Repository of the Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade (RAI)
Not a member yet
2254 research outputs found
Sort by
Late Bronze and Early Iron Age metal depositions in northeastern Serbia – archaeometallurgical perspective
No full textIn this paper, we present and discuss the results of archaeometallurgical analyses (ED
XRF and Lead Isotope Analysis) on metal objects from several hoards from northeastern Serbia
dating to different periods, including Topolnica and Urovica (BA D–Ha A1), Bradarac, Bradarac
Rukumija and Stari Kostolac- Mali Grad (Ha A1), Alun, Brza Palanka, Leskovo and Vojilovo (Ha
A2–Ha B1) and Stari Kostolac-Leštar and Živica (Ha C1). The area along the Danube River Gorge
stands out as one of the very few European microregions with a continuity of metal deposition
activities throughout the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (13th–8th centuries BC). The deposition
of metal hoards additionally highlights the unique character of this landscape and the importance
of the Danube Gorge in the prehistoric communication networks. From a diachronic perspective,
our analyses revealed different alloy mixtures and provided hints regarding the provenance of
copper raw material used for the casting. Currently, there are no data that support the use of
nearby abundant local copper deposits in northeastern Serbia during this period
Plants and blades: harvesting techniques and diet in the Neolithic of the central-western Balkans
No full textSeveral recent or ongoing research projects have revised and systematised
old and generated new information on the lithic technology and plant
food consumption among the Neolithic cultural groups in the continental
western Balkans. The data point to intra-regional, inter-and intra-cultural,
and diachronic variability in the choice and diversity of raw materials and
resources. For instance, Early Neolithic groups in the eastern part of the
region (eastern Serbia) used a wider range of raw stone materials, mostly
non-local, whereas those in the western parts (western Serbia, northern
Bosnia-and-Herzegovina) opted for locally available resources. Late Neolithic
groups used both local and imported raw materials, but those in the west
to a lesser extent, while the choice of materials differed between the groups
in north and in the south. Early Neolithic groups in the south cultivated a
wider range of crops than those in the north. Late Neolithic groups in the
west relied on a narrower spectrum of cultivars than those in the east, but
maintained high rate of exploitation of wild edible plants. These findings
suggest differentiated economic behaviour and dietary habits within the
region, within and across postulated boundaries of the cultural groups. We
superimpose and compare patterns of differentiation in the lithic and archaeobotanical
records. Specifically, we examine morphology and raw material
of the blades potentially serving as harvesting tools (i.e. bearing silica
gloss) alongside morphological and biological characteristics of cereals and
weeds. We discuss ‘purity’ of Neolithic harvests and possible variations in
human and animal diets within the region
Where Did Vessels Come from? A Study of Pottery Provenance from the Site of Velika Humska Čuka, Serbia
No full textThe archaeological materials from the Velika Humska Cuka site on the northern
fringe of the Niš Basin in southeastern Serbia were analyzed to reveal the provenance of
ceramics and other artifacts. This study focused on the elemental analysis of 61 samples,
including local clay pits, potsherds, and whole vessels. Samples were chosen based on
stylistic and typological characteristics to distinguish local and “foreign” pottery. Elemental
analysis was conducted using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry,
complemented by principal component analysis (PCA) for data interpretation. Results
indicated that the majority of pottery samples, over 80%, were produced using local clay
from deposits near the site. However, approximately 20% of the analyzed vessels were
made using clay from deposits near the Bubanj site, 8 km south of Velika Humska Cuka. A
vessel on a hollow high foot combining stylistic elements of the Bubanj-Hum I group and
Early Eneolithic Pannonian groups was made of clay not sourced from any identified local
deposits, suggesting its non-local origin. While the predominance of local materials suggests
self-sufficient production, the use of non-local clays and stylistic influences highlights
long-distance connections and exchanges. The study emphasizes the importance of Velika
Humska Cuka in understanding the development of ceramic traditions and the cultural
dynamics of the Early Eneolithic in the Central Balkans
Hunting and fishing implements from the Bronze Age site of Popov Salaš (northern Serbia)
No full textHunting and fishing had relatively small role in the subsistence of the Bronze Age communities in the southern Carpathian basin; however, they were not entirely abandoned. The evidence is rather scarce, especially for the sites excavated in the mid-20th century, when faunal remains were only selectively collected and the soil was not sieved. Some indirect evidence may be obtained from the hunting and fishing gear. In particular, toggle harpoons produced from red deer antler were rather common and widespread in the Late Eneolithic and the Bronze Age in the southern Carpathian basin, although certain differences in technology and morphology may be noted.
In this paper will be presented hunting and fishing implements from the Bronze age Vatin culture site of Popov Salaš – Kać. The site is situated in southern Bačka region, in vicinity of Novi Sad, in Vojvodina, northern Serbia. The site was near the modern course of the Danube river, and presumably surrounded by the marshy areas in prehistoric times. The excavations carried out in 1960’s yielded certain amount of osseous tools, including several well-preserved toggle harpoons. These items were made from red deer antler, carefully crafted, and presumably used for fishing. In addition, one possible arrow head was found, also made from red deer antler. In this paper will be discussed technological and typological traits of these objects, as well as their possible mode of use
Eaten at the tree. Archaeobotanical records of apples and pears from the central Balkans in a Eurasian context
No full textThe list of fleshy fruit types recorded at archaeological sites in the central Balkans grows with every new archaeobotanical
analysis; however, the quantities of the remains, chiefly preserved through charring, are in most cases
very modest. This is because many of these fruits were likely eaten at the tree or the bush, but also because theywere less likely to end up in fire since they were not parched or ground for eating and some were consumed whole
(flesh, seeds and all), either fresh, or dried and then boiled. Earliest available finds of fruits in the central Balkans
include hard-seeded species, like Cornelian cherry and elderberry, dating from the regional Late Mesolithic
(early 7th millennium BCE). Remains of apple and pear appear later in the archaeobotanical archives, from the
later stage of the Early Neolithic (early-mid 6th millennium BCE) onwards, with the youngest finds so far noted
in Roman and Early Byzantine layers. Such long histories of apples and pears indicate their persistent value to
people, and the many uses known in ethnographic and modern contexts give an idea of their potential versatile
roles in the past. This paper reviews the evidence of apple and pear in the central Balkans and places it in a
broader temporal and geographical context using the data compiled within the ERC-project “Fruits of Eurasia:
Domestication and Dispersal (FEDD)”. In this, it emphasises the problems in distinguishing between the finds of
apple and pear on morphological grounds. Further, it discusses the apparent parallel use of ‘wild’ and ‘cultivated’
forms of pear in the Late Roman period and the difficulties in determining wild vs. managed status of archaeological
pears. It presents some ideas as to how to address the identification issues
Archaeology and Soil Science for the Preservation of Viminacium Landscape
No full textCivilisations' development depended on people’s relationship with the landscape, and one of the key events in human history was the Neolithic land cultivation for nutrition. The extent to which agriculture was later valued by the Romans is evidenced by many archaeological traces in the landscapes they inhabited.
Through recultivation, landscapes can become agricultural again, but can also be used for other activities, gaining new values. Can the results of archaeological research, with archaeobotany, archaeopalynology and geoarchaeology, be used in the recultivation of the degraded Viminacium landscape
Female rulers of Medieval Balkans- gamified VR experience
No full textThe history of the medieval Western Balkans region is complex, and its feminine side is almost unknown to the wider audience. Although living and acting in dominantly patriarchal societies, it seems hard to believe that there were women who actually had a chance to rule medieval states, while others left an important legacy in the domain of patronage, diplomacy, culture, or education. In this paper, we describe a gamified VR experience that aims to introduce the users to five queens of Balkans countries through Advanced Interactive Digital Storytelling (A-IDS). We present the VR educational game SHELeadersVR through its creation process. The game is installed in museums in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. The queens are placed in virtual reconstructions of locations where they used to live, and they tell their life stories in VR video. After each story, the user is tasked to find an artifact related to them in the gameplay. The visitors are attracted to the museums through an AR application that works on the locations of their castles. They can see 3D reconstructions over the archaeological remains. The queens show up and invite them to the museums. User experience evaluation confirms the success of the implemented methodology
Querns and mills in the Central Balkan's Roman Provinces
No full textThis paper examines ground stone technologies during the Roman and early Byzantine periods in the provinces located on the territory of present-day Serbia. The analysis focuses on querns and mills obtained from several archaeological sites and museums within the region. The objective was to identify the typology and raw materials used for these ground stone tools and to define their production and distribution networks
From Thread to Fabric: Anthropology and Its Interpreters
No full textIn the Conclusion of the book edited by Hande Birkalan Gedik and Fabiana Dimpfelmeier, the author traces the dynamics between the thread and the fabric, going back to Fredric Barth's seminal 2000 Sydney Mintz lecture, published in 2002. Using different examples, from ideas that speak of global anthropological concerns, to the more particular issues of what it means to produce (and use) the anthropological knowledge, the chapter emphasizes the need to understand different regional traditions.This open access edition of ‘Fabrics of Anthropological Knowledge: Changing Perspectives in Europe and Beyond’,
edited by Hande Birkalan-Gedik and Fabiana Dimpflmeier has been funded by Georg und Franziska Speyer’sche
Hochschulstiftung and the Open Access Publication Fund of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
Preliminarna arheološka istraživanja lokaliteta Trnovača u 2022. godini
No full textArheološko nalazište Trnovača nalazi se u ataru sela Stari Trstenik, u širem okruženju toka Zapadne Morave. Smešteno je na nadmorskoj visini od oko 161 m, uz rub plodne terase koja se blago izdiže nad širokim pojasom niže moravske terase pod nazivom Deonice, između sela Počekovine i Stopanje, na oko 18 km zapadno od Kruševca. Dimenzije lokaliteta iznose oko 300 m x 250 m. Reč je o višeslojnom naselju otvorenog tipa, čija se zapadna i istočna granica ne očitavaju u reljefu, dok se južna granica zaravnjenog platoa otprilike poklapa sa trasom pruge i magistralnog puta Kruševac–Trstenik–Kraljevo. Osnovni cilj projekta "Preliminarna arheološka istraživanja višeslojnog lokaliteta Trnovača na teritoriji opštine Trstenik", realizovanog 2022. godine, bio je da se upotpune podaci o životu tokom praistorijskih i istorijskih perioda u ovom delu naše zemlje