Original scientific paper

BRONZE AND BONE ARTEFACTS FROM POPERNJAK NEAR BOŠNJACI - ŽUPANJA

Boško MARIJAN ; Filozofski fakultet Osijek Lorenza Jägera 9 HR - 31000 Osijek

Abstract

The author discusses bronze and bone finds from
Popernjak near Bošnjaci in East Croatia (Figs. 1 and 2).
The bronze and bone items were recovered from settlement
and grave site contexts. It is hard to determine whether
the bronze items from Popernjak (Tables 1 to 3, Fig. 3)
had been imported or were locally made. Their typological
unity and presence over a large area support the opinion
that they had been imported. However, some of the items,
such as the mace-like needle in Fig. 3.3, Table 2.4, and
the recovery of a chisel (Table 1.7), speak in favour of
local production. An accurate analysis of other bronze
items, of course, could provide indications if not of local
metallurgic then at least of local blacksmith production.
On the other hand, when talking about bone items (Table
4), we can talk without doubt about local craftsmanship
production. This is corroborated by the uniqueness of the
items themselves (fife, reinforcements) that have no parallel
examples, and also by the way they were decorated and
the choice of decorative motifs.
Bronze and bone items from Popernjak (Tables 1 - 4,
Fig. 3), although they are artefacts of applied arts, indicate
an accentuated tendency towards artistic expression, at
least when it comes to decorations. Bronze and bone items
from Popernjak have been dated with certainty in the early
phase of the Late Bronze Age, or, more precisely, to Br D
and Ha A1. The production of artistic craft items, such as
those discovered in Popernjak, implies the use of the basic
techniques of casting and minting, while predominant
features in the ornamenting system are incision and
sculptural applications. Bone items from the graves in
Popernjak were made of tubular animal bones, and apart
from the primary execution, the decoration was executed
by carving and incision. Geometric motifs are dominant,
both with bronze and bone items (T. 1 - 4, Fig. 3).
Bronze items (decorative pins, bracelets, ringlets,
decorative plates) show traits characteristically observed
in the wider area, while the bone items are unique and
have no significant parallels. Both groups of items shed
light on the artisan activity of the prehistoric inhabitants.
While some items represent a standard and almost serial
production, others bear clear traits of artistic expression.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

85466

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/85466

Publication date:

1.11.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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