Dogs,jaws, and other stories: Two symbolic objects made of dog mandibles from southeastern Europe |
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Authors: | Cătălin Lazăr Adrian Bălăşescu |
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Institution: | National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest, Romania |
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Abstract: | The relationship between people and dogs has its beginnings in the Palaeolithic and extends to contemporary times. This paper explores the role of dogs in Eneolithic communities from the Balkans, with a particular focus on two dog mandibles which were discovered in House No. 14 at Sultana-Malu Ro?u (ca. 4600?–?3950 b.c.) in Romania. The two artifacts belong to different excavation levels. The first mandible was identified in the foundation trench which marks the beginning of the house's lifecycle; the second was found in the abandonment level of the house, marking the end of its lifecycle. Archaeozoological, technological and functional analyses demonstrate the unique character of these prehistoric artifacts, telling the stories of those who used, sacrificed and abandoned them. |
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Keywords: | Eneolithic southeastern Europe dog mandible synecdoche Gumelni?a |
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