- For a very brief overview on this topic, cf. also this introductory page.
- For a wider discussion on human figurines, see the dedicated topical book.
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Human Female Typology
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Type 1a. Flat Bodied Nude Females
| a | torso flat both on front and back | |
| b | short arms extending at right angle to the torso, end of arms slightly pointed | - |
| c | shoulders indicated by slight downward slope | - |
| d | base of neck approximately same size as the waist | - |
| e | if breasts are indicated they are made of applied clay pellets | - |
| f | decoration: wide, incised crossed bands on torso | (A2.114) |
| g | can have an applied necklace which extends across the front of the neck and ends at the back of the shoulders, this type of necklace is decorated with incised short parallel lines; one example may have two different necklaces one below the other but lower one may be the upper part of a pleated dress worn over one shoulder | (A13.118) |
| h | in cases where the figure has no necklace, the neck is elongated | (A1q239-i) |
| i | the example of this type with the head preserved shows a pinched face with an applied large oval eye | (A7.350) |
| j | one example has legs which are separated and an incised pattern on the torso | (A7q52) |
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Type 1b. Flat Bodied Nude Females with Hands at Waist
| a | breasts are applied pellets | - |
| b | the necklace is joined at the back and has no counterweight | - |
| c | shoulders are sloping | - |
| d | space between the arms and the torso | (A11q201.1) |
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Type 2a. Cylindrical Body with Flattened Torso
| a | body flares toward round base with depression in the center | - |
| b | overall size can by very small | (B5.52) |
| c | abbreviated arms which extend forward from the torso | - |
| d | torso flattened | - |
| e | neck shown | - |
| f | body can have buttocks and legs indicated but not separated | (A6.56) |
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Type 2b. Hour-glass shaped body (variation of cylindrical body)
| a | flaring base with central depression | - | b | clothing indicated by parallel vertical incisions that sometimes are curved so that a tufted garment is suggested | (A10q296.1) | c | belt? at waist | - |
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Type 2c. Cylindrical Body with Rounded Torso
| a | short arms extending outward from body | - | b | no neck or shoulders | - | c | one examples has a bearded pinched face | (A8.24) |
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Type 3. Nude Female with Depression on top of Head
| a | round depression on top of head | (similar to A12.30) |
| b | one preserved arm raised along the side of the head | (A1i432) |
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Type 4a. Nude Female with Realistically Modeled Body
| a | well proportioned body | (best example A10q823-1)) |
| b | separated buttocks and legs (made separately and joined only at the pubic triangle) | (A12q19.9) |
| c | incised and impressed designs on pubic triangle | - |
| d | can have only incised designs on pubic triangle but in this case the patterns vary | (A12q19.1) |
| e | deep hole indicating the navel | - |
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Type 4b. Plaque with Realistically Modeled Female in High Relief
| a | deep wide navel | (A5q140)) |
| b | plaque portion has flat back | -) |
| c | one plaque has a high curved portion at the top | (A15 XXX)) |
| d | pubic triangle indicated with relief | (A7.356)) |
| e | knees indicated | -) |
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Type 5a. Nude Female Holding Her Breasts
(variation of Type 1a because the bodies of the figures are flat)
| a | front and back of the figure is flat | - |
| b | breasts are applied triangular pellets | - |
| c | shoulders indicated | (A16.27) |
| d | one example (Z1.231) has arms separated from the torso | - |
| e | base of neck narrower than the waist | - |
| f | necklace where present has parallel incised lines in front anf counterweight down the back | - |
| g | can have one or both hands cupping or holding the breasts | (A9.145 with modeled breasts, hips) |
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Type 5b. Thick Bodied Nude Female Holding Her Breasts
(variation of Type 5a but very thick)
| a | shoulders sloping | - |
| b | arms detached from torso | (A2.110) |
| c | hands with incised vertical lines which may be fingers but may indicate an object held between both hands | - |
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Type 6. Pointed Face Figures
| a | pinched face so that line of the nose is emphasized | - |
| b | long neck | - |
| c | torso can be flattened but in other examples it is somewhat rounded | - |
| d | can have one arm extended forward | (A9q382.1) |
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Human Figurines: Typology of Males
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Type 7a. Seated Males Flattened Torso
- nude
- flattened torso both front and back
- shoulders indicated and in some very wide
- genitalia indicated
- base flattened with legs extended forward
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Type 7b. Seated Males Tripod Base
This type is a variation of Type 1 with the added characteristics below:
- necklace
- tripod base
- possibly to be interpreted as a rider
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Typology of Human Heads
Type 1. Bands wrapped on top and sides (A10.15)
Type 2. Pointed Hat
Type 3. Extension on Back of Head (A7.350)
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Typology of Birds
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Type 1. Solid bodied on pedestal
- black burnished
- horizontal incised decoration on body
- body slightly pointed on both ends and wider in center
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Type 2. Hollow bodied
- no decoration
- on pedestal
- body made in two portions
- surface scraped but left fairly rough
- neck slightly turned upward (A9.85)
- no access to hollow center of body except holes on top of body (holes possibly on one side (A9q603.3)
- one example, (A8q96.10) has rough horizontal lines parallel to holes on top as if imitating feathers
- instead of holes on the top one has incised lines on the top extending out from the heck (A10q1076.2)
- holes on the top of the body in parallel lines with incised lines between (A12q555.1)
- made in two pieces as top and bottom with a shallow hollow part in the middle
- body is oval and tapers at neck and less so at tail where it is rectangular
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Bibliography
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