G27 - Neolithic clay tokens and other counting objects

Session Organisers: Karol Szymczak, Michal Leloch

Category: Population - Network

Session Abstract: The aim of this session is to discuss the somehow forgotten lately problem of the Neolithic counting objects which probably reflect value of certain goods. Such artefacts appear in the very beginning of PPN A, and were in use till the Iron Age. If we agreed with an idea of the significance of tokens presented for the first time by L. Oppenheim in 1959, we would touch one of the far reaching consequences of neolithization. It led to radical changes not only in economic relations, food production, way of life, and beliefs, but also in social organization of the Neolithic societies. Exchanging goods with the use of tokens/counters needs acceptance of the whole token system by wide groups of people and create the special type of social ties, which after a few millennia led directly to urban and state civilizations. Reflection on this aspect of neolithization should help to understand better the far going importance of this process for further human history.

Room: H

05/11/2024

Start Time - End Time	Authors	Title
14:45 - 15:05	Karol Szymczak	Neolithic Clay Tokens and The Eastern Boundary of Their Occurrence in Central Asia
15:05 - 15:25	Michal Leloch, Karol Szymczak	Possible Neolithic Counting Objects Other Then Fired Clay Tokens
15:25 - 15:45	Sophie Juncker, Andreea ?erna	Tracing the Transformations: The Role of Clay Tokens in Neolithic and Copper Age Societies of the Carpathian-Dniester Region
15:45 - 16:05	Bahar Kıvrak, Aslı Erim Özdoğan	Clay Sealings from Neolithic Sumaki Höyük