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 Fig. 26. Human remains in settlement pits from Stúrovo (a; depicted are different depths of the same pit), Blatné (b), and Vel'kÿ Meder (c), dated to the LBK (after Jelinek 2010, obr. 1, 3-4). 26. kép. Emberi maradványok települési gödörben, Stúrovo (a: különböző mélységben ábrázolva), Blatné (b), Vel'kÿ Meder (c), (Jelinek 2010, obr. 1, 3-4). Evidence of ritual practices in archaeological features Settlement areas Fertility cults played a prime role in the religion since the Neolithic. One of the most unusual records of the LBK are human skeletons in settlement features. Their common trait is the deposition of mainly women and children. Not extraordinary is the evidence of violent force, cannibalism or scalping. Their presence in settlement features together with scattered human bones indicates a ritual activity which differs from typical burial rite (Jelinek 2010, 34-35). In sites like Stúrovo, Blatné and Vel'kÿ Meder (fig. 26) food remains are found in settlement features as the content of pottery vessels or in the form of freshwater shells. Residues of mollusk-eating indicate a warm period, probably summer. It can not be ruled out that shells as food could have had a specific symbolic meaning (rebirth symbol) and were consumed as a ritual meal during religious ceremonies (Pavúk 1980, 208; Hromada - Varsik 1992, 47; Pavúk 1994b, 98; Jelinek 2010, 32-34). House played an essential role in Neolithic society. Therefore various rituals, sometimes connected with human sacrifices were taking place during its construction. Two skeletons of adult women (30— ^SSS*******SS!Sa********^ 39
