Fightress Clubs?

Women of a Special Social Status in the Late Copper Age in Hungary

Abstract

In this article I focus on the status of the woman in the main cultures (Baden complex and Yamna) of the Late Copper Age (3600-2800 BC) and the transitional period (2800-2600 BC). Although the Bell Beaker complex belongs to the Early Bronze Age in Hungary (2500-1900 BC), in European terminologies it is a Late Neolithic culture and belongs to the Reinecke A0 horizon in its late phase, which is why I included it into my research. I identify charismatic people displaying signs of agression in these three culture complexes, whose personalities are associated with warfare. In all three cultures there were women with specialised status: their knowledge, property and profession raised them above the average man and woman.