Souvenirs and Identity for the Orlov Paleontogical Museum

Pottery and ceramics are the first synthetic material created by people. Its history begins in Neolithic period. The social system, the structure of the economy, was changing from the year of 9500 BC. Due to the fact that ceramics exist from the birth of modern life model, it gives an opportunity to analyze the way of life, world outlook and culture of the first civilizations, their common features. In this study, not ordinary items of dishes were collected, but only those that were transformed by its creator. This material sums up household and ritual utensils with zoomorphic decoration. The timeframe from the Neolithic to the Nativity of Christ was not chosen accidentally, the first samples and steps to what was done over the next centuries were created in this period. The visual research consists of four parts, each of which demonstrates the most striking examples of ceramics: Europe, Asia, the Middle East and America. Civilizations in these regions are represented by different approaches to the usual forms deformation. For example, the Greeks are characterized by a realistic image of the animal in ceramics. On the other hand the Middle Eastern dishes are more abstract and, while retaining the familiar shape of the vessel, adds to it zoomorphic elements. Even on the example of how people who lived in different parts of the world, depicted animals in their manner, we can draw certain conclusions. Obviously, the culture and visual language of each separate part of the world differs from the other. Everyday life, the environment and nature are crucial. The only thing that remains unchanged is that a person always exists in close connection with the plant and animal world. He is so strongly attached to environment and loves it that he surrounds himself with objects which refer to nature. Whatever it was, the usual household vessels, ritual ceramics, rattles, whistles. All this is endowed with zoomorphic images, which are given symbolic significance.