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The anthropological antique and medieval collection at the Museum of Srem – problems, solutions and experiences
No full textIn 2016, at the Open-call for co-funding projects in the area of research, preservation and usage of the museum heritage of the Ministry of culture and information of the Republic of Serbia, we were given considerable funding to start the project Preparation of final documentation and provision of permanent and safe storage of osteological material from earlier anthropological research in Sirmium. Out of all the museums in Serbia, we chose, as the starting point, the Museum of Srem and the material from Sremska Mitrovica (Sirmium) and its’ immediate surroundings, not only because it is one of the most significant antique and medieval sites in our country, but also because anthropological examinations and analyses, accompanied by photos, were performed, and also published, for over 1.000 individuals. In the period between 2016 and 2025 we managed to form an anthropological collection with more than 2.000 individuals in the Museum of Srem in Sremska Mitrovica, which is important not only for the research on the population of Srem in the Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, but also for the entire territory of Serbia. We rearranged and deposited the human osteological material in adequate and permanent storage equipment, properly marked, we place the containers on high-quality steel shelves and in this manner protected the human osteological material from decay. Every single skeleton, i.e. every single deceased, had its’ own record, where it was listed: site on which the material was found, grave number and designation, the number of shelf and box, finding conditions in the field where it was found, its’ sex and individual age, body height, as well as additional notes, if there was need for them. The forming of the collection also enabled, along with safe storage, greater availability of the anthropological material for the needs of future research and presentations
Early farmers at Schela Cladovei: an archaeobotanical perspective
No full textArchaeobotanical sampling has been limited to just two sites that survived dam construction along the Iron
Gates section of the Danube. Minimal plant data were collected during salvage excavations conducted during
the construction period of the dams (e.g., pollen from archaeological layers and coprolites). To compensate
for this ‘lost’ evidence, alternative methodologies have been implemented, including stable isotope studies of
human remains and the analysis of starch and phytoliths from dental calculus and grinding stones. Schela
Cladovei, located on the Romanian bank of the Danube, is one of only two sites that escaped the flooding caused
by dam construction. Consequently, it offers a unique opportunity to study dietary changes during the important
Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in the Iron Gates but also, given the uniqueness of the evidence, in the wider
region. Systematic sampling and flotation of pit features from excavations conducted between 2008 and 2022
have yielded substantial evidence for cultivated plant use in the Early Neolithic settlement. This contrasts with
Vlasac, where plant remains were primarily recovered from grave contexts, and mostly from the Late Mesolithic.
The archaeobotanical archive from Schela Cladovei is not only crucial for understanding economic and dietary
changes across the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition; it also provides a rare opportunity to compare the use of
plants in a domestic, everyday context with that in a funerary, symbolic context within the as yet unmatched
archaeological treasure trove that is the Iron Gates
Streams of transformation: Early Neolithic settlement patterns and human-environment interactions in the Middle Morava Valley, Central Serbia
No full textThe Middle Morava Valley in central Serbia lies along the Morava-Vardar Corridor, a major communication route
connecting the Aegean and Anatolian regions to Central Europe. This strategic position made it a crucial pathway
for the movement of people, goods, and ideas during the Early Neolithic period. Having in mind the role of rivers
in the dispersal of the early farming communities, this paper explores the settlement patterns of Early Neolithic
communities in the Middle Morava Valley, focusing on their interactions with riverine landscapes. The region
is characterized by the expansive alluvial plain of the Velika Morava River, rich in fertile soils. Its tributaries
on the east and west banks exhibit distinct hydrographic features due to the differing petrographic composition
of the basin’s edges. The eastern tributaries, fed by numerous springs, are short, sediment-rich streams that
form alluvial fans upon entering the basin. In contrast, the western tributaries are larger, with elongated and
narrow alluvial plains. With 67 recorded Early Neolithic settlements, the Middle Morava Valley was among the most densely populated areas of the Central Balkans during this period. This paper investigates how rivers influenced
the spatial organization and community dynamics of these early farming societies. Did they favor the flat,
fertile alluvial plains of the Velika Morava, or were the diverse terrains of its tributaries more appealing? How
did proximity to waterways benefit these communities, and what role did aquatic resources play in their subsistence
strategies? By addressing these questions, the study aims to illuminate the critical relationship between
geography, natural resources, and human activity in shaping the development of Early Neolithic communities
in the Middle Morava Valley
On the spatial distribution of Slavic fibulae in the Balkans
No full textThe finds of the so-called Slavic fibulae have attracted the attention of scholars in the past. However, most such discussions have usually been accompanied by variously motivated prejudices. Ever since the pioneering work of Joachim Werner, the authors have traditionally attributed these finds to the Slavs. In most cases, this was done automatically, ignoring their typological origin in Germanic material culture. As those fibulae appear in non-Slavic contexts as well, they are no longer given an exclusively Slavic affiliation. Yet, this has over the last two decades evolved in an a priori rejection of the Slavic interpretation, above all in numerous papers by Florin Curta and his followers. It was also pointed out that the typological classification of these objects is not precise enough, which results in an unclear clustering of typologically most important examples and, consequently, blurs the notion of their original territorial, cultural and ethnic milieus. Even if it becomes increasingly clear that these fibulae originated from Slavic lands in the Dnieper region, this does not mean that each and every find testifies to a Slavic settlement in a given territory.
In our presentation we will discuss the finds from the Balkans, confronting their spatial distribution with historical accounts on the Slavs in this territory, the Eastern Roman road network, and the spread of coin hoards, to see to what extent these enigmatic artefacts could fit into the other sets of data that are usually used to reconstruct historical phenomena of the early Byzantine and early medieval periods
Сахрана са златним накитом из раног бронзаног доба
No full textThe evidence of Early Bronze Age occupation at Svinjarička Čuka is currently based on sporadic potsherds whose form would correspond to the typical ceramic inventory of the Early Bronze Age in the South Morava Valley, and several absolute dates. Besides potsherds which do not originate from enclosed archaeological features, no other traces of a period-related settlement have been recorded, thus indicating that the Early Bronze Age occupation at the site could possibly be connected with the higher portion of the site, further to the west
A Small Coin Hoard Discovered in the Area of the Civilian Settlement at Viminacium (I)
No full textA hoard of bronze coins was found in 2024 during archaeological excavations in
the area of the civilian settlement at Viminacium. It was discovered in a layer of rubble, in a narrow
space (0.50 cm) between the outer walls of two buildings. It consists of 15 pieces of bronze
coins ranging from Vespasian to Faustina II struck during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Among
these, 13 pieces belong to imperial minting, with all denominations represented: as, dupondius,
and sestertius. Two specimens belong to provincial minting: Trajan from an unknown mint and
Antoninus Pius from the mint of Philippopoli
Pottery from the Bubanj Archaeological Site: A Study on Provenance and Production Technology
No full textThe paper presents the results of the first provenience study conducted on ceramic materials that belong to different stratigraphy layers on the same archaeological site. The suitable site was Bubanj, positioned on a high terrace near the Nišava River in the middle of the Niš Plain. The period from the Early to Late Eneolithic was archaeologically divided into cultural groups associated with these phases: Early Eneolithic, the Bubanj-Hum I group, Middle Eneolithic, the Chernavoda III-Boleraz-Baden group, and Late Eneolithic, the Cotofeni-Kostolac group. This study aims to determine similarities/differences in the origin of raw materials (based on compositional and mineralogical analysis) as well as the production technology (based on firing temperature assessment). The elemental composition of the ceramics and clay was determined using EDXRF spectrometry, and the mineral composition and its phases were determined using XRPD analysis, while FTIR spectrometry results were used for the firing temperature estimation. The analytical techniques used and mathematical models developed in this study showed that they were efficient in analyzing materials made of the same/similar raw materials. The usage of local raw and nonlocal raw materials was confirmed, and the archaeological grouping was confirmed based on the results. The results substantiate the notion of dynamic social interactions in the period following the mid-4th millennium calBC. This is evident not only by the distinct stylistic and typological features of Early Eneolithic ceramics compared to those of the Middle and Late Eneolithic but also by the technological differences in firing ceramics
Technological Innovations of quern and millstones during the Late Antique and Early Byzantine Period in the central Balkan provinces
No full textDuring the turbulent Late Antique and Early Byzantine period, alongside significant historical and administrative changes, numerous transformations occurred in the material culture of the central Balkan provinces of the Roman Empire. One such example is the evolution of tools used for grinding grain. This everyday activity, crucial for the population's nutrition, was, in the early centuries of the Common era, typically carried out in the home environment using cylindrical hand-operated rotary querns with massive edges. Larger-scale grinding took place on villas and in bakeries using large-sized "dry" or "donkey mills." During the Late Antique and Early Byzantine period, the appearance of querns changed. Thin, flat, disc-shaped hand-operated rotary querns became dominant, accompanied by the introduction of a new technological innovation that altered their use and made grinding easier
On the trail of Pithoi Production. La Tène Pottery Kiln from the site of Adžine Njive – Brajkovo
No full textЗаштитна археолошка истраживања локалитета Аџине њиве – Брајково у селу Кленак, у општини Рума, спроведена су током 2021. и 2022. године на траси будућег аутопута Рума-Шабац-Лозница. Током радова је, у оквиру латенског насеља, истражена добро очувана керамичарска пећ. Она припада типу вертикалних пећи са дводелним ложиштем, укопаним у лесну подлогу и преграђеним средишњим потпорним зидом на два једнака сегмента, а посебно се истиче својом масивношћу. Пречник решетке износи 213 cm. Јама из које се приступало пећи налазила се непосредно испред ложишта. Затечена је испуњена остацима горења и лепа, и великом количином уломака познолатенске керамике. Након престанка рада пећи, искоришћена је за одбацивање керамичких производа. Керамички фрагменти из простора за печење били су изложени секундарном печењу, на основу чега је закључено да је реч о секундарно депонованим уломцима. Резултати типолошке анализе керамичког материјала из простора за печење указују на издвајање посуда великих димензија – биконичних питоса, чија је производња у оваквој пећи била могућа управо захваљујући њеним великим димензијама. Осим тога, материјал из Кленка може директно или индиректно да буде потврда различитих секвенци у оперативном ланцу производње керамике.Rescue archaeological research at the site of Adžine Njive – Brajkovo,in the village of Klenak, in the municipality of Ruma in Syrmia, northern Serbia,was carried out in 2021 and 2022 on the route of the future Ruma–Šabac–Loznicahighway. During the works, a well-preserved pottery kiln was explored within theLa Tène settlement. It belongs to the type of updraught kilns with a two-part combustion chamber, dug into the loess subsoil and divided by a central retaining wallinto two equal segments, and is particularly notable for its massiveness. The diameter of the flue plate is 213 cm. The pit from which the kiln was accessed/stokerspit was located directly in front of the firebox. It was found filled with burning anddaub residues, and a large number of fragments of late La Tène pottery. After thekiln ceased operation, it was used for discarding pottery and other waste.The pottery fragments from the firing area were exposed to secondaryfiring. It was the confirmation that they were secondarily deposited. Typologicalanalysis of the ceramic material from the firing area was conducted. The following types were identified: bowls, beakers, pots, amphorae and pithoi. Thelarge-sized vessels – biconical pithoi were of particular interest, given that theirproduction in such a kiln was possible thanks to its large dimensions.In addition, the material from Klenak can directly or indirectly confirmdifferent sequences in the chaîne opératoire of pottery production. There was noconcrete evidence about the procurement of clay, admixtures, and fuel for thekiln. It is assumed that the clay preparation was carried out in the immediate vicinity of the firing site, analogous to other La Tène sites where pottery workshopswere confirmed. Based on the macroscopic analysis of the final products, it canbe concluded that the following admixtures were added to the clay: sand, pebbles,graphite, mollusc shells, and mica. The vessels that could have been fired in the kiln were made on a wheel or without the use of a wheel. The large pithoi weremade on a slow, manual wheel, as indicated by impurities in the clay (pebbles andsand). The pithoi bear witness to the fact that they were made in stages when thecoil building technique was used before shaping on a slow wheel.The final surface treatment in a number of cases of the pottery assemblage included decoration by polishing, incising, painting, and attaching decorative appliqués. Direct confirmation of pottery firing is the kiln with traces of use,the most notable of which are the decomposed calotte and the presence of plugsthat regulated the air flow and firing temperature. The finished vessels could haveended up in various places in the settlement of Adžine Njive through trade, andpossibly in other La Tène settlements as well, as indicated by the morphologicalsimilarity with pottery from other archaeological contexts. The longevity of atleast some of these products, and therefore their value, is evidenced by a repairedpithos. The final stage in the operational chain – conversion of pottery into wastematerial and its disposal – is illustrated by both the kiln itself and the pit fromwhich the kiln was accessed, which were used to dispose of pottery and otherwaste after the kiln ceased to be in use
Istraživanja na nalazištu Slatina - Turska česma u Drenovcu 2022. godine
No full textNalazište Slatina - Turska Česma, poznatije kao Drenovac, nalazi se u centralnom Pomoravlju,
oko 9 km južno od Paraćina, i kontinuirano se istražuje od 2004. godine u okviru
projeka Stalna arheološka radionica – Srednje Pomoravlje u neolitizaciji jugoistočne Evrope1. U
2022. godini nastavljena su istraživanja u zapadnom delu lokaliteta, na prostoru predviđenom
za prezentaciju ostataka neolitskog naselja (Balon 2). Tokom prethodne godine, u severoistočnom
delu Balona 2 je istražen jedan kasnoneolitski objekat – Kuća 1/XXVIII (Perić et
al. 2024). Cilj ovogodišnje kampanje bilo je otkrivanje tri objekta u jugoistočnom delu Balona
2, koji su na geomagnetom planu vidljivi kao tri jasno izražene, izdužene anomalije i za koje se
pretpostavlja da su ostaci spaljenih kuća iz najmlađe faze vinčanskog naselja (sl. 1).
Istraživanja 2022. godine su još jednom ilustrovala
razlike u organizaciji unutrašnjeg prostora kasnovinčanskih kuća u Drenovcu, što
se najpre ogleda u njegovoj podeli, položaju i broju peći. U najsevernijoj kući 1/XXX bile su
dve peći uz južni zid (Perić et al. 2024), u kući 2/XXX peći su uz južni i uz severni zid, dok je
u kućama 1/XXX i 3/XXX pronađena po jedna peć smeštena uz severni zid. S druge strane,
uočene su pravilnosti u vidu istovetne orijentacije kuća, kao i približno ujednačenog razmaka
između niza od četiri kuće istražene u okviru istočne polovine Balona 2. Kuće se razlikuju
i po brojnosti i raznovrsnosti inventara, što može da bude posledica drugačijih aktivnosti i
namene ovih objekta, ali i drugačijih istorija njihovog napuštanja i urušavanja