ΠΥΛΗ ΚΑΤΑΝΟΥ
NEOLITHIC CIVILISATION IN HELLAS
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Figurines, models of people and animals, shaped in clay or carved in stone and marble, are among Neolithic man"s most expressive creations. The female figure, standing or sitting, dominates in Helladic Neolithic coroplastic art, although male figures also exist. Male figurines standing or sitting, distinguished by the projecting phallus. With the sexual characteristic emphasized, woman must have been for the Neolithic people an object of wonder concerning life and creation. The variety of postures, the rendering of features indicative of sex or phases of life (e.g. pregnancy) make them unique creations. From the Early Neolithic, 6800 BC, a naturalistic conception dominates. The female body is portrayed with anatomical details, but with a tendency exaggerate the lower part of the body. The male figurines are distinguished by a projecting phallus. In Late Neolithic (5300-4500 BC) abstract schematization prevails, in which the human figure is a flat rectangular piece of clay or stone. The gender is not differentiated and these figures should be described as humanoid rather than human. Throughout the Final Neolithic (4500-3300 BC) the human form is to be seen in the ring shaped objects which were worn as amulets, and the materials used to make them included gold, perhaps the first metal used by man. Also white marble was used for making anthropomorphic figurines, considered the forerunners of the famous Cycladic figurines of the Bronze Age.The use of seals goes back to the Early Neolithic period (6800-5900 BC.) Seals were manufactured from clay or soft stone. Their seal base was circular, oval, square or rectangular and bore incised decorative motifs which were mainly geometric: zigzag lines, triangles, spirals, stepped patterns, meanders, concentric cycles, and cruciform patterns with additional stacked chevrons in the quadrants are encountered. The later were the forerunners to the seals of the Bronze-Age. The use of seals in the farming and stock-rearing communities of the Neolithic should be associated with the economy and the structure of Neolithic society to declare ownership. Artefacts are displayed in National Archeological Museum Athens, Benaki, Cycladic Museum of Athens and Museum of Dion.
A unique sculpture homunculus aged 6,500 years made of alabaster. The name of the (stargazer) comes from the sharp turn of the head of the figurine upwards as "religious" like above to discover the mysteries of the universe. Found in the village of Kilia Eastern Thrace. The unusual duration of long use of this type of figurine is more than 2000 years. The lack of gender and the small astonished eyes give it an alien appearance. Unusually large was the length of time to use this type of figurine, as more than 2,000 years. "The first appearance is placed at the end of the 5th Millennium BC (4360-4100 BC), while certainly rescued as the mid 3rd millennium BC," says Mrs Sotirakopoulou.The main features of the stargazer is the small size-none exceeding 20 cm tall and pointing back big and bulky head compared to the thin and flat body. "Interest has the smooth surface of the head, similar to the Cycladic figurines that we know that there was a colour that suggested the existence of hair. So the hair could be painted, "says Mrs Sotirakopoulou. Cycladic Museum Athens
Masterpiece marble female figurine. The placement of the hands on the stomach makes it unique. Skoura Laconia. Final Neolithic period (4500-3200 BC). Cycladic Museum Athens
Image of Neolithic figurine representing a woman seated on a high chair holding tenderly a child, the "Nurse" (Kourotrophos) (4800-4500 BC). The group depicts a mother just as she prepares to suckle her baby. It is a unique work.It breathes vigour and simplicity, but also sensitivity and tenderness, so that the absence of the mother's head is not immediatelly noticeable. The clay figure has red painted spirals ,the symbol of Life. The masterfully executed figure reveals sensitivity of the artist. It was found at the acropolis of Sesklo, (prefecture of Magnesia). National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Image of a female marble figurine from Kouphovouno, Sparta, dated at Early Neolithic (6500-5800 BC). It is a steatopygous upright female figurine with incised symbols on the arms. Probably she represents Mother Earth Goddess. Currently exhibited in National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Image of superbly modeled Neolithic clay figurine "The Thinker" dated at 4500 BC from Karditsa.The artefact came from Thessalic prehistoric settlement. Height 50 cm. He is seated in a free thinking position. National Museum of Athens
Marble coroplastic idols depicting flat female fertility goddesses from Thessaly. Late Neolithic (5300-4500 BC). National Archaeological Museum Athens
Clay seals from Korinos.The use of seals goes back to the Early Neolithic period (6500-5900 BC.) Seals were manufactured from clay or soft stone. Their seal base was circular, oval, square or rectangular and bore incised decorative motifs which were mainly geometric: zigzag lines, triangles, spirals, stepped patterns, meanders, concentric cycles, and cruciform patterns with additional stacked chevrons in the quadrants are encountered. The later were the forerunners to the seals of the Bronze-Age. The use of seals in the farming and stock-rearing communities of the Neolithic should be associated with the economy and the structure of Neolithic society to declare ownership.
Flat figurines with no anatomical features, described as humanoid rather than human. They were worned as amulets. National Archeological Museum Athens.
The female figures, standing or sitting, dominates in Helladic Neolithic coroplastic art. With the sexual characteristic emphasized, woman must have been for the Neolithic people an object of wonder concerning life and creation. The variety of postures, the rendering of features indicative of sex or phases of life (e.g. pregnancy) make them unique creations. From the Early Neolithic, from 6800 BC, a naturalistic conception dominates. The female body is portrayed with anatomical details, but with a tendency exaggerate the lower part of the body. National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Amodel boat made with orange clay. The head of the boat is raised, vertical panel divides the boat into equal space and has a kell. This is the oldest ship model in Eurore (5300-4500 BC).
Clay model of a Neolithic house with miniature models of the family members, a table, oven and some objects. From Platia Magoula Zarkou, Trikala. (5300-4800 B.C).
Face on clay pottery from Revenia, Korinos, Macedonia, Greece. (Early Neolithic settlement 6500-5900 BC). Museum of Dion.
Marble figurine and a sherd of vessel from the settlement of Late Neolithic period.(4900-4500 BC). Makrygialos, Agiasma. Macedonia, Greece. Museum of Dion
Otzaki Magoula, Larisa. Museum Goulandri, 6500-5800 B.C
Βurials of children in jars were carried out, while the cremation of the dead and the collection of bones continued.
Scepter fom bone.Cave Dirou. 4500 BC
Representation of the Neolithic acropolis in Sesklo. iinternationally known as culture of Sesklo
The settlement at Sesklo is the earliest know Neolithic culture Europe of which inhabited Thessaly and parts of Macedonia. . The oldest fragments researched at Sesklo place development of the civilization as far back as c. 7510 BC — c. 6190 BC, known as proto-Sesklo and pre-Sesklo. They show an advanced agriculture and a very early use of pottery that rivals in age those documented in the Near East. Available data also indicates that domestication of cattle occurred at Argissa early as c. 6300 BC. The aceramic levels at Sesklo also contained bone fragments of domesticated cattle. The earliest similar occurrence documented in the Near East at Catalhoyuk , in stratum VI, dating c. 5750 BC.
Clay model of Neolithic house from Magoula, Mavrades, Karditsa.(5800-5300 BC). The oldest model of house in Europe.
The oldest clay model of a house from Sesklo culture.
Sheep and goat breeders in Pyrgetos, Thessalia.
Neolithic seals 5800 BC.
Spun wool from Sarakatsani in Olympos, Macedonia
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The spindle, with the stick and sponge from Neolithic period. Sesklo.
The use of metals, gold and cooper and metal processing started early since 4500 BC in Greece. Two cooper axes of the Final Neolithic period (4500-3300 BC) from Sesklo,Thesally. They were found together in the center of the acropolis beside a house wall. They were cast in moulds from 99% pure cooper then hammered. Their different sizes show that they came from different moulds. National Archaeological Museum Athens.
Stone mould with lead axe .Final Neolithic from Sesklo.
Tools and ornaments of the Neolithic Age. Clay disk-shaped loom weights with decorative incisions or engraves. Late and Final Neolithic periods. (4800-3300 BC). From Sesklo and Dimini. Bone tools and handles of horn and antler, awls,needles, spatulas,spindle whorls from Sesklo. Two pure cooper axes from the Final Neolithic period (4500-3300 BC) from Sesklo. Stone mould with lead ax. Final Neolithic. Sesklo. Obsidian arrow heads and blades. National Archaeological Museum Athens
Coper forged blades from Alepotrypa Dirou Laconia. 4500-3200 BC
Coper spear heads forged from Hagia Marina, Phokis. 5300-4500 BC
Silver ear pairs and a jewel from Alepotripa Dirou Laconia. 4500-3200 BC
Bronze needles, pins and nails from Neolithic period
Obsidian blades and flint sickle blades . Obsidian a vitreous volcanic stone whose only source throughout the Neolithic and the Bronze Age is Melos, was used for making tools. The commonest are blades, used as razors, knives etc
Spoon made from sae shell.Aceramic period. 8000--7000 BC. Cave of Cyclop, Gioura North Sporades
Neolithic spoon made from bone. Theopetra cave Trikala
About 70 pieces of gold amulets were confiscated by the Illegal Antiquities Trade Prosecution Section of the Criminal Investigation Department in 1979. Its provenance remains unknown. According to archaeological and archaeometric evidence, they date to the Final Neolithic or Chalcolithic period (4500-3300 BC). The gold ornaments are mostly ring-shaped amulets, made of hammered sheet. The artefacts have contributed to the study of the typology of the ornaments, the rendering of the human figure and the evolution of metallourgy in Greece and Europe. The use of metals and the metal processing started early from 4500 BC during the Neolithic period in Greece. the human form is to be seen in the ring shaped objects which were worn as amulets, and the materials used to make them included gold, perhaps the first metal used by man. Also white marble was used for making anthropomorphic figurines, considered the forerunners of the famous Cycladic figurines of the Bronze Age. Artefacts are displayed in National Archaeological Museum Athens
Gold ornaments made of hammered sheet. Unknown provenance. Final Neolithic Period (4500-3300 BC). National Archeological Museum Athens.
Neolithic bone flute, the oldest found in European territory.
Kid's skull covered by stalagmatic material fom unburried. Alepoutripa, Dirou Cave
The Theopetra Cave is an archaeological site located in Meteora, in the central Greek region of Thessaly. As a result of archaeological excavations that have been conducted over the years, it has been revealed that the Theopetra Cave has been occupied by human beings as early as 130000 years ago. In addition, evidence for human habitation in the Theopetra Cave can be traced without interruption from the Middle Palaeolithic to the end of the Neolithic period.
Seed (wheat, barley) imprints on shreds. Late Neolithic. 5300-4500 BC. Kalythies Cave, Rhodes.
Entrance of Theopetra Cave
Neolithic lakeside seetlement Dispilio
photo by mixanitouxronou.gr
The lakeside village of Dispilio is 8 km from Kastoria. In 1932, Professor Keramopoullos of Thessaloniki University located traces of a prehistoric lake settlement there. Thirty years later, Professor Moutsopoulos conducted surface investigations and confirmed the existence of the settlement.
In 1992, Professor Nikos Hourmouziadis of the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, began systematic excavations, which are still going on. A settlement has been uncovered which dates to the mid-Neolithic period, i.e. the middle of the 6th millennium B.C. The strategic aim of the excavations is to study the settlement as a specific cultural system.
The finds include tools (stone, bone, and flint) and quantities of animal bones, a discovery which shows that the inhabitants engaged in agriculture, hunting, and fishing; materials with which the huts were built (wooden piles and floors, post-holes); large clay storage jars; baskets woven in the manner of that period; cooking utensils (many of them boat-shaped); and bone and stone jewellery. The most important find is a bone flute, the oldest musical instrument ever found in Europe. There is also a model in the exhibition area illustrating the form of the huts and how they were constructed.
A short distance from the exhibition area, lake, lakeside, and land dwellings have been built by the lake, all exact reconstructions of the huts of the prehistoric settlement. Inside the huts are all the utensils which the people used for their everyday needs. An earthen cover in the middle of the settlement served to protect the fire, and there is a kind of pirogue moored at the lakeside, which the inhabitants would have used for fishing.
Neolithic bone flute, the oldest found in European territory. Dispilio
Neolithic earthen figurine
