A bread loaf idol is the name given to archaeological finds from the Bronze Age , usually made of lightly fired or air-dried clay and shaped like a loaf of bread . They are usually only a few centimeters long and decorated with geometric ornaments. Their purpose is unknown, but the term "idol" is derived from their presumed ritual use. Recently, their use as a pintadera —a type of stamp —has been considered. [ 1 ]


Table of contents
1	Look
1.1	Italy
1.2	Southwest Germany, inner-alpine finds
1.3	Southern Bavaria
1.4	Middle and lower Danube area
1.5	Tisza region
2	Dating and Cultures
2.1	Italy
2.2	Southwest Germany
2.3	Inneralpine objects
2.4	Middle Danube region
2.5	Lower Danube
2.6	Tisza region
2.7	Romania
2.8	Istria
3	interpretation
4	Exhibitions
5	literature
6	Weblinks
7	Individual references
Look
Bread loaf idols from the Early to Middle Bronze Age are also known as "patterned clay objects" or "clay stamp-like objects", in Italian as oggetti enigmatici or tavolette enigmatiche ( German: enigmatic objects or enigmatic tablets). [ 2 ] Their shape varies. They are elongated, rounded, oval, almost rectangular, stamp-shaped, flat or domed objects of small size made of stone or fired clay, with decoration on one or both sides. [ 3 ] The patterns are composed of single or multiple motifs in the form of geometric figures or of natural patterns, such as shells. They are created by indentations, piercings and scratches at different depths and occur in various combinations. The majority of bread loaf idols have parallel longitudinal or transverse lines. Other patterns are usually incorporated into the course of the lines. These are created either before, after or at the same time as the line is drawn. However, the decorations can also be isolated and arranged more or less regularly on the object. In some finds, such as the one in Lepenski Vir , incrustation can be observed. [ 4 ] A specimen from Banatska Palanka shows traces of red paint on the pattern side. [ 5 ] Bread loaf idols with longitudinal holes also occur. [ 6 ]

Italy
The highest density of finds and the greatest variety of motifs are found in the Lake Garda region of northern Italy . Objects decorated on both sides, as well as stone objects (12.5% ​​of the total finds in northern Italy [ 7 ] ), are more common here than in other regions. Typical features of the Padanian oggetti enigmatici are circular and double-spiral patterns, as well as pearl-like and cross-shaped patterns. [ 8 ]

Southwest Germany, inner-alpine finds
A smaller group of finds comes from southwest Germany in the Lake Constance - Hegau region . Rectangular patterns are characteristic of these bread loaf idols, although these can also be found in northern Italy. A few other clay stamp-like objects, also found in the inner Alps ( Matrei am Brenner , Albanbühel), in conjunction with ceramic finds of northern Italian character (Matrei am Brenner, Singen am Hohentwiel ) or cast crucibles ( Bodman-Schachen I ) similar to those from Lake Ledro and Bor di Pacengo , suggest north-south connections through the Alps. On the one hand, the Brenner route is a possible trade route, and on the other hand, one can also reach southwest Germany from northern Italy via the Reschen route . [ 9 ]

Southern Bavaria
In 1975, the first bread loaf idol in southern Bavaria was found on the Domberg in Freising. By the beginning of 2025, the number had increased to eight bread loaf idols from southern Bavaria due to new discoveries. [ 10 ]

Middle and lower Danube area
Further concentrations of finds have been found in the middle and lower Danube region. Typical features of these bread loaf idols are radially decorated indentations (some also in northern Italy). A connection between these cultures on the Danube and southwest Germany via southern Bavaria (an area without finds) is not evident. Italic motifs are increasingly found in the western groups of the middle Danube region. Presumably, the southern Bavarian groups, as well as those south and west of the Alpine Rhine Valley – Lake Constance – High Rhine line , were less involved in these relationships. The trade routes probably lead from the middle Danube region through the Alps to southwest Germany or south of there to Italy ( Wieselburg cups from an Early Bronze Age context in northern Italy). [ 11 ]

Tisza region
East of the Central Danubian groups, there is a further concentration of clay stamp-like objects in the Tisza region and northwest Romania to the east. The decorations consist mainly of linear or randomly engraved patterns and differ from those in the Danube region. [ 12 ]

Dating and Cultures
The dating of the bread loaf idols to the Bronze Age stages A2 and B1 is generally accepted. [ 13 ]

Italy
In relative chronology, the more frequent occurrence of oggetti enigmatici in the Upper Italian distribution area is placed in the younger section of the South Alpine Early Bronze Age ( Polada culture ). According to local chronology ( Renato Perini ), this concerns the Bronzo Antico II and III stages (Polada B context). Sites related to this time period include Polada and Lago di Ledro. Bread loaf idols have also been documented for the Middle Bronze Age (Bronzo Medio) in Northern Italy ( Terramare culture ), including finds from Bovolone-Saccavezza and Monte Sassine. The objects from Castellaro and Corte Vivaro possibly date to the South Alpine Late Bronze Age (Bronzo Recente). A fragment of a bread loaf idol from Rubiera dates, if correctly documented, to the Late Neolithic and was found together with ceramic shards from the Upper Italian Bell Beaker group . Patterned clay objects in Italy can be dated from 2050 BC (Polada B, Lavagnone 2) to 1400/1300 BC (Lavagnone, Isolone di Mincio) using absolute dates obtained by dendrochronology . [ 14 ] According to Paul Reinecke 's chronology system, this concerns stages A2 to C2.

Southwest Germany
In southwest Germany, a specimen from Bodman-Schachen I, layer C, is precisely stratified. It belongs to the Arbon culture and can be placed in a younger period of the southwest German Early Bronze Age. The clay disc from Singen probably dates from an older period. The pottery found there is similar to that from Bodman-Schachen I, layer A. The bread loaf idol would therefore belong to the Singen culture . The object from layer C is dendrochronologically dated to 1612 BC, while for the Singen find, an absolute chronological approach (dated via Bodman-Schachen I 14C dating ) in the 19th century BC should be considered. [ 15 ]

Inneralpine objects
The inner-Alpine finds are dated to the later Early Bronze Age. "The North Tyrolean find from Gschleirsbühel near Matrei [...] comes from a 50 cm thick cultural layer, whose pottery is considered to be dating to a late part of the Reinecke A2 stage." [ 16 ]

Middle Danube region
In the Central Danube region, the bread loaf idols are dated, among other things, from the settlement contexts of Nitriansky Hrádok , Veselé , Süttö and Ostrovul Mare from the end of the Reinecke A 2 stage to the beginning of C 1. [ 17 ] In Nitriansky Hrádok they are found throughout the entire period of occupation by the Mad'arovce culture . This group is dated absolutely chronologically from 1700 BC to 1430 BC ("Here too, the upper limit around 1700 BC is not necessary in view of the 14 C data from Hoste [...], which is why a dating approach for the Aunjetiz-Mad'arovce horizon there around 1900 BC seems possible." [ 18 ] ). Further connections arise from the data of the Věteřov culture with its Böheimkirchner group and their relationships. According to J. Görsdorf, the data sets outline a period from 1700 BC to 1500 BC (“A somewhat more generous interpretation of the dating probability used in Görsdorf within the standard deviation, taking individual data into account, also makes a dating of the early Větěrov from the 19th century BC seem possible.” [ 18 ] ) Finds of patterned clay objects have also been found from the Late Classical, Early Větěrov period horizon of the Aunjetitz culture in Lower Austria (Windpassing). [ 19 ] The Schiltern site, another settlement of the Aunjetitz group in this area, shows both South Danubian influences of the Unterwölbinger culture , whose absolute dates range from 2000 BC to 1750 BC, as well as clear Větěrov influences. [ 20 ] The discovery of the bread loaf idol in the Franzhausen burial ground (Unterwölbinger Group) is classified as somewhat older and dates back to the 18th century BC. [ 21 ]

Lower Danube
On the lower Danube, the situation is difficult to assess. The finds associated with incrusted pottery can be dated to the Middle Bronze Age. They belong to the culture of incrusted pottery with its various groups. [ 22 ]

Tisza region
The absolute chronological and relative chronological classification as well as the cultural affiliation of the patterned clay objects in the Tisza region must currently remain open. [ 23 ]

Romania
Two bread loaf idols in the eastern Romanian town of Derşida belong to the Wietenberg culture , which dates back to the Middle Bronze Age (Reinecke BC). [ 24 ]

Istria
Half a dozen bread loaf idols were found in the fortified mountain settlement of Monkodonja on the west coast of Istria near Rovinj , Croatia. The majority of the finds come from the area of ​​the Acropolis. [ 25 ]

interpretation
The occurrence of patterned clay objects spans a long period of time. It can be assumed that the bread loaf idols originated in Northern Italy, primarily based on the dating, but also due to the distribution of finds and patterns. The motifs on the objects appear to be group-specific and suggest regional and supra-regional relationships. Paint residues and incrustations, as well as the shape of some objects, indicate a function as stamps. Marking of certain products should be considered.

“The idea of ​​such a structured trade relationship, as it has been handed down to us from the Near East in the form of seals and associated impressions, may be tempting here, but is so far completely unproven.” [ 26 ]

Within the discovery areas, bread loaf idols are found almost exclusively in settlements. This suggests a secular purpose, but cultic practices involving these objects are also possible. Finds from graves are known from Franzhausen and Ostrovul Mare-Bivolarii, although Franzhausen appears to be the only documented grave find to date. [ 27 ] Bread loaf idols from burials may provide information about the importance of these objects. Finally, evidence for their use is still lacking.

Exhibitions
2011: Gods, Idols, and Idols. Museum of Arts and Crafts , Hamburg, January 28 to April 30, 2011
2011: Aenigma. The Enigmatic Code of the Bronze Age. Celtic Roman Museum , Manching , May 27 to November 13, 2011 [ 28 ]
2024–25: Aenigma 2.0 – Who will decipher the enigmatic code from the Bronze Age? Archaeological Museum Frankfurt , October 14, 2024, to March 23, 2025. [ 29 ]
literature
Joachim Köninger: Patterned Clay Objects from the Riverside Settlement Bodman-Schachen I - On the Distribution and Chronology of the So-called "Oggetti enigmatici" (Enigmatic Objects). In: Barbara Fritsch, Margot Maute, Irenäus Matuschik, Johannes Müller, and Claus Wolf (eds.): Tradition and Innovation. Prehistoric Archaeology as a Historical Science. Festschrift for Christian Strahm. International Archaeology. In: Studia honoraria. 3, Rahden 1998, pp. 429–468.
E. Lauermann: Studies on the Aunjetitz Culture in Northern Lower Austria. UPA 99, Bonn 2003.
G. Trnka: New information on the "Bread Loaf Idols." In: A. Lippert, K. Spindler (eds.): Festschrift for the 50th anniversary of the Institute for Prehistory and Early History at the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck. UPA 8, Bonn 1992, pp. 615–621.
Stephanie Hoffmann: The Origin and Development of the Middle Bronze Age in the Western Low Mountain Region. Dissertation. University of Bonn, 2004, urn : nbn:de:hbz:5-03597 .
M. Bernabò Brea, A. Cardarelli, M. Cremaschi (eds.): Le Terramare. La più ancient civiltà padana. Milan 1997.
Wolfgang David, “Bread loaves” as evidence of transalpine communication between southern Bavaria and northern Italy in the Early Bronze Age . Bavarian Archaeology 2016 (Issue 4), 26–30.
Weblinks
Commons : Bread loaf images  – collection of images, videos and audio files
Presentation at the Institute for Prehistory and Early History at the University of Vienna
Individual references
 European Archaeology online: New clay bread loaf idols from the Lower Danube basin ( Memento from December 30, 2008, in the Internet Archive ) (accessed March 19, 2021)
 Köninger 1998, p. 429.
 Lauermann 2003, p. 598.
 Trnka 1992, p. 617.
 Köninger 1998, p. 431; Trnka 1992, 617.
 Köninger 1998, p. 431.
 Köninger 1998, p. 435.
 Köninger 1998, p. 437.
 Köninger 1998, p. 439.
 Wolfgang David: Bread loaf dols of the late Early Bronze Age from Bavaria. 50 years after the first discovery in Freising. In: Bayerische Archäologie 1 / 2025, 48-55. Regensburg, ISBN 978-3-7917-4032-4 .
 Köninger 1998, p. 440.
 Köninger 1998, pp. 438–439.
 Trnka 1992, p. 620.
 Köninger 1998, pp. 456–457.
 Köninger 1998, pp. 448, 452.
 Köninger 1998, p. 447.
 Hoffmann 2004, p. 147.
 Köninger 1998, p. 453.
 Lauermann 2003, 599, 613.
 Lauermann 2003, 599, 614; Köninger 1998, 452.
 Köninger 1998, p. 452.
 Trnka 1992, p. 620.
 Köninger 1998, pp. 446, 453.
 Köninger 1998, p. 446. Bronze Age Loaf-of-Bread Idols_Ami-Pula. Retrieved May 18, 2023 .
 Hoffmann 2004, p. 149.
 Trnka 1992, pp. 616–617.
 Wolfgang David: Aenigma - The Enigmatic Code of the Bronze Age. "Bread Loaf Idols" as a Medium of European Communication More Than 3,500 Years Ago. In: Mitteilungen der Freunde der Bayerischen Vor- und Frühgeschichte 130, 2011, 2-15 . August 10, 2011 ( academia.edu [accessed January 8, 2025]).
 Wolfgang David: Enigmatic Code. Aenigma 2.0 -- A Step on the Way to Solving the Mystery of the "Bread Loaf Idols"? In: Bavarian Archaeology 2024. January 1, 2024 ( academia.edu [accessed January 8, 2025]).-->