Archaeozoology of Southwest Asia and Adjacent Areas XIV Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Symposium, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, June 3-7, 2019, 2024
Abstract
The use of animal hard tissue during the metal ages is still an underexplored topic, esp... more Abstract
The use of animal hard tissue during the metal ages is still an underexplored topic, especially in south-eastern Europe. Some of the cultural phenomena of the Eneolithic or Bronze Age period were never a topic of a separate study. One of these is the Kostolac cultural complex, which was widespread in the Eneolithic period in the southern Carpathian basin and the Balkans in multiple local variants, Kostolac-Coţofeni being characteristic for the eastern regions. This paper presents the artefacts recovered so far on Kostolac-Coţofeni layers from the sites of Bubanj-Novo Selo near Niš, Klokočevac-Kulmja Škjopuluj near Majdanpek in eastern Serbia and Hisar near Suva Reka on Kosovo. These assemblages are relatively small, but provide the first information regarding the osseous technology: raw material selection, manufacturing techniques, typological repertoire and possible mode of use.
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L’industrie osseuse est généralement considérée comme conservatrice, traditionnelle, ainsi que chronologiquement et culturellement non-sensible. Quand même, tout comme d’autres technologies, la technologie de l’industrie osseuse dépend des préférences culturelles ; ainsi, dans l’industrie osseuse, on peut aussi remarquer des changements : des nouveaux matériaux, de nouvelles techniques et de nouveaux types d’objets. Dans l’ article présent, on analyse l’industrie osseuse de la culture de Starčevo, qui montre des traditions mésolithiques, mais aussi des innovations qui peuvent être liées aux influences d’origine de Asie du sud-ouest. Ces influences comprennent des outils tranchants en tibia de petits ruminants, des crochets, des corps de faucille, boucles de ceinture et notamment des spatules-cuillers. Ces techno-types, pourtant, ne sont pas repris sans changements, mais modifiés et adaptés localement. Cela montre que les influences dans la technologie ne sont pas simples, mais sont sous l’impact des préférences culturelles locales et que la technologie n’est pas prédéterminée, mais qu’elle change parallèlement aux autres changements culturels et sociaux.
Rezumat: Reprezentările figurative eneolitice sunt relativ puține în sud-estul Europei, mai ales în comparație cu perioada neolitică și sunt rar discutate în literatura de specialitate. Pe durata culturii eneolitice timpurii Bubanj-Hum I, parte a complexului Bubanj-Sălcuța-Krivodol, figurinele antropomorfe erau realizate din lut și os; cu toate acestea, mai ales în zona central balcanică sunt rare. În aces articol vom prezenta o figurină fragmentară, anterior inedită, din situl eponim de la Bubanj. Piesa a fost descoperită în 1956 și este în prezent parte a colecțiilor Muzeului Național din Belgrad. Vom prezenta caracteristicile sale tipologice și tehnologice, discutând în același timp locul ei în contextul mai larg al comunităților eneolitice timpurii din zona central balcanică.
the communities of the Starčevo culture, part of the Starčevo-Körös-Cris cultural complex. This region was intensively inhabited during the period between 6200 and 5500 cal BC, and numerous sites were excavated. Some of the aspects of the lives of these communities, however, are still insufficiently explored, in particular the economy and craft production. In this paper we will focus on lithic and osseous tool assemblages from the site of Kneževi Vinogradi-Osnovna škola. The Starčevo cultural horizon has only yielded small assemblages of lithic and osseous tools, but they show some interesting technological and typological traits.
Fish hook Gml 25: Fragmented hook, from antler segment; the body (shank) is preserved, but the point is missing. At the basal part it has an extension and shallow groove immediately below. On most of the outer surface traces of scraping with a chipped stone tool tool are visible, only small portion has traces of burnishing. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 26: Fragmented hook, made from antler segment; the entire pointed part is missing. It has finely modelled head on the basal part of the body, with shallow groove below it. The head itself was shaped by cutting and also on the outer surface it has traces of cutting and scraping with a chipped stone tool. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 41: Fragmented hook, from long bone segment, probably from larger animal. L-shaped; the body is preserved, but the point is missing. At the basal part it has an extension and shallow groove immediately below. On most of the outer surface traces of scraping with a finely retouched chipped stone tool are visible, only small portion has traces of burnishing. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 100. Preform for a hook, from piece of cortex, from red deer antler beam. It has clear traces in negative from small pieces of material removed by scraping and cutting with a chipped stone tool.
This preform, along with the manufacturing traces preserved on the hooks, enabled us to reconstruct the technological procedure: first an elongated plate was extracted from red deer antler beam segment. The blank was then modified by cutting with a chipped stone tool until it reached the general hook shape. After that, the blank was further modified by scraping with a chipped stone tool, judging from the traces, probably finely retouched until it reached the final form – a body (shank) with circular cross section, curved mesial part also with circular cross-section, and a point. Unfortunately, points are all fragmented – probably due to intensive use – and we have no data whether the points were simple or barbed (both variants are present in the material that is being kept in the Museum of Vojvodina).
The finds of fish hooks are very important since they provide indirect evidence on the importance of fishing and on the fishing techniques that were practiced. Some of the fishing equipment cannot be identified unambiguously (for example, ceramic weights), or is simply not preserved in the archaeological record (rare archaeological finds and ethnographic examples suggest the possibility of using traps, baskets, etc. made from wood). The site of Gomolava was situated on the river Sava, on a high loess terrace near the flooded area of southern Pannonian plain. Fish was present in the faunal record, but in very small amount, however, this due to the taphonomy but also recovery methods.
Fish hooks are not frequently found on Vinča culture sites, in fact, only Gomolava and Vinča-Belo Brdo yielded somewhat larger number of objects. These finds from Gomolava show that fishing was not sporadic activity. Fish hooks were not ad hoc objects, but carefully made, and into their production a relatively large amount of time and skill was invested, suggesting that fishing was an important activity. The find of a preform is important for studying the organisation of production of bone objects among the Vinča culture communities.
U ovom radu, autori će kroz kritički pregled različitih primena studija tehnologije u arheologiji ponuditi moguće pravce bližeg uključivanja ovog pristupa u savremene teorijske tokove. Kao najočigledniji put nameće se jedna druga istraživačka strategija – studije materijalne kulture. Tako rad za cilj ima da pokuša da konkretnije uveže ove dve strategije istraživanja čije teorijske osnove danas nisu jednoobrazne ali istorijat ideja i način artikulisanja osnovnih teorijskih postavki pokazuju slične teorijske korene.
L’industrie osseuse est généralement considérée comme conservatrice, traditionnelle, ainsi que chronologiquement et culturellement non-sensible. Quand même, tout comme d’autres technologies, la technologie de l’industrie osseuse dépend des préférences culturelles ; ainsi, dans l’industrie osseuse, on peut aussi remarquer des changements : des nouveaux matériaux, de nouvelles techniques et de nouveaux types d’objets. Dans l’ article présent, on analyse l’industrie osseuse de la culture de Starčevo, qui montre des traditions mésolithiques, mais aussi des innovations qui peuvent être liées aux influences d’origine de Asie du sud-ouest. Ces influences comprennent des outils tranchants en tibia de petits ruminants, des crochets, des corps de faucille, boucles de ceinture et notamment des spatules-cuillers. Ces techno-types, pourtant, ne sont pas repris sans changements, mais modifiés et adaptés localement. Cela montre que les influences dans la technologie ne sont pas simples, mais sont sous l’impact des préférences culturelles locales et que la technologie n’est pas prédéterminée, mais qu’elle change parallèlement aux autres changements culturels et sociaux.
Rezumat: Reprezentările figurative eneolitice sunt relativ puține în sud-estul Europei, mai ales în comparație cu perioada neolitică și sunt rar discutate în literatura de specialitate. Pe durata culturii eneolitice timpurii Bubanj-Hum I, parte a complexului Bubanj-Sălcuța-Krivodol, figurinele antropomorfe erau realizate din lut și os; cu toate acestea, mai ales în zona central balcanică sunt rare. În aces articol vom prezenta o figurină fragmentară, anterior inedită, din situl eponim de la Bubanj. Piesa a fost descoperită în 1956 și este în prezent parte a colecțiilor Muzeului Național din Belgrad. Vom prezenta caracteristicile sale tipologice și tehnologice, discutând în același timp locul ei în contextul mai larg al comunităților eneolitice timpurii din zona central balcanică.
the communities of the Starčevo culture, part of the Starčevo-Körös-Cris cultural complex. This region was intensively inhabited during the period between 6200 and 5500 cal BC, and numerous sites were excavated. Some of the aspects of the lives of these communities, however, are still insufficiently explored, in particular the economy and craft production. In this paper we will focus on lithic and osseous tool assemblages from the site of Kneževi Vinogradi-Osnovna škola. The Starčevo cultural horizon has only yielded small assemblages of lithic and osseous tools, but they show some interesting technological and typological traits.
Fish hook Gml 25: Fragmented hook, from antler segment; the body (shank) is preserved, but the point is missing. At the basal part it has an extension and shallow groove immediately below. On most of the outer surface traces of scraping with a chipped stone tool tool are visible, only small portion has traces of burnishing. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 26: Fragmented hook, made from antler segment; the entire pointed part is missing. It has finely modelled head on the basal part of the body, with shallow groove below it. The head itself was shaped by cutting and also on the outer surface it has traces of cutting and scraping with a chipped stone tool. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 41: Fragmented hook, from long bone segment, probably from larger animal. L-shaped; the body is preserved, but the point is missing. At the basal part it has an extension and shallow groove immediately below. On most of the outer surface traces of scraping with a finely retouched chipped stone tool are visible, only small portion has traces of burnishing. The entire artefact has slight polish from use/handling.
Fish hook Gml 100. Preform for a hook, from piece of cortex, from red deer antler beam. It has clear traces in negative from small pieces of material removed by scraping and cutting with a chipped stone tool.
This preform, along with the manufacturing traces preserved on the hooks, enabled us to reconstruct the technological procedure: first an elongated plate was extracted from red deer antler beam segment. The blank was then modified by cutting with a chipped stone tool until it reached the general hook shape. After that, the blank was further modified by scraping with a chipped stone tool, judging from the traces, probably finely retouched until it reached the final form – a body (shank) with circular cross section, curved mesial part also with circular cross-section, and a point. Unfortunately, points are all fragmented – probably due to intensive use – and we have no data whether the points were simple or barbed (both variants are present in the material that is being kept in the Museum of Vojvodina).
The finds of fish hooks are very important since they provide indirect evidence on the importance of fishing and on the fishing techniques that were practiced. Some of the fishing equipment cannot be identified unambiguously (for example, ceramic weights), or is simply not preserved in the archaeological record (rare archaeological finds and ethnographic examples suggest the possibility of using traps, baskets, etc. made from wood). The site of Gomolava was situated on the river Sava, on a high loess terrace near the flooded area of southern Pannonian plain. Fish was present in the faunal record, but in very small amount, however, this due to the taphonomy but also recovery methods.
Fish hooks are not frequently found on Vinča culture sites, in fact, only Gomolava and Vinča-Belo Brdo yielded somewhat larger number of objects. These finds from Gomolava show that fishing was not sporadic activity. Fish hooks were not ad hoc objects, but carefully made, and into their production a relatively large amount of time and skill was invested, suggesting that fishing was an important activity. The find of a preform is important for studying the organisation of production of bone objects among the Vinča culture communities.
U ovom radu, autori će kroz kritički pregled različitih primena studija tehnologije u arheologiji ponuditi moguće pravce bližeg uključivanja ovog pristupa u savremene teorijske tokove. Kao najočigledniji put nameće se jedna druga istraživačka strategija – studije materijalne kulture. Tako rad za cilj ima da pokuša da konkretnije uveže ove dve strategije istraživanja čije teorijske osnove danas nisu jednoobrazne ali istorijat ideja i način artikulisanja osnovnih teorijskih postavki pokazuju slične teorijske korene.
The use of animal hard tissue during the metal ages is still an underexplored topic, especially in south-eastern Europe. Some of the cultural phenomena of the Eneolithic or Bronze Age period were never a topic of a separate study. One of these is the Kostolac cultural complex, which was widespread in the Eneolithic period in the southern Carpathian basin and the Balkans in multiple local variants, Kostolac-Coţofeni being characteristic for the eastern regions. This paper presents the artefacts recovered so far on Kostolac-Coţofeni layers from the sites of Bubanj-Novo Selo near Niš, Klokočevac-Kulmja Škjopuluj near Majdanpek in eastern Serbia and Hisar near Suva Reka on Kosovo. These assemblages are relatively small, but provide the first information regarding the osseous technology: raw material selection, manufacturing techniques, typological repertoire and possible mode of use.
In this paper, we will present an overview of the current evidence for the hunting and fishing equipment made from diverse raw materials (bone, antler, chipped stone, ground stone, etc.), and analyse their role and possible hunting and fishing techniques used. Osseous raw materials were widely used for production of projectile points, harpoons and fish hooks, often very carefully made, with a large labour and skill investment. On the other hand, chipped stone artefacts that can be associated with hunting or fishing are rare. Ground and polished stone objects include weights for fishing, and some are associated with specific fishing techniques applied in the Early Neolithic in the Iron Gates, on whirlpools of the Danube. Also, some of the ceramic artefacts can be associated with fishing, such as weights, and hunting, such as possible sling bullets.
The Balkan area is particularly important for understanding the spread and adaptation of the so-called “Neolithic package,” with the first studies of the Balkan Early Neolithic conducted as early as the first decades of the 20th century. Recent studies demonstrated that there was a change in population during the Early Neolithic, limiting previous debates on the local vs. imported “Neolithic package,” but also raising questions about the mechanisms of spreading and adopting as well as adapting the Neolithic way of life. This paper will present a critical overview of some of the key studies of the Neolithisation process in prehistoric archaeology in Serbia, as well as current trends and possible future directions for research. One of the insufficiently explored topics is the characteristics and changes in the so-called “Neolithic package” and its adaptations that took place within the Balkan area – such as changes in technological choices, raw material selection and management, or changes in symbolic value and the meaning of some of the elements of material culture.
The site of Vinča – Belo Brdo is one of the most extraordinary sites of the Vinča culture. It is among the largest Vinča culture settlements and the one with the longest occupation, which left an impressive 9m-thick cultural layer. Furthermore, the material culture recovered here stands out from the majority of other Vinča settlements by its quantity, quality and diversity. This suggests that the settlement at Vinča had a special place within the economic organisation of the Vinča culture and there is even some evidence that this was a centre of sorts for craft production and trade.
In this paper, we will examine some of the aspects of technology and craft production at the Vinča settlement, with special focus on technologies for lithic and osseous raw materials, as well as indirect evidence on perishable technologies.
Raw materials include bones, antlers, teeth and mollusk shells. The typological repertoire includes some common, widespread artefact types, such as awls and needles, but also modified astragali, a few ornamental items, etc. Manufacturing debris was also noted, including sheep horn cores with traces of cutting, suggesting that the keratinous horns were also used. In this paper we discuss raw material choices, aspects of production and the typological repertoire, plus the place of the osseous industries from Kale-Krševica within the wider geographical and cultural context.
Situl arheologic de la Slatina, în apropierea orașului Paraćin (Serbia), pe valea Moravei Mari este o așezare neolitică de mari dimensiuni, cu descoperiri bogate atribuite neoliticului târziu (cultura Vinča). Cercetări de salvare s-au defășurat între 1962 și 1964 și apoi în 1984–1985, și au dus la descoperirea, pe lângă diverse și bogate complexe și materiale arheologice, a ca. 80 de piese atribuite industriei materiilor dure animale. Repertoriul tipologic include vârfuri, lustruitoare și astragale cu urme de utilizare, realizate din os și corn. Piesele sunt caracteristice culturii Vinča dar au și câteva caracteristici locale, mai ales în ceea ce privește managementul materiilor prime.
Use wear on perforations may provide information on how long the item was in use, and whether it was suspended, or it was attached to something, for example, some ornaments were most likely attached to the clothes. On ornaments worn for a very long time, for example, may be noticed that after perforation was broken, another one was made. Bracelets made from mollusc shells were occasionally recycled into pendants, by adding a perforation and other modifications. In this paper will be presented major techniques for production of perforations used in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic period in the Balkans, as well as some of the interesting examples of intensive use wear traces.
Magnetometrijskim snimanjem koje je provedeno u prvoj fazi istraživanja, otkriveni su ostaci nepravilnog opkopa i veliki broj jama koje su se protezale oko njega. U dosadašnjim istraživanjima, otvorene su četiri sonde ukupne površina od 180 m² i na relativno maloj površini prona-
đeni su ostaci naselja lenđelske populacije. Potvrđeni su ostaci stambenog objekta, otpadne jame i ukupno 12 kosturnih ukopa u zgrčenom položaju. Ukopi su sadržavali kosturne ostatke odraslih individua i ukope djece s raznovrsnim grobnim prilozima, a čine ih keramičke posude, nakit od Spondylusa te lomljene i glačane izrađevine. U jamama je pronađen bogat keramički materijal, uključujući i slikanu keramiku, kao i alatke od kostiju, lomljenog i glačanog kamena. Apsolutnim arheološkim datiranjem, naselje je smješteno u razdoblje između 4800. i 4500. godine pr. Kr. S arheološkim istraživanjem, kontinuirano se provode različite analize materijala, na čemu radi čitav niz stručnjaka, a dio rezultata biti će predstavljen u ovom predavanju.
У овом раду дискутоваће се о разлозима за малобројне налазе артефаката од птичјих костији. Такође, биће дат преглед начина коришћења птичјих костију за израду артефаката током праисторије, са посебним освртом на налазе из југоисточне Европе. У скорије време, пажљивијим прикупљањем и прегледом фауналних остатака, пронађено је неколико нових предмета. Између осталих, неколико артефаката пронађено је на каснонеолитском локалитету Хаџидимитрово у Бугарској, и неколико обрађених птичјих костију препознато је у фауналном материјалу са локалитета Кале – Кршевица. Међу налазима који су идентификовани у новије време нарочито се истиче обрађена кост лабуда из вучедолског хоризонта локалитета Зок у данашњој Мађарској, за који се може претпоставити да је био или нека врста дршке или реципијента, или је у питању музички инструмент. Неколико морфолошки сродних предмета од костију различитих птица, интерпретираних као реципијенти и/или као музички инструменти, откривено је на другим бронзанодопским локалитетима у Мађарској. Ови налази показују да су кости птица ипак биле присутне, као и да је могуће да је овим сировинама дат посебан значај управо због њиховог порекла, односно, због могућег симболичког значаја птица у оквирима ових праисторијских култура.
Неолитски слојеви пружили су, поред бројних архитеконских целина, и велику количину покретних археолошких налаза, укључујући и сразмерно богату збирку артефаката од коштаних сировина. У овом раду биће приказани прелиминарни резултати анализе. Најчешће коришћена сировина јесу различите кости домаћих животиња – дуге кости и ребра овце, козе и говечета, а у мањој мери су коришћене остале кости и рогови цервида. Најучесталији су различити зашиљени предмети – игле, шила и пробојци, а још се срећу и различите алатке за глачање и за ударање – спатуле, стругачи, мањи ударачи. Ови су предмети углавном коришћени за различите свакодневне потребе, као што су обрада органских материјала (коже, биљних влакана, припрема хране и слично), док је опрема за лов и риболов малобројна. У погледу морфолошких и технолошких одлика, коштана индустрија са локалитета Кленак има доста сличности са другим коштаним индустријама са винчанских локалитета. Као главна разлика, међутим, може се уочити готово потпуно одсуство удица израђиваних од рога, које су доста бројне на оближњем локалитету Гомолава.
Рамаћа је локација која је у ранијој археолошкој литератури означена као место одакле су различите праисторијске заједнице експлоатисале камен. У близини села Рамаћа данас се експлоатишу два изворишта камених сировина, међутим, обиласком терена нису уочени трагови праисторијске експлоатације, што може бити и зато што су уништени савременом експлоатацијом. Обилазак околног терена такође није дао резултате, тако да питање коришћења Рамаће остаје отворено. Прикупљени су петрографски узорци, који ће бити накнадно анализирани.
У близини села Рогојевац налази се велики каменолом квалитетног кремена. Опет, на самом каменолому трагови праисторијске експлоатације нису уочени. У близини каменолома, на потезу Камаре, нађени су на површини фрагменти праисторијске керамике.
Каменолом Вучковица такође је потенцијално место експлоатације камена у праисторији, што ће бити проверено када петрографски узорци буду анализирани. Фрагменти праисторијске керамике су нађени у близини каменолома.
Даљим истраживањима биће проверени и други подаци, и надамо се добијени нови, о експлоатацији различитих минералних сировина током праисторије у рудничкој области.
Le site de Nova Nadezhda représente un gisement avec des vestiges archéologiques du Néolithique ancien, Néolithique récent, Chalcolithique, l’Age du Fer ; on a trouvé également une nécropole du 17-18ème siècle. Les vestiges du Néolithique ancien sont les plus riches. Les structures incluent des maison, des trous, des fossés, des sépultures ; les trouvailles incluent des récipients céramiques, des outils en pierre taillée, en pierre polie, et en matières dures animales.
Ici on va présenter les résultats préliminaires de l’analyse techno-typologique de l’industrie osseuse du Néolithique ancien (cca 6000 calBC). Les matières premières incluent des os divers (métapodes, tibiae, côtes), du bois de cerf et des coquillages. Les types caractéristiques incluent des poinçons fabriqués en métapodes et côtes, des grattoirs fabriqués en côtes, des outils tranchants fabriqués en tibiae, des spatules-cuillères fabriquées en métapodes, etc. Il y a également quelques ornements – bracelets de coquillage. Les pièces techniques (des éclats, produits semi-finis) ont permis de reconstruire la chaîne opératoire pour les types principaux et montrent en même temps que les outils ont été produits dans le gisement.
L’industrie osseuse de Nova Nadezhda indique les influences du Proche Orient (visible, par exemple, dans la présence des spatules-cuillères), mais aussi des caractéristiques plutôt locales (comme l’utilisation des os du lapin).
Zbirka koštanih artefakata sa lokaliteta Pločnik, prikupljena tokom istraživanja u periodu od 1996. do 2011. godine, koja se čuva u Narodnom muzeju Toplice, sadrži i veću količinu celih i fragmentovanih alatki od roga. Radi se pretežno o rogovima jelena; rogovi srndaća su retki. Rogovi su pretežno pribavljani skupljanjem, odnosno, u pitanju su odbačeni rogovi, mada ima i primeraka rogova dobijenih od ubijenih životinja. Korišćeni su svi delovi roga – baze, segmenti stabla, komadi korteksa, parošci. Izrađivane su različite alatke, uglavnom za sečenje i udaranje, kao što su dleta, manji perkuteri (udarači), ali ima primera i za druge tipove predmeta. Radi se pretežno o upotrebnom alatu, i zanimljivo je uočiti da lovno i ribolovno oružje (udice, harpuni) nije konstatovano. Pronađeno je i nekoliko otpadaka od proizvodnje i polufabrikata, koji su doprineli rekonstrukciji tehnologije izrade. Podaci o njihova prostornoj distribuciji, međutim, nisu pomogli u utvrđivanju lokacije mogućeg radnog / radioničkog mesta.
These excavations also unearthed large quantities of worked bone, mainly from Late Vučedol layers, including one artefact produced from bird bone that will be presented here. The item in question was produced from right radius from swan (Cygnus sp.). The object in question is in the shape of an elongated tube; carefully cut at both ends. The function of this item is uncertain – it may have served as some sound-producing instrument (flute), or it was some sort of handle or needle case. It is interesting to note that bird representations, in particular ornitomorphic vessels, are one of the specific traits of the Vučedol culture; therefore, the choice of bird bone for production of this artefact may have had a certain symbolic significance as well.
In this paper will be offered an overview of the antler production and use on the borders in Upper Moesia province. In Singidunum, on the location of the Castrum, an antler workshop was discovered, with large quantities of antler segments with traces of manufacture. In the Iron Gates region, antler artefacts were discovered at several fortifications, and the typological repertoire included awls, needles, spindle whorls, etc. Particularly numerous are combs (pecten), discovered at several sites, including Saldum, Diana, Novae, Pontes, and mainly originating from Late Antiquity period.
(С. Витезовић, Д. Антоновић)
Најзначајнији део сваке економије и економског система јесте експлоатација и располагање сировинама. Код проучавања праисторијских економских система, значајна су питања расположивост неких сировина, степен искоришћености у односу на расположивост, начини располагања, повезаност са технолошким изборима, као и степен и обим трговине и размене.
Акценат се у проучавању праисторијских економија често ставља на металуршке и литичке ресурсе, али веома значајне биле су и сировине органског порекла (дрво, кост, рог, коже, као и егзотичне органске сировине – маринске шкољке и ћилибар).
За ову сесију позивамо радове које се баве проучавањем ових питања, студије случаја и теоријске радове, посвећени једној или већем броју сировина, који обухватају не само област источне Србије, већ и друге, повезане регионе.
In the Vinča culture (Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic), astragals with traces of use, sometimes with one or several perforations, were discovered on several sites (Belovode, Divostin, Selevac, etc.). They were previously associated with gambling and gaming, following analogies with Antique period. However, their intensive usewear traces suggest they were used as tools.
In this poster will be examined several used astragals from the Vinča culture site of Pavlovac-Kovačke Njive, in the vicinity in Vranje: raw material choices (which species were used), usewear traces, position of perforations. It is suggested they were used in leather and hide processing, although some might have been also used for working clay.
The accent in studying prehistoric economies is often placed on metallurgical and lithic resources, however, very important were also raw materials of organic origin (wood, bone, antler, hides, as well as exotic organic raw materials – marine shells and amber).
We would like to invite for this session papers that are dealing with some of these questions, case studies as well as theoretical studies, focused on one or more raw materials, that encompass not only the region of eastern Serbia, but other, connected areas.
In 1987-88 at the area of the fortification from Late Antiquity one building was explored, for which it was assumed that it was used as palatium for high officials. This was a monumental building, oriented west-east, rectangular in base, and five rooms with floor and wall heating system, atrium and porches were discovered.
The building itself was errected in early IV century AD, and used probably until the end of VI century, although it may have been damaged during invasions of Western Goths 378-380 AD or, more probably, Huns in 441 or 447 AD.
In the western part central position was occupiedd by one square room decorated with mosaic floor with geometrical motives, fresco-painted walls and rich architectonical decorations in marble and other stones. Immediately above the mosaic floor, in the layer of ashes and debris was discovered a group find of fragments made from red deer antler.
The find includes zoomorphic and geometrical shapes, decorateed with incisions and carving, all made from red deer antler. Zoomorphic decorations inlude representations of fish and water birds, and geometric elongated stripes, circles and lozenges, all decorated in the same manner.
They were made from antler cortex segments, all carefully chosen and carefully made – they have approximately same thickness, and most of geometric ornaments are identical in shape and size, suggesting they weere made according to standards (perhaps some sort of mould was used), suggesting a skilful craftsperson, that had good knowledge in antler carving.
Although fragmented and damaged by burning, it may be assumed that this find represents remains of some sort of panel decoration, probably on (wooden) furniture, that was inlayed into the wood the similar manner as mosaic tiles were arranged to form a composition (in opus sectile technique).
This is a unique find in the central Balkan area, and after stylistical traits may be dated into mid- or second half of IV century.
The site of Vis is situated in northern Bosnia, and several archaeological campaigns from 1957-1959. exposed a settlement at Vis site with an area of more than 5000 m2 dated from Early Iron Age, approximately from late 9th century to mid-8th century B.C. During these campaigns Z. Marić investigated some 120 m2 and defined two main phase Vis I-II. Excavation was subsequently carried out on one of terrace/suburbia below Vis hillfort.
Faunal remains were collected selectively; however, some data can be extracted. Only larger, identifiable or complete bones were collected (phalanges, teeth, metapodial bones, etc.). Most of them were identified, and belong to pig, cattle, sheep, goat, red deer, wild swine. Numerous red deer and one roe deer antler were discovered.
Assemblage of osseous objects encompasses approximately thirty-five artefacts, mainly from red deer antlers. Especially interesting are two objects of unclear functions, particularly nicely made, one probably represents horse harness, and the other, heavily polished from intense use, was most likely part of an outfit. Previously unknown tool types are daggers from large herbivore ulnae, sometimes perforated at the base. Most of the assemblage are blanks and manufacture debris – tines and cortex segments with traces of cutting with diverse tools. They clearly demonstrate a workshop for antler manufacture once existed on Vis settlement. Antler working was an important activity even after the metals came into wide use a future research may yield more data on its role in everyday life and economy.
In this poster will be presented some of the characteristic manufacturing techniques:
-for shaping bone – methods for transversal division of long bones into blanks for further shaping, methods for making large perforations, as well as a specific way of making thin pointed tools from ovicaprine metapodials by abrasion;
-for shaping antler – methods for dividing antlers into blanks for further shaping, and some façonnage methods (making perforations, smoothing outer surface, etc.).
The poster will focus on one of the most characteristic and at the same time most intriguing tool type of the Early and Middle Neolithic bone industry, spatulas-spoons, made from cattle metapodials. Very rich collection of almost hundred of complete and broken objects, recovered at several sites in Serbia is represented (Donja Branjevina, Starčevo, Baštine, Velesnica). Manufacture was reconstructed after one half-finished object from Donja Branjevina. Within given final form some variations are present, revealing skillful artisans who produced these artefacts. Intense use and long life of Neolithic spoons, along with demanding manfacture techniques suggest these were highly valued objects. Usewar traces do not support current hypotheses on their use as spoons for food preparing and consumption, but instead suggest that they were used on soft organic materials such as leather, hide and plant fibres, probably for preparing and applying pigments.
The basis of archaeological study are the analyses of the material culture – from small artefacts to the natural environment changed by man’s action. Artefacts are most often studied from the formal point of view – style, chronological development, cultural influences. The aim of this session, however, is to put in the center of research the technological aspect, i. e., the analyses not only of the objest’s formal traits, but also a range of technological factors, from raw material choices, modes of use, to the reasons for discard. Starting from the basic meaning of technology as science on skills, and the definition of technology as „ set of actions and relationships: from production itself, to the organization of the production process, to the entire cultural system of processes and practices associated with production and consumption“ (H. Miller), we would like to encourage the research on topics such as the organization of production, acquiring and managing raw materials, analyses of specific technologies (ceramic, stone, osseous, metallurgical, but also techniques of agriculture, etc.), and general questions of the role and importance of a certain technology in social and cultural context, and also questions of technological systems, i. e., mutual relationships of different technologies.
The session is not limited in chronology, and we would also like to invite papers that deal with both methodological and theoretical aspects, as well as specific case studies.
Апстракт сесије:
Основу археолошких проучавања чине анализе материјалне културе – од ситних артефаката па до природне околине која је човековим дејством измењена. Артефакта се најчешће проучавају са формалне стране – стил, хронолошки развој, културни утицаји. Циљ ове сесије, међутим, јесте да у средиште проучавања постави технолошки аспект, односно, анализе не само форме предмета, већ и читавог низа технолошких фактора, од одабира сировине, преко начина употребе, па све до разлога за престанак коришћења. Полазећи од основног значења технологије као науке о вештини, и дефиниције „низа поступака и међусобних веза: од саме производње, до организације производног процеса, па све до целог културног система процеса и поступака повезаних с производњом и потрошњом“ (Х. Милер), желели бисмо да подстакнемо истраживања у правцу питања као што су организација производње, набавка и располагање сировинама, анализе одређених технологије (керамичке, камене, коштане, металуршке, али и техника земљорадње, итд.), и општа питања улоге и значаја одређене технологије у друштвеном и културном контексту, као и питања технолошких система, односно међусобних односа различитих технологија.
Сесија није ограничена хронолошки, и такође позивамо да се пријаве радови који се баве како методолошким и теоријским аспектима, тако и појединачним студијама случаја.