Added December 22, 1999. June 6, 2004, 00:14 -5 GMT.

This page will be updated occasionally to add and revise information.

Version 2.0

The Retz/Bajč Pottery

By

Maximilian O. Baldia

(Copy Right © 1999 - June 6, 2004. All rights reserved)

Introduction

The purpose of this text is to provide a general overview of the culture and is intended as a resource for students and teachers of European Archaeology.

Background

Relatively isolated pottery finds have been grouped together as Retz (Austria), Bajc^v/Bajč (Slovak Republic), etc. (e.g. Dimitrijević 1981). The incised pottery is primarily centered in the Czech and Slovak Republics and adjacent countries to the south.

Figure 1: Location of Retz and Bajč

Dating

The small number of radiocarbon dates come from questionable context. A thermoluminescence date yielded (Lab No. By-2318) 4070±220 BC. The radiocarbon dates suggest a (late) Lengyel or an early Baalberge date (Table 1). (Chronological Table). Some Moravian researchers distinguish an older and a younger phase (Podborský et al. 1993). The chronology appears to have been the result of analogy, rather than solid stratigraphic observations and dating.

Distribution

The pottery has a distribution that coincides with the main centers of early copper production. In Moravia the Křepice style is found west of the Morava River. East of the Morava the Slovak Bajč style is recognized, but it also occurs in Austria and Hungary (Dimitrijevic’ 1981, Podborský et al. 1993).

Figure 2. Photo of Retz-Bajč pottery from Austria (Dimitrijevic’ 1981 Plate 15).

Pottery

Retz-Bajč pottery is characterized by the deeply incised "stab and drag" (German: Furchenstich) technique used in executing the its design. The designs are known to have been filled with white paste. In Moravia the pottery often occurs together with Baalberge ceramics of Funnel Beaker culture (TRB) culture. The TRB of Central Europe and southern Scandinavia, the Austrian Mondsee culture, and pottery from the Tisza River area of Hungary, etc. have been associated with this style.

Figure 3. Photo of pottery from Moravia, Czech Republic (Dimitrijevic' 1981 Plate 16).

Symbolism

The stylized clay female figurines suggest an affinity with Lenyel and distinguishes it from the later TRB with its abstract, incised designs. However, the pottery often exhibits abstract star-like designs. The so-called sun-symbols are reminiscent of the Austrian Mondsee pottery. Vaguely similar motives also occur in the later TRB to the north.

It may be argued that the overly decorated Retz pottery is not a cultural marker, but rather ceremonial ware.

Figure 4. Photo of pottery from Bajc^v, Slovakia (Dimitrijevic' 1981 Plate 16).

Houses

No houses or villages are known. The Moravian pottery has been found exclusively in (hilltop) settlements of the TRB.

---

References and Credits

Baldia, M. O.

1995 A Spatial Analysis of Megalithic Tombs. Vol. 1-2. Ph. D. Dissertation. Southern Methodist University.

Dimitrijević, S.

1981 Zur Frage der Retz-Gajary-Kultur in Nordjugoslawien und ihre Stelleng im pannonischen Raum. Bericht der Römisch-Germanischen Kommission 61. 1980:15-91.

Podborský, Vladimír, et al.

1993 Praveké Dejiny Moravy. Vlastiveda Moravská Zeme a Lid, Nová Rada 3. Muzejní a vlastivedna spolecnost, Brno.

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.