Pásztor Emília (szerk.): Sámánizmus és természethit régen és ma - Bajai dolgozatok 23. (Baja, 2019)
Peter Toth: Rituális tevékenység Szlovákiában a neolitikum és rézkor idején
Ritual practices in the Neolithic and Eneolithic in Slovakia Interesting is an 8 cm thick ash deposition symbolizing cleansing fire and emphasizing a ritual character of the find assemblage (Némejcová-Pavúková 1979). Drinking sets enabled consuming a specific substance - alcohol. By people using it, alcohol is a fundamentally important ritual and social artifact. Production and shared consumption of alcohol is a vital structuring element while establishing social relations in the community. It also becomes a symbol of a particular social status. Alcohol is used during religious ceremonies or rituals, as well (Dietler 1990, 359-362; Kristuf 2005, 72-73). So what might have been drunk in the Eneolithic12? It could be mead, beer, fruit wine or spirits (Vend 1994, 297). Moreover, a set of peculiar vessels could be probably connected with spirits. They are dated to the Baden culture (the Boleráz group) and were discovered in Surany-Nitriansky Hrádok in the settlement context (fig. 24). It consists of a conical cover with a perforated base for steam condensation and substance extraction a bowl-like middle part13 with a perforated base, as well. Boiling liquid should have been kept in the bottom part, which was not preserved. Such devices could have been used for distillation or extraction of substances (Némejcová-Pavúková 1964, 171, 177; Rysánek - Václavú 1990; Rysánek 1993). Ritual warfare Ritual warfare is a phenomenon which manifested itself in the Eneolithic through first weapons and fortifications (connected with upland settlements; for further argumentation about this topic see Neustupnÿ 1995). Concerning the weapons, their primary purpose was to be used in combat. They had specific forms, which were different from working tools and hunting weapons. In particular can be mentioned copper (fig. 25) and stone hammer-axes, maces and daggers14. Besides weapons, they can be interpreted as a symbol of social status and combat. Copper hammer-axes due to their weight and a small hole for handle were not suitable as weapons. Similarly, many stone hammer-axes were produced of such rocks that when striking they would have broken apart15. On the contrary, these artifacts suggest the existence of a specific real or ritualized head-to-head combat. Therefore the meaning of the ritual warfare was to conduct a proper ritual and not to kill an enemy, gain territory or collect spoils (Neustupnÿ 2008, 26-27). 38 /////////////////////////Л^^^
