Phalangeal idol
Phalangenidole (also tibial idols) are from the foot bone ( phalanx ) of animals, mostly horses, but also deer, made idols . In decorated form (with oculus motif, pubic triangle and wave pattern) or undecorated, partly with residues of red paint ( trigaches ), they occur as Neolithic / Copper Age finds in Spain and, to a lesser extent, in Portugal (Castro de Olelas, Gruta da Bugalheira) .
In many phalanges, the protrusions under the joint have been worked off. This makes the shape slimmer and the idol head pops out more strongly. The overall shape is thus more similar to that of the stone idols that predominate in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula . The surface of some undecorated phalanges is badly corroded. The decoration of the phalanges is similar. Motifs are: the so-called pair of eyes (with a halo), the pubic triangle carved into Les Blanquiares de Lébor and the wavy line, also known as the "arch point". In some cases, the latter covers almost the entire body of the idol and closes at the back (Bugalheira, Olelas, São Martinho; Portugal). With others (Bugalheira 2, Carenque, Vila Nova de São Pedro) it covers the upper half of the phalange as the sole motif. Ornate phalanges have also been found in the Netherlands and Orkney ( phalanges carved by Bu Sands ).
The priority of the stone idols and the secondary imitation of them as phalanges is rejected by Rudolf Maier, who gives priority to the phalanges. For the time being, however, the Portuguese deposits are too small to allow such conclusions to be drawn independently of the southeast. The application of the pubic triangle indicates that the phalanges can also have been understood as female torsos , especially since this symbolism can also be found on phalangeal ceramics from the “Tholos do Monte Outeiro”.
literature
- Rozalia Christidou, Eric Coqueugniot and Lionel Gourichon: Neolithic Figurines Manufactured from Phalanges of Equids from Dja'de el Mughara, Syria In: Journal of Field Archeology Volume 34, No. 3 Maney Publishing 2009 pp. 319-335
- Rudolf Albert Maier: The Neolithic "phalangeal pipes", perforated "phalangeal idols" and phalangeal pendants: a contribution to the question of foot and shoe symbolism 1958
- Konrad Spindler (DAI): Cova da Moura. Settlement of the Atlantic coastal region of central Portugal from the Neolithic to the end of the Bronze Age . In: Madrid Contributions, Volume 7 by Zabern, 1981 ISBN 9783805303873
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ National Museum of Scotland: Bone from Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney