Рециклирање предмета од керамике: неолитске фигурине као алатке, пример с локалитета Павловац- Чукар

Abstract

Праксе промењене употребе и рециклирања познате су у археолошкој литератури, а када су у питању предмети од керамике, у том контексту разматране су искључиво керамичке посуде или њихови фрагменти. С локалитета Павловац–Чукар, међутим, потиче неколико фрагмената винчанских антропоморфних фигурина, који су, на основу интензивних трагова употребе – механичких оштећења (абразије) и деформације првобитног облика, интерпретирани као алатке. Таква употреба делова фигурина засад није идентификована на другим неолитским локалитетима, па примерци с Павловца отварају низ нових питања, пре свега намене фигурина и њиховог значења у неолитском друштву.

Secondary use and recycling are well-known in archaeology, but in the case of ceramic objects, only vessels have been analyzed. Several figurines excavated at the site of Pavlovac-Čukar, however, exhibit traces of use – damage in the form of different kinds of abrasion. The traces on the leg of a realistically modeled figurine (fig. 1) are present in the form of deep grooves of a triangular cross-section. The sides of the grooves are smooth and flattened. According to the barely visible channels parallel to the vertical axis of the tool, the movement in which the tool was used was in the up-down direction. Also, on the left lateral side, the original surface is worn out and removed. Such damage does not exist on the right side, suggesting that the tool was held slightly obliquely, so that the pressure of the abrasive movement was higher on the left side of the tool. Another figurine leg (fig. 2) exhibits similar grooves on its back side. The traces on both tools suggest that they were used in the process of smoothing, finishing, and/or sharpening of wooden/bone tools, possibly awls. Small grooves and channels (with pedestalled temper) on the upper part of a columnar figurine (fig. 3) are harder to interpret. Fragment of a figurine representing a female with incised clothes/ornaments (fig. 4) exhibits an abraded patch on its belly: at the beginning of the damaged zone, the traces are especially intensive and are manifested by parallel deep diagonal notches. The figurine tool could have been used in the processes such as scraping or flattening some hard material. Finally, the small figurine shown in fig. 5 exhibits abraded base and head, with flattened sand temper, indicating use over some hard material. Five figurines from Pavlovac with traces of use open new questions related to the meaning and function of the figurines during the Late Neolithic. They were recycled after the breaking and were probably used in everyday activities. This further leads to the conclusion that the primary function of the figurines (symbolic or ritual) was not long-lasting. This further underlines the possibility that they were the objects with a single-use, or disposable after they fulfilled their designated role. The considerations about the traces of use on the figurines are still lacking, so the specimens from Čukar reveal an urgent need for further research in this field.