Винчанске тробојне посуде са локалитета Павловац-Чукар: технологија израде и функција

Abstract

Тробојне посуде (black-topped) познате су са низа рановинчанских локалитета, али и из других области југоисточне Европе. На локалитету Павловац–Чукар пронађено је неколико оваквих посуда, којe представљају добар пример за преиспитивање начина њихове израде и значаја у неолитском друштву. У раду су размотрене њихове технолошке карактеристике, односно технике израде, пре свега начин печења. С друге стране, трагови поправки и преправки указују на могућност да се ради о престижним предметима, који су, могуће је, осим утилитарне функције имали и посебан симболички значај.

Tricolored Vinča vessels mostly pedestal goblets are well-known since the earliest excavations at Vinča. However, the black-topped technique of pottery decoration is not associated exclusively to the Late Neolithic pottery in the Central Balkans but it is rather cross-cultural phenomenon spreading from the pre-dynastic Egypt to as far as prehistoric India. In this paper eight fragments of tricolored vessels discovered in the course of rescue archaeological excavations conducted in the process of motorway E-75 (Corridor 10) construction at the site Pavlovac near Vranje in 2011 are examined. Traces of use were not encountered on the tricolored vessels but various deliberately made interventions were noticed. They could be divided in two groups: remodeling and repairs. Alterations were noticed on two specimens where base of the vessel, i.e., pedestal of the goblet was flattened probably using some abrasive stone tool. Repairs are represented by perforations on two fragments of vessel feet in order to join two broken fragments by pulling through some thread or the like. One fragment of the goblet foot stands out among other specimens. It could be identified as technological hybrid joining two Neolithic traditions – Starčevo and Vinča traits. Additional intervention by piercing the hole in the vessel base was probably an attempt to change the purpose of the vessel. In an attempt to explain the reasons why Vinča tricolored vessels had been remodeled and repaired it is necessary to examine the concept of ‘value’ of the material culture in the past. The firing procedure of pottery with polychrome surface is very complex. Bearing in mind that completely reduced vessels were widely produced and available, the firing sequence of intentional blackening of the vessels fired in oxidizing atmosphere or combined firing of pottery in order to reduce only the interiors of the pots was completely unnecessary, so functional or utilitarian value of black-topped pots should be rejected. Tricolored vessels were discovered in very small quantities at the Vinča sites and also at Čukar, and that additionally suggests not only their limited production but also the possibility that they had been produced only in special circumstances and by skillful and experienced potters. Their small number also indicates the possibility that they were not available to all members of the community, that is, to every household. Therefore, it should be assumed that they were the special purpose vessels manufactured in small quantity and not widely available, but it is still unclear whether they were prestigious or status objects or objects related to some ritual practices.