First Sculpted Human Face in the Western Mediterranean Early Neolithic

Abstract

International audienceThe development of the Neolithic way of life in the western Mediterranean during the sixth millennium cal. BC is the consequence of the spread of populations from the Near East after successive stages of cultural remodelling. Despite the clear contribution of the Near Eastern and Aegean Neolithic to the economic and technical changes that happened to the west, little is known here about their symbolic legacies, because of the scarcity of representations and ritual evidences associated to the earliest western Neolithic contexts. Excavations at the rock shelter of Pendimoun (southeastern France) yielded the first anthropomorphic stone sculpture from the western Mediterranean Neolithic (early sixth millennium cal. BC). Using both carving and painting techniques, it represents a realistic-looking human face and is a unique example within the western Mediterranean and European frameworks. After describing the shaping and colouring details of the mask, the authors here deal with its possible social significances and cultural connections

A Neolithic without dairy? Chemical evidence from the content of ceramics from the Pendimoun rock-shelter (Castellar, France, 5750–5150 BCE)

“…Animal fats could be added to the ochre to facilitate its pliability allowing manipulation for technical, decorative or symbolic activities. Such a preparation could be used, for example, for the finishing treatment or maintenance of leathers, for body care and decoration (Audouin & Plisson, 1982;Rifkin, 2011), or for colouring some objects (such as the sculpted and coloured face discovered at the site; Binder et al, 2014). In comparison, the very large volume of some of the vessels that contained plant products (> 9 L) suggests use for a larger group than the household.…”

Spiralled patchwork in pottery manufacture and the introduction of farming to Southern Europe

“…Our hypothesis is consistent with other evidence, such as clay figurines and painted pottery. Although not initially interpreted as indicating a second group of farmers, both are characteristic of Balkan early farmer material culture and are found in south-eastern Italy—but are surprisingly absent from north-western Italy (Radi 2010; Binder et al 2014). Moreover, while goats and pigs feature in the early agricultural regime of the Italian peninsula, they are both absent in the north-west where SPT has been identified (Rowley-Conwy et al 2013).…”