We attribute the Post-Neolithic layers of Vela Cave to its continuous occupation by the Neolithic population during the new, Eneolithic period. In reference to this phenomenon we use the term “Eneolithic phase of Hvar culture”, duration of which coincides with the Eneolithic period. We divide it in two stages: an older stage that corresponds to the beginning of the Eneolithic, and a younger one that corresponds to the second (younger) half of the Eneolithic period*. Position of the Eneolithic phase of Hvar culture is determined by stratigraphy. This phase immediately overlays thick Neolithic strata, and underlays a compact Bronze Age layer. In most of the excavated squares, the beginning of the older stage (the transition from the final Late Neolithic to the first Eneolithic stage) is discernible as one of several dozen layers of charcoal and ash, although that is not always the case. These layers are characterized by initial poverty, absence of decoration, and by a material culture similar to that of the preceding period. Careful “Hvar type” burnishing disappears by the end of Neolithic, channeling becomes coarser, and other decorative techniques are radically reduced. More than anything else, coarse, unburnished vessels, often with light-colored surfaces and slightly concave necks that join the shoulder at a sharp angle, herald the onset of a new culture. Lower parts of those vessels become conically elongated by gradual evolution, their necks are reduced and shoulders practically disappear, that is, they are transformed into a step-like protrusion at the juncture of concave neck and convex body of the vessel. Almost half of all of the identified vessel shapes belong to countless variants of this type, which may be regarded as a “trade mark” type of the Adriatic Eneolithic. Production and use of flint artifacts reaches its peak during this phase. This is especially evident in very careful and fine retouch that covers the entire working surface of most artifacts. High quality raw materials are used almost exclusively. They are used for production of a number of short knives, thin end scrapers, trapezoidal raclettes, or debitage that was used as blades. Most of the bone artifacts belong to well-known types of tools, a variety of needles and points. The cave is visited more often during the younger stage, when potsherd frequencies rise to several hundred pieces per square meter. Vessels with step-like protruding shoulder continue to dominate the assemblage. This is practically the only vessel shape that is decorated, although only a very small fraction of several hundred specimens are decorated. Channeling is no longer used, aside from a few imported pieces. The same can be said about more-or-less clumsy imitation of this technique, applied on vessels that are of local origin, judging by their structure. Their decoration consists of series of vertical incisions that mimic channeling, and either run continuously around the circumference of the vessel, or are distributed in groups which are sometimes separated by long vertical incised lines or plastic apliqué ribs. With further simplification of the decorative system (especially near the end of this stage), plastic apliqué ribs, distributed cross-wise in groups of one to three, sometimes constitute the only decoration. The earliest examples of bowls with externally thickened ring-like rims appear near the end of this stage. Huge numbers of sheep and goat bones testify of the basic economy of the Eneolithic, although cattle remains constitute a substantial fraction of the faunal assemblage. Eneolithic layers of Vela Cave are a product of continued occupation of the site by the old Hvar population during the new times. Main features of material culture are its longevity and remarkable intensity of occupation, but also its sweeping and constant decorative poverty that is reflected in a sharp decrease of burnished potsherds, a drop in frequency of decorated vessels, and a radical impoverishment of the decorative system. Vessel shapes are restricted to a few simple forms, which commonly appear during all prehistoric periods. We resolved the dilemma of whether the finds from the Eneolithic strata belong to an independent phenomenon or to yet another developmental phase of Hvar culture by comparing material culture characteristics between the two periods. Results of this comparison indicate that Neolithic and Eneolithic layers are highly interconnected, to a degree that usually prevents us from drawing a clear line between the two. This may be explained by longevity and gradual evolution of Hvar culture, which accepts foreign influences and adapts to them, but retains its ethnic and cultural identity. It follows that Hvar culture develops through two phases, a Neolithic and an Eneolithic phase, and six stages, four of which belong to the Neolithic (early, classic, late and final), and two to the Eneolithic (older Eneolithic stage and younger Eneolithic stage). Importance of Vela Cave rests in the fact that this site allows us to follow what seems to be one and the same ethnic community, upon which all the important developments of the times are projected (in spite of its peripheral location), and which is forced to adapt to all the changes. *In literature, Eneolithic is generally split into an older, a middle and a younger stage. The first two are usually considered as coterminous with “Pelješka culture” or “Nakovana culture”, while the third, ill-defined stage (developed Eneolithic) is equated with influences of a variety of continental penetrations, e.g. with late Vucedol population, or the Adriatic type of Ljubljana culture, or incipient Cetina culture, etc. This third stage could not be defined in the Vela Cave strata. In the next chapter we argue that all of the phenomena mentioned above appear together, but in the following, younger phase which they actually constitute. From the aspect of Vela Cave stratigraphy, the question whether the incipient stage of that phase belongs to the end of the Eneolithic or the beginning of the Bronze Age depends on individual author’s approach and definition of those periods. We shall be happy to agree with the judgment that eventually prevails in our prehistoric archaeology.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:54:44 +0000
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