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Vinča ritual vessels: Archaeological context and possible meaning

Nikolić Dubravka (Faculty of Philosophy, Archaeological Collection, Belgrade)
Vuković Jasna (Faculty of Philosophy, Departmant of Archaeology, Belgrade)

The Hyde-vase and anthropomorphic vessel found at Vinča within two sets of pottery vessels are vessels of cult the meaning of which has never been examined. The authors highlight the significance of their archaeological contexts and positions in the settlement, reconstructed based on the preserved documents. The cult character of both pottery sets is confirmed and they are thought to have been used for a ritual important to the whole Vinča community. Considering that they come from the horizon associated with the beginning of the Gradac phase of the Vinča culture, the performed ritual may be seen as a possible reaction of the Vinča inhabitants to dynamic changes triggered by emergence of metallurgy in the region and the whole of South East Europe.

Keywords: Vinča, Hyde vase, anthropomorphic vessel, archaeological context, cult set, the Gradac phase