Clay Bread, Slates or Tablets with Signs and Symbols

Cornelia-Magda Lazarovici (Romania)

Abstract
This article examines clay objects containing signs and symbols from the Cucuteni-Tripolye cultural complex named as breads, slates, or tablets. Seven pieces have been discovered at the site of Scanteia. Three or four of them have signs or symbols. Similar pieces have been found in Cucuteni A sites, such as Trusesti, Habasesti or Toflea. Pieces from Habasesti seem to be without any sign or symbol, but those from Trusesti and Toflea contain such elements. During the Cucuteni B phase inscribed pieces are present only at Ghelaiesti-Nedeia. This article focuses on the context of the discoveries, an analysis if the signs and symbols, and suggests some hypotheses related with the use of these sorts of pieces in the Cucuteni-Tripolye cultural complex.