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Inele romane și romane târzii de la Ravna (Campsa)
Archaeological research at Ravna-Campsa (the municipality of Majdanpek, Bor District, Republic of Serbia) was conducted during the construction of the Yugoslav-Romanian Iron Gates (Đerdap) I hydroelectric power plant in the 1960s. It revealed the remains of a late Roman and early Byzantine fortification, built from the late 3rd and early 4th centuries to the end of the 6th century, for stationing an auxiliary unit of the Roman army. Numerous archaeological finds attest to the ever-changing living conditions within the fortification at Ravna-Campsa. In some of its phases, it did not serve solely as a military stronghold but also as a place where the civilian population, including women, resided.
Research within the fortification ramparts has also revealed earlier structures, dating from the end of the 1st to the second half of the 3rd century. However, it is not entirely clear whether this is a continuation of the construction of military architecture or whether these are the remains of a civilian settlement, possibly a villa rustica.
The findings of finger rings from different phases of the Ravna-Campsa site, whether in a civilian or military context, represent testimony to the significant presence of women, especially in the period from the end of the 1st to the end of the 4th and beginning of the 5th century at this outpost on the Danube limes. This small yet significant collection of finger rings includes 14 pieces made of silver, bronze, and iron. They represent a typologically diverse group of finds, characterised by typical provincial workmanship of the Roman imperial and late antique periods. Three examples, the most luxurious ones, had inlayed gems, but only in one case, the gem bore figural representations that remained preserved. The scene in question features two Victories with wreaths in their hands, offering them to the central male figure, dressed in the attire of a Roman soldier, wearing a parade helmet with a crest, holding a spear in his right hand, and with his left arm resting on a shield. It is most likely a depiction of an imperial triumph, which, in the context of the relationship between the finger ring's owner and the figural representation on it, can be interpreted in several ways.
Among other examples, there are those with a pointed head, most often decorated with carvings, including geometric or abstract motifs (such as four petals or leaves arranged in the shape of a cross – a Christian motif?, oblique lines, motif of a square body with rays, and others). Parallels are found at numerous sites along the Danube limes, in the hinterland and other Roman provinces
Археолошка истраживања градинских налазишта из праисторије на тлу Сокобањске котлине (2022–2024)
Археолошка истраживања реализована у оквиру пројекта „Истраживање налазишта из раног гвозденог доба на територији општине Сокобања“ у периоду од 2022. до 2024. године представљају прву систематску научну иницијативу усмерену ка документовању и интерпретацији праисторијских хоризоната на подручју овог дела источне Србије. Обухватајући више локалитета – Поповицу, Девојачки камен и Татумиров град – пројекат је показао да Сокобањска котлина није представљала периферну зону већ важну карпато-балканску раскрсницу културних токова у праисторији.
Општина Сокобања, смештена на развођу Тимочког и Јужноморавског слива, обухвата крајолике који су од праисторије имали комуникационо и стратешко значење. Долине река Моравице, Градашнице, Врмџанске реке и Ораовице повезују овај регион са Карпатима, Родопима и централним Балканом, док природне баријере попут Ртња и Озрена делују као погодно окружење за формирање насеобина градинског типа. Избор локација као што су Поповица, Девојачки камен и Татумиров град сведочи о прилагођавању насељавања теренским условима, уз истовремену тежњу ка визуелној и војно-стратешкој контроли околине.
Сондажним истраживањима су обухваћена три локалитета Поповица, Девојачки камен и Татумиров град на којима је отворено укупно 9 сонди. Прикупљено је више од 15 хиљада археолошких налаза, већином керамичких фрагмената на којима се у 1.593 случаја могу препознати елементи потребни за хронолошко и културно опредељење. Ситуације у сондама су документоване кроз велики број фотографија, уз детаљно цртање профила, основа и налаза. У истраживањима је примењен широк спектар савремених метода, укључујући геомагнетна снимања за идентификацију подземних структура, радиокарбонске анализе у циљу прецизног хронолошког одређивања, као и фотограметрију која је допринела детаљној документацији и визуелној презентацији налазишта
Dama dama as the Source of Raw Materials in the Neolithic in the Eastern Balkans.
Animal skeletal elements were widely used for production of everyday tools and ornaments in the Neolithic period in the eastern Balkan area. Mainly the domestic species were exploited – sheep, goats, cattle, but skeletal elements of cervids were used as well – antlers, long bones and short bones of red deer, roe deer and fallow deer. The frequency of their usage varied between different regions and over time, due to environmental, economic reasons and cultural preferences. The Late Neolithic site of Hauza – Kapitan Andreevo, situated in the present-day Bulgarian-Turkish border, in the immediate vicinity of the town of Kapitan Andreevo, provided the ample evidence for the usage of skeletal elements from fallow deer. At this site, rescue excavations were carried out in 2013-2014, revealing a large number of pits from the Late Neolithic period, with rich and diverse portable findings, including a rich assemblage of osseous artefacts. The assemblage comprised approximately 400 complete and fragmented items and manufacture debris, and provided the information on the exploitation of skeletal elements from different species. Particularly interesting are artefacts produced from skeletal elements of Dama dama, that will presented in this paper. Fallow deer tibiae and metapodial bones were widely used, especially for those techno-types usually produced from sheep/goat or roe deer bones at other Neolithic sites in Thrace. Also, antlers were relatively frequently used, mainly for small percussion and cutting tools
Viminacium from a Roman Capital City to the Leading Sustainable Archaeological Park
Twenty centuries ago Viminacium was established as the military stronghold with civilian settlement that developed to become the capital of the Moesia Superior province. Today after decades of systematic and salvage excavations we celebrate twenty years of the forming of largest and most complex archaeological park in Serbia. Institute of Archaeology with its 2 spin off companies formed not just the archaeological park protecting ancient ruins, but went into further development of large congress and most advanced field research centers to research, manage, protect and present ancient Roman heritage. By involving into the UNESCO transnational serial nomination Frontiers of the Roman empire, Viminacium positioned itself among world’s most famous and renowned sites leading in the presentation of Cultural heritage. We tend to be a backbone of future local tourism and the central point of the two huge Serbian cultural routes: future UNESCO World heritage site The Danube Limes (450 km) and the Road of the Roman Emperors in Serbia (600 km).
Festivals, concerts and children camps are all part of the continuous annual agenda. Different events with long term tradition help reaching all social and age groups. Scientific and sports camps are investment into the future as educate children who will continue our mission related to heritage. Out team is also leading in education of all generations with innovative and attractive approaches.
With strong and well developed visitors infrastructure and more than 100.000 tourists per year, Viminacium took also the role in the regional and local economical sustainable development. Apart from 35-40 scientific researchers almost 100 families lives of work related to archaeological park in different aspects. Engagement of the local population is crucial for protection, understanding and exploitation of the cultural heritage. Multiple ongoing international projects and income from the tourism industry provides sustainability and huge potential for future development. Twenty years of steady development (opened in 2006) marked the huge experience that can now be applied to development of new archaeological parks.Organization institutions: Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS). Book of abstracts (full text) [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.clubofrome.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WCSAS_Belgrade_Report_LR.pdf
Multimodal meanings and digital culture: A critical study of the COOLTOUR platform
This paper presents a theoretical and analytical study of the digital platform COOLTOUR, developed
as a model for participatory learning about cultural heritage through multimodal practices within the
eponymous international project. The paper aims to use multimodality as a research methodology,
to gain a more complete understanding of the platform model in the aspects of communication and
education, which should be used to recreate, improve, or innovate upon the platform design and, thus
secure its analytics. Drawing upon the theories in social semiotics, modal affordances, intermedial
analysis, and critical digital pedagogy, the study positions the platform not merely as a tool for knowledge
transfer but as a dynamic landscape of meaning in which users become both producers and interpreters
of cultural heritage narratives. The empirical evaluation of the platform encompasses an analysis of
student participation during the project, as well as the structural modalities and pedagogical design
of meaning. Particular attention is devoted to how textual, visual, spatial, and interactive modalities
interweave, as well as to the limitations evident in the auditory and haptic layers. The study affirms the
potential of the platform as a model of an innovative pedagogical ecosystem that acknowledges the role
of young users as active cultural heritage agents in the digital sphere
The Dacian legacy of the Tetrarchy: Maximinus Daia, Licinius and the imperial complex of Vrelo-Šarkamen
At the end of the 19th century, Austro-Hungarian explorer Felix Kanitz documented the existence
of two highly significant ancient fortifications on the territory of present-day Serbia. One was the
imperial palace of Emperor Galerius, Felix Romuliana (modern Gamzigrad), while the other, located
near Negotin, was Vrelo-Šarkamen, believed to have been the fortified residence of the Tetrarch
Maximinus Daia. The site is particularly renowned for a discovery unique within the entire Roman
Empire: a set of imperial golden jewelry belonging to an empress buried in a mausoleum near the
fortification. Based on archaeological investigations conducted between 1994 and 2003, scholars
proposed that the complex represented an unfinished fortified imperial residence from the
Tetrarchic period. However, after the excavations were resumed in 2013, new evidence has cast
serious doubt on this hypothesis and raised other important questions concerning the nature and
function of this enigmatic site. Given what is historically known, the association between this
complex and the name of Maximinus Daia is increasingly becoming a significant topic of discussion.At present, there is no unequivocal evidence linking the site to this emperor, suggesting the
possibility that it may have been commissioned by another figure. It is, in fact, known that a third
emperor, Licinius, was a native “ex Nova Dacia”. Unlike Maximinus Daia, Licinius exercised actual
political control over the Balkan area after the death of Galerius and until the end of the bellum
Cibalense, leaving open the possibility that he was the one who commissioned the complex. By
comparing the archaeological data with what is historically known about the different ways in
which Daia and Licinius exercised their influence in the Diocese of Dacia at different times—and,
finally, by taking into account the weight of Tetrarchic power ideology in the actions of the
emperors—an attempt will be made to define the contours of the problem and the key elements
for identifying the complex and its owner
Bone and shell beads from the Bronze Age necropolis at Mokrin (northern Serbia)
The Bronze Age cemetery at the site of Mokrin is situated in the northern Banat region, near the town of Kikinda, in northeast Serbia. Necropolis belonging to the Bronze Age Moriš (Maros) culture was first noted in the nineteenth century, and extensive excavations were carried out in the 1960s revealing over 300 graves. The burials at Mokrin contained rich archaeological material: ceramic vessels, jewelry and clothing accessories made from bronze, gold, osseous and lithic raw materials, copper and stone tools and weapons, and animal bones. The rich data provided by this necropolis, especially the diversity and richness of offerings and/or funerary equipment, were used for assessing and analyzing the stratification and social organization of the communities buried at the Mokrin necropolis.
Personal ornaments made from osseous raw materials were recorded at almost one third of the graves, and the most common among them were different beads, made from bones and mollusk shells. This paper presents the results of the analyses of technological traits, manufacturing procedure, and use wear traces. Traces of use and their position in graves showed that some beads were used as part of composite jewelry (necklaces, bracelets), but others were part of clothing items, probably attached to belts, head dressings, etc. Also, numerous beads display intensive use wear traces, meaning they were used for a long time, and were probably highly valued.[https://publications.naim.bg/index.php/stprae/article/view/555
Људи и животиње у неолиту
Неолит (6200–4500. г. п. н. е.) донео je праву
револуцију у односу између човека и животиња.
Управо у том периоду људи су престали да буду
само ловци и сакупљачи и почели су да се баве
узгојем домаћих животиња, ослањајући своју
егзистенцију на пољопривреду и сточарство.
Осим пса, који је био припитомљен још
раније, друге домаће врсте нису локално
припитомљаване на простору данашње Србије.
Људи су их доводили са собом током миграција.
У млађем каменом добу насеља су по правилу
оснивана у близини река и плодног земљишта,
што је погодовало одрживости и развоју
сточарства. У раном неолиту (старчевачкој
култури) људи су живели у мањим заједницама,
са малим стадима. Међутим,
у касном неолиту (винчанској
култури) ничу велика, стална
насеља која су трајала вековима,
а сточарство постаје једна од
кључних привредних грана
Innovations in the Early Neolithic bone technology: the case study of Nova Nadezhda (eastern Bulgaria)
Changes in subsistence economy that were introduced with the Neolithic way of life, also included and influenced major changes in technology. Some technologies were introduced for the first time, such as ceramic technology, while others, such as lithic or bone technologies, that had been rather important in earlier periods, were now adapted to major changes in everyday lives. The Early Neolithic bone technology in some areas of southeastern Europe shows certain traits that may be characterised as the Mesolithic traditions, but also includes some major changes, related to the new lifestyles, changes in economy and everyday activities – bones from domestic animals now became the major raw materials, diverse tools for small crafts, for agricultural activities, etc., are now predominant, while hunting implements decreased. Among these innovations, some may be characterised as influence from Southwest Asia – in particular, the appearance of spatula-spoons, carefully crafted from Bos metapodial bones; tools from sheep/goat tibiae; specific ornaments produced from long bones, etc. While some of these Southwest Asian objects were adopted without changes, others were locally adapted and modified. This presentation will discuss the Southwest Asian influence as demonstrated in the bone industry of Nova Nadezhda, an early sixth millennium BC site in Upper Thrace (southeastern Bulgaria) that has been investigated since 2013.[conference.unizd.hr/ene2025
Људи и животиње у металним добима
У овом раду представљен је кратак преглед историје људско - животињских односа у бронзаном и гвозденом добу