Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
crânes ôtés et surmodelés
English translation:
severed/plastered skull cults
Added to glossary by
Yolanda Broad
Mar 21, 2003 17:39
21 yrs ago
French term
crânes ôtés et surmodelés
French to English
Art/Literary
Archaeology
Les crânes ôtés et surmodelés, les cellules à crânes, montrent la place que tenaient ces pratiques au cours du Néolithique.
About removal of skulls as trophies in prehistoric times.
About removal of skulls as trophies in prehistoric times.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Mar 27, 2011 11:14: Stéphanie Soudais changed "Term asked" from "sentence" to "crânes ôtés et surmodelés" , "Field (specific)" from "(none)" to "Archaeology"
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native in English
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
35
Selected
severed/plastered skull cults
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/394270
From my web searches, several civilisations have been ardent supporters of various forms of head cults. No part of the world seems to have been spared! The Celtic severed head cult, and the Neolithic plastered skull cult are just two examples.
The second term which I have found tricky here is the “cellules à crânes” which I suppose are small holes into which the worshiped heads were placed, a bit like mini catacombs. I’ve tried hard to find something for that one but have not yet found anything I was satisfied with.
Thought you might like the first bit in the meantime, to help you get on. Anyway I’ll keep working on it… two heads are better than one !!!
A - “Crane surmodelé” from the “culte du crane”.
B - “cellules à cranes”
________________________________________
A - “Plastered human skull”, “cult of the plastered skull”
1 - http://www.mindorg.com/ant_sys/Sys05.htm
Têtes collectionnées par les "chasseurs de têtes" néolithiques (dans la plupart des sociétés néolithiques, on peut trouver des traces de "culte du crâne"),
2 - fraternitelibertaire.free.fr/reserve/ la_naissance_des_dieux%20.doc
De 9.500 à 7.000 avant JC, toute une série de plantes et d’animaux sont rapidement domestiqués. En architecture, les habitations sortent de sous terre pour s’établir en surface et sont orientées rituellement. Les gens y enterrent leurs morts sous le sol et un " culte du crâne " se développe dans lequel les crânes humains sont détachés des corps et recouverts d’argile modelée pour ressembler aux ancêtres héroïques ou aux divinités humaines.
3 - http://www.unc.edu/courses/clar047/sg1Neol.html
For a photo of a plastered human skull from Jericho, Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, 8500-7000.
Also :
www.ku.edu/~hoopes/110-h3.htm : “plastered skull cult”
lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/paskewitz/main/Study1Art4.htm
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Note added at 2003-03-21 21:20:48 (GMT)
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Suggested (partial) rendering :
\"Les crânes ôtés et surmodelés, les cellules à crânes, montrent la place que tenaient ces pratiques au cours du Néolithique.\"
\"The severed plastered skulls and the \"cellules à crânes\" bear witness to the importance attached to these practices throughout the Neolithic period.\"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:40:08 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In reply to William\'s answer to my comment. He has a point, except that all of the Neolithic references I found referred to \"plastered skull\"...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:40:41 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In reply to William\'s answer to my comment. He has a point, except that all of the Neolithic references I found referred to \"plastered skull\" in describing skulls which had been covered with clay...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:44:20 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Further, the very intersting reference used in William\'s answer realtes to skull masks, not to the skulls themselves. There\'s a brilliant picture of a plastered Pre-historic Neolithic skull here : http://www.unc.edu/courses/clar047/sg1Neol.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:49:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
B - \"cellules à crânes\"
Just wondering in \"small skull chamber\" or similar might not do the trick. Nothing found to confirm this apart from descriptions of smaller sections of burial chambers used just for the skulls, with stones placed around them along wiht other precious items.
(Time for dinner, be back later!)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-22 08:57:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Yes, yes yes for \"skull niches\". So...
\"The severed plastered skulls and skull niches bear witness to the importance attached to these practices throughout the Neolithic period.\"
Team work guys!
From my web searches, several civilisations have been ardent supporters of various forms of head cults. No part of the world seems to have been spared! The Celtic severed head cult, and the Neolithic plastered skull cult are just two examples.
The second term which I have found tricky here is the “cellules à crânes” which I suppose are small holes into which the worshiped heads were placed, a bit like mini catacombs. I’ve tried hard to find something for that one but have not yet found anything I was satisfied with.
Thought you might like the first bit in the meantime, to help you get on. Anyway I’ll keep working on it… two heads are better than one !!!
A - “Crane surmodelé” from the “culte du crane”.
B - “cellules à cranes”
________________________________________
A - “Plastered human skull”, “cult of the plastered skull”
1 - http://www.mindorg.com/ant_sys/Sys05.htm
Têtes collectionnées par les "chasseurs de têtes" néolithiques (dans la plupart des sociétés néolithiques, on peut trouver des traces de "culte du crâne"),
2 - fraternitelibertaire.free.fr/reserve/ la_naissance_des_dieux%20.doc
De 9.500 à 7.000 avant JC, toute une série de plantes et d’animaux sont rapidement domestiqués. En architecture, les habitations sortent de sous terre pour s’établir en surface et sont orientées rituellement. Les gens y enterrent leurs morts sous le sol et un " culte du crâne " se développe dans lequel les crânes humains sont détachés des corps et recouverts d’argile modelée pour ressembler aux ancêtres héroïques ou aux divinités humaines.
3 - http://www.unc.edu/courses/clar047/sg1Neol.html
For a photo of a plastered human skull from Jericho, Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, 8500-7000.
Also :
www.ku.edu/~hoopes/110-h3.htm : “plastered skull cult”
lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/paskewitz/main/Study1Art4.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:20:48 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Suggested (partial) rendering :
\"Les crânes ôtés et surmodelés, les cellules à crânes, montrent la place que tenaient ces pratiques au cours du Néolithique.\"
\"The severed plastered skulls and the \"cellules à crânes\" bear witness to the importance attached to these practices throughout the Neolithic period.\"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:40:08 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In reply to William\'s answer to my comment. He has a point, except that all of the Neolithic references I found referred to \"plastered skull\"...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:40:41 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In reply to William\'s answer to my comment. He has a point, except that all of the Neolithic references I found referred to \"plastered skull\" in describing skulls which had been covered with clay...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:44:20 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Further, the very intersting reference used in William\'s answer realtes to skull masks, not to the skulls themselves. There\'s a brilliant picture of a plastered Pre-historic Neolithic skull here : http://www.unc.edu/courses/clar047/sg1Neol.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-21 21:49:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
B - \"cellules à crânes\"
Just wondering in \"small skull chamber\" or similar might not do the trick. Nothing found to confirm this apart from descriptions of smaller sections of burial chambers used just for the skulls, with stones placed around them along wiht other precious items.
(Time for dinner, be back later!)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-03-22 08:57:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Yes, yes yes for \"skull niches\". So...
\"The severed plastered skulls and skull niches bear witness to the importance attached to these practices throughout the Neolithic period.\"
Team work guys!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you so much for all your hard work on this one!
Melanie."
11 mins
William Stein
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Native in English
Costa Rica
Translations that read like originals
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
see attempt below
The importance of such practices in the Neolithic period is demonstrated by the skulls that were separated and modelled over and the skull storage spaces.
The Functions And Forms Of Masks
... In Melanesia, the skull of the deceased is often modeled over with clay, or resin
and wax, and then elaborately painted with designs that had been used ...
www.anymask.com/forandfunofm.html - 32k - Mar 20, 2003 -
The Functions And Forms Of Masks
... In Melanesia, the skull of the deceased is often modeled over with clay, or resin
and wax, and then elaborately painted with designs that had been used ...
www.anymask.com/forandfunofm.html - 32k - Mar 20, 2003 -
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: I agree on the explanation but think I have found the axact term for "surmodelé" here : "plastered". I also prefer "severed" for heads - urgh! And I don't know about you, but I can't find something OK for "cellules" - grr!
3 hrs
|
|
Plastered is too specific: as you can see from the quote, clay, resin or wax are used. Plus it's prehistoric, well before the invention of plastic: ARGHH!
|
1 hr
cjohnstone
France
France
Native in French
&
English
France
Experience and feel
Native in: French 
, English (Variant: British)
Works in: English to French, French to English
The severed and reshaped skulls together with the special skull logdings evidence such practices dur
The severed and reshaped skulls together with the special skull logdings evidence such practices during the Neolithic period
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Neolithic skull cult - skulls were severed (I'm with you 100% there) and then plastered with clay (not 100% with you on the reshaped bit). I cannot for the life of me find anything I like for "cellules à crânes" but we're both thinking along same lines!
2 hrs
|
+2
5 hrs
niches
...how about that for organised, modular storage of your Ikea severed & plastered skulls?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
: that's right: skull niches,my dear, for your enjoyment
1 hr
|
|
ALL the best caves have one! Thanks, Jane!
|
|
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Yes - THAT was what I saw all over the place but just went clean out of my mind and could I recall it?!
10 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Nikki --- I keep thinking of the Catacombs!
|
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