Shoe-Shaped Vessels in Bronze and Iron Age – Considerations of their Function and Meaning

Abstract

The primary distinguishing feature of shoe-shaped vessels is their peculiar design. They integrate a simple clothing item into the prehistoric motive pool. The earliest finds stem from the Early and Middle Bronze Ages in the eastern Carpathians. The nucleus of their distribution, however, is in the late Lausatian Cultures [Spätlausitzer Kulturen] of eastern Central Europe and in the Villanova Culture of Upper and Middle Italy. Since the first discoveries at the close of the 19th century the shoe-shaped vessels have puzzled archaeologists. Due to their peculiar appearance and their frequent occurrence in graves most attempts at interpretation have focused on the ideas that may have been behind their design. It is to be assumed that shoe-shaped vessels can indeed give us glimpses into the mentalities of Bronze and Iron Age people. Unfortunately, even with the help of systematic analyses it is hard to come to secure conclusions. Questions concerning the function of these vessels, however, can be answered more easily. Specific features imply that the shoe-shaped vessels were used for off erings and libations where the pouring of liquids from the shoes played an important role.