If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it?
The paper considers about the possible meaning and social function of signs and symbols from Vinča, and used in Danube Neolithic society. Many scholars have tried to answer two main questions about the nature of the signs: first, does they form a system, and (if so), could such a system be interpret...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2005-12-01
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Series: | Documenta Praehistorica |
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Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/DocumentaPraehistorica/article/view/2175 |
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author | Andrej Starović |
author_facet | Andrej Starović |
author_sort | Andrej Starović |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The paper considers about the possible meaning and social function of signs and symbols from Vinča, and used in Danube Neolithic society. Many scholars have tried to answer two main questions about the nature of the signs: first, does they form a system, and (if so), could such a system be interpreted as an original prehistoric script? A new approach to the problem, focused on an archaeological reconstruction of the basic function of ceramic objects bearing the signs, offers strong evidence that the signs were used in the context of ordinary domestic life, much more than in ritual and/or ceremonial contexts. An important set of data suggests that practically every single Vinča household had inscribed objects and that many of the signs and sign groups are uniform, just as in organized writing. Consequently, such a complex notation system could have been a form of written communication throughout Vinča society. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:02:29Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d6a12a80315043f2a659b6fb355e557f |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1408-967X 1854-2492 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:02:29Z |
publishDate | 2005-12-01 |
publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
record_format | Article |
series | Documenta Praehistorica |
spelling | doaj.art-d6a12a80315043f2a659b6fb355e557f2023-01-18T09:21:43ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Documenta Praehistorica1408-967X1854-24922005-12-013210.4312/dp.32.19If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it?Andrej Starović0National Museum in BelgradeThe paper considers about the possible meaning and social function of signs and symbols from Vinča, and used in Danube Neolithic society. Many scholars have tried to answer two main questions about the nature of the signs: first, does they form a system, and (if so), could such a system be interpreted as an original prehistoric script? A new approach to the problem, focused on an archaeological reconstruction of the basic function of ceramic objects bearing the signs, offers strong evidence that the signs were used in the context of ordinary domestic life, much more than in ritual and/or ceremonial contexts. An important set of data suggests that practically every single Vinča household had inscribed objects and that many of the signs and sign groups are uniform, just as in organized writing. Consequently, such a complex notation system could have been a form of written communication throughout Vinča society.https://journals.uni-lj.si/DocumentaPraehistorica/article/view/2175Late NeolithicEarly ChalcolithicVinča culturesignssymbolswriting |
spellingShingle | Andrej Starović If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? Documenta Praehistorica Late Neolithic Early Chalcolithic Vinča culture signs symbols writing |
title | If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? |
title_full | If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? |
title_fullStr | If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? |
title_full_unstemmed | If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? |
title_short | If the Vinča script once really existed who could have written or read it? |
title_sort | if the vinca script once really existed who could have written or read it |
topic | Late Neolithic Early Chalcolithic Vinča culture signs symbols writing |
url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/DocumentaPraehistorica/article/view/2175 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT andrejstarovic ifthevincascriptoncereallyexistedwhocouldhavewrittenorreadit |