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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Main Author: Andrej Starović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) 2005-12-01
Series:Documenta Praehistorica
Subjects:
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.
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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