Communality and Discord in an Early Neolithic Settlement Agglomeration: The LBK Site of Vráble, Southwest Slovakia

Martin Furholt,Nils Müller-Scheeßel,Johannes Müller,Ivan Cheben,Maria Wunderlich

doi:10.1017/s0959774320000049

Abstract

Our research at the large LBK settlement site of Vráble, southwest Slovakia, revealed dynamics of social integration and antagonisms unfolding in an agglomerated, early farming community. During its lifespan from 5250 to 4950 bc, it constantly grew until around 5050 bc it was inhabited by about 70 contemporaneous longhouses. We found that Vráble consisted of markedly autonomous farmstead units that were held together by village-wide social institutions including sharing and communality. Nevertheless, from the beginning, a contradiction between particular farmstead and collective village and neighbourhood interests existed and rose. Towards the end of the village's existence, around 5075 bc an elaborate enclosure was constructed around one of the three neigbourhoods, actively blocking contact with the others. Along this enclosure, human bodies were deposited, showing a social categorization that we interpret as relating to social inequality. This rising level of conflict and emerging social inequality was, we argue, not sustainable under the conditions of early farming societies and led to the village's abandonment at 4950 bc.

Highlights

The Early Neolithic settlement cluster of Vráble is one of the largest known settlement sites with materials of the ‘Linear Pottery Culture’ (LBK) in central Europe
LBK settlements are often seen as consisting of independent farmsteads, or household economic units, that were integrated into local and regional networks, rather than forming socially and politically integrated village communities
We want to explore the question of in what ways and to what extent particularist interests and units of collective action interrelate or compete. We see this in the wider context of contemporary Neolithic settlements in the Balkans, where different social configurations have been studied

Summary

Introduction

The Early Neolithic settlement cluster of Vráble is one of the largest known settlement sites with materials of the ‘Linear Pottery Culture’ (LBK) in central Europe It is a suitable case study to investigate the social and political implications of early Neolithic community agglomeration processes, a phenomenon that is not very well understood We want to explore the question of in what ways and to what extent particularist interests (e.g. those of individual households) and units of collective action (e.g. neighbourhood- or settlement-wide institutions) interrelate or compete. We see this in the wider context of contemporary Neolithic settlements in the Balkans, where different social configurations have been studied. Settlements connected to Vinča or comparable materials are in many cases (e.g. Crnobrnja et al 2009; Furholt 2012; R. Hofmann 2013; Müller et al 2013b; Schier & Drasovean 2004) considered villages in the sense that there might be varying degrees of household autonomy, the village community constitutes the most important

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