The Vučedol Culture in North-Western Croatia

Abstract

North-western Croatia (further: NWC) is the part of the S. R. Croatia limited by the stream Ilova in the east, the border with S. R. Slovenia in the west, the border with P. R. Hungary in the north, and by the river Sava in the south. The first excavation of a Vučedol locality in this area was done by the amateur archaeologist V. Dukić in 1941 (Apatovac-Hum). In 1964, D. Iveković excavated in Marić-gradina near Mikleuška. In 1977, Z. Markovič made a smal exploratory dig at Hum near Apatovac, and in 1978—79, he excavated the settlement Rudina I near Koprivnička Rijeka (812 sq. metres, 30 objects: one house above the ground, 10 hearths ,17 pits for work and refuse, and 2 dwelling caves). In NWC by now there are 10 certain Vučedol localities (Velika Barna near Grubišno Polje; Babinac; Veliko Trojstvo; Martinac and Letičani near Bjelovar; Mikleuška and Prnjarovac near Kutina; Rudina I and Apatovac between Križevci and Koprivnica and Veliki Kalnik near Križevci two less certain (Rakovka near Djurdjevae and Orovački vineyards near Bjelovar), as well as two metal finds which may be attributed to the bearers of the Vučedol culture (a flat trapezoid copper adze from Soderica near Koprivnica, and a copper adze with a shaft for the handle from lazavica near Kutina). All the localities contain only one stratum and are situated on slopes with difficult access. In NWC there is not enough evidence for a division of the Vučedol culture into two regional types, the Slavonic-Srijem and the Alpine (Slovenian), because all the material has characteristics which point to a fusion of both influences in this area, which is also a transitional one from the geographical point of view. Therefore to all the Vučedol material from NWC which gravitates towards the phase C of the Vučedol culture (according to the classification by S. Dimitrijević) the term Slavonian-Alpine type of the Late Vučedol Culture is applied. The entire material of the Vučedol culture in NWC can be divided into three phases. PHASE I is represented by the locality Marić-gradina near Mikleuška (T. 1). This is the phase of the arrival on the territory of NWC which was at that time settled by people of the late Lasinja culture (Lasinja III) and by the Višnjica-tvpe of the Retz-Gajary culture. Since the position of the phase III of the Lasinja culture, whose localities are found in this area, is now well established (slightly before the beginning of phase B-2 and during the phase B-2 of the Vučedol culture) it is easy to pinpoint the time of arrival of the first Vučedol population which does not show any characteristic older than those of the developed phase B-2 of this culture (bold cuts and deep incisions, but also the transition to narrow, furrow-like incisions). The Lasinja population did not leave any traces on the Vučedol population, with the possible exception of habitation in dugouts and half-dugouts. It is not even clear whether it moved away from the area or became assimilated. According to the moderately low cronology by S. Dimitrijević, we date this phase between 1950 and 1900 B. C. PHASE II in NWC (T. 2-6) is represented by the localities: Babinac Severinski, Veliko Trojstvo, Martinac, Letičani, Prnjarovac, Apatovac, Veliki Kalnik. Letičani probably represents the early part of this phase (T. 6) while the developed part of this phase can be observed in Apatovac- Hum (T. 3—5). The most characteristic are the following shapes: cups (T. 3: fig. 1, 5; T. 4: fig. 1) and cups on feet with an incised cross (T. 5: fig. 12), small cylindrical bottles (T. 2: fig. 7), elongated jugs with cylindrical necks (T. 2: fig. 1, 8, 11; T. 5: fig. 1; T. 6: fig. 11), small Boodrogkeresztur-type pots with handles on the rim (T. 4: fig. 6), potbellied amphoras with cylindrical necks (T. 4: fig. 3; T. 6: fig. 1, 5), pots with cylindrical necks and barbotine ornamented bellies (T. 2: fig. 3; T. 5: fig. 11), and a number of biconical bowls (T. 2: fig. 2; T. 4: fig. 5, 6, 8, 11; etc.). The most frequent among ornamenting techniques are ordinary and furrow-like incisions while the application of deep incisions and cuts diminishes, although they are still fairly frequent. By far the most frequent among the motifs are zig-zags, negative and positive bands and triangles (e. g. T. 3: fig. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, etc.), as well as occasional crosses (T. 5: fig. 7, 9, 12), X-motifs (T. 4: fig. 2; T. 5: fig. 7; T. 6: fig. 6) and rosettes (T. 5: fig. 8). Among the idols of the phase II female figurines are still present (T. 5: fig. 2) but are strongly outnumbered by animal figurines (T. 5: fig. 2—4, 6). Weapons and tools are mainly made of stone. Since the essential characteristics of Vinkovci culture are largely absent, phase II must be dated before the beginning of the Vinkovci culture, i.e. before Reinecke Br A-l, or in absolute dates between 1900 and 1850 B.C. PHASE III is to date represented only by the locality Rudina I near Koprivnička Rijeka (T. 7—19). Among the rough ware, the majority are barbotine ornamented pots, sometimes with polished necks (T. 7: fig. 7; T. 17: fig. 5), sometimes with brushmarks over the barbotine. Among the fine ware, the majority consist of biconical bowls (T. 10: fig. 3, 4, 6, 8, 11; etc.) which make 30,5% of the total of the fine ware, as well as large and small amphoras (T. 7: fig. 9; T. 8: fig. 1; etc.) which make 24,8 %. Then follow large and small jugs with cylindrical necks (T. 7: fig. 10, 12; T. 8: fig. 3; etc.) comprising 15,9%. Cups (T. 10: fig. 1; T. 15: fig. 3; etc.) make 3,6% of the total. In comparison to the earlier phases, the number of cylindrical bottles increases: they make 2% (9 examples). Among ornamentation techniques, there is a great predominance of normal incision (a whole 70,1 % of all ornamented ware) while furrow incisions reach only half that number (37 %). The role of deep cuts (19,4 %) is still decreasing and marking virtually disappears (4,4 % in all). Fingerprints and nail prints are very frequent (44,7% of the fine ware), fairly frequent are individual plastic appliqués (14,9%) and barbotine is still in use (7,4%) of the ornamented fine ware). Among motifs, the most used are zig-zag lines and bands (50,6 %) and triangles (25,2%). The X-motif is relatively frequent (13,4%), the cross is on the decrease (7,4%) while the chess-board motif, the classic Vučedol characteristics, has virtually disappeared (1 example). In Rudina I there are also some new forms: rough small pots with handles (T. 7: fig. 1, 11), pots-cups (T. 17: fig. 7), articulated jugs with ribbed handles and button-like attachments (T. 18: fig. 1), jugs with two knobs above the handle, i.e. with the pseudo-ansa lunata (T. 15: fig. 1), deep biconical bowls with small ribbed handles (T. 18: fig. 5), twisted rims (T. 13: fig. 1, 4; etc.), ribbed handles which are different from those in the classic Vučedol culture (T. 8: fig. 2; etc.). One can also observe a strong decrease in the quantity of ornamented ware compared to previous periods: ornamented pottery is now only 11,83 % of the total amount of fine ware. Among the glyptic of the phase III, animal figurines and horns are predominant (T. 19: fig. 1—6, 8—12). Female figurines are disappearing and are gradually replaced by the clay (T. 19: fig. 7) or stone (T. 19: fig. 13) phallus which indicates that in the new methods of food-production and new way of life the importance of women is decreased. Weapons are mainly manufactured from deer horns, tools are made of bones and stone (T. 19). In Rudina I, one animal pit was discovered (pit 4: bos primigenius, bos taurus brachiceros). Among animal remains there are mainly wild ones (cattle, deer, wild boar, goat, fox, skunk) but also some domesticated ones (sheep, dog). At the periphery of the settlement large quantities of snails were found. The central part of the settlement (see the groundplan) has one house above the ground, with auxiliary objects (pits 3 and 5, hearth 3) and is the richest area of the village (30,3 % of pottery, nearly one half of the idols, over half of bone weapons, one quarter of stone weapons and tools, remains of large animals). The social differentiation is apparent, certainly as a result of a hunting economy and the rise of a class of hunters. Other villagers lived only partly from hunting, they supplemented it with cattle raising, practised agriculture and gathered fruit. During the phase III faint influences of the corded-ware culture are detectable, whose people together with those of the bell-beaker culture, were approaching the Carpathian valley (they are also part of the substratum of the Mierzanowice-Kost’any culture of Reinecke Br A-l period, where button-like attachments similar to those on T. 18: fig. 1 are known), and there came into contact with the Vučedol population. There are also some similarities with the cultures of the Makó and Nyirség type, as well as with the Ljubljana Marsh I, although they are by no means among the main characteristics of Rudina I. Closer links exist with the material of the Somogyvar type of the Vinkovci culture and with the Csepel type (early Nagyrév and bell-beaker culture). With the aid of these analogies, this phase must be dated from the beginning of the Vinkovci culture to the end of the Csepel type i.e. to Reinecke Br A-l period, or in absolute dates between 1850 and 1770 B. C. The settlement Rudina I should be dated from 1800 B. C. downwards. The Vučedol culture lasted in NWC over 150 years, which means half the time of the duration in its homeland, estimated to ca. 300 years. Therefore this area is very important for the understanding of the migrations of the Vučedol population and its life in new areas. In summing up, the existence of Vučedol population in NWC can be divided as follows: PHASE I (arrival to NWC and settling down) PHASE II (stabilisation in NWC) PHASE III (final independent phase of NWC) 1950—1900 B. C. 1900—1850 B. C. 1850—1770 B. C. We do not know the population which settled in NWC between the end of the periods Reinecke Br A-l and the beginning of Br A-2. According to analogies, a late phase of the Vinkovci culture can be surmised, in the western part also the late phase of the Ljubljana culture. The existence of corded ware should not be excluded. During the periods Reinecke Br A-2 and A-3 the area was inhabited by the bearers of the Litzen ware and localities of Hatvan culture could also be expected. Institute Ruder Bošković, Zagreb (professor dr. Adica Sliepčević) sent on Dec., 16, 1980 the results of C-14 analysis of the wooden charcoal from cave 19 (depth of 100 cm), locality Koprivnička Rijeka—Rudina I. The year obtained by it is 3860 ± 110, that is, 1880 ± 110 B. C. is approximately in agreement with the result by typological analysis and the use of the moderate low chronology which indicates phase III of the Vučedol settlement in the northwestern Croatia.