Iberian Peninsula to the indus

Bibliography:
Peltenburg 1998, pp. 
152–154, fig. 83, 9, pl. 32, 1; Goring 
1998, p. 181, KM 1052; Gamble, 
Winckelmann, Fox 2016, pp. 4–5, fig. 
1.1
This picrolite cruciform figurine 
from Kissonerga-Mosphilia
 
displays 
polydactyly, a condition whereby 
an individual has extra fingers. 
The figure’s fingers are indicated 
by incisions, five on one hand and 
seven on the other. Considering 
that on most Chalcolithic figurines 
the rendering of fingers and feet 
is not common, the depiction of 
supernumerary digits on several 
figurines and figurine fragments has 
led researchers to the conclusion 
that polydactyly was deliberately 
represented and that it was a known 
anomaly amongst the Chalcolithic 
population (Gamble, Winckelmann, 
Fox 2016). Unfortunately, it is difficult 
to detect the above condition in 
osteoarchaeological records, due to 
the poor preservation of prehistoric 
human remains in Cyprus, as well as 
the fact that, in many cases, burials 
contain the remains of multiple 
individuals that are often comingled.
Given that a possible function of 
cruciform figurines and pendants was 
to bring good luck (they could have 
acted as charms and talismans for 
fertility, labour and/or safe delivery), it 
has been suggested that representing 
an extra digit on them would have 
enhanced the good luck they brought.
A.E.

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141
140
32
cruciforM figure cypruS
Cyprus
Chalcolithic period
(IV millennium BC)
Picrolite, H. 9.4 cm, W. 6.5 cm
Ligabue Collection, Venice
Bibliography:
Karageorghis 1998, pp. 
62–63; Karageorghis (J.), Karageorghis 
(V.), in Ligabue, Rossi-Osmida 2006, 
p. 151.
A car
efully balanced cruciform figure, 
built in a composition centered on 
the breasts, from where the long neck 
and head soar; the legs are slit with 
splayed feet and toes. The thighs are 
marked on the front view by pending 
adipose folds that join in the back to 
form the buttocks, low and undivided. 
The arms are unique in their pointed 
shapes and grooved decoration. Note 
the double necklace of circular beads. 
The globular head, with well indicated 
eyes, mouth and nose, gives a phallic 
appearance to the whole silhouette, a 
feature frequent in Chalcolithic figures 
from Cyprus.
C.A.

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143
142
33
clay planK-SHaped figurine 
red poliSHed
Cyprus, Bellapais–Vounous
Early Bronze Age III (2100–2000 BC)
Terracotta???OR CLAY
, H. 28 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. 1933/I-17/1
Bibliography:
Karageorghis 1991, pp. 
59–60, 90, pl. xxv:2; Hadjisawas 2010, 
p. 81, cat. 46 (G. Georgiou); Alphas & 
Zachariou-Kaila 2015, p. 126, cat. 83 
(M. Mina).
34
clay planK-SHaped figurine 
red poliSHed
Cyprus
Early Bronze Age III (2100–2000 BC)
Terracotta???OR CLAY
, H. 26.2 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. 1963/IV-20/12
Bibliography:
Karageorghis 1991, 
pp. 59, 90, pl. xxv:1.
The freestanding plank-shaped 
figurines belong to the most enigmatic 
group of images in Cypriot prehistory, 
as their function and meaning are still 
debated by scholars.
They bear richly incised geometric 
patterns depicting facial features 
(eyes and eyebrows, mouths, noses, 
ears and hair). They are elaborately 
dressed, with garments fastened by 
what appear to be metal pins and 
embellished with woven patterns, as 
well as with jewellery (earrings and 
necklaces) and tattooed markings 
on their faces. They do not have a 
base and may have been placed 
upright through the use of some kind 
of support or suspended (perhaps 
through the “earholes”?). Although 
each one is different, they generally 
display a high degree of uniformity 
and may thus have been made by 
specialized craftsmen.
The plank-shaped figurines derive 
principally from tombs of the 
northern part of the island. They were 
accompanied by metal goods, such 
as spearheads, knives, axes, pins and 
rings, as well as precious imported 
items of gold, silver and faience.
A range of interpretations have been 
suggested, most of which are based 
on the assumption that plank-shaped 
figurines are representations of 
females. However, in some cases there 
are no obvious sexual characteristics, 
and the sex of the plank-shaped 
figurines is not always clear.
Z.E.
35
clay tWo-necKed
planK-SHaped figurine 
red poliSHed
Cyprus, Deneia, no provenance
Middle Bronze Age I (2000–1850 BC)
Terracotta???OR CLAY
, H. 30 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. 1943/IV-13/4