of Russian-language ethnographic data from eastern Siberia, this paper explores the diversity and nuances of hunter-gatherers’ interactions with animals. While some contexts may reveal respectful yet diverse treatments of the hunted animals others suggest that hunter-gatherers also might have interacted with animals kept as pets, captives or companions thus implicating relations in which notions of care and control seem to be tightly bound.
Povratak u prošlost. Bakreno doba u sjevernoj Hrvatskoj, Back to the past. Copper age in northern Croatia, ur. Balen Jacqueline, Miloglav Ina, Rajković Dragana, 2018
Studia Mythologica Slavica , 2018
Deer head and antlers are specific parts of the animal body embedded with complex symbolic implic... more Deer head and antlers are specific parts of the animal body embedded with complex symbolic implications and as pars pro toto represent the entire animal. Certain cultural practices of animal objectification within our contemporary society denote these parts of animals’ bodies as trophies, decorations and designed objects, which then become markers of individual human identities, lifestyles and particular living spaces. However, such new meanings inscribed into these animal materialities do not necessarily classify them as passive objects. For example, it has been acknowledged that material culture objects continually transform in meanings through their own accumulative biographies.
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
Two single bovine burials and one mixed animal burial (containing bovine and canid skeletal remai... more Two single bovine burials and one mixed animal burial (containing bovine and canid skeletal remains) have
been unearthed at two Baden culture sites, Aljmaš-Podunavlje and Osijek-Retfala located in Eastern Croatia.
Zooarchaeological analysis attributed the faunal remains to domesticated cattle (Bos taurus) and in one case
a dog (Canis familiaris). Almost complete and articulated skeletons of subadult or adult cows were found in
all three examined features, while pit 59/60 from Aljmaš also contained a skull belonging to an adultdomesticated
cattle and a skeleton of a very young dog, 2–3 months old. All of the skeletons are well
preserved and display no evidence of carcass processing indicating that the animals were buried intentionally.
Consideration of the positions in which these animals were interred and their relationship with nearby
deposits enables discussion of potential animal burial strategies and possible connections with certain ritual
practices in which cows and in one case a dog played important roles. The described burials represent the
southernmost known distribution of the rite discussed.
Key words: Eneolithic; Baden culture; Eastern Croatia; animal burials; cattle
U radu su prikazani rezultati analize ukopa životinja i zoomorfne idoloplastike iz razdoblja eneo... more U radu su prikazani rezultati analize ukopa životinja i zoomorfne idoloplastike iz razdoblja eneolitika (lasinjska, badenska, kostolačka i vučedolska kultura) s područja kontinentalne Hrvatske (međuriječje Save, Drave i Dunava).
Osim već objavljenih nalaza iz Vučedola i Koprivničke Rijeke u radu su detaljno razmotreni nalazi ukopa životinja s novijih iskopavanja iz Aljmaša, Đakova, Josipovca, Osijeka, Petrijevaca, Selaca Đakovačkih i Vučedola, ali i ukopi sa starijih, neobjavljenih istraživanja (Stari Mikanovci). Analizirano je 30 objekata u kojima je bilo ukopano 46 životinja. Za svaki ukop detaljno je opisan arheološki kontekst i stupanj sačuvanosti koštanog materijala te su prikazane biološke karakteristike svake individue. Ukopi su podijeljeni na cjelovite/gotovo cjelovite, djelomične i mješovite, a provedena je i podjela s obzirom na mjesto ukopa (u naselju, tj. jami i u/blizu ljudskog groba). U ukopima su pronađeni ostaci domaćih i divljih životinja: domaćeg goveda, pragoveda, psa, domaće svinje, divlje svinje, ovce/koze, jelena, srne, dabra. Ukopi iz kontinentalne Hrvatske uspoređeni su sa neolitičkim i eneolitičkim ukopima životinja iz srednje Europe. Na temelju određenih kriterija pokušao se odrediti ritualni karakter eneolitičkih ukopa životinja iz kontinentalne Hrvatske: od trideset ukopa, sa sigurnošću se s ritualom može povezati njih sedamnaest i najvjerojatnije još tri ukopa, a tri nalaza su nedefinirana. Za svaku od životinjskih vrsta pronađenih u ritualnim ukopima pokušala se odrediti njena uloga u duhovnoj sferi prapovijesnih ljudi koristeći se pritom i podacima iz različitih povijesnih razdoblja kao i etnografskim izvorima.
Eneolitička zoomorfna idoloplastika iz kontinentalne Hrvatske može se podijeliti u pet grupa: 1) trodimenzionalne životinjske figurice, 2) posude sa životinjskim atributima - spoj životinjskog tijela i recipijenta, 3) bukraniji, 4) rogoliki žrtvenici - konsekrativni rogovi i 5) keramički rogovi. Svi navedeni predmeti, kojima je poznat kontekst nalaza, pronađeni su u otpadnim i/ili stambenim jamama unutar naselja ili su na neki način povezani sa stambenim prostorima i svi pripadaju skupini keramičkih predmeta (iznimka je bukranij koji je nastao spojem gline i kostiju životinje). Većina eneolitičkih plastičnih prikaza životinjskog tijela ili njihovih pojedinih atributa pripada vučedolskoj kulturi. Osim vučedolske kulture konsekrativne rogove poznaje i kostolačka kultura, a trodimenzionalne zoomorfne figurice pripisane su još lasinjskoj i badenskoj kulturi. Posude sa zoomorfnim obilježjima ukazuju na predodžbe o životinjskom tijelu kao recipijentu ili nositelju recipijenta dok se bukranij i neki konsekrativni rogovi povezuju sa stambenim objektima u koje su svojom prisutnošću mogli upisivati sakralna ili društvena značenja ili su, kao u slučaju malih keramičkih rogova, mogli biti prostorno povezani s objektima koji ukazuju na određene aspekte društvene hijerarhije.
The dissertation presents the results of the study of animal burials and animal idol sculptures from the Eneolithic period (Lengyel, Baden, Kostolac and Vučedol cultures) in the region of continental Croatia (territory between the Sava, Drava and Danube rivers).
Besides the previously published findings from Vučedol and Koprivnička Rijeka, in this dissertation animal burials from the recent excavations in Aljmaš, Đakovo Josipovac, Osijek, Petrijevci, Selci Đakovački and Vučedol have been thoroughly analysed as well as burials from earlier, unpublished excavations (Stari Mikanovci). In total 30 objects containing 46 animals were analysed. For each burial a detailed archaeological context and the degree of preservation of bone material as well as the biological characteristics of each individual were given. Burials were divided into complete/almost complete, partial and mixed burials; the division considering the place of burial was also carried out (in a settlement, i.e. pit and in/close to human grave). Skeletal remains of domestic and wild animals were found in the burials: domestic cattle, auroch, dogs, pigs, wild pig, sheeps/goats, deer, roe deer, and beavers. Burials from continental Croatia were compared with the Neolithic and Eneolithic animal burials from the region of Central Europe. On the basis of certain criteria an attempt to determine the ritual character of Eneolithic animal burials from continental Croatia was carried out: of the thirty burials, seventeen may be associated with the ritual activities with certainty, three more burials are probably related to rituals, while three burials are still undefined. For each of the species found in the ritual burials attempt was made to determine their role in the spiritual sphere of prehistoric people using parallels from different historical periods and ethnographic sources as well.
Eneolithic animal idol sculptures from continental Croatia may be divided into five groups: 1) three-dimensional animal figures, 2) vessels with animal attributes, 3) bucrania, 4) horn-like altars - consecrative horns, 5) ceramic horns. All these items, for those that the archaeological context is known, were found in the waste and/or residential pits within the settlement or are somehow associated with the residential areas and all belong to a group of ceramic items (the exception is bucranium which is combination of clay and animal bones). Most of the Eneolithic plastic displays of animal bodies or their individual attributes are dated to the Vučedol culture. Besides Vučedol culture, consecrative horns were also known in the Kostolac culture, while three-dimensional zoomorphic figurines were attributed to Lasinja and Baden cultures. Vessels with zoomorphic features indicate the image of an animal body as a recipient or the carrier of a recipient, while bucranium and some consecrative horns are associated with residential buildings in which by their presence they could add religious or social significance or, as in the case of small ceramic horns, could be spatially associated with objects that point to certain aspects of the social hierarchy.
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Darovi zemlje: neolitik između Save, Drave i Dunava, 2014
izlazi u samo elektroničkom izdanju: NE, Jan 1, 2005
Sažetak: Osteološki uzorak koji je prikupljen s lokaliteta Ivanec-Stari grad, otkriven je priliko... more Sažetak: Osteološki uzorak koji je prikupljen s lokaliteta Ivanec-Stari grad, otkriven je prilikom sistematskih istraživanja 1998., 1999., 2002. i 2004. koja je vodio J. Belaj iz Instituta za arheologiju iz Zagreba. Sav materijal datira se u period srednjeg vijeka. Antropološka ...
Conference Presentations by Maja Pasarić
During the Neolithic and Eneolithic periods pigs frequently occur in different types of archaeolo... more During the Neolithic and Eneolithic periods pigs frequently occur in different types of archaeological deposits across Central Europe. In the context of the Eneolithic period in Croatia pigs were unearthed in pits, usually complete or almost complete, buried alone or together with humans. Especially interesting is the burial of a man accompanied by two pigs from the site of Đakovo-Franjevac in Eastern Croatia, attributed to the Kostolac culture (Balen, 2011.) This paper will address possible interpretations of such finds by looking at their contextual settings, cultural affiliations, bioarchaeological data, as well as archaeological and ethnographical analogies. Investigation of ethnographical, folkloristic and historical sources often demonstrates how humans have negotiated similar relations with particular animal species in different cultural contexts. They frequently reveal significant symbolic roles pigs have played in human societies, as evident from various customary practices and narratives, but also diverse and ambivalent attitudes people expressed towards them. Such data can be useful for prompting various questions about the burials discussed; can they be related to certain ritual practices and what roles could pigs have possibly played.
Abstract book of the 21st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists
Looking at the modalities of human-animal relationships in the past, it is possible that dogs pla... more Looking at the modalities of human-animal relationships in the past, it is possible that dogs played more diverse and polyvalent roles in human societies than any other animal species. Following cattle, dog burials are the second most numerous kind of animal burials in the Eneolithic of Continental Croatia. Earlier investigations and more recent discoveries in the chosen geographical area have unearthed different types of dog burials within the settlement areas of a number of Eneolithic cultures. Dogs are found in human graves, buried separately (individual or double burials) and with other animals. This contribution will discuss possible ritual interpretations of these deposits and types of ritual activities within the Eneolithic cultural contexts. Attention will be given to the biological characteristics of animals, the treatment of their bodies, as well as spatial aspects of the deposits, in accordance with the available data. An attempt will be made to gain insight into possible roles of dogs in these prehistoric communities, and to document change and/or continuity from the Neolithic to Eneolithic periods by looking at a broader Central European context.
Insights into our pre modern ancestral past offered by archaeological discoveries suggest that hu... more Insights into our pre modern ancestral past offered by archaeological discoveries suggest that human relationship with deer has been a long and diverse one. Remains of deer, particularly their antlers, have been found in funeral and other archaeological contexts across Europe, often together with human osteological remains. Such finds recently encouraged interpretative approaches that challenge dominant Western notions of identities, bodies and human-animal boundaries. Today, in various modern global cultural contexts (such as urban parks deer population management strategies in European cities, deer farming and hunting in North America and China, and wildlife research approaches of individual scientists, such as Joe Hutto) specific forms of relationships between humans and deer have been created. They suggest notions of simple co-existence between the two species, human domination and violence, but also animal personhood and individuality, and thus actively negotiate specific personal and local identities and political practices, sometimes involving both animal and human bodies. Furthermore, images of deer, particularly of their antlers, are strongly present in contemporary popular and material culture where, for example, representations of women with antlers once again urge questions about human-animal boundaries, gender and identities. It will be interesting to examine ways in which our relations with the natural world are formed through different cultural practices and to what extent are animals considered merely objects of our consumerist culture or are seen as subjects in the creation of new, conscious cultural practices
Abstract Book of the 19th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists
Cattle burials in the Eneolithic of Central Europe are a phenomena that has been considered by sc... more Cattle burials in the Eneolithic of Central Europe are a phenomena that has been considered by scholars for already more than half a century (Gabałówna, 1958. ; Behrens, 1964. ; Zalai-Gaál, 1998. ; Pollex, 1999. ; Struhár, 2001. ; Szmyt, 2006. ; Horváth, 2010.). Up to today there are around fifty registered sites where such finds have been identified. In the majority of cases the ritual nature of cattle burials was suggested, as they were usually linked with fertility cults (Hoti, 1989 ; Pleinerová, 2002), the bull cult (Kyselý, 2002) or even the sun cult (Pollex, 1999). Although not particularly numerous cattle burials from the period of Eneolithic have been registered in Croatia as well. In order to investigate their nature and the possibility of their ritual character different methodologies have been considered. Besides the criteria for identifying ritual in the archaeological record when dealing with animal remains and the help of natural sciences in determination of the sex and age of the animal, approaches from culturo-animal studies which question the relationship between the man and the animal, ethnographical and folklore sources from the region have been used as well. Altogether, they proved to be valuable tools in rethinking the cattle burials at hand.
Prema Brianu Faganu jedna od glavnih zadaća arheologije je ispričati priče o prošlosti - nešto od... more Prema Brianu Faganu jedna od glavnih zadaća arheologije je ispričati priče o prošlosti - nešto od čega se mnogi arheološki tekstovi sve više udaljavaju stremeći prema usko specijaliziranom, isključivo akademskom te pomalo apstraktnom. Neki bi čak dodali i to da se takvim sužavanjem fokusa arheološkog propitivanja gubi primarni, prema ljudima usmjeren aspekt same discipline, a mogućnost njegova ponovna oživljavanja vide upravo u "pričanju priča" te izazovu da se putem njih prošlost učini živom (T. Majewski). U izlaganju će se promotriti različita pričanja o predmetu materijalne kulture zoomorfnih karakteristika iz 3. tisućljeća prije Krista poznatom kao vučedolska golubica. Pojedina pričanja o vučedolskoj golubici nastala su prožimanjem različitih narativnih praksi, kako unutar znanstvene zajednice tako i izvan nje kada se podaci o navedenom predmetu, odnosno, interpretativni elementi više ne nalaze pod nadzorom akademskog kolektiva. Naposljetku, određene naracije ovaj predmet materijalne kulture, za kojeg možemo pretpostaviti da je na različite načine utjecao na život te prapovijesne zajednice na prostoru Hrvatske, oblikuju i kao istaknuti simbol današnjice istog zemljopisnog prostora.
The paper deals with the notions about human body and soul in Croatian ethnographic and folklore... more The paper deals with the notions about human body and soul in Croatian ethnographic and folklore data closely related to beliefs about nature and animals. A strong transformational potential of the human body and everything it holds within is discussed with the help of two separate examples. One is a folk song from Eastern Croatia which, among other things, describes water as a potential life-after-death domain and the other is a set of folk beliefs and notions about specific supernatural beings - werewolves.
The paper is devoted to beliefs about animals found in Croatian ethnographic material, with parti... more The paper is devoted to beliefs about animals found in Croatian ethnographic material, with particular emphasis on the role of animals in concepts connected with death and the afterlife: the behaviour of certain animals (for example, the raven, the cuckoo, and the hen in cases when it sings) were indispensable in foretelling death ; the practice of the constant keeping vigil over the body of the deceased so as prevent a so-called 'unclean animal' from crossing over or under it ; the practice is some places that a cock be slaughtered (as a posthumous animal sacrifice) as the corpse was being carried out of the house ; and, belief in the zoometamorphosis of the human soul, and the like. Analysis of the ethnographic material will commence with articles published in the Journal of the Traditional Life and Customs of the Southern Slavs (Zbornik za narodni život i običaje Južnih Slavena). In analysis of the animalistic notions from the material in question, particular attention will be directed to beliefs about animals with emphasis on the role of animals in conceptions that concern death (cf. Grbić 1998, 2007, Čulinović-Konstantinović 1998).
"Sva civilizacija ovog kraja stoljećima i tisućljećima stoji u znaku ovce...", napisao je Branko ... more "Sva civilizacija ovog kraja stoljećima i tisućljećima stoji u znaku ovce...", napisao je Branko Fučić na svom putovanju otočjem "Apsyrtides". Za potrebe izlaganja, a u okvirima kulturnoanimalističke perspektive, istražit će se što je o ovcama i njihovu suživotu s ljudima na cresko-lošinjskom arhipelagu zapisao Branko Fučić. Razmatranu temu autorica će dopuniti povijesnim i kulturološkim podatcima kao i podatcima iz etnografske i folklorističke građe o ovom kraju.
Books by Maja Pasarić
by Tomislav Hršak, Rajna Sosic Klindzic, Lea Čataj, Jacqueline Balen, Alenka Tomaž, Penny Bickle, Boban Tripkovic, Sinisa Radovic, Kelly Reed, Dusan Boric, Marcel Buric, and Maja Pasarić
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Papers by Maja Pasarić
been unearthed at two Baden culture sites, Aljmaš-Podunavlje and Osijek-Retfala located in Eastern Croatia.
Zooarchaeological analysis attributed the faunal remains to domesticated cattle (Bos taurus) and in one case
a dog (Canis familiaris). Almost complete and articulated skeletons of subadult or adult cows were found in
all three examined features, while pit 59/60 from Aljmaš also contained a skull belonging to an adultdomesticated
cattle and a skeleton of a very young dog, 2–3 months old. All of the skeletons are well
preserved and display no evidence of carcass processing indicating that the animals were buried intentionally.
Consideration of the positions in which these animals were interred and their relationship with nearby
deposits enables discussion of potential animal burial strategies and possible connections with certain ritual
practices in which cows and in one case a dog played important roles. The described burials represent the
southernmost known distribution of the rite discussed.
Key words: Eneolithic; Baden culture; Eastern Croatia; animal burials; cattle
Osim već objavljenih nalaza iz Vučedola i Koprivničke Rijeke u radu su detaljno razmotreni nalazi ukopa životinja s novijih iskopavanja iz Aljmaša, Đakova, Josipovca, Osijeka, Petrijevaca, Selaca Đakovačkih i Vučedola, ali i ukopi sa starijih, neobjavljenih istraživanja (Stari Mikanovci). Analizirano je 30 objekata u kojima je bilo ukopano 46 životinja. Za svaki ukop detaljno je opisan arheološki kontekst i stupanj sačuvanosti koštanog materijala te su prikazane biološke karakteristike svake individue. Ukopi su podijeljeni na cjelovite/gotovo cjelovite, djelomične i mješovite, a provedena je i podjela s obzirom na mjesto ukopa (u naselju, tj. jami i u/blizu ljudskog groba). U ukopima su pronađeni ostaci domaćih i divljih životinja: domaćeg goveda, pragoveda, psa, domaće svinje, divlje svinje, ovce/koze, jelena, srne, dabra. Ukopi iz kontinentalne Hrvatske uspoređeni su sa neolitičkim i eneolitičkim ukopima životinja iz srednje Europe. Na temelju određenih kriterija pokušao se odrediti ritualni karakter eneolitičkih ukopa životinja iz kontinentalne Hrvatske: od trideset ukopa, sa sigurnošću se s ritualom može povezati njih sedamnaest i najvjerojatnije još tri ukopa, a tri nalaza su nedefinirana. Za svaku od životinjskih vrsta pronađenih u ritualnim ukopima pokušala se odrediti njena uloga u duhovnoj sferi prapovijesnih ljudi koristeći se pritom i podacima iz različitih povijesnih razdoblja kao i etnografskim izvorima.
Eneolitička zoomorfna idoloplastika iz kontinentalne Hrvatske može se podijeliti u pet grupa: 1) trodimenzionalne životinjske figurice, 2) posude sa životinjskim atributima - spoj životinjskog tijela i recipijenta, 3) bukraniji, 4) rogoliki žrtvenici - konsekrativni rogovi i 5) keramički rogovi. Svi navedeni predmeti, kojima je poznat kontekst nalaza, pronađeni su u otpadnim i/ili stambenim jamama unutar naselja ili su na neki način povezani sa stambenim prostorima i svi pripadaju skupini keramičkih predmeta (iznimka je bukranij koji je nastao spojem gline i kostiju životinje). Većina eneolitičkih plastičnih prikaza životinjskog tijela ili njihovih pojedinih atributa pripada vučedolskoj kulturi. Osim vučedolske kulture konsekrativne rogove poznaje i kostolačka kultura, a trodimenzionalne zoomorfne figurice pripisane su još lasinjskoj i badenskoj kulturi. Posude sa zoomorfnim obilježjima ukazuju na predodžbe o životinjskom tijelu kao recipijentu ili nositelju recipijenta dok se bukranij i neki konsekrativni rogovi povezuju sa stambenim objektima u koje su svojom prisutnošću mogli upisivati sakralna ili društvena značenja ili su, kao u slučaju malih keramičkih rogova, mogli biti prostorno povezani s objektima koji ukazuju na određene aspekte društvene hijerarhije.
The dissertation presents the results of the study of animal burials and animal idol sculptures from the Eneolithic period (Lengyel, Baden, Kostolac and Vučedol cultures) in the region of continental Croatia (territory between the Sava, Drava and Danube rivers).
Besides the previously published findings from Vučedol and Koprivnička Rijeka, in this dissertation animal burials from the recent excavations in Aljmaš, Đakovo Josipovac, Osijek, Petrijevci, Selci Đakovački and Vučedol have been thoroughly analysed as well as burials from earlier, unpublished excavations (Stari Mikanovci). In total 30 objects containing 46 animals were analysed. For each burial a detailed archaeological context and the degree of preservation of bone material as well as the biological characteristics of each individual were given. Burials were divided into complete/almost complete, partial and mixed burials; the division considering the place of burial was also carried out (in a settlement, i.e. pit and in/close to human grave). Skeletal remains of domestic and wild animals were found in the burials: domestic cattle, auroch, dogs, pigs, wild pig, sheeps/goats, deer, roe deer, and beavers. Burials from continental Croatia were compared with the Neolithic and Eneolithic animal burials from the region of Central Europe. On the basis of certain criteria an attempt to determine the ritual character of Eneolithic animal burials from continental Croatia was carried out: of the thirty burials, seventeen may be associated with the ritual activities with certainty, three more burials are probably related to rituals, while three burials are still undefined. For each of the species found in the ritual burials attempt was made to determine their role in the spiritual sphere of prehistoric people using parallels from different historical periods and ethnographic sources as well.
Eneolithic animal idol sculptures from continental Croatia may be divided into five groups: 1) three-dimensional animal figures, 2) vessels with animal attributes, 3) bucrania, 4) horn-like altars - consecrative horns, 5) ceramic horns. All these items, for those that the archaeological context is known, were found in the waste and/or residential pits within the settlement or are somehow associated with the residential areas and all belong to a group of ceramic items (the exception is bucranium which is combination of clay and animal bones). Most of the Eneolithic plastic displays of animal bodies or their individual attributes are dated to the Vučedol culture. Besides Vučedol culture, consecrative horns were also known in the Kostolac culture, while three-dimensional zoomorphic figurines were attributed to Lasinja and Baden cultures. Vessels with zoomorphic features indicate the image of an animal body as a recipient or the carrier of a recipient, while bucranium and some consecrative horns are associated with residential buildings in which by their presence they could add religious or social significance or, as in the case of small ceramic horns, could be spatially associated with objects that point to certain aspects of the social hierarchy.
"
Conference Presentations by Maja Pasarić
Books by Maja Pasarić
been unearthed at two Baden culture sites, Aljmaš-Podunavlje and Osijek-Retfala located in Eastern Croatia.
Zooarchaeological analysis attributed the faunal remains to domesticated cattle (Bos taurus) and in one case
a dog (Canis familiaris). Almost complete and articulated skeletons of subadult or adult cows were found in
all three examined features, while pit 59/60 from Aljmaš also contained a skull belonging to an adultdomesticated
cattle and a skeleton of a very young dog, 2–3 months old. All of the skeletons are well
preserved and display no evidence of carcass processing indicating that the animals were buried intentionally.
Consideration of the positions in which these animals were interred and their relationship with nearby
deposits enables discussion of potential animal burial strategies and possible connections with certain ritual
practices in which cows and in one case a dog played important roles. The described burials represent the
southernmost known distribution of the rite discussed.
Key words: Eneolithic; Baden culture; Eastern Croatia; animal burials; cattle
Osim već objavljenih nalaza iz Vučedola i Koprivničke Rijeke u radu su detaljno razmotreni nalazi ukopa životinja s novijih iskopavanja iz Aljmaša, Đakova, Josipovca, Osijeka, Petrijevaca, Selaca Đakovačkih i Vučedola, ali i ukopi sa starijih, neobjavljenih istraživanja (Stari Mikanovci). Analizirano je 30 objekata u kojima je bilo ukopano 46 životinja. Za svaki ukop detaljno je opisan arheološki kontekst i stupanj sačuvanosti koštanog materijala te su prikazane biološke karakteristike svake individue. Ukopi su podijeljeni na cjelovite/gotovo cjelovite, djelomične i mješovite, a provedena je i podjela s obzirom na mjesto ukopa (u naselju, tj. jami i u/blizu ljudskog groba). U ukopima su pronađeni ostaci domaćih i divljih životinja: domaćeg goveda, pragoveda, psa, domaće svinje, divlje svinje, ovce/koze, jelena, srne, dabra. Ukopi iz kontinentalne Hrvatske uspoređeni su sa neolitičkim i eneolitičkim ukopima životinja iz srednje Europe. Na temelju određenih kriterija pokušao se odrediti ritualni karakter eneolitičkih ukopa životinja iz kontinentalne Hrvatske: od trideset ukopa, sa sigurnošću se s ritualom može povezati njih sedamnaest i najvjerojatnije još tri ukopa, a tri nalaza su nedefinirana. Za svaku od životinjskih vrsta pronađenih u ritualnim ukopima pokušala se odrediti njena uloga u duhovnoj sferi prapovijesnih ljudi koristeći se pritom i podacima iz različitih povijesnih razdoblja kao i etnografskim izvorima.
Eneolitička zoomorfna idoloplastika iz kontinentalne Hrvatske može se podijeliti u pet grupa: 1) trodimenzionalne životinjske figurice, 2) posude sa životinjskim atributima - spoj životinjskog tijela i recipijenta, 3) bukraniji, 4) rogoliki žrtvenici - konsekrativni rogovi i 5) keramički rogovi. Svi navedeni predmeti, kojima je poznat kontekst nalaza, pronađeni su u otpadnim i/ili stambenim jamama unutar naselja ili su na neki način povezani sa stambenim prostorima i svi pripadaju skupini keramičkih predmeta (iznimka je bukranij koji je nastao spojem gline i kostiju životinje). Većina eneolitičkih plastičnih prikaza životinjskog tijela ili njihovih pojedinih atributa pripada vučedolskoj kulturi. Osim vučedolske kulture konsekrativne rogove poznaje i kostolačka kultura, a trodimenzionalne zoomorfne figurice pripisane su još lasinjskoj i badenskoj kulturi. Posude sa zoomorfnim obilježjima ukazuju na predodžbe o životinjskom tijelu kao recipijentu ili nositelju recipijenta dok se bukranij i neki konsekrativni rogovi povezuju sa stambenim objektima u koje su svojom prisutnošću mogli upisivati sakralna ili društvena značenja ili su, kao u slučaju malih keramičkih rogova, mogli biti prostorno povezani s objektima koji ukazuju na određene aspekte društvene hijerarhije.
The dissertation presents the results of the study of animal burials and animal idol sculptures from the Eneolithic period (Lengyel, Baden, Kostolac and Vučedol cultures) in the region of continental Croatia (territory between the Sava, Drava and Danube rivers).
Besides the previously published findings from Vučedol and Koprivnička Rijeka, in this dissertation animal burials from the recent excavations in Aljmaš, Đakovo Josipovac, Osijek, Petrijevci, Selci Đakovački and Vučedol have been thoroughly analysed as well as burials from earlier, unpublished excavations (Stari Mikanovci). In total 30 objects containing 46 animals were analysed. For each burial a detailed archaeological context and the degree of preservation of bone material as well as the biological characteristics of each individual were given. Burials were divided into complete/almost complete, partial and mixed burials; the division considering the place of burial was also carried out (in a settlement, i.e. pit and in/close to human grave). Skeletal remains of domestic and wild animals were found in the burials: domestic cattle, auroch, dogs, pigs, wild pig, sheeps/goats, deer, roe deer, and beavers. Burials from continental Croatia were compared with the Neolithic and Eneolithic animal burials from the region of Central Europe. On the basis of certain criteria an attempt to determine the ritual character of Eneolithic animal burials from continental Croatia was carried out: of the thirty burials, seventeen may be associated with the ritual activities with certainty, three more burials are probably related to rituals, while three burials are still undefined. For each of the species found in the ritual burials attempt was made to determine their role in the spiritual sphere of prehistoric people using parallels from different historical periods and ethnographic sources as well.
Eneolithic animal idol sculptures from continental Croatia may be divided into five groups: 1) three-dimensional animal figures, 2) vessels with animal attributes, 3) bucrania, 4) horn-like altars - consecrative horns, 5) ceramic horns. All these items, for those that the archaeological context is known, were found in the waste and/or residential pits within the settlement or are somehow associated with the residential areas and all belong to a group of ceramic items (the exception is bucranium which is combination of clay and animal bones). Most of the Eneolithic plastic displays of animal bodies or their individual attributes are dated to the Vučedol culture. Besides Vučedol culture, consecrative horns were also known in the Kostolac culture, while three-dimensional zoomorphic figurines were attributed to Lasinja and Baden cultures. Vessels with zoomorphic features indicate the image of an animal body as a recipient or the carrier of a recipient, while bucranium and some consecrative horns are associated with residential buildings in which by their presence they could add religious or social significance or, as in the case of small ceramic horns, could be spatially associated with objects that point to certain aspects of the social hierarchy.
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