Parța Neolithic Sanctuary

Parța Neolithic Sanctuary refers to an excavated Neolithic cult-centre or shrine located on the right bank of the Timiș River at Parța, south of Timișoara, in Romania.

Parța Neolithic Sanctuary
Shown within Romania
LocationParța
RegionRomania
Coordinates45.62361°N 21.113889°E / 45.62361; 21.113889
TypeShrine
History
PeriodsNeolithic

Description

The sanctuary has been dated to around 5000 BC and is considered part of the Vinča culture.[1] It is part of a wider complex of buildings and domestic settlement.[2] The sanctuary building had raised altar-like pedestals and life-size figurine heads together with specially built granary areas.[3] Statues consisted of large clay humanoid figures.[4] A life-sized sculpture of a double-headed goddess stood near the entrance.[1] One of the smaller humanoid figures has horns.[5] The finds strongly suggest a local bull-cult, as bull's horns are present everywhere in the sanctuary,[5] and cattle skulls were placed on a clay platform.[4]

Finds from the excavations, together with a reconstruction of the sanctuary, can be found in the Museum of Banat in Timișoara.[2]

References
  1. Gimbutas, Marija; Robbins Dexter, Miriam (2001). The Living Goddesses. University of California Press. p. 76. ISBN 0520229150.
  2. Gimbutas, Marija (2007). The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe, 6500-3500 B.C.: Myths and Cult Images. University of California Press. p. 250. ISBN 0520253981.
  3. Jones, Andrew (2008). Prehistoric Europe: Theory and Practice. Wiley & Sons. p. 132. ISBN 1405125977.
  4. Russell, Nerissa (2011). Social Zooarchaeology: Humans and Animals in Prehistory. Cambridge University Press. p. 344. ISBN 1139504347.
  5. Drașovean, Florian; Popovici, Dragomir; Wullschleger, Manuela (2008). Neolithic art in Romania. Historisches Museum Olten. p. 39.
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