For centuries, the Neolithic has been associated with a rich artistic heritage, particularly in regions like Southeast Europe, where clay figurines have been abundant and representative. However, a new study published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal reveals a stark contrast with northern Europe, where these visual expressions are practically nonexistent. The research, conducted by an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists led by Rune Iversen, explores a phenomenon that may be linked to profound sociocultural and religious changes.

In regions such as Anatolia and Southeast Europe, clay figurines number in the thousands and are intrinsically tied to the earliest agricultural settlements from the 10th millennium BCE. In contrast, when analyzing the archaeological record of northern Europe, specifically in Scandinavia, these figurative representations are virtually absent.

The study emphasizes that this void cannot simply be attributed to the loss of artifacts over time. On the contrary, it seems to indicate a cultural phenomenon: the absence of figurative images coincides with the northward expansion of agriculture, marking a shift in social and ritual practices.

Neolithic figurines Scandinavia
Distribution and quantity of Neolithic/early agrarian figurines related to the main cultural complexes mentioned in the text, c. 6200–3300 BCE. Credit: Rebecca Bristow et al.

Why Did the Figurines Disappear?

The team suggests that figurines, commonly associated with rituals and the integration of densely populated communities, lost significance as Neolithic life became more dispersed. This phenomenon may have been intensified by the transition to less centralized agricultural societies.

Moreover, the authors hypothesize that figurative representation may have been perceived as taboo in these communities. This interpretation is supported by the near-total absence of figures even in contexts where they might be expected, such as burials or rituals.

The study documents some rare exceptions. In sites like Stengade, Denmark, small clay objects, possibly animal or human figures, have been found, although their design is so rudimentary that confirming their figurative nature is challenging. Other manifestations include vessels decorated with stylized incisions, known as face pots, which display face-like motifs but with extremely schematic and ambiguous designs.

Neolithic figurines Scandinavia
Some rare examples of figuration, amber animals and pendants. Top left: Ornamented bear figurine, Resen. Top right: Waterfowl figurine, Engesvang Mose. Bottom left: Ornamented elk head, Egemarke. Bottom right: Pendant with stylized human figures, Sindalgård, Åmosen (Maglemose period). Credit: Lennart Larsen / National Museum of Denmark

On the other hand, in Baltic and Scandinavian regions, some late Neolithic hunter-gatherer communities, such as the Pitted Ware Culture, preserved figurative traditions. This includes zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figurines made of clay or amber, reflecting a connection to earlier Mesolithic cultures.

The phenomenon observed in northern Europe is analyzed under the concept of aniconism, which refers to the intentional absence of figurative representations. Although this term is often used to describe religious practices, researchers suggest that, in this case, it may be related to broader ideological changes accompanying the transition to agriculture.

The team proposes that the absence of figurative images could reflect a profound shift in how these societies conceived the sacred, the social, and the artistic. This shift, they argue, was not accidental but likely responded to social and religious norms that restricted or even prohibited such representations.

Neolithic figurines Scandinavia
Engraved shale plaque with sun motif from Vasagård, Bornholm, Denmark, c. 3 cm diameter. Credit: John Lee / National Museum of Denmark

Despite the lack of figurines, Neolithic northern Europe was not devoid of cultural complexity. Communities developed other forms of symbolic expression, such as geometric patterns on pottery and stone carvings. Unique objects, such as slate plaques engraved with solar motifs found at sites in Denmark, also provide insights into their ritual practices.

SOURCES

Iversen R, Becker V, Bristow R. Figurative Representations in the North European Neolithic—Are They There? Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 2024;34(4):601-619. doi:10.1017/S0959774323000537

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