Abstract:

This volume presents a cutting-edge perspective on figurine studies in the Neolithic Aegean, sparking renewed interest and innovative ideas. It celebrates two significant milestones in the field: the 50th anniversary of Giorgos Hourmouziadis’ Ph.D. thesis (submitted in 1973 and published in 1974) and the 30th anniversary of Lauren Talalay’s Ph.D. thesis (submitted in 1983 and published in 1993).

Central to this work are three key questions: What advancements have been made since these seminal publications? Where do we stand now? And what future directions should we explore? A group of esteemed scholars addresses these questions through detailed case studies, presenting fresh material and ideas within a robust contextual framework.

This book showcases a rich diversity of methods and results, underscoring that figurines were not uniformly made, understood, or used across different times and places. By advocating for the creation of varied narratives at both macro and micro levels, we highlight the complexity and richness of figurine studies. We hope this volume will serve as a cornerstone for ongoing and future discussions in the field.

Contents

Introduction
Fanis Mavridis and Stratos Nanoglou

A quiet {r}evolution: Changing perspectives on Greek Neolithic figurines
Lauren Talalay

Neolithic figurine-making in Thessaly
Nektaria Alexiou

Human adornment during the Middle Neolithic at Magoula Imvrou Pigadi: What do the figurines tell us?
Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika

Making, arranging, and depositing figurines: The house model of Platia Magoula Zarkou and the pit deposit of Aegina-Kolonna
Eva Alram-Stern

Animal representations in the Neolithic of southern Greece: Inferences about the “Social Qualities of the Beast”
Fanis Mavridis

Neolithic human representations in stone and clay: The case of the Cave of Pan, at Marathon, Attica
Alexandra Mari

From mind to matter: The body schema and perception of the Neolithic figurines from Knossos
Maria Mina

In our image but not in our likeness: Anthropomorphic figurines of the Neolithic Aegean and Anatolia
Çiğdem Atakuman and Hasan Can Gemici

Two-headed zoomorphic ceramic objects from Neolithic Dikili Tash: Figurines or kitchen utensils?
Magdalini Valla, René Treuil, and Frédéric Bourguignon

Materializing categories: The case of 7th millennium B.C. Revenia, Korinos, Pieria, Greece
Stratos Nanoglou

Clay images in Neolithic southeastern Europe
Elisabetta Starnini

Clay figurines and micrographic objects from Neolithic Avgi, Kastoria, northwestern Greece: Plurality and interaction
Odysseas Metaxas and Georgia Stratouli