INDUSTRIA MATERIILOR DURE ANIMALE ÎN AŞEZAREA VINČA DE LA RAST (JUD. DOLJ)
THE INDUSTRY OF HARD ANIMAL MATERIALS IN THE VINČA SETTLEMENT AT RAST (DOLJ COUNTY)

Summary/Abstract: The osseous assemblage from the Vinča settlement at Rast (Dolj County) consists of 39 artefacts (25 from mammal bones, 13 from deer antler and one from Spondylus shell). In terms of raw material, Ovis aries/Capra hircus bones predominate followed by Cervus elaphus antler, these two types illustrating different acquisition strategies. Typologically, the most numerous pieces are the bone pointed tools (presumably used in drilling/perforation activities by indirect percussion or rotation). The next category (but poorly represented) are the implements known as (antler) bevelled tools (referring to the morphology of the active front) used in percussion actions. Other typological categories, although represented by a single specimen, were represented by a point used as weaponry, a hammer, and a bracelet. Other products and by-products of the technological operational chains (preforms, blanks and waste) are under-represented within the assemblage. Our study indicated the different exploitation of the two important types of raw materials (bone and antler): in the case of bone, flat blanks were obtained following diverse processes, while, in the case of antler, the anatomical volume was always preserved. Typologically, different categories were obtained from these raw materials. Most artefacts, regardless of the raw material, were used in domestic activities. The osseous industry of the Vinča culture in Romania has received little attention in the past and although the results on the osseous assemblage from Rast represents only a piece of the larger puzzle, it nevertheless contributes to the wider general picture of this type of industry.

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