Stone Age
ZŠ Belehradská 21, Košice, Slovakia
Contents:
MEZOLITHIC (8000 – 6000 BC)
NEOLITHIC (6000 – 3500 BC)
ENEOLITHIC (3500 – 1900 BC)
MEZOLITHIC
(8000 – 6000 BC)
Thanks to the shalter discovered in Košice – Barca, at
Svetlá III, we know that the people of the Gravettiene culture
lived in slightly deepened huts of an irregular shape of
smaller dimensions and tent constructions.
MEZOLITHIC
The end of the Ice Age heralded the retreat of the
glaciers and the climaticchanges connected with it. As
a result of warming up in the Post Ice Age the natural
environment changed as well. The human being had to
adjust himself, too. In the short period of the Middle
Stone Age (the Mezolithic age 8 000 – 6 000 B.C.) after
the extinction or departure of cool loving animals,
hunting of amaller animals and birds, and fishing
became more important. The manufacturing of stone
tools adjusted to this. The arrowheads often had the
shape of small triangles, like those found in the small
oval hut in Košice – Barca together with stone knives.
MEZOLITHIC
Small knives – micro blades – were used for the
manufacturing of combined hunting weapons so they were
fixed into grooves on the edge of the bone head by resin. So
a tool resembling the harpoon appeared. There is evidence of
its usage from the Medvedia cave near Ružín. The harpoon
with fixed microblades was found stabbed into the chest
bone of a brown bear skeleton.
The beginning of matriarchy
They built wooden boats, oars,
and sledges. Gathering of wild
fruits and other products was very
important in Mezolith, too. The
more settled life style was
associated the beginning of
matriarchy. Society of that time
consisted of small groups (20 -50
people), comprising only of a few
families. Their settlements were
formed by the riversides of lakes
and rivers full of fish. At the end of
Mesolithic time people were
accompanied by dogs. The first
burial sites prove about faith in
after life.
NEOLITHIC
(6000 – 3500 BC)
Around 6 000 BC in the history of making ended the period
of the unproductive economy which had existed for
hundreds of thousands of years and began the Early Stone
Age (the Neolithic age, 6 000 – 1 900 BC). When the Neolitic
age began the first periode of experiments to master the
nature started. It is characterized by the growing of cultured
plants,breeding annimals,development of the first
craft,among them the manufacturing of ceramics above all,
and the constraction of relatively sturdy house.
NEOLITHIC
Prvotnopospolná spoločnosť stupňuje zápas o
podmanenie prírody. Zdroje pre uspokojenie svojich
potrieb nachádza v pestovaní kultúrnych plodín a chove
domácich zvierat. Spolu z novými výrobnými nástrojmi,
pracovnými postupmi, objavením sa hrnčiarstva,
výrobou textílií, budovaním trvácnejších osád i ďalšími
objavmi sa podstatne urýchľuje vývoj našich území
NEOLITHIC
At the beginning of the 5th millenium B.C.the new population
from the Balkan penninsula also settled the fertile soils of the
riverbed of the Hornad in Košice basin.The oldest settlements
were investigated in Košice-Barca. They belong to the culture
of people with Eastern Linear Pottery who penetrated from
the south intu this area.
NEOLITHIC
The most numerous finds in the Košice basin are the clay
burnt pottery decorated with grooves. Stone tools continued
to be manufactured for work. Other types of stone materials
and new technicques of manufacturing-cutting,drilling,
grinding –were also used. New types of tools, small axes,
wedges and hammers, resulted. .
Way of living
In the settlements of the first agrarians we can find
proofs of growing more two-seed and less one-seed
wheat. In later periods barley, peas, lentils. The surplus
of grain was stored in big clay vessels or in storage pits
made for this purpose in the vicinity of the
shelters.Thanks to preserved animal bones we know
that they bred mainly goats and sheep, later cattle and
pigs were added.
Way of living
The civilization of the first agrarians developed into Bukk
culture. The finds belong to the aesthetic manifestations of the
Neolithic era and its ceramic products provide some of the
most beautiful evidence of skill of prehistoric potters.
Way of living
The settlements of the Bukk culture are mostly found on the fertile
terraces of rivers and brooks. A post construction covered with
sticks and clay formed the basis of 4m x 8m shelters. In the vicinity
the storage pits and clay pits were located. The shelter was
inhabited by one family.Together with other families in the
settlements they formed the kin. It is estimate that one settlement
had 40-70 inhabitants probably all shared the more demanding
work associated with preparing (burning, grubbing) and cultivating
the soil, harvesting the crops or building houses (Košice – Barca,
Šaca, Myslava, Seňa, Čečejovce, Peder). The people of the Bukk
culture inhabited the caves of the Slovakian karst as well (the big
Jasov cave and the Skeleton cave in Zádielske Dvorníky.
Spiritual life
The manifestation of spiritual life is represented by finds of female
clay stattues. They worked up leather and textiles-shown by finds
of bone and clay tools like needles, awls,weaver weights and
spindles. They devoted great attention to the manufacturing of
applied and decorative objects, including bone combs, rings, shell
jewellery and clay pendant necklaces. The Bukk culture suddenly
vanished in 3500 BC.
ENEOLITHIC
(3000 – 1900 BC)
The Eneolith is the last period of the Stone age. The older
phase of the Eneolith is connected with development of the
Polgar culture groups, the middle of Eneolith with the
Badenian culture and at its end the groups of young Eneolith
cultural complex appears.
ENEOLITHIC
The bearers of the Tiszapolgar group penetrated to our area
from south and very quickly settled in the Eastern lowland and
in a small measure also in Košice valley. Their settlements were
created on the terraces and at the top of small hills, near the
water flows, from time to time the settlements were founded also
on the highland terraces. They built elevated pile dwellings 10-12
meters long and 4 meters wide, sometimes also smaller oval
dwellings with fireplace and storage or dumping pit in its
neighborhood.
ENEOLITHIC
Agriculture is separated from manufacturing at that time. The
role of man supersedes the role of woman. Making stone tools,
pottery, and weaving and baskets production is typical for this
period. The bowls on legs and without legs, vases, cups, and
pots are dominant in pottery. The tools chopped from stone are
still used but copper tools, weapons and golden pendants
appear. The copper products include axes, awls and spiral
bracelets
ENEOLITHIC
The badenian culture is spreaded already in whole Slovakia in
the period of the middle Eneolith. The bearer of this culture
raised barley, peas and millet. Beside traditional agriculture and
cattle breeding the pastoralism takes more important place. It is
assumed that they had already used animals for pulling
purposes.
ENEOLITHIC
In dwelling buildings prevailed simple oval earthen houses. In
the settlements were used stoves for pottery. In ceramics
dominated jugs, cups, conical bowls, dishes consisting from
two pieces, and pots for storage. Making of cooper jewelry
and arms is in regression. In eastern Slovakia we have only a
few habitats (Kosice-barca,Zadielske Dvorniky).
ENEOLITHIC
The badenian culture terminated suddenly in Slovak area and
was followed by the young eneolitic cultural complex which
settlements were protected by ditches. Around the year 1900
BC The eneolithic era ended and The Bronze Age started.
Sources of information:
www.cassovia.sk
www.national-geographic.cz
picasaweb..google.com
www.iabrno.cz
www.geologie.vsb.cz