Hamangia culture
The Hamangia culture named after the archaeological site Baia- Hamangia in the Romanian Danube estuary. The in Dobrogea (Bulgaria and Romania ) along the Black Sea coast -based Hamangia culture connects to the cultures of Vinča, Dudeşti and Karanovo III. The culture created art and jewelry made of Spondylus and Dentaliummuscheln and processed marble.
Because of their ceramic decoration was initially thought to be an offshoot of the Mediterranean cardial or Impressokultur. However, it is likely that they will have national roots, as suggested by the early Hamangia pottery that have a relationship with Starčevo Körös - Cris- forms, and the microlithic flint industry, we know from earlier times in this area. With the help of radiocarbon dating could be referenced in the 5th millennium ( 4800-4300 BC).
Find sites and chronology
Half- sunken dwellings, like those of Golovija at Baia Hamangia were found on river terraces or lake shores. Cultural development was carried out in five phases, which correspond approximately to the Boian culture and Karanovo III -IV 5500-4700. There is only one radiocarbon date for Hamangia III, which dates 4900-4700 BC (calibrated ) determines the settlement phase. The cemetery at Cernavoda near the Danube contained about 600 inhumation burials, 400 of which have been excavated. One or two vessels, a polished stone tools and a few clay or marble figurines were found in women's and men's graves. Most of the upper part of the cemetery, which is maintained for younger. Half- round, round and diamond-shaped pebbles were often found in the head region of the dead. In many cases, were later Beige separately applied to previous or earlier bones were taken out and buried with the new once again. To the west and north of the cemetery ritual burials of skulls were discovered along with the remains of a festive meal in several places. In addition to the graves were skull and lower jaw of deer, pigs, cattle and goats. The separate burial of skulls could be an indication of secondary burial. The excavation at Dourankoulak by H. Todorova and T. Dimov brought the discovery of sunken pit dwellings and 846 graves of several phases as well as a settlement from the following Varna period. They show a cultural continuity through three quarters of the 5th millennium. Hamangia and Varna culture, which were considered separately, could prove to be related.
Art
The Hamangia culture developed their own style, which is reflected in polished black pottery, decorated with inlaid white triangles, meanders and zigzags, and in individualistic terracotta and marble figures. It has been found female sculptures lying on his back in graves. Standing or seated lush female figures with columnar head with no facial features are also available. In a grave in Cernavoda, a male and a female terracotta idol were found, both of which are masked, shown seated and naked. They are about 12 cm high, made of carefully polished, gray-brown tone. The man sits on a stool and rests his chin in his hands, the woman has both hands on the right knee. The man is one of the most famous artworks of the European Eneolithic. They have named him after Auguste Rodin's sculpture " the thinker ". In addition to the conditions prevailing in graves sculptures were found in villages and the type of the pregnant woman. In the settlement Golovita an above-ground house was excavated. It was 6 x 5 meters in size and seems to have served as a place of worship. Four female terracottas of the type of the pregnant woman with her hands on her belly lying on the floor.
The " Hamangia region" in which developed the culture was rapidly, with one exception phase, a steppe region between the Neolithic centers of the Danube region and the climatically favored Thrace. Later she went on in the Gumelnitza culture. Characteristic include figurines like the terracottas from Cernavoda (Romania).