Spondylus and Glycymeris bracelets: trade reflections at Neolithic Vinča-Belo Brdo

Abstract

In the provision, production and exchange of prestigious items and materials in prehistoric Europe, marine shell ornaments play important role. The marine shell collection at the Vinča-Belo Brdo site is the largest in the central and northern Balkans. More than 300 ornament items manufactured from marine shells have been collected since the first excavations in 1908 up until the most recent campaign. The majority of ornaments were made using recent shells that were obtained through trade with contemporaneous Neolithic communities; few ornaments were made of fossil bivalve shells. Bracelets were the most common type. Two bivalve genera, Spondylus and Glycymeris, were used in their production. These are easily recognizable when complete valves are compared, but difficult to distinguish in highly modified items where shell morphology is obscured. The defining characteristics for shell identification are presented, particularly to differentiate ornaments manufactured from the Spondylus and Glycymeris genera, as well as those made of recent and fossil shells. The possible exchange routes for these are discussed, as well as their diachronic distribution at the Vinča site.

Marine shell hoard from the Late Neolithic site of Čepin-Ovčara (Slavonia, Croatia)

“…The criteria (stated in Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ 2006) were applied in order to exclude the possible use of fossil shells in the manufacture of the ornaments. The dimensions of the objects were taken with a calliper to 1mm precision.…”

“…The cultural affinities involved in the collection and wearing of ornaments made of sea shells could have varied greatly, as evidenced in the settlement at Vin≠a near Belgrade (Serbia), which is only 150km from ∞epin. A number of bracelets made of the Mediterranean clam Glycymeris glycymeris were discovered at this Late Neolithic site beside the Danube (Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ 2006), as well as beads made of fossil dentalium shells (Dimitrijevi≤ 2014;Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ and Jovanovi≤ 2010); both are entirely absent at ∞epin and other sites in the interfluves of the Sava, Drava and Danube. Besides the previously described certain similarities, the inhabitants of the settlements in the two neighbouring regions were obviously guided by different value systems in the procurement and use of ornaments made of marine shells.…”

“…They are also commonly known as 'tusk shells' because their shells are conical and curved, making them look like miniature tusks (Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ and Jovanovi≤ 2010). 2 See the description of differences between fossilised and modern shells in Dimitrijevi≤ and Tripkovi≤ (2006). The paper describes decorative objects made of modern shells (i.e.…”

“…A detailed analysis of use wear on the other pendants from the Sopot culture sites and the wider region is necessary for any further assumptions about the ways in which they were worn. That they could have been strung in different ways is indicated by the example from Vin≠a, which has two pairs of perforations, one opposite the other, and without visible traces of string impressions (Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ 2006. Fig.…”

“…The distribution map of spondylus items (as shown in Müller 1997;Dimitrijevi≤, Tripkovi≤ 2006;Todorova 1995;Willms 1985;Windler 2013) shows that the territory of eastern Slavonia (the Republic of Croatia), bordered by the rivers Sava, Drava, and Danube, lies in the centre of an area in which the ornaments have been sporadically documented since the beginning of the 20 th century (Brun∏mid 1902;Dimitrijevi≤ 1968). The number of sites investigated in the region has significantly increased in the last decades, thanks primarily to rescue excavations that preceded the construction of major roads (see Balen, Hr∏ak and πo∏i≤-Klind∫i≤ 2014).…”