Anthropomorphic figurines from burial contexts in Varna, Kodjadermen–Gumelniţa–Karanovo VI and Krivodol–Sălcuţa–Bubani cultures

Abstract

This study examines the use of anthropomorphic figurines in burial practices of the Late Eneolithic Varna, KGKVI and KSB cultures. It contains the presentation and analysis of data on their deposition in necropolises, which show that they occurred rarely, but these cases are an indication of the existence of diverse burial practices utilizing them. Possible interpretations of their symbolic significance and function in the burial rite are offered. In the necropolises of KGKVI and KSB these cases are found to be an exception, whereas in the Varna culture we observe a peculiar burial rite in which the vaulted bone figurines represented a part of the standard set of grave goods, but only for a certain category of burials. The clay figurines have different functions in the burial rites of the three cultures.