Papers by Alena Bistáková
Studia historica Nitriensia, Jun 29, 2023
Documenta Praehistorica
Cremation was one of the permissible burial practices in the Linear Pottery Culture (LPC). This t... more Cremation was one of the permissible burial practices in the Linear Pottery Culture (LPC). This treatment has largely remained unexplained by previous research in Central Europe due to its descriptive nature. As a result, we present several thoughts on some key issues here. First, we discuss the current state of research in Central Europe, as well as some specifics with regard to the LPC and cremation. Second, we focus on two graveyards with exclusively or primarily cremation graves. Based on the current state of research, our goal is to evaluate the results obtained using a quantitative data analysis method, as well as an evaluation of the interpretation of cremation within the LPC population.
In. ‚Irreguläre‘ Bestattungen in der Urgeschichte: Norm, Ritual, Strafe? : Akten der Internationalen Tagung in Frankfurt a. M. vom 3. bis 5. Februar 2012. Kolloquien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte Band 19. - Bonn : Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, 2013. - ISBN 978-3-7749-3862-2, S. 151-166, 2013
The Lengyel Culture of the Late Neolithic and Early Eneolithic is one of the most important and
... more The Lengyel Culture of the Late Neolithic and Early Eneolithic is one of the most important and
– in terms of archaeological data – one of the richest cultures of the Neolithic and Eneolithic. It stretches
from Poland in the north to Slovenia in the south and from Bohemia (possibly Bavaria) in the West to Slovakia
in the East. In this paper, we concentrate on the burials of this culture in its core area – the Carpathian
Basin with a focus in southwestern Slovakia. The treatment of the dead varies from ‚regular’ cemeteries
with inhumations and cremations, biritual, secondary, part-, double- and symbolic burials to the settlements,
where very similar sets of burials in graves or settlement pits, houses or ditches occur. Finally, some
human bones have also been found in caves. In our paper, aside from a review of burials, settlement burials
and cemeteries, we also try to provide possible interpretations of abnormal postures, manipulations of the
corpses, anthropological features and extraordinary grave goods. We take the view that deviant burials do
not necessarily have to be the result of specific customs, but that the burial mode reflected the social rules
of the communities and that they could have been a direct response to the moment of death.
Neolithic Settlement in Bajč-Vlkanovo the subject of this paper is focused on the evaluation of t... more Neolithic Settlement in Bajč-Vlkanovo the subject of this paper is focused on the evaluation of the neolithic settlement of a polycultural site in Bajč-Vlkanovo (dist. Kkomárno), processed within the earlier research on the site "Tehelňa" (also as Tehelňa "S" or "Göböljárás"). archaeological research excavation on this endangered and devastated site was carried out in 1959-1960, 1981 and 1982-1983 by the Institute of Archaeology of SAS. During the excavation of rescue character in particular, larger amount of finds, especially potterywas collected from the pit backfills and cultural layer. 38 settlement pits are dated to the neolithic period (later linear Pottery, Želiezovce group). Quantitative analysis of the neolithic pottery was based on the model of descriptive database created on the numeric code used in the processing of other early neolithic sites in Slovakia (e. g.Štúrovo, Bajč-Medzi kanálmi, Hurbanovo-Veľký Šárad).
Studia Historica Nitriensia, 2017
With this book series, the Collaborative Research Centre Scales of Transformation: Human-Environm... more With this book series, the Collaborative Research Centre Scales of Transformation: Human-Environmental Interaction in Prehistoric and Archaic Societies (CRC 1266) at Kiel University enables the bundled presentation of current research outcomes of the multiple aspects of socio-environmental transformations in ancient societies. As editors of this publication platform, we are pleased to be able to publish monographs with detailed basic data and comprehensive interpretations from different case studies and landscapes as well as the extensive output from numerous scientific meetings and international workshops. The book series is dedicated to the fundamental research questions of CRC 1266, dealing with transformations on different temporal, spatial and social scales, here defined as processes leading to a substantial and enduring reorganization of socio-environmental interaction patterns. What are the substantial transformations that describe human development from 15,000 years ago to the beginning of the Common Era? How did interactions between the natural environment and human populations change over time? What role did humans play as cognitive actors trying to deal with changing social and environmental conditions? Which factors triggered the transformations that led to substantial societal and economic inequality? The understanding of human practices within often intertwined social and environmental contexts is one of the most fundamental aspects of archaeological research. Moreover, in current debates, the dynamics and feedback involved in human-environmental relationships have become a major issue, particularly when looking at the detectable and sometimes devastating consequences of human interference with nature. Archaeology, with its long-term perspective on human societies and landscapes, is in the unique position to trace and link comparable phenomena in the past, to study human involvement with the natural environment, to investigate the impact of humans on nature, and to outline the consequences of environmental change on human societies. Modern interdisciplinary research enables us to reach beyond simplistic monocausal lines of explanation and overcome evolutionary perspectives. Looking at the period from 15,000 to 1 BCE, CRC 1266 takes a diachronic view in order to investigate transformations involved in the development of Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers, horticulturalists, early agriculturalists, early metallurgists as well as early state societies, thus covering a wide array of societal formations and environmental conditions. Included among the main CRC field projects are the excavations and field surveys that were conducted in the Žitava Valley of West Slovakia. The research provides a new puzzle piece for the reconstruction of human history with a specific insight into the living together of early farming communities. The impressive results from the Neolithic site of Vráble are presented in this volume, whereas results on the entire area will be the theme of another volume. We are very thankful to Ivan Cheben,
Documenta Praehistorica, 2010
On the basis of the characteristics of Neolithic and Early Eneolithic mortuary practices in the a... more On the basis of the characteristics of Neolithic and Early Eneolithic mortuary practices in the area of North Carpathian Basin it can be argued that the existence of graveyards is an isolated phenomenon. Various rituals were involved in disposing of the dead. In this article, we focus on (un)usual burials which are singled out into two major categories: cremation and inhumation. Special emphasis is given to cremation as a mortuary practice: arguments for cremation; interpretation possibilities; examples of the use of fire and noticed phenomenon.
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Papers by Alena Bistáková
– in terms of archaeological data – one of the richest cultures of the Neolithic and Eneolithic. It stretches
from Poland in the north to Slovenia in the south and from Bohemia (possibly Bavaria) in the West to Slovakia
in the East. In this paper, we concentrate on the burials of this culture in its core area – the Carpathian
Basin with a focus in southwestern Slovakia. The treatment of the dead varies from ‚regular’ cemeteries
with inhumations and cremations, biritual, secondary, part-, double- and symbolic burials to the settlements,
where very similar sets of burials in graves or settlement pits, houses or ditches occur. Finally, some
human bones have also been found in caves. In our paper, aside from a review of burials, settlement burials
and cemeteries, we also try to provide possible interpretations of abnormal postures, manipulations of the
corpses, anthropological features and extraordinary grave goods. We take the view that deviant burials do
not necessarily have to be the result of specific customs, but that the burial mode reflected the social rules
of the communities and that they could have been a direct response to the moment of death.
– in terms of archaeological data – one of the richest cultures of the Neolithic and Eneolithic. It stretches
from Poland in the north to Slovenia in the south and from Bohemia (possibly Bavaria) in the West to Slovakia
in the East. In this paper, we concentrate on the burials of this culture in its core area – the Carpathian
Basin with a focus in southwestern Slovakia. The treatment of the dead varies from ‚regular’ cemeteries
with inhumations and cremations, biritual, secondary, part-, double- and symbolic burials to the settlements,
where very similar sets of burials in graves or settlement pits, houses or ditches occur. Finally, some
human bones have also been found in caves. In our paper, aside from a review of burials, settlement burials
and cemeteries, we also try to provide possible interpretations of abnormal postures, manipulations of the
corpses, anthropological features and extraordinary grave goods. We take the view that deviant burials do
not necessarily have to be the result of specific customs, but that the burial mode reflected the social rules
of the communities and that they could have been a direct response to the moment of death.