A Multi-Varied Approach to Meaning of Some East Baltic Neolithic Symbols
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1995 A multi-varied approach to meaning of some East Baltic Neolithic symbols Indre Rita Antanaitis University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Antanaitis, Indre Rita, "A multi-varied approach to meaning of some East Baltic Neolithic symbols" (1995). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 524. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/mh3u-lcdo This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 A MULTI-VARIED APPROACH TO MEANING OF SOME EAST BALTIC NEOLITHIC SYMBOLS by Indre Rita Antanaitis A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology Department of Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 1995 UMI Number: 1377625 Copyright 1996 by Antanaitis, Indre Rita All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1377625 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ©1996 Indre Rita Antanaitis All Rights Reserved The Thesis of Indre R. Antanaitis for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology is approved. Chairperson, Alan H. Simmons Examining Committee Member, George Urioste, Ph.D Examining Committee Member, Bernardo T. Arriaza, Ph.D Graduate Faculty Representat±ve-r/Robert Tracy, Ph.D. Interim Graduate Dean, Cheryl L. Bowles, Ed.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 1995 ABSTRACT Three sets of material and ideological data from East Baltic Neolithic pre-Corded Ware culture sites c. 6500-3500 B.P. are compiled and compared in order to reasonably interpret certain aspects of these prehistoric people’s ideology, specifically as it relates to their faunal environment and gender-based patterns in their social system. Approaches taken consist of 1). statistical analyses of a symbolic data base comprised of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic art data, and grave good inventories as they relate to gender, 2). a comparison of frequencies of faunal types represented in economy and zoomorphic symbols, and 3). a cross-cultural comparison of contexts of the most frequently occurring Neolithic faunal symbols in East Baltic historic mythology, folklore, and ethnography. It is hoped that the combined multi-varied approach data results can serve as a middle ground between vague abstract theorizing about Neolithic ideology, and a wealth of infrequently addressed symbolic material data. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION............................................................................. 1 The Research Problem and its Significance .............................................. 1 Definitions and Assumptions ........................................................................ 3 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE............................................................ 8 East Baltic Paleoenvironment: Climate, Geography, and Vegetation 11 Site Summaries ........................................................................................... 14 Sarnate .............................................................................................. 14 Sventoji .............................................................................................. 17 Lubana ............................................................................................ 21 Kretuonas ........................................................................................ 25 Akali .................................................................................................... 27 Narva-Riigikula I and II (NR 1 and 2) ................................................ 29 Tamula ............................................................................................ 33 Zvejnieki ............................................................................................. 35 Duonkalnis ......................................................................................... 41 Previous Interpretations ................................................................................ 41 Traditional Perspectives in Archaeology ........................................ 41 An Archaeomythological Approach to Ideology ................................47 Summary ..................... 52 CHAPTER 3: DATA COLLECTION AND FINDINGS..............................................54 First Approach ...............................................................................................54 Summary of First Approach .............................................................. 67 Second Approach ....................................................................................... 68 Summary of Second Approach .........................................................72 Third Approach ..............................................................................................73 Estonian Sources ..............................................................................73 Lithuanian Sources ........................................................................... 79 Latvian Sources ................................................................................ 84 Summary of Third Approach ............................................................. 86 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSIONS................................................................................ 88 Review .........................................................................................................88 Conclusions ..................................................................................................91 Implications of Method and Final Word ...................................................... 96 APPENDIX A: CODE SHEET FOR SYMBOLIC DATA BASE AND TABLES 152 APPENDIX B: ARTISTIC/ SYMBOLIC ITEMS FROM SETTLEMENTS................ 158 APPENDIX C: BURIAL DATA................................................................................. 163 APPENDIX D: ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA BASE.......................................... 179 APPENDIX E: CONSENT FOR RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS... 190 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................... 191 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. East Baltic Neolithic pre-Corded Ware project culture area ............... 98 Figure 2. Sarnate planview .................................................................................. 99 Figure 3. Sventoji planview .................................................................................. 100 Figure 4. Lubana planview .................................................................................... 101 Figure 5. Early Neolithic fish weir at Zvidze ........................................................ 102 Figure 6. Kretuonas 1B planview.........................................................................