Functional differentiation and possible regional specialisation of the Vinča culture settlements: Viewpoint from osseous and lithic industries

Abstract

Late Neolithic/Early Eneolithic Vinča culture is marked by permanent, long-living settlements, increased production of different craft goods and early metallurgical activities. Economic activities were rich and diverse, and included not only strictly subsistence related ones, but also production of luxurious, prestige, “special” objects, such as figurines, personal ornaments, and many more. Furthermore, some studies also suggest that we may note the beginning of craft specialisation in the widest sense within the Vinča culture. On a regional scale, differences in economic activities may be observed among different settlements and also in presence/absence of some artefact types. This may reflect a certain level of functional differentiation and possibly specialisation between different settlements, as noted, for example, among the Neolithic communities in Greece. In this paper, we will focus on the analyses of everyday lithic and osseous tools, in order to examine the differences in everyday activities, raw material management and craft production among different settlements. Through comparative analysis, we will examine the possible presence of a functional differentiation between different Vinča culture settlements and its extent.