Cucuteni–Trypillia ceramics

The sensational discovery of the mysterious culture of the Eneolithic period has revealed a truly unique phenomenon in human history. Trypillia culture is characterized by many fascinating features, the most interesting of which is ceramics. Ceramics is a business card of Cucuteni–Trypillia culture, expressive material and cultural development of the people of that time. The clay burned on the fire became the first artificial material, and the making of pottery was one of the greatest achievements of our ancestors.

Pottery of Trypillia can be divided into two types: one – quite rough and simple, the other – with excellent clay, with thin walls, well-fired, which impresses with perfection.

What allowed to provide high quality of pottery of Trypillia? The answer to this question archaeologists received in 2015, when a pottery kiln was excavated in the village of Dobrovody in Cherkasy region in Ukraine.

The need for ceramic tableware was quite large. Pottery of Trypillia included three types: household, kitchen and cult. Among the kitchenware used for cooking were jugs, bowls, amphorae and more. There are 16 types of Trypillia ceramic ware. There are some forms likes: conical, vase-shaped, funnel-shaped, with a smooth and sharp profile, sharp-edged, with the sunken crowns and others.

Terracotta female figurines deserve special attention, as well as figures of women with babies – the so-called Trypillia Madonnas. The founders of religious rites also used clay to make terracotta statuettes.

Cucuteni–Trypillia has achieved special achievements in obtaining ceramic products. Trypillia ceramics were superior in quality only to Chinese products. In ornament at least ten types of patterns were used. The most popular elements in the ornament were a spiral, a meander – a decorative winding continuous line and flutes – vertical or horizontal grooves on the product. Polychrome painting in black, white and red mineral paints was also common. Also there were some images of plants, animals, people or parts of body.

Ornamentation at that time was already a social phenomenon, which gave people the opportunity to tell about their attitude to the world and unite for joint action. According to many researchers, Cucuteni–Trypillia ornamentation had a religious and magical significance and was used as a record of ideological information. 

Behind the symbols of Cucuteni–Trypillia are their spirituality, sun worship, totems. 

What did the people of Cucuteni–Trypillia honor? 

According to many researchers, the most common symbols of Trypillia culture were the Sun and the tur-bull. To a lesser extent symbols of water, rain, animals and plants were added. Among the most common Trypillia symbols, researchers identify the symbols of the Sun and its cycle. There are also specimens depicting the sign of the moon.

Having existed for about 2 thousand years, Cucuteni-Trypillia culture disappeared. However, the opportunity to join the ancient art can be easy at our pottery workshops in the «Lihtaryk» art studio.

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