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Roman and Early Byzantine Lead Seals and Tokens from The Collection of the National Museum of Serbia
No full textThe collection of the National Museum of Serbia houses 185 Roman and
early Byzantine lead seals and tokens, dating from the 2nd to the 6th century. Most of the
items were either donated or purchased. The find location is only known for a small number
of seals and tokens. They come from Sremska Mitrovica, Dubravica, Stari Kostolac, Veliko
Gradište, Guberevac and Zvečan. The seals, as well as the tokens, are classified into several
groups according to their issuers and representations, i.e., themes: representations of busts
of emperors and imperial families, busts of private persons, representations of deities, personifications, animals, objects and inscriptions. The most common seals are circular or oval
with depictions on both sides, followed by conical and cap-shaped examples with only one
side struck. Rectangular seals are less common. The poor preservation of seals and tokens
makes any detailed attribution difficult, which is generally an obstacle to their detailed
publication
Brilliance and colours: Personal ornaments in the Neolithic
No full textPrehistoric personal ornaments (pendants, beads, bracelets, etc.) are often assumed to have served as amulets, i.e., that they had prophylactic, apotropaic, curative role, and that they also served as status and prestige items. Usually it is assumed that the rarity of the raw material determined their value, i.e., that the ornaments from certain materials (e.g., imported marine shells, metals) were also signifiers for wealth and prestige. However, their other aesthetic traits could be contributing to and increasing their symbolic value. In the Neolithic period in the southeastern Europe, personal ornaments were produced from a variety of materials: lithic, clay, osseous and possibly perishable organic materials. Osseous raw materials (bones, teeth, antler, mollusc shells) were particularly frequent and their origin from living animal certainly contributed to their symbolic value. But these raw materials also possessed some important physical properties: bright colours, and smooth, shiny surfaces. Their surfaces were often meticulously burnished, thus increasing and emphasizing smoothness and shine. Apart from the smoothness and shine, colours also played an important role, especially white colour. Bone items, when fresh, had bright white colour, mollusc shells used for ornaments were often white, and used lithic raw materials were predominantly white stones. Other colours were also valued (reddish colours of some mollusc shells and clay items, greenish nuances of lithic objects), but white colour seems to have been particularly important for the Neolithic communities. In addition, we may note the presence of skeuomorphism – the same morpho-type of ornament was produced in different raw material (shell, bone, stone) but of the same (white) colour. This suggests that some of the aesthetic traits, especially shiny surfaces and white colour, were rather important; they added value to the personal ornaments and contributed significantly to their role as prestigious items
Innovations in the bone industries: spatula-spoons in the Early Neolithic Balkans
No full textThe introduction of the so-called “Neolithic way of life” not only brought in new technologies, but had great impact on the pre-existing ones. In case of bone industries, these innovations included new raw materials (switch from bones from wild species to the domestic animals), new manufacturing procedures (directly linked with changes in lithic industries), and new techno-types, needed for changes in economy and life styles (introduction of agricultural implements, increased needs for tools for small crafts, etc.). Some of the new techno-types in the Early Neolithic in the Balkans are considered as direct influence from the south-west Asia. The most prominent techno-type is the bone spatula-spoon, with elongated handle and elaborated bowl. These objects were carefully crafted from entire metapodial bones through several stages of cutting, scraping, grinding and burnishing. Some of them may even have decoration on them. While Anatolian examples were predominantly or perhaps exclusively made from metapodial bones of Bos primigenius, in the Balkan area Bos taurus bones prevailed. Furthermore, these objects were not simply adopted by the Early Neolithic communities in the Balkans, but also underwent come local transformations and adaptations, visible in some of their technological traits, and even more in their mode of use and overall significance. This poster will present comparative results of analyses of spatula-spoons in the eastern and central Balkans and southern Carpathian basin (present-day Bulgaria and Serbia), with focus on changes and transformations of this peculiar techno-type
Dining with the Sarmatians: an archaeozoological perspective on diet strategies at Novi Kneževac – Site 97
No full textThis study examines the diet strategies of the settlement at Site 97 in Novi Kneževac (northern Banat), based on animal remains recovered during rescue excavations in 2023. The faunal assemblage, dating from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD, is likely associated with Sarmatian occupation and includes a variety of mammal, bird, fish, mollusk, reptile, and amphibian species. Domestic mammals dominate, with sheep/goats, cattle, and pigs being the most common. Chicken bones prevail among bird remains, catfish is the most frequent fish species, and Painter’s mussel is the dominant mollusc. These findings offer significant insights into the dietary practices and subsistence strategies of the settlement, particularly focusing on animal husbandry and meat consumption. Given the scarcity of archaeozoological studies on animal remains from Sarmatian settlements in Serbia, this research aims to address that gap and contribute to a deeper understanding of the dietary patterns at the site in particular, but also in the Sarmatian world and Late Antiquity in general.The 31th European Association of Archaeologists Annual Meeting (Interwined pasts), Belgrade Virtual, 2-6 September 2025 - Saopštenje štampano u izvod
Echoes of Conflict: Investigating Trauma and Survival in Medieval Manastirište
No full textThe Manastirište site, located on the right bank of the Lubina River in the village of Kijevci, in the territory of Gradiška, Republika Srpska, offers a unique opportunity to investigate the physical and cultural impact on bodies through time. Archaeological excavations, which began in 2004, have revealed a Roman agricultural estate, a medieval church with a cemetery, two wooden churches, and an unexplored Object III. The investigation of the medieval cemetery, which spans over the Roman objects, provides insight into the evolution of burial practices from the 12th to the late medieval period. During the most recent research campaign in 2024, two closely positioned graves were examined. The individuals buried in them show distinct signs of trauma: a fatal head injury inflicted by a sharp object in one individual and a massive skull injury caused by a blunt object in the other, who survived. These studies offer an opportunity to analyze the impact of physical injuries on bodies, and the adaptation of surviving individuals to their environment and society. We will attempt to understand how changes in the physical state of the body impact the quality of life in the context of the Middle Ages in the Balkans, with an emphasis on how human bodies cope/interact with trauma. How does the elasticity of life energy vary from one individual to another
A Tale of Two ‘Hellenised’ Sites in Southeastern Europe: Recent Studies of Kale-Krševica and Gradište-Mlado Nagoričane (5th–3rd Centuries BC)
No full textThis paper examines the social and cultural changes among local
Iron Age communities in northeastern North Macedonia and southeastern
Serbia during the second half of the 1st millennium BC, often referred to as
the "process of Hellenisation." These communities, like many others in
neighbouring territories, engaged in intensive contact with the Mediterranean
world. Although these interactions are occasionally mentioned in written
sources, archaeological excavations provide more substantial insights. The
uncovered local material culture, including both objects and structures, demonstrates
a notable knowledge of the production technologies and stylistic
features of Greek Aegean colonies and ancient Macedonian centres. Furthermore,
the local communities were regularly supplied with products from the
south, including Attic red-figure and other glazed pottery, as well as transport
amphorae from various centres (e.g., Thasos, Chios, and Mende). Our
aim is to present the latest findings regarding these fascinating connections
among the ancient Greeks, Macedonians, and the so-called Paleo-Balkan communities,
to examine the factors driving the emergence of Greek-like characteristics
in local material culture, as well as the resulting social transformations.
As a case study, we present recent excavation results from the two most
prominent fortified settlements in this region: Kale--Krsevica (Serbia) and
Gradiste-Mlado Nagorii'ane (North Macedonia)
Prehistoric mining at Rudnik
No full textThe site of Prljuša at Mali Šturac, the lowest peak of Rudnik (Serbia), represents probably one of the largest prehistoric copper mines in South-eastern Europe. Archaeological research started in 1981. Up to 1989, six prehistoric mining shafts were discovered. Research activities were resumed in 2011. To date, two more shafts have been discovered, of which shaft 7 provided data on the size and cultural-chronological determination of the mine. It is not known when its exploitation began – it is assumed that it started already during the Vinča culture period (5300–4400 BC), but no traces have been discovered yet which would confirm it. The exploitation lasted until the end of the 3rd millennium BC. The Government of the Republic of Serbia decided in 2017 that the site should be designated as an archaeological site. The multi-year project to arrange the site of Prljuša, with minimal interventions, aims to protect and valorise this area, with ongoing education about the importance of the unified natural-geological and cultural-historical heritage. Today, Prljuša is included in recreational activities, hiking and educational routes of visitors, as can be seen by reviewing the ratings and comments they leave on social networks and websites
Документација Археолошког института. Историјат и структура кроз етапе развоја (eтапе I-II)
No full textМонографија је проистекла из вишегоди-
шег рада у архивима и редуковане докторске дисертације под насловом
Архивско-документалистичка грађа Археолошког института у Београ-
ду: историјат, структура, дигитализација, кандидата Милана Миловано-
вића. Теза је одбрањена августа 2024. године на Филолошком факултету
Универзитета у Београду, под менторством проф. др Бојана Ђорђевића,
у присуству комисије коју су чинили: проф. др Гордана Ђоковић, проф.
др Драгана Грујић и др Снежана Голубовић. У оквиру објављене научне
синтезе, на основу архивске грађе и доступне литературе, представљени
су историјат рада и структура Одељења за документацију Археолошког
института
Why Did It Become So Popular? Twisted and braided jewellery from the formative period of the Hungarian state in the Carpathian Basin
No full textThe article explores wire jewellery from the Carpathian Basin dating to the formative period of the Hungarian state (late 10th to 11th centuries), situating these artefacts within a broader European context. The analysis identifies notable formal and stylistic parallels between twisted and braided ornaments from the Carpathian region and those associated with the Viking and Rus’ cultural spheres while addressing significant contextual distinctions. While Viking Age hoards typically contain silver torcs and bracelets, Central-Eastern European finds are predominantly bronze adornments, often featuring less elaborate craftsmanship, and are usually discovered in graves. These objects, particularly torcs, likely held specific social significance, as they were frequently placed in the graves of children and young women. Rather than resulting from direct imports, shared wire-based techniques reflect processes of stylistic communication and technological influence. The study of jewellery finds underscores the significance of material culture in socio-cultural exchange, offering valuable insights into the transmission of cultural practices and aesthetic preferences across medieval Europe
Glass in funerary context – a case study of the eastern necropolis of Naissus
No full textNaissus (Niš, SRB) was one of the larger cities in the interior of the province of Dacia Mediterranea, situated at an important Balkan crossroads. The backbone of the city's economy was agriculture, metal processing (due to the proximity of mines), crafts, and trade. In late antiquity, a state military factory was active, producing weapons for the Roman army. The city was an occasional residence of emperors, among whom Licinius, Constantine I and his successors left a visible mark. The inhabitants of Naissus were buried in the city's necropolises, located along the main provincial highways (Glasija, Gradsko Polje, Jagodin Mala, Trg Kralja Milana), or in smaller necropolises on the outskirts of the city (Apelovac, Ćele Kula, etc.). So far, the eastern city necropolis in the Jagodin Mala city quarter has been the best studied, with approximately 900 registered graves, tombs, and five cemetery basilicas. Various forms of graves and tombs have been recorded in the necropolis of Jagodin Mala, along with numerous inventories that most often consisted of personal jewellery and costume parts. Among the grave goods, the most numerous are glass vessels, with approximately 150 finds of balsamaria, jugs, bottles, beakers, and amphorae. Glass jewellery has also been recorded, including glass bracelets, earrings, and necklaces with glass beads. The results of decades of archaeological research at the Jagodin Mala necropolis, complemented by a comprehensive review of its glass material, offer insight into the funerary customs of the city's population during the transition from paganism to Christianity. With this contribution, we aim to provide insight into the relationship between glass finds and grave forms within a topographical and chronological context, and to determine a more precise time frame and circumstances for the cessation of the funerary practice of placing glass next to the deceased