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Ciempozuelos beaker geometric patterns: a glimpse into their meaning

  • March 2015
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António Valera at Era Arqueologia SA
António Valera
  • Era Arqueologia SA
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Abstract and Figures

In this short paper the decoration of two beaker sherds integrated in the Ciempozuelos style is analysed. Collected at Perdigões ditched enclosure (Reguengos de Monsaraz, South Portugal), the sherds present the same decoration, assuming a naturalistic style in one case and a schematic style in the other. It is argued that the motif of the naturalistic representation shows a symbolism related to agriculture (or to some of its products) and that the decorative organization can be divided into specific motifs that appear isolated or reorganized in a schematic geometric style in other pots, possibly addressing the same general symbolism.
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Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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A
AA
A
PONTAMENTOS
PONTAMENTOSPONTAMENTOS
PONTAMENTOS
de Arqueologia e Património
de Arqueologia e Patrimóniode Arqueologia e Património
de Arqueologia e Património
MAR 2015
10
ISSN:
2183
-
0924
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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Título: Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património
Propriedade: Era-Arqueologia S.A.
Editor: ERA Arqueologia / Núcleo de Investigação
Arqueológica – NIA
Local de Edição: Lisboa
Data de Edição: Março de 2015
Volume: 10
Capa: Falange decorada proveniente do Sepulcro 2 dos Perdigões
(Foto: António Valera)
Director: António Carlos Valera
ISSN: 2183-0924
Contactos e envio de originais:
antoniovalera@era-arqueologia.pt
Revista digital.
Ficheiro preparado para impressão frente e verso.
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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ÍNDICE
EDITORIAL ................................................................................. 05
António Carlos Valera
“ÍDOLOS” FALANGE, CERVÍDEOS E EQUÍDEOS.
DADOS E PROBLEMAS A PARTIR DOS PERDIGÕES ............ 07
Beatriz Bastos
POTENTIAL OF LIPID ANALYSIS ON PREHISTORIC
PORTUGUESE POTTERY …………………………….................. 21
António Carlos Valera, Rui Ramos e Patrícia Castanheira
OS RECINTOS DE FOSSOS DE COELHEIRA 2
(SANTA VITÓRIA, BEJA) ............................................................ 33
António Carlos Valera
CIEMPOZUELOS BEAKER GEOMETRIC PATTERNS:
A GLIMPSE INTO THEIR MEANING .......................…….…....… 47
Patrícia Castanheira
MISERICÓRDIA II (BERINGEL, BEJA):
ALGUMAS NOTAS PARA O ESTUDO DO BRONZE FINAL
NAS TERRAS DE BARROS ....................................................... 53
José Carlos Quaresma, Alexandre Sarrazola, Inês M. da Silva
PRODUÇÃO DE VIDROS E IMPORTAÇÃO DE TERRA
SIGILATTA EM FINAIS DO SÉCULO V / PRIMEIRA METADE
DO SÉCULO VI: O CASO DA MARINHA BAIXA, AVEIRO ........ 63
Alexandre Sarrazola, Mónica Ponce,
Teresa Freitas, Marta Macedo
A RAMPA DOS ESCALERES À REAL CORDOARIA,
BELÉM / JUNQUEIRA (SÉCULO XVIII) ...................................... 77
Ana Olaio, Pedro Angeja, Álvaro Pereira,
Gonçalo Sá-Nogueira, André Texugo
ACTIVIDADE ARQUEOLÓGICA E DIVULGAÇÃO DO
PATRIMÓNIO EM SANTARÉM ...................................................83
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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EDITORIAL
Chegamos, com a presente edição, ao número dez dos volumes
publicados da Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património. Dez
números em oito anos, com algum abrandamento e irregularidade
nos últimos tempos relativamente aos primeiros. Nestes dez
volumes publicaram-se 94 artigos, nos quais foram autores 80
colaboradores, que em vários casos aqui realizaram as suas
primeiras publicações.
O projecto inicial, conforme se declarava no editorial do número
um da revista, visava a “publicação de pequenos textos
informativos ou problematizantes cuja divulgação por outros meios
não se justifica por si só ou poderá ser demorada.” Pretendia-se
“contribuir para a rápida difusão, referenciável e citável, de
informações, ideias, pequenos estudos ou análises, cuja
disponibilização mais imediata seja importante para o desenrolar
da investigação e da actividade arqueológica colectiva”,
respondendo desta forma às crescentes dificuldades financeiras
que se colocavam às edições em papel e à proliferação da
actividade arqueológica no âmbito da Arqueologia de Salvamento.
A intenção inicial, porém, viria a ser progressivamente alterada
pela realidade. A tradicional tendência para publicar pouco, que
sempre caracterizou a Arqueologia portuguesa nos seus mais
variados âmbitos, tem mais a ver com uma postura que com
qualquer ausência de meios.
Como resultado, a revista acabou por enveredar pela publicação
de alguns textos de maior fôlego (que fogem a um Apontamento) a
par de outros que melhor respondiam às intenções originais e o
seu ritmo de publicação adaptou-se à produtividade daqueles que
se disponibilizaram a colaborar.
O resultado, contudo, tem sido positivo, e a julgar pelas citações
que, no país e no estrangeiro, os textos da Apontamentos têm
merecido, a iniciativa ganhou já o seu espaço no panorama
editorial da Arqueologia portuguesa.
Justifica-se, pois, o esforço e, como desde o início, a revista
continuará aberta a todos os que com ela queiram colaborar
António Carlos Valera
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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1. Introduction
In Iberia, apart from relatively rare deer representations,
beaker decorative patterns are highly geometrical, schematic
and normalized. That fact makes it quite difficult to look at
those patterns and constitutive elements as symbols and
interpret them. The possibility that those motifs may be an
ideographic representation of some sort, carrying specific
messages related to specific realities, could be suggested
but difficult to demonstrate. So beaker decorative patterns
rarely cross the borders of stylistic classification based on
motif and techniques used to produce them.
António Carlos Valera
2
This short paper presents what might be a “window” into the
meaning of some decorative patterns of Iberian
Ciempozuelos style. That “window” is open by two beaker
sherds collected at Perdigões ditched enclosure complex:
one with a naturalistic and realistic incised decoration and the
other with exactly the same pattern, but in a more schematic
and geometric way.
2. The sherds context
The sherds in question come from the well known Perdigões
ditched enclosure, at Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora
district, in the province of Alentejo, South Portugal.
In 1996 the site was deeply ploughed for a vineyard
plantation and its nature and dimension were then revealed:
ditch lines became visible and thousands of archaeological
materials came to the surface. In 1997 a first archaeological
CIEMPOZUELOS
BEAKER
GEOMETRIC PATTERNS:
A GLIMPSE INTO THEIR MEANING
1
Resumo:
Padrões geométricos do campaniforme Ciempozuelos: um olhar sobre o seu significado.
Neste curto apontamento analisa-se a decoração de dois fragmentos cerâmicos integrável no complexo decorativo de Ciempozuelos, a qual
possibilita avançar sobre eventuais significados de alguns motivos e organizações deste estilo. Os fragmentos, recolhidos no complexo de recintos
de fossos dos Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Sul de Portugal), apresentam uma decoração idêntica, mas que num caso se apresenta num
estilo naturalista e no outro num estilo esquemático geométrico. Argumenta-se que os motivos presentes na representação naturalista revelam um
simbolismo relacionado com a agricultura (ou produtos agrícolas) e que a organização se decompõe em motivos que ocorrerem isoladamente ou
reorganizados noutros recipientes sob um estilo esquemático geométrico, podendo remeter para o mesmo simbolismo genérico.
Abstract:
In this short paper the decoration of two beaker sherds integrated in the Ciempozuelos style is analysed. Collected at Perdigões ditched enclosure
(Reguengos de Monsaraz, South Portugal), the sherds present the same decoration, assuming a naturalistic style in one case and a schematic
style in the other. It is argued that the motif of the naturalistic representation shows a symbolism related to agriculture (or to some of its products)
and that the decorative organization can be devided into specific motifs that appear isolated or reorganized in a schematic geometric style in other
pots, possibly addressing the same general symbolism.
________________________________________________
1
Paper presented at the meeting “Bell Beaker Pottery.
Symbols of an European Cultural Community 5000 years
ago”, Torres Vedras (2008), unpublished.
2
NIA-ERA Arqueologia; ICArEHB;
(antoniovalera@era-arqueologia.pt)
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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intervention was done to diagnose the impact of that work
(Lago et al., 1998) and several beaker sherds were collected
at the surface and through archaeological excavation. Some
were recorded at the central area of the enclosures while
others came from the fillings of the outside ditch (Ditch 1),
that have recently been dated from the second half of the 3
rd
millennium BC (Márquez Romero et al., 2013; Valera et al.,
2014). Since 2009, new excavations were developed in the
central area of the enclosures providing more bell beaker
sherds and a dagger (Figure 5).
The specific fragments that detain our interest were collected
in the central area of the enclosure during the survey of 1997
(Lago et al., 1998), in a sector now designated by Sector Q
(Figure 1). One, the naturalistic one, came from a layer
preserved immediately above the bedrock and partially
overlapping a negative feature; the other, the schematic one,
was recovered in the above plowed soil.
3. The sherds
In general, the majority of Perdigões beaker sherds present
incised patterns that can be ascribed to the Ciempozuelos
style, but some International patterns and a geometric
combed one are also present (Lago et al., 1998; see also
Figure 5). The analyzed sherds belong to the first group.
3.1. Sherd 1
Part of the rim, Sherd 1 presents the following decoration
described from bottom to top (Figure 2):
a) Two parallel incised lines;
b) Above those lines, there is a sequence of elements that
seem to represent plants. Each element is composed of
three pairs of diagonal impressions (carpels ?) forming a “V”.
Inside of each impression there is one dot that seems to
represent a “seed”. On the top, the representation ends with
three vertical impressions (each one with a “seed” inside).
c) Above that sequence there is another set of three parallel
incised lines.
d) Above that, a similar sequence of plants, but now the three
vertical impressions are at the bottom followed by de
sequence of three “V” pairs of diagonal ones. All have an
inside “seed” representation.
This pattern assumes an unusual naturalistic style, being
evident that the potter wanted to represent plants / crops.
3.2. Sherd 2
The second sherd, also part of the rim from another pot, has
exactly the same pattern, but illustrated in a more schematic
way, where the carpels (?) are represented by simple lines
and the inside “seeds” disappear (Figure 3).
Figure 1
–
Perdi
gões ditched enclosures: a
rea of provenance of
the analysed beaker shards.
0
100m
Figure
2
–
Naturalistic decorated shard (Shard 1) from
Perdigões and details of the carpels (?).
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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Figure
3
–
The same
pattern: naturalistic representation on the left
(Sherd 1)
and a more schematic one on the right
(Sherd 2)
.
Figure
4
–
Decomposition of the specific pattern of Perdigões beaker in three elements and
their
recombination in other patterns typical
of Ciempozuelos beaker style.
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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4. Discussion
The pattern of Sherd 1 clearly represents a sequence of
plants, probably in a plowed field suggested by the sets of
parallel lines. The inversion observed in the top sequence
(with the vertical carpels (?) at the bottom, just above the
lines) could be interpreted as a representation of the
germination process and the cyclical nature of agriculture. So
we could argue that this pattern represents crops in plowed
fields in different moments of the agricultural cycle. The
second sherd preserves the same pattern, only through a
more schematic method, and we can assume that it also
represents crops in ploughed fields.
When we look to this particular decorative motif and compare
it with others from Ciempozuelos style, several homologies
arise and a general process of schematic representation of a
specific message is suggested. I argue that a given
decorative pattern representing a given idea related to crops
developed into a procedure of iconographic decomposition
and recreation, supported by a mental process of part / whole
relationship.
This process operates through a decomposition of a given
representation pattern into several constitutive elements,
which gradually become autonomous and are reorganized
into new stylistic compositions or appear isolated, but
maintain the symbolic relation to the general and original
meaning expressed by the whole. At a mental level, this
means that a participation process is established: the part
participates of the qualities and meanings of the whole and,
therefore, a process of homology occurs and the whole is
represented or “embodied” by any of its elements. That
mental link provides the opportunity for a more schematic
representation and for recognition of the symbolized through
a smaller and particular part of the symbol or through
different combinations of several elements of that symbol.
That process can be seen in the so called “symbolic
decoration” of Chalcolithic Iberia. The iconographic image
has several elements that identify it and they may appear
together, isolated or in different combinations and in different
objects, but reminding us the complete iconography.
Based on Perdigões sherds, we can assume that a similar
process could have occurred with some Ciempozuelos
geometric patterns. The pattern of Perdigões sherds can be
decomposed in three main elements: the set of horizontal
lines; the V sequences of stripes; the short vertical strips
(Figure 4). Those elements are present and organized in a
great variety of combinations in a vast number of
Ciempozuelos beakers, and specific combinations seem to
have particular spatial distributions (Garrido Pena, 1996).
For instance, in Perdigões and other peripheral sites (like
Monte do Tosco 1 – Valera, 2000) we can observe patterns
organized with sets of horizontal and parallel lines combined
with one or several rows of zigzag lines (that represent the
lateral fusion of the V sequences) and with groups of vertical
stripes. One of these elements – the rows of zigzag lines – is
also frequent inside the rims. The processes of simplification
and recombination of those elements in schematic patterns
can be interpreted as maintaining the general reference to
crop fields. So, at least some of the Ciempozuelos decorative
patterns may be seen as text, communicating messages
related to agriculture in general or to a specific agricultural
product (eventually also evoking special moments of
consumption of those products) and its social role.
The Ciempozuelos decorative patterns that use those
constitutive elements have a vast distribution through Iberia
and, naturally, the question of a concrete and unique
meaning is questionable. The relations between symbol and
symbolized are dynamic and schematization may easily lead
to meaning variation and help to overcome a concrete set of
references. Though, it is also possible that a general
meaning related to agriculture (or specific products,
connected or not with specific uses of the recipients) could
be read in those geometrical and schematic patterns in vast
regions of central Iberia through a shared decoding ability. At
least, the sherds from Perdigões allow us to suggest that
possibility, attempting to go behind the simple stylistic
approach and have a glimpse into the discourse inserted in
to those recipients.
Figure
5
–
Unpublished sherds and dagger from central area
(recent excavations). Incised: 2-5 and 7; Inprint comb: 6.
Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património – 10 / 2015
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Bibliographic References
GARRIDO PENA, Rafael, (1996), “Redes de intercambio entre el
Sureste y el País Valenciano durante el Calcolítico. Reflexiones en
torno a un patrón decorativo campaniforme”, Complutum, 7, Madrid,
p.63-72.
LAGO, M.; DUARTE, C.; VALERA, A.; ALBERGARIA, J.; ALMEIDA,
F., CARVALHO, A. (1998), “Povoado dos Perdigões (Reguengos de
Mosaraz): dados preliminares dos trabalhos arqueológicos
realizados em 1997”, Revista portuguesa de Arqueologia, 1 (1),
p.45-152.
MÁRQUEZ ROMERO, J.E.; MATA VIVAR, E.; JIMÉNEZ JÁIMEZ,
V., SUÁREZ PADILLA, J. (2013), “Dataciones absolutas para el
fosso 1 de Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal).
Reflexiones sobre su cronologia y temporalidad”, SPAL, 22, p.17-
27.
VALERA, A.C. (2000), "O Monte do Tosco 1: uma análise preliminar
no contexto do povoamento calcolítico e do início da Idade do
Bronze na margem esquerda do Guadiana", ERA Arqueologia, 2,
Lisboa, ERA/Colibri, p. 32-51.
VALERA, A.C., SILVA, A.M., MÁRQUEZ ROMERO, J.E.M. (2014),
“The temporality of Perdigões enclosures: absolute chronology of
the structures and social practices”, SPAL, 23, p.11-26.
... It is composed of nine fragments, with a minimum number of eight vessels. It has not been possible to associate a specific shape to it, but it has a great diversity of decorative motifs, being the simplest lines parallel to the rim -like a Bell Beaker sherd from Ota (Harrison 1977) or to an almost complete specimen from Cau del Molí, Tarragona (Harrison 1977) -and the most complex zigzagging lines, in association with dotted or isolated lines, which may be connected to the 'vegetal' motifs more common in the Ciempozuelos-type Bell Beaker (Valera 2015). This group is more represented at Pragança and in the caves than group A, going against what occurs at Leceia (Cardoso 2014b), Moita da Ladra (Cardoso -Caninas 2010) or Penha Verde (Cardoso 2010(Cardoso -2011Cardoso 2014b), again in the SE of Montejunto, possibly reflecting culturally differentiated environments ( fig. 8). ...
... A good example is "Bell Beaker Folk" which even though erased from scientific papers, is still credited and upheld by some researchers (Soares 2013). The most recent approaches, more holistic ones, have been valuing the consciousness and will that both prehistoric women and man had, alongside the recognition of their greater mobility, and of the complex relationship that they had with the space surrounding them (Valera 2015;Valera -Basílio 2017;Valera -Mataloto -Basílio 2019). Nonetheless, there are research topics that keep reappearing, such as the origin of the phenomenon or if there is a chronological sequence associated with the different decorative groups (Gonçalves 1965;1971;Ferreira -Silva 1970) and how they interact with the local pre-existence (Amaro 2010(Amaro /2011Valera -Basílio 2017; Valera -Mataloto -Basílio 2019). ...
... A good example concerns two ceramic fragments from the Ciempozuelos decorative group, in which naturalistic and more schematic representations of the same decorative pattern were identified, being understood as portraying agricultural activities (Valera 2015), showing that a gradual schematisation of the motifs and symbols can occur. Could this be the case with the spiny motifs? ...
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This study aims to address the role that Montejunto Mountain (Portuguese Estremadura) may have had during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. To this end, the available set of decorated Bell Beakers was studied, with particular attention to their formal and decorative variability. The materials came from the Walled Enclosure of Pragança, on the NW side of Montejunto and Cave III from Furadouro Val-ley, located to SE, which allowed to depict patterns and trends that might reflect identitarian and cultural differentiations between the communities that surrounded this landscape marker. Furthermore, non-local influences were also detected in the beaker elements, highlighting that these groups would be an inte-grant part of wider networks. As such, even based on materials from older excavations, it was perceptible that Montejunto must have had a structural role in the cultural, social and possibly symbolic landscape of the 3rd millennium BC groups.
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... De plus, le nombre de gobelets non décorés est relativement important. Contrairement aux régions que nous venons de mentionner, on peut considérer que la production campaniforme du nord-ouest de la France se singularise par une forme de simplicité dans la structure du décor, voire de « monotonie », pour reprendre le terme utilisé par F. Treinen (Treinen 1989). Si dans de multiples régions d'Europe les productions céramiques semblent se complexifier avec le temps suite à l'apparition du phénomène et les mélanges avec les cultures locales qui en résultent, la situation est un peu différente dans le nord-ouest de la France. ...
... La première de ces inconnues concerne l'estimation de la variabilité de la production céramique à chaque étape du Campaniforme. L'argument chronologique a été utilisé pour expliquer les différences entre les vases (Treinen 1989). Les données se faisant plus nombreuses, et les corpus s'étoffant davantage, l'idée selon laquelle les vases du style pointillé-géométrique puissent être pratiquement contemporains des gobelets maritimes fit progressivement son chemin dans le sud-est de la France (Lemercier 2004, 2012, Lemercier et al. 2014. ...
View
... The Bell Beaker ceramics are still strongly influenced by the historic-culturalism way of looking to and reading the objects. Our study, that reflects not only our investigation context but also the ideas of the authors read, can be enrolled in a modern way of looking at Humankind, that is more aware of Human consciousness, with its ease and mobility, the way it structures and believes the space, knowing and accepting a mutual relationship of influences, through which we attempt to test the possibility of meanings and expressions of ceramic forms, contacts and decorations (Valera, 2015). In our view, the Beaker dynamics show us that European contact networks are defined and expressed in the set studied, where two of the detected shapes seem to have an affinity with the southern regions of France and the British Isles (Kohring, 2011). ...
... As cerâmicas Campaniformes são ainda fortemente influenciadas pela maneira histórico-culturalista de ver e ler os objectos. Tendo esta premissa estabelecida, e tentado de certa forma «actualizá-la», o nosso estudo tenta, em muito pela influência do contexto da investigação e pelos autores com os quais tivemos contacto, estabelecer pontes entre métodos antigos com uma inscrição teórica mais associável às maneiras contemporâneas de olhar para a Humanidade, com um maior grau de flexibilidade e mobilidade teórica, reconhecendo-se assim, à partida, uma consciência Humana que afecta os processos de estruturação no espaço e no mundo, aceitando-se um processo de relações de influências, através das quais podemos construir e testar posicionamentos e ideias sobre significados e expressões das formas, contactos entre comunidades e decorações (Valera, 2015). No nosso entender, as dinâmicas Campaniformes mostram--nos que as redes de contactos europeias já estariam minimamente definidas, estando expressas no conjunto estudado, onde duas das formas identificadas mostram uma clara afinidade com as regiões a Norte de Portugal (Valera, 2007), Sul de França e as Ilhas Britânicas (Kohring, 2011 ...
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When we started our investigation regarding the Bell Beaker occupation and spread in Serra do Montejunto (Portugal) we had as initial aim, to carry an analysis concerning the ceramic, but also an examination of the real importance and influence of this hill in the surrounding landscape. The Bell Beaker ceramics are still strongly influenced by the historic-culturalism way of looking to and reading the objects. Our study that reflects not only our investigation context but also the ideas of the authors understand can be enrolled in a modern way of looking at Humankind, that is more aware of Human consciousness, with its ease and mobility, the way it structures and believes the space, knowing and accepting a mutual relationship of influences, through which we attempt to test the possibility of meanings and expressions of ceramic forms, contacts and decorations (Valera, 2015). In our view, the Beaker dynamics show us that European contact networks are defined and expressed in the set studied, where two of the detected shapes seem to have an affinity with the southern regions of France and the British Isles (Kohring, 2011). This brief study identified realities that remained, so far forgotten in the scientific community, and opened the door to the study of Serra do Montejunto as an archaeological site itself, with high potential and symbolism not only in prehistoric times but also in the running days. KEYWORDS: Bell Beaker, Late Prehistory, Estremadura, Landscape Archaeology and Montejunto hill.
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... The presence of decorated beaker pottery at Perdgões has been specifically addressed in two papers so far. Firstly, when the ditched enclosures were detected and initially surveyed in 1997 (Albergaria, 1998) and more recently, in the context of the analysis of a specific decorative pattern, when other findings from current excavations were also reported (Valera, 2015a). This third approach to beakers in Perdigões corresponds, however, to a first synthesis of the site's available data (until the end of 2016) regarding the Bell Beaker pottery, addressing contexts and chronology, questioning the social role of beakers at the enclosure and integrate it in the local and regional scales. ...
... At Perdigões, a specific pattern is represented in a very naturalistic way (existing another exemplar with the same pattern, but more schematic) that clearly represents a sequence of plants, probably in a ploughed field suggested by the sets of parallel lines ( Fig. 6: 2). As it was already argued (Valera, 2015a), when this pattern is compared with other Ciempozuelos patterns several homologies arise and a general process of schematic representation of a specific message is suggested: a decorative pattern representing an idea related to crops developing into a procedure of iconographic decomposition and recreation, supported by a mental process of part / whole relationship (Idem). Apart from this, there two fragments with horizontal bands of herringbone incisions. ...
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Full-text available
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A synthesis of the available data regarding the presence of decorated Bell Beaker pottery in the ditched enclosures of Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora) is presented. The minimum number of recipients, their stylistic classification as well as the description of the main decorative patterns, will be provided. Beaker chronology and the spatial and contextual distribution of beaker materials in Perdigões will be discussed, underlining the absence of beaker pottery in contemporaneous funerary contexts. Perdigões will be integrated in the beaker regional context, again underlining the rarity of beaker decorated pottery in funerary contexts, contrasting with the «Horizonte de Ferradeira» and with what happens in other European regions. It is also stressed the stylistic plurality in large ditched enclosures contrasting with a mono thematic tendency of the smaller sites. In conclusion, it will be assumed that the bell beaker pottery is an addition to a social path already established, integrated into regional terms and with specific social roles, producing different spatial and contextual distributions, stressing that the phenomena cannot be understood as having the same specific roles in the social arena. KEYWORDS: Bell Beaker, Perdigões, Ditched Enclosure, South Portugal, Late Chalcolithic.
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... Actualmente a associação directa entre esta realidade cerâmica e um povopovo Campaniforme ou Bell Beaker Folks (Soares, 2013, p. 27)ficou totalmente apagada das análises e investigações que se debruçam sobre as origens deste fenómeno -tendo ainda alguns teóricos que, discretamente, ainda a assumem como verdadeira (Soares, 2013, p. 25) -passando-se a uma corrente em que a figura dominante passa a ser o Homem e o seu ambiente, sem nunca se descorar as tarefas de "pesar, contar e medir". Hoje surge uma visão mais relacionada com a consciência do Homem, com a sua vontade e grande mobilidade, a maneira como se estrutura e entende no espaço, sendo aceite uma relação mútua de influências, através da qual se tenta ensaiar a possibilidade de significados e expressões da forma cerâmica em contacto com a decoração (Valera, 2015)são maneiras de entender a cerâmica ainda muito recentes mas que permitem ter a consciência das várias teorias e hipóteses de interpretação para os materiais, sendo que só podemos criticar aquilo que conhecemos. ...
A cerâmica Campaniforme e pontilhada na Serra do Montejunto
Thesis
Full-text available
  • Mar 2015
his work had, as initial aim, to carry out an analysis of the bell Beaker vessels present in the Serra do Montejunto, making a space observation that allowed us to know and relate better the realities in a study – Furadouro and Curral das Cabras Gafas cave context and Castro de Pragança. Interestingly, as the materials were being studied, the initial questionnaire suffered a complexity process, when we notice the existence of realities that had decoration and motifs that could be compatible with Bell Beaker realities which developed in forms and clay that show influences of previous contexts. We were now facing a relatively rare study opportunity - a "window" for a period in which paradigms seem to change - what came to be complemented by a set of Bell Beaker vessels that reflect diverse and interesting contacts and influences. Alongside this reality, we performed a territorial study that showed us the actual importance of Serra do Montejunto - it serves as a marker and structuring pole in the territory and also has a key role as a cultural barrier between the realities of the South and the North influences. This brief study identified realities that remained, so far, forgotten in the scientific community, and opened the door to the study of Serra do Montejunto as an archaeological site itself, with high potential and symbolism not only in prehistoric times but also in the running days. Keywords: Bell Beaker, Portuguese Estremadura, Serra do Montejunto, Influences
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... Proceder a um estudo sobre cerâmicas Campaniformes, implica entender que este tipo de materiais foi, e é, marcado pela corrente de pensamento histórico--culturalista, estruturando, em muitas situações, o nosso pensamento sobre a cerâmica. Actualmente surge uma visão mais relacionada com a consciência do Homem, com a sua vontade e mobilidade, a maneira como se estrutura e entende no espaço, sendo expressões da forma cerâmica, em contacto com a decoração (Valera, 2015). A realidade de Pragança mostra uma fase de "adaptação" das formas locais (Amaro, 2010(Amaro, -2011, a motivos que podem expressar alguns atributos Campaniformes, em especial a maneira como aplicam o pente motivos decorativos -uma fase em que se vê a aceitação As dinâmicas Campaniformes vão, acima de tudo, alterar os cânones previamente existentes, a maneira como o Homem vê e se envolve no e com o espaço, associando-se uma mudança a nível de povoamento e de práticas mágico-religiosas relacionadas com a morte (Linden, 2014, p. 53-54). ...
ENSAIO SOBRE A CEGUEIRA: OLHAR O MONTEJUNTO PELO “CAMPANIFORME”
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2017
To study a representative part of an archaeological site is disintegrating its analysis, highlighting in this case, the Bell Beaker pottery. In the specific case of Serra do Montejunto the study was conducted in a contemporary perspective, emerging as necessary the returning to a space that divides and structures the landscape that surrounds it, gathering spaces of death and “life” throughout all prehistory, taking as its starting point the necropolis from the middle Neolithic Algar do Bom Santo. Contrary to the historical-culturalist period – where the Bell Beaker ceramic type formed the basis for evolutionary and typological tables – our analysis had, as a central guideline, the use and assemblage of descriptive standards that enable crosscomparison to peninsular and international realities, trying to break the gap which is still felt. As such, while trying to break the merely decorative and typological study, it was attempted the systematization and careful compilation of descriptive fields that best applied to the specific context in the study area – a reality from which results point to an opposition between the Northwest and the Southeast, with the Montejunto as the cultural, and possibly social, border, and to stages of adaptation to the theoretical assumptions of the Bell Beaker phase. These findings were only possible to achieve by an interdisciplinary reading, especially with social Anthropology and Anthropology of space, a relationship that needs to become more common, helping to simplify the understanding of the Man in study.
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DUAS DÉCADAS DE INVESTIGAÇÃO NOS PERDIGÕES: RESENHA DA BIBLIOGRAFIA PRODUZIDA
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2017
The archaeological research program of Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz) completes two decades this year. In the present paper, the importance of that research project to the national and international appreaciation of the site is underlined and a compilation of the publications and academic theses is presented, classified by issues. The main sources of funding that allowed the developmet of the program so far are also referred.
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The Temporality of Perdigões Enclosures: Absolute Chronology of the Structures and Social Practices
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2014
Thirty five radiocarbon dates for the Neolithic and Chalcolithic ditched enclosure of Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal) are presented. After a discussion of some of the problems of dating negative structures, a chronological sequence is presented for the ditch structures and for the social practices related to funerary behaviours and the manipulation of human remains. A clear Neolithic phase is identified, well separated chronologically from the Chalcolithic one. The possibility of the gradual and eventually interrupted development of the site, is discussed. Funerary contexts and the manipulation of human remains are present from the earliest phase of the site, but the practices became significantly diverse during the 3rd millennium by the end of which the site seems to decay and significant activity seems to stop.
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Redes de intercambio entre el sureste y el País Valenciano durante el Calcolítico: reflexiones en torno a un patrón decorativo campaniforme
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 1996
Este trabajo ofrece los resultados de un estudio que ha permitido aislar un patrón decorativo regional en cerámicas campaniformes del País Valenciano y del Sureste de la Península Ibérica. Ello permite reflexionar acerca de las redes de intercambios establecidas entre ambas regiones durante el Calcolítico y su contexto social, en una etapa en la que se asiste en ambas regiones a la gestación de profundos cambios sociales y económicos, esenciales para explicar el origen de las sociedades jerarquizadas de la Edad del Bronce ("Cultura" de El Argar y Bronce valenciano)= This paper presents the results of a study in which it has been possible to find a regional decorative pattern in Bell Beaker pottery from the Levant and the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Some reflections are made on the social networks established between both regions during the Chalcolithic and its context in a period of intense social and economic changes, essential to understand the origins of ranked societies in the Bronze Age of both areas ("Argar Culture" and "Valencian Bronze Age").
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Povoado dos Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz): dados preliminares dos trabalhos arqueológicos realizados em 1997
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 1998
Towards the end of 1996 a major archaeological discovery was made in the Alentejo area. Perdigões, an impressive group of monuments, includes a settlement, a necropolis and a cromelech. In spite of the clarity of the outlines of the settlement, which is obvious from the darker areas of soil indicating the various ditches and walls or palissades, this site, which covers more than 16 ha, is much more complex than originally suggested by the aerial photographs. The archaeological investigation was carried out following agricultural work on lands belonging to FINAGRA, S.A., work which disturbed the archaeological context. Era-Arqueologia, Ltd. was responsible for carrying out the preliminary investigation and it is hoped that this will be the beginning of a wider program of investigation which will enhance the true importance of this major group of monuments. The first phase involved systematic field survey and the recording of surface data. The aim of the second phase was the excavation of the archaeological context in five specific areas, and the third led to a final report which is broadly summarised in this article. Preliminary data indicate a settlement which existed between the second half of the 4th and the 3rd millenium BC. This paper includes a description and interpretation of the main archaeological contexts identified and an analysis of different aspects of material culture and human remains from a tholos type tomb. We also offer a preliminary analysis of the role played by this site in the processes of transformation which occurred throughout this time period in the Reguengos de Monsaraz area and in the Iberian Peninsula in general. RESUMO Em finais de 1996, deu-se uma das grandes descobertas arqueológicas dos últimos anos da arqueologia peninsular. O conjunto monumental dos Perdigões inclui um povoado, uma necrópole e um recinto megalítico. Apesar da nitidez dos contornos do Povoado, que nos é dado pelas manchas de terras mais escuras relacionadas com as suas diversas linhas de fossos, muralhas ou paliçadas, este sítio é muito mais complexo do que inicialmente é sugerido pela imagem aérea do conjunto, que ocupa mais de 16 ha. O programa arqueológico implementado foi desenvolvido na sequência de trabalhos agrícolas, realizados numa propriedade da FINAGRA, S.A, que revolveram e afectaram os contextos arqueológicos. Após a realização de concurso, a Era-Arqueologia, Lda. concretizou as diferentes fases previstas, no que se espera ser o arranque de um vasto programa de investigação e de valorização deste importante conjunto monumental. A primeira fase implicava a realização de prospecções sistemáticas e o levantamento de dados de superfície; a segunda destinou-se à escavação de contextos arqueológicos em cinco áreas específicas; a terceira produziu um relatório final de que o presente trabalho é um resumo alargado. Os dados preliminares apontam para um povoado que cronologicamente se terá desenvolvido a partir da segunda metade do IV e durante III milénio. O trabalho agora apresentado, inclui a descrição e interpretação dos principais contextos arqueológicos identificados, a análise de diversos aspectos da cultura material e de restos humanos provenientes de um monumento funerário tipo tholos e ainda algumas leituras prévias de enquadramento deste sítio nos processos de transformação ocorridos durante o IV e III milénios a.C. na região de Reguengos de Monsaraz e na Península Ibérica em geral. ABSTRACT Towards the end of 1996 a major archaeological discovery was made in the Alentejo area. Perdigões, an impressive group of monuments, includes a settlement, a necropolis and a cromelech. In spite of the clarity of the outlines of the settlement, which is obvious from the darker areas of soil indicating the various ditches and walls or palissades, this site, which covers more than 16 ha, is much more complex than originally suggested by the aerial photographs. The archaeological investigation was carried out following agricultural work on lands belonging to FINAGRA, S.A., work which disturbed the archaeological context. Era-Arqueologia, Ltd. was responsible for carrying out the preliminary investigation and it is hoped that this will be the beginning of a wider program of investigation which will enhance the true importance of this major group of monuments. The first phase involved systematic field survey and the recording of surface data. The aim of the second phase was the excavation of the archaeological context in five specific areas, and the third led to a final report which is broadly summarised in this article. Preliminary data indicate a settlement which existed between the second half of the 4th and the 3rd millenium BC. This paper includes a description and interpretation of the main archaeological contexts identified and an analysis of different aspects of material culture and human remains from a tholos type tomb. We also offer a preliminary analysis of the role played by this site in the processes of transformation which occurred throughout this time period in the Reguengos de Monsaraz area and in the Iberian Peninsula in general. Em finais de 1996, deu-se uma das grandes descobertas arqueológicas dos últimos anos da arqueologia peninsular. O conjunto monumental dos Perdigões inclui um povoado, uma necrópole e um recinto megalítico. Apesar da nitidez dos contornos do Povoado, que nos é dado pelas manchas de terras mais escuras relacionadas com as suas diversas linhas de fossos, muralhas ou paliçadas, este sítio é muito mais complexo do que inicialmente é sugerido pela imagem aérea do conjunto, que ocupa mais de 16 ha. O programa arqueológico implementado foi desenvolvido na sequência de trabalhos agrícolas, realizados numa propriedade da FINAGRA, S.A, que revolveram e afectaram os contextos arqueológicos. Após a realização de concurso, a Era-Arqueologia, Lda. concretizou as diferentes fases previstas, no que se espera ser o arranque de um vasto programa de investigação e de valorização deste importante conjunto monumental. A primeira fase implicava a realização de prospecções sistemáticas e o levantamento de dados de superfície; a segunda destinou-se à escavação de contextos arqueológicos em cinco áreas específicas; a terceira produziu um relatório final de que o presente trabalho é um resumo alargado. Os dados preliminares apontam para um povoado que cronologicamente se terá desenvolvido a partir da segunda metade do IV e durante III milénio. O trabalho agora apresentado, inclui a descrição e interpretação dos principais contextos arqueológicos identificados, a análise de diversos aspectos da cultura material e de restos humanos provenientes de um monumento funerário tipo tholos e ainda algumas leituras prévias de enquadramento deste sítio nos processos de transformação ocorridos durante o IV e III milénios a.C. na região de Reguengos de Monsaraz e na Península Ibérica em geral.
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O Monte do Tosco 1: uma análise preliminar no contexto do povoamento calcolítico e do início da Idade do Bronze na margem esquerda do Guadiana
  • Jan 2000
  • 32-51
  • A C Valera
VALERA, A.C. (2000), "O Monte do Tosco 1: uma análise preliminar no contexto do povoamento calcolítico e do início da Idade do Bronze na margem esquerda do Guadiana", ERA Arqueologia, 2, Lisboa, ERA/Colibri, p. 32-51.