Vessel guardians: sculpture and graphics related to the ceramics of NorthEastern European hunter-gatherers

摘要

North-Eastern European hunter-gatherer ceramic sculptures, relief sculptures and graphic images on vessels are discussed. Five groups of finds are distinguished according to their chronology (4000–2500 BC cal) and represented subject (birds, human head, human figure, mammal head etc.). Their production believes to be a female craft, their making had ritual aims and their emerging was independent from any influences of pastoral/agricultural societies.