Sites

Archaeological site Anište is situated near Čačak, in the village of Bresnica, on the gentle slopes of the right bank of the Perački stream. During a 10 day long sondage excavations in 1984 under the management of M. Ikodinović (National Museum Čačak), the archaeologists uncovered the remains of a settlement from Starčevo culture period. Aside from the typical repertoire of archaeological artefacts – ceramic vessels, stone and bone tools, pits and pit-dwellings were discovered as well.

Bibliography:

Nikitović L. 1986. Rezultati sondažnog istraživanja na lokalitetu Anište u Bresnici. Zbornik radova Narodnog muzeja u Čačku XVI: 35-46.

Archaeological site Bakovača is located in the village of Ostra, near Čačak, on the plateau of the confluence of two small streams – Solinac and Riđuša. It was excavated in three campaigns: 1984 (S. Ercegovic, Institute for Archaeology from Belgrade), 1987 and 1995 (L. Nikitović, National Museum Čačak). Starčevo settlement on this site was probable occupied during a relatively short period of time.

Bibliography:

Nikitović L. 1988. Bakovača – Čačak. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 69-70.

A multilayered archaeological site in Bataševo, near Mladenovac, was discovered in 1986, but it was excavated for the first time in 1998, under the management of V. Katić and the Museum in Mladenovac, which is a part of the Belgrade City Museum. The excavations were continued in the period between 2004 and 2007. The results of the archaeological excavations on this site showed that there was a settlement as early as Early Neolithic, and that life continued in Bronze age, Roman period and again in Early Slavic period in 7^th and 9^th-11^th century. The Neolithic settlement has three phases of life. The first was characterized by the life in pit-houses, and in the second and third phase, according to the researchers, the people used above-ground dwellings; one of those is especially interesting, because of the traces of the wall decorations in white and grey. The settlement found in Bataševo, due to its size and organization, and the uncovered artefacts, is thought to had been an economic center in Early Neolithic, surrounded by seasonal habitats.

Bibliography:

Катић В. 2010. Баташево: насеље из старијег неолита. Каталог изложбе 57. Београд: Музеј града Београда

The archaeological site Baštine is situated in the village of Obrež, on a loess terrace near Obedska bara. Rescue excavations were done by B. Brukner from Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, in 1960. On this site, aside from the remains dating to the Roman period in the Balkans, the remains of Starčevo culture with pits and above-ground dwellings with hearths were found. Within the settlement one child skeleton was uncovered as well. The people who lived in this Starčevo settlement were subsisting through farming, hunting and fishing.

Bibliography:

Брукнер Б. 1960. Резултати заштитног ископавања локалитета „Баштине“ код села Обрежа. Рад војвођанских музеја 9: 81 – 111.

Brukner B. 1960. Baština – Obrež – Srem – naselje. Arheološki pregled 2: 18 – 23.

Archaeological site Bukovačka česma is located in the village of Bukovče, around 3 km away from Jagodina. It is situated on a slope that used to be the left bank of the Velika Morava River. Rescue excavations were done in 1972 by the Museum in Jagodina, under the management of S. Vetnić, prompted by the modernization of the railroad. On this occasion two settlement horizons with half-buried dwellings were discovered. In some of the dwellings there were hearths with evidence of rebuilding. Ceramic vessels, altars, stone tools were the part of the otherwise standard Starčevo culture archaeological material found in a settlement. Small-scale revision excavations were done in 1983, which reinforced that it indeed was a Starčevo settlement whose residents were intensely involved with farming and husbandry, which was evidenced by farming tools and abundant faunal material. Hunting had an important economic role, as hinted by the bigger percentage of wild animals as opposed to the domestic species.

Bibliography:

Vetnić S. 1972. Bukovačka česma, Bukovče, Svetozarevo – naselje starčevačke grupe. Arheološki pregled 14: 12 – 15.

Greenfield H.1994. Faunal Remains from the Early Neolithic Starčevo Settlement at Bukovačka Česma. Starinar XLIII-XLIV:103 – 113.

Ветнић С. 1985. Старчевачка насеља типа Буковче у Поморављу. Гласник САД: 163 – 166.

Archaeological site Crnoklište was excavated in 2013, as part of the rescue excavation due to the building of a highway E-80 on Corridor 10, under the management of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Belgrade. Underneath three layers of an Iron Age settlements, excavators uncovered the remains of an Early Neolithic settlement, with ceramic vessels and half-buried objects. The site has not been published yet, and the information written here has kindly been obtained from M. Blagojević (the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Belgrade) and P. Pejić (Museum Ponišavlja Pirot).

Archaeological site Slatina – Turska Česma, better known as Drenovac, is situated near Paraćin, and it is one of the biggest Neolithic sites on the territory of Central Balkans. On this location, traces of life were dated to the period of Starčevo and Vinča culture, but also to the Iron age. The Neolithic site was discovered in the 1960s, by S. Vetnić, the curator of the Zavičajni muzej in Jagodina. Since then, the archaeological excavations were done in more than one occasion: 1968-1970, under the management of S. Vetnić; from 1970 the chief excavator was D. Krstić from the National Museum in Belgrade; and in the last decade and a half, since 2004 the site is under the management of S. Perić from the Institute for Archaeology in Belgrade. One of the horizons of settlement is dated to the earliest Starčevo culture period. The life of the people from this period stayed written by the abundant archaeological record – ceramic vessels, animal bones, bone and stone tools, and one underground structure that was interpreted as a pit-house. Zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical analyses point to the cultivation of plants and animals, but to the importance of hunting and gathering as well.

Bibliography:

Perić S. 2008. The Oldest Cultural Horizon of Trench XV at Drenovac. Starinar LVIII/2008: 29-50.

Perić S. (ed.) 2016. The Neolithic in the Middle Morava Valley 2. Belgrade: Institute of Archaeology; Paraćin: Regional Museum

Stojanović I., Obradović Đ. 2016. Integrating archaeozoological and archaeobotanical data: different perspectives on past food practices. Case study: The Early Neolithic context from Drenovac, central Serbia. In: S. Perić (ed.), The Neolithic in the Middle Morava Valley 2. Belgrade: Institute of Archaeology; Paraćin: Regional Museum, pp. 79-102.

Vetnić S. 1974. Počeci rada na ispitivanju kulture prvih zemljoradnika u srednjem Pomoravlju. Materijali SADJ X: 123-163.

Vetnić S. 1988. Slatina, Turska Česma – Drenovac. In D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, p. 65.

Archaeological site Golokut in the village of Vizići is situated on the western hills of Fruška gora. During a number of campaigns (1973, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988) under the management of J. Petrović, the Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad excavated on this site. They uncovered remains from the Neolithic, Eneolithic and Bronze Age. The Starčevo settlement had two settlement horizons. The first is characterized by pit-houses, and the second one by above-ground dwellings. The site was dated to the later stages if Starčevo culture based on archaeological material, mostly thanks to the ceramic vessels. One especially interesting find was the burial of a woman, who was interred in a niche that was a part of a pi-house, with a skull of a boar on her left hand.

Bibliography:

Лековић В., Падров Ј. 1992. Распрострањеност археолошких налазишта старчевачке културе у Срему.Зборник Народног музеја 14 (1): 35-52.

Petrović J. 1973. „Golokut“ u Vizićima, Fruška gora – naselje starčevačke grupe. Arheološki pregled 15: 11 – 12.

Petrović J. 1976. Golokut, Vizić, Fruška gora – praistorijsko naselje.Arheološki pregled18: 11 – 12.

Петровић Ј. 1985. Насеље старчевачке културе на Голокуту код Визића. Рад војвођанских музеја 29 (1984-1985): 9 – 25.

Петровић Ј. 1990. Истраживања локалитета Голокут у 1988. години. Гласник САД 6: 55 – 58.

Settlements of Starčevo and Vinča cultures were discovered on the archaeological site Đurića Vinogradi-Grabovac, near Obrenovac. The first archaeological excavations were done by the Belgrade City Museum in the period between 1967 and 1969, under the direction of J. Todorović. Under the Vinča settlement horizon with above-ground houses, there lies the Starčevo horizon with pit-houses and pits, and the archaeological material suggests that the settlement existed during the late stage of Starčevo culture.

Bibliography:

Todorović J. 1967. Grabovac, Đurića vinogradi, Obrenovac – naselje starčevačke grupe. Arheološki pregled 9: 7 – 9.

Todorović J. 1968. Grabovac, Đurića vinogradi, Obrenovac – naselje starčevačke i vinčanske grupe. Arheološki pregled 10: 11 – 13.

Todorović J. 1969. Đurića vinogradi Grabovac, Obrenovac – naselje starčevačke i vinčanske kulture. Arheološki pregled 11: 12 – 13.

Archaeological site Grivac is situated in the vicinity of the river Gruža, near Kragujevac. First archaeological excavations were done by B. Gavela and Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, from 1953 until 1957. The excavation were continued in 1969 as part of the project “Early farming cultures in Central Serbia”, which was under the direction of D. Srejović and A. McPherron. After and almost 20 year long break, the excavations were underway once again in 1989, as a joint venture of National Museum in Kragujevac and the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. Plentiful cultural layers uncovered in Grivac are dated to Starčevo and Vinča periods. Starčevo layers, which span the entirety of this culture, are represented by numerous artefacts (ceramic vessels, figurines, amulets, and stone and bone tools) and remains of houses.

Bibliography:

Bogdanović M. 1983. Arheološka istraživanja na području centralne Srbije. Staništa 9: 9 – 26.

Богдановић М. 1992. Ископавање на неолитском насељу „Гружа“ у Гривцу. Гласник САД 8: 41 – 45.

Станковић С. 1990. Гривац – вишеслојно насеље (ископавања 1989. год.). Гласник САД 6: 60 – 64.

Archaeological site Jaričište 1 is situated in the village Mali Borak in Lajkovac Municipality, on the bank of the Kladnica River. Excavations were conducted in the period between 2006 and 2010, as a part of rescue excavations of Surface Mine Tamnava Zapadno polje by the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Belgrade, under the management of M. Blagojević. Remains of the Neolithic (Starčevo and Vinča), Eneolithic and Bronze Age settlement were discovered on the site. Starčevo period settlement is situated in the central part of the plateau above river, and it is dated to the end of Starčevo culture. A fair number of objects were discovered – buried, half-buried, of residential character (pit-houses) with remains of an oven. Burials found in two pit-houses stand witness to the funeral practices on this site. One of the houses had one grave, the other three. One of those three graves was the resting place to a 40 year old woman and 7-8 year old child. Radio-carbon dating of this grave gave an interesting result – these two individuals weren’t buried at the same time, even though there placement in the grave lead the researchers to believe otherwise. The remaining two graves contain the remains of two more children (6 and 3 years old). The settlement in Jaričište 1 left behind an abundance of archaeological material – ceramic vessels, altars, figurines, amulets that tell the story of the life its people in Early Neolithic.

Bibliography:

Благојевић М., Арсић Р. 2008. Рударски басен Колубара: заштитна археолошка ископавања. Гласник САД 24: 209-222.

Марић М. 2013. Заштитна археолошка истраживања на локалитету Јаричиште 1. У: В. Филиповић, Р.

Арсић, Д. Антоновић (ур.), Резултати нових археолошких истраживања у северозападној Србији и суседним територијама. Београд, Ваљево: Српско археолошко друштво, Завод за заштиту споменика културе Ваљево, стр. 17-31.

Стефановић С., Порчић М. 2015. Старчевачки гробови на Јаричишту – антрополошка анализа. Архаика 3: 67-88.

Klisa is situated in the northern part of Novi Sad, in the Bačka region. It is located in the southern part of the Pannonian plain, 10 km from the left bank of the Danube River. The site is located around 2 km north-west from Temerinska petlja and highway E-75. The Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments started rescue excavations in the course of the construction of the pipeline route Gospođinci-Futog in 2000, under the direction of D. Anđelić . The site was occupied several times from the Early Neolithic through Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Medieval period.
Concerning Starčevo layer, numerous pits with ceramics and animal bones, subterranean dwellings, above ground constructions, bone and chipped stone tools, remains of daub and 5 graves have been discovered during the excavations. There are also findings of mollusk shells from the genus Helix and Unio.

The site has not been published yet. All the information was provided from the kind staff of the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.

The archaeological site is located near Bajina Bašta, and it was excavated in 1960, 1961 and 1963 under the direction of M. Zotović (National museum Užice). It is a multilayered site with the remains of a Starčevo period settlement with pit-houses and waste pits. A rather intriguing find within this site is the burial of two human skulls in an oval structure.

Bibliography:

Zotović M. 1963. Kremenilo, Višesava, Bajina Bašta – višeslojno praistorijsko naselje. Arheološki pregled 5: 18 – 20.

Archaeological site Lazarev grad is situated in the near vicinity of the city center in Kruševac, and it is most widely known by the remains of the Medieval city and the church Lazarica. During the rescue excavation in 1998 and the build of the church house, some layer dating to Neolithic were uncovered as well. The remains of a house and a large number of artefacts indicate that this was in fact a Starčevo culture settlement, or, to be more precise, its edges.

Bibliography:

Бугар М. 2003. О заштитним археолошким истраживањима на локалитету „Лазарев град“ у Крушевцу, 1998. (протостарчевачки хоризонт). Гласник САД 19: 249 – 261.

Archaeological site Međureč – Dunjički šljivar was discovered in 2007 during the archaeological research that was a part of the annual archaeological workshop – Central Pomoravlje in the Neolithization of Southeastern Europe (manager – S. Perić, Institute for Archaeology in Belgrade). It is a Starčevo culture settlement, and given that the archaeological material is still being processed, there are no publications dealing with this site yet.

Bibliography:

Perić S. 2008. The oldest cultural horizon of trench XV at Drenovac. Starinar LVIII: 29-50.

Archaeological site Miokovci is situated in the vicinity of Čačak. During the sondage excavation in 1991 it was concluded that this was a Starčevo period settlement.

The archaeological site Ornice is situated in the village of Makrešane, near Kruševac, on the river terrace of the confluence of the rivers Rasina and Zapadna Morava. Archaeological excavations on this site were done in 1984 and 1985, under the direction of S. Stanković (Faculty of Philosophy, Belgrade). During this excavation, the researchers found Neolithic layers – both Starčevo and Vinča cultures, as well as Bronze Age layers. Numerous remains of ceramic vessels, figurines, stone tools and animal bones stand as witness to the Neolithic life on this site.

Bibliography:

Stanković S. 1988. Ornice-Makrešani. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1948-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 85-86.

The site Batka is located on the estate of the same name on the bank of river Begej, between Stajićevo and Perlez, about 7 km long. It is situated at the edge of an old levée of the Tisza River and its tributary R. Begej. It has been discovered by archeological field survey in 1911. Small systematic excavations were done in 1949, while rescue excavations were done from 1972-1979 and in 1989 under the direction of R. Radišić (Museum of Zrenjanin) in collaboration with P. Medović (Museum of Vojvodina). The site was occupied in the Early and Late Neolithic and Iron Age.
The Starčevo culture layer stretches along the whole area of the site. From this phase a great number of ceramic materials were found together with settlement objects, dwellings, pit dwellings, graves, pottery and animal bones. The site has been radiocarbon dated to the beginning of the sixth millennium BC (from 6090-5880 cal. BC to 5920-5720 cal. BC). The Perlez Batka “B” yielded one grave belonging to Starčevo culture. At the site of Perlez Batka“C” eight burials were found without grave goods. They were all buried in flexed position. Three of them were children.

Bibliography:

Marinković, S. 2006. Starčevo culture in Central Banat. In Vorgić, B. and Brukner, B. (Eds), Current problems of the transition period from the Starčevo to the Vinča culture (pp. 63-79). Zrenjanin: National Musem Zrenjanin.

Radišić, R. 1967. Batka, Perlez – neolitsko, eneolitsko i halštatsko nalazište. Arheološki pregled, 9. 44-45.

Whittle, A., Bartosiewicz, L., Borić, D., Pettitt, P., & Richards, Richards, M. 2002. In the beginning: new radiocarbon dates for the Early Neolithic in northern Serbia and south-east Hungary. Antaeus., 25, 63-118.

Archaeological site Popovića brdo – Zablaće was discovered in the 1950s, and excavated in 1973 by M. Vasiljević and V. Trbuhović (National museum Šabac). Based on the material culture – mostly ceramics, but stone artefacts as well, it was concluded that this site was settled during the Early and Late Neolithic, or in other word, Starčevo and Vinča culture periods.

Bibliography:

Церовић М. 2014. Предмети од кости и рога из праисторијске збирке Народног музеја у Шапцу. Museum 15, Годишњак Народног музеја у Шапцу: 7-100.

Archaeological site Pseće brdo, with the remains of the settlements from Starčevo and Vinča period and Iron Age, is situated near Bečej. It was excavated in 1974 by M. Girić.

The site has not been published, and the information written here has kindly been obtained from B. Mikić-Antonić (Bečej City Museum).

The site is situated under the southern slopes of Mokra Mountain, in Metohija. It was excavated in 1984, under the management of J. Glišić from the Kosovo Muzeum in Priština. The rectangular above-ground dwellings, with walls made out of posts, pits and a number of different forms of ceramic vessels and other artefacts, tell the story of the life in this settlement that spanned the entire Starčevo culture. The funerary practice is showcased by the remains of 5 individuals buried within the settlement; based on the archaeological artefacts, it is thought that these people lived and died at the onset of the Starčevo culture.

Bibliography:

Mikić Ž. 1988. Anthropological Remains from the Neolithic Sites in Serbia. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 20-23.

Garašanin M. 1979. Centralnobalkanska zona. U: A. Benac (ur.), Praistorija Jugoslavenskih zemalja II. Neolitsko doba. Sarajevo: Akademija nauka i umjetnosti Bosne i Hercegovine. Centar za balkanološka ispitivanja, str. 79-212.

Перић С. 1998. Вишеслојна неолитска насеља и проблем културне стратиграфије неолита на територији Србије. Старинар XLIX: 11-38.

Just like the site Crnoklište, Selište-Sinjac was excavated as a part of rescue excavation due to the building of the highway in 2013. A settlement dating to Starčevo period was discovered on the site.

The site has not been published, and the information written here has kindly been obtained from M. Blagojević (the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Belgrade) and Z. Mitić (National library – Museum Bela Palanka).

Sremski Karlovci is a town in Srem, situated on the right bank of the Danube River, 12 km from Novi Sad. The town of Sremski Karlovci was occupied several times from the Early Neolithic through Roman and Medieval period. In 1997 the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments started small rescue excavations under the direction of Lj. Tadin after a human skeleton was found in Sonja Marinković Street during the sewerage construction works. Based on ceramic finds in the grave the curator of City Museum of Novi Sad, D. Gačić concluded that skeleton belongs to the Starčevo culture . The site yielded ceramic finds typical for the Starčevo culture: coarse pottery decorated in barbotin and impresso technique, fine monochrome and red painted pottery. The most common shapes are conical and semispherical bowls, pots, beakers and altars. They also found animal bones, chipped stone tools, mold and tongue-like axes, bone tools and mollusk shells have been discovered during the excavations, as well as one object with the construction made of shells and snails.
The site hasn’t been published yet. All the information were provided from the kind staff of the City Museum of Novi Sad.

The eponymous archaeological site of Starčevo culture – Starčevo – Grad – is situated on the left bank of the Danube River, in the vicinity of the city of Pančevo and Starčevo village. The site has been excavated in several campaigns, the first one in 1928 was under the direction of M. Grbić. The excavation continued in 1931-1932 managed by M. Grbić, E. Fewkes and R. Ehrich. The succeeding campaigns in 1969 and 1970 were led by D. Garašanin and R. Ehrich. The latest excavations were done by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Pančevo in 2003, 2004 and 2007, under the management of M. Živković.
Garašanin used the ceramic vessels found in the pits on the Starčevo -Grad site were as a basis for the periodization of the whole Starčevo culture. The human remains that could be dated to the Starčevo culture are not numerous – there are only 5 individuals. Zooarchaeological analyses indicate the people who lived in the settlement mostly used domestic animals in their diets (cattle, pig, sheep/goat), but that hunting still remained an important part of their economy (mostly wild boar and deer). Archaeobotanical analyses show that the people of Starčevo raised einkorn wheat, emmer, barley and millet, but they gathered wild plants as well, including crab apples and seeds of wild buckwheat.

Bibliography:

Aranđelović-Garašanin, D. 1954. Starčevačka kultura. Ljubljana

Clason A. T. 1980. Padina and Starčevo: Game, Fish and Cattle. Palaeohistoria: acta et communicationes instituti bio-archaeologici Universitatis Groninganae XXII: 141-174.

Ehrich R. W. 1977. Starčevo revisited. In: V. Markotić (ed.), Ancient Europe and the Mediterranean. Warminster, pp. 59-67.

Medović A. 2011. Najbolje iz preistorijske Vojvodine: starčevačka jednozrna pšenica, “kasna”, i južnobanatski proso, “rani”. Fosilni biljni ostaci sa lokaliteta Starčevo-Grad. Rad Muzeja Vojvodine 53: 143 – 149.

Mikić Ž. 1989. Prilog antropološkom upoznavanju neolita Srbije. Glasnik SAD 5.

Whittle A., Bartosiewicz L., Borić D., Petitt P., Richards M. 2002. In the Beginning: New Radiocarbon Dates for the Early Neolithic in Northern Serbia and South-East Hungary. Antaeus 25: 63 – 117.

Живковић М. 2008. Заштитна археолошка истраживања околине налазишта „Град“ Старчево. Грађа за проучавање споменика културе Војводине 22-23: 107–126.

Archaeological site Staro selo in Idvor is situated on the left terrace of the river Tamiš, some 30 km away from Pančevo. From 2002 up until 2004 the National Museum in Pančevo conducted rescue excavations under the management of J. Đorđević and V. Đorđević. During these campaigns the archaeologists uncovered artefacts from the Early Neolithic (Starčevo culture), Iron Age, the Migration Period and later periods. The Early Neolithic on this site is represented by two objects and numerous artefacts – ceramic vessels, animal bones and polished stone tools. A large part of the site was unfortunately destroyed due to a nearby brickyard.

Bibliography:

Ђорђевић Ј., Ђорђевић В. 2005. Вишеслојни локалитет Старо село у Идвору. Гласник САД 21: 251-281.

Archaeological site Šalitrena cave is situated in the vicinity of Mionica, in the river Brežđe canyon. It was discovered in 1970s, and the first archaeological excavations were done by Institute for Archaeology from Belgrade and Petnica Research Center in 1983, 1985 and 1995. After a five-year-long break, the excavations were resumed by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Valjevo (2000 and 2001). Since 2004 until today, the excavation of this site is done by the National museum in Belgrade. Šalitrena cave is tremendously important because of its ample paleolithical layers and it represents one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Southeastern Europe. The layers pertaining to the Early Neolithic life of the site, from Starčevo period to be more precise, were uncovered near the entrance to the cave; they are represented by ceramic fragments, stone and bone tools and remains of animals.

Bibliography:

Jež Ž., Kaluđerović Z. 1985. Šalitrena pećina – paleoiltsko i neolitsko nalazište. Arheološki pregled 25: 33-34.

Михаиловић Б. 2013. Шалитрена пећина. У: В. Филиповић, Р. Арсић, Д. Антоновић (ур.), Резултати нових археолошких истраживања у северозападној Србији и суседним територијама. Београд, Ваљево: Српско археолошко друштво, Завод за заштиту споменика културе Ваљево, стр. 5-16.

Archaeological site Šljunkara on Dumača was situated on the area between the river Sava and Šabac-Obrenovac road. It was excavated in 1968 in three day long sondage excavation, done by M. Vasiljević and V. Trbuhović (National museum Šabac). During this excavation it was concluded that a Starčevo period settlement used to be situated there. The remains of this settlement were completely destroyed as a consequence of gravel pit exploitation and an asphalt base.

Bibliography:

Церовић М. 2014. Предмети од кости и рога из праисторијске збирке Народног музеја у Шапцу. Museum 15, Годишњак Народног музеја у Шапцу: 7-100.

The archaeological site Topole-Bač is situated on the left shore of the river Mostonoge, in Bačka. Archaeological excavations were done in 1977 by Sombor City Museum, under the direction of Č. Trajković. Within the early Neolithic settlement horizon, they discovered pits, houses with rectangular floor plans, and a multitude of artefacts – ceramic vessels, figurines, stone tools and objects. Under the floor of the house were two human skeletons, buried back-to-back. The third skeleton found on this site was interred alongside the house floor. The grave goods found with the skeletons were ceramic vessels, stone tools, and figurines with grain-shaped eyes.

Bibliography:

Trajković Č. 1988. Topole-Bač. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 99-100.

Whittle A., László B., Borić D., Pettit P., Richards M. 2002. In the beginning: new radiocarbon dates for the Early Neolithic in Northern Serbia and South-East Hungary. Antaeus 25: 63-117.

Archaeological site Trsine is situated on the bank of the river Čemernica, in the village of Gornja Gorevnica, some 10 km away from Čačak. During 1982, 1986 and 1987 the National Museum in Čačak, under the direction of M. Ikodinovic, carried out small-scale sondage excavation. Starčevo and Vinča culture settlements on this site were indicated by the multitude of archaeological artefacts, and remains of houses.

Bibliography:

Nikitović L. 1988. Trsine – Čačak. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 101-102.

The site of Belo Brdo („White Hill“) in Vinča is situated on the right bank of the Danube River, 14 km downstream from Belgrade, on a high loess terrace. The position of the site was very attractive for Neolithic inhabitants, with a Danube River on one side and the Valley of Bolečica River on the other side, connecting it to a hinterland rich in minerals and ores, hunting animals and fertile land. As one of the largest tell sites in the Balkans it covers an area of 10 hectares of land with 9 meters of cultural deposits and a total height of 10.5 m. The site was occupied several times from the Early Neolithic through Late Neolithic, Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age to the Medieval period. Vinča is mostly known for its substantial archaeological deposits from the Neolithic-Eneolithic Vinča culture, of which Vinča-Belo Brdo is the type site. It is the eponymous site for the whole Vinča culture group.
The first archaeological excavations in Vinča were undertaken by M. Vasić in 1908 and have continued intermittently until 1934. Excavations renewed in 1978 and lasted until 1986 under the direction of D. Srejović, N. Tasić, J. Todorović, M.Garašanin and G. Marjanović-Vujović when post Neolithic strata had been investigated and another vertical section cut in order to check Vasić’s stratigraphy. In 1998 excavations were renewed once again under the direction of N.Tasić. New excavation techniques and new recording procedures have been applied using modern surveying and IT technologies.
The earliest occupation at Vinča dates to the middle of VI millennia BC. Evidence for this phase of occupation is scarce since later Vinča settlement damaged Starčevo layer. From this Early Neolithic phase we have only one damaged pit and a pit with human skeletal remains. It is also known as “ossuary”, pit-dwelling “Z” or tomb with entrance hall – dromos. It was found in the centre of the oldest Vinča settlement in 1931 and has an access path. One of the preserved skulls (marked as R1) from this “ossuary” has been dated to 5624 – 5486 cal. BC which can be associated with the terminal phase of the Starčevo culture. Pits and pottery findings are the same like those found in other Starčevo sites. A newer study by S. Stefanović and colleagues points out at the evidence that this mass burial might have been a crime scene, since they have noticed signs of trauma on the skeletons.

Bibliography:

Bibliography:
Borić, D. 2009. Absolute dating of metallurgical innovations i nthe Vinča Culture of the Balkans. In Kienlin, T.K. and Roberts, B.W. (Eds), Metals and societies. Studies in honour of Barbara S. Ottaway (pp. 191-245). Bonn: Habelt.
Chapman J. 1981. The Vinča culture of south-east Europe: Studies in economy and society (2 vols). BAR International Series, 117. Oxfor: BAR
Garašanin, D. 1984. Die Siedlung der Starčevo-Kultur. In Srejović, D., Stanojević, B., Tasić, N and Krsitć, D. (Ur), Vinča, Beograd: SANU. 191-194.
Korošec, J. 1950. Grobovi u Vinči. Arheološki vestnik, 1, (1-2). 156-169.
Letica, Z. 1968. Starčevo and Koros culture at Vinča, Archaeologia iugoslavica, 9, 11-18.
Mikić, Ž. 1988. Anthropological Remains from the Neolithic Sites in Serbia. In Srejović D. (Ed), Neolithic of Serbia: Archaeological Research 1948-1988 (pp.20-23). Belgrade: The University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, center for Archaeological Research.
Mikić, Ž. 1989. Novi starčevački antropološki nalazi jugoslovenskog podunavlja. Godišnjak centra za balkanološka ispitivanja, 27/25, 79-90.
Schwidetzky, I. 1971-72. menschliche Skelettreste von Vinca. Glasnik antropološkog društva Jugoslavije, 8-9, 101-112.
Стефановић, С., Јовановић, Ј., Миљевић, М., Живановић, С. 2016. Старчевачка групна гробница на Винчи или место неолитског злочина? ХХХVIII скуп Српског археолошког друштва, Књига апстраката.
Tasić, N., Srejović, D., Stojanović, B. 1990. Vinča: Center of the Neolithic Culture of the Danubian region. Belgrade: Cultura.
Tasić, N. N. 2014. Interdisciplinary approach to salvation of the site of Vinča – Belo Brdo. Asociatia ArheoVest Nr II. Timisoara. Szeged: Jate Press Kiado.
Васић, М. 1932. Преисторијска Винча. 1, Индустрија цинабарита и косметика у Винчи: увод у проучавање Винче: са додацима: I. Везано божанство у преисторијској религији. II. Винча и хиперборејски мит. Београд: Државне штампарије Краљевине Југославије.
Vasić, M. 1936. Preistorijska Vinča 2. Beograd: Izdanje i štampa: Državne štamparije Kraljevine Jugoslavije.

Archaeological site Zmajevac is situated in the village of Cerovac, near Smederevska Palanka, and during the excavation in 1977, archaeologists uncovered remains of a Starčevo culture settlement. These excavations were a part of “Morava Project in Yugoslavia”, which was a joint venture of several institutions – Brooklyn College in New York, National Museum in Belgrade and National Museum in Smederevska Palanka. Project managers were A. Bankoff and D. Krstić, and the excavations were done under the direction of R. Katunar. Only indirect indicators of above-ground dwellings were found within the settlements, and the remains of a pit which was divided in two rooms suggest that it might have been used as a temporary shelter when it was built. Ceramic vessels dominate the archaeological material, but there are some stone and bone artefacts as well, along with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines.

Bibliography:

Katunar R. 1988. Zmajevac-Smederevska Palanka. In: D. Srejović (ed.), The Neolithic of Serbia. Archaeological Research 1968-1988. Belgrade: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, pp. 110-111.

Djerdap Gorge (also known as Iron Gates) is situated in Eastern Serbia, on the Danube river, which acts as a natural border with Romania. It spans around 100 km from Golubac to Kladovo, following the river through the Carpathians. Due to its unique geomorphology, Djerdap became a refugium for numerous plant and animal species during the last Ice age, and it served as a suitable stage for the development of thriving cultures. The Danube is one of the most important communications between the Black Sea and Western Europe, but Djerdap has one more advantage: some of the bigger rivers of the Vardar basin that flow through Easter Serbia meet in the Gorge as well, providing Djerdap with the way to communicate with the Southern Europe. Great location, availability and richness of resources and favorable living conditions contributed to the development of cultures from Upper Paleolithic to the medieval period, as is evidenced by the numerous archaeological sites on both river banks.
Archaeological sites in Djerdap were discovered and excavated as part of the protective excavations of this area. The project was organized in the 1960s by the Commission for scientific research and protection of Djerdap, which was founded due to the construction of the hydroelectric power plant “Djerdap I. More than thirty sites were excavated in Djerdap; they provide insight into many cultural processes that have taken place in this region. But by far the most significant research problem, not only for the Djerdap region, but for the European archaeology as well, is the process of Neolithic transition – a cultural switch from hunter-gatherer to agrarian societies. And Djerdap sites, due to their chronology which spans from Early Mesolithic to Middle Neolithic, proved instrumental in the study of this phenomenon.
Lepenski Vir culture of the Djerdap Gorge comprises of three chronological periods: Early Mesolithic (9500-7500 BC), Transformation period (6300-5900 BC) and Middle Neolithic (5900-5500 BC). The culture got its name from the site Lepenski Vir, which is located 15 km upriver from Donji Milanovac. It was excavated from 1965 until 1970, and it became well known for its unique monumental stone sculptures.
The collection of skeletal remains of the Lepenski Vir culture numbers more than 500 individuals, from both Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, and it has proven an important subject of investigation. The first anthropological analyses of this collection were published after the excavation in monographs “Lepenski Vir” in 1969 and “Vlasac” in 1978. Mirjana Roksandić did a revision of this material as part of her doctoral thesis in 1999. Numerous other bioarcheological studies followed: isotopic analyses of the paleodiet and population mobility, DNA analyses, analysis of the fetal skeletons, AMS chronology, paleopathological analyses, studies of dental abrasions, hypoplasia, caries, tooth cementum annulation analysis, studies of faunal remains to name a few. Even though the site was flooded with the building of the dam, new questions are raised and new studies done every year thanks to this extraordinary material.

Bibliography:

Borić, D. 2001. Mesolithic and early Neolithic hunters and fishers in the Danube Gorges: an analysis of archaeozoological data. Archaeolingua.

Borić, D., & Dimitrijevic, V. (2007). When did the ‘Neolithic package’ reach Lepenski Vir? Radiometric and faunal evidence. Documenta Praehistorica, (34), 53-72.

de Becdelievre, C. in preparation. Eco-ethology of prehistoric population living in the Danube Goreges c. 9500-5500 BC. Bioarchaeological perspectives on human habitual behavior and adaptive strategies during the Mesolithic and Neolithic transformations. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade.

Јовановић, Ј., де Бекделиевр, К., Гуд, Г., Ле Руа, М., Ершер, Е. и Стефановић, С. 2015. Исхрана и здравствени статус деце у мезолиту и неолиту Ђердапа. Археика, 1, Београд.

Nehlich, O., Borić, D., Stefanović, S., & Richards, M. P. 2010. Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(5), 1131-1139.Radovanović 1992

Radović, M. 2012. ageing in the Danube Goreges population (9500-5500 BC) – tooth cementum annulation method. Starinar, LXII, 9-18.

Радовић, М. 2013. Трагови немастикаторних активноссти на зубима становника Ђердапа у периоду од 9500-5500.г. пре н.е. Докторска теза: Универзитет у Београду, Филозофски факултет.

Roksandić, M. 1999. Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Iron Gates gorge Physical anthropology perspective. PhD Thesis, Simon Fraser University.

Roksandic, M., Vlak, D., Schillaci, M. A., & Voicu, D. 2009. Applicability of tooth cementum annulation to an archaeological population. American journal of physical anthropology, 140(3), 583-588.

Срејовић, Д. (1969). Лепенски вир. Нова праисторијска култура у Подунављу. Српска књижевна задруга, Београд.

Срејовић Д., Загорка Л. (1978). Власац – мезолитско насеље у Ђердапу. САНУ:Београд

Stefanović S., & Borić D. (2008). Newborn infant burials underneath house floors at Lepenski Vir: in pursuit of contextual meanings. The Iron Gates in Prehistory.

Стефановић, С. 2012. Сифилис контроверза: трепонематозне инфекције у европској праисторији. Београд: Филозофски факултет.

Živaljević, I. 2017. Ribolov na Đerdapu u ranom holocenu (10-6. milenijum pre n.e.). Belgrade: University of Belgrade.

The site of Ajmana is located at the exit of the Danube Gorges, in the downstream area, on the slope of the Danube River, in the village of Mala Vrbica. On the other coast of the Danube, across Ajmana, in the direction of North West there is a site of Schela Cladovei. It is situated in a landscape more suitable for agricultural practices downstream from the main forager sites in the Danube Gorges area. Excavations were carried out in 1981, 1982 and 1984 under the direction of Blaženka Stalio. The site was occupied several times from the Early Neolithic through Eneolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman period to the Medieval period. Most of the features at the site are related to the Early Neolithic occupation on the basis of the abundant Starčevo culture pottery. Radiocarbon dates confirms Early Neolithic sequence of the site and suggest the existence of a newly founded fully Neolithic settlement which is contemporaneous with forager sites farther upstream. Several pits with ceramic finds, collective burial, one house, remains of oven and daub have been discovered during the excavations.
Taking into account the ceramic finds the Ajmana settlement can be dated to the late phase of the Starčevo culture. In addition to a standard ceramic assemblage, the site yielded ceramic objects of special function, namely altars with rectangular base and circular recipients. Ceramic weights and spindle whorls were also found.
The collective burial, circular in shape (2,5 x 1,8 m) has been discovered with 17 individuals placed in several levels one on top of the other. They were buried in flexed position with no grave offerings. First anthropological analysis was conducted by S. Radosavljević-Krunić. Strontium values suggest three individuals (graves 2/81, 7, and 15) had non local origin out of 12. Graves 7 and 15 belongs to Early Neolithic period, while burial 2/81 belongs to Iron Age.

Bibliography:

Borić, D., & Price, T. D. 2013. Strontium isotopes document greater human mobility at the start of the Balkan Neolithic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(9), 3298-3303.

Radosavljević-Krunić, S. 1987. resultats de l’etude anthropologique des quelettes provenant du site Ajmana (Rezultati antropološke obrade skeleta sa lokaliteta Ajdmana). Đerdapske sveske III, 51-85.

Stalio, B. 1986. Le site prehistorique a Ajmana Mala Vrbica. Đerdapske sveske III, 28-50.

Stalio, B. 1992. Grupno sahranjivanje na Ajmani – mala Vrbica. Zbornik narodnog muzeja 14(1), 65-76. Beograd: Filozofski fakultet, Odeljenje za arheologiju.

The site is situated in the Lower Gorge on the right bank of the Danube, between Vlasac and Ajmana. It was excavated in the course of rescue excavation between 1965 and 1969. Absolute dates for Hajdučka Vodenica range from 7076-6699 cal BC to 6016-5726 cal BC, which indicates site was occupied from Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic period. The site was also occupied during the Iron Age, Roman and Medieval period.
In the Mesolithic-Neolithic sequence, at Hajdučka Vodenica there were two ditinct areas of the site. The first involves settlement area where rectangular stone hearths were found, as well as large number of bone tools and shallow pits with traces of burning. Starčevo pottery was also detected. The second area consists of burials where a number of individuals were placed in extended positions underneath and associated with a specifically constructed rectangular hearth, which was surrounded by a packed flooring of red burned earth (Jovanović 1984).
Stone tools were not as numerous as on the other Djerdap sites. Osseous industry was represented by various tools: anvils, hammer stones, points, awls, chisels, scrapers, projectiles, and small hoes made from antler, large and medium sized ungulate bones.
Archaeozoological analysis showed high prevalence of wild species (red deer, wild boar, auroch) through entire Mesolithic –Neolithic sequence. In Neolithic domestic animals appeared (cattle, pig). Dog was also present form Mesolithic time. Surprisingly, there was small amount of fish remains, which is not the case at other Mesolithic-Neolithic sites in the Gorges.
Concerning burials, they were extended inhumations placed parallel to the Danube with the heads pointing downstream. They were buried in single, double or multiple burials. There were no grave goods and only a massive red deer antler was found placed at the entrance to the burial chamber. The total number of 32 burials was identified containing at least 46 individual skeletal remains. First anthropological analysis of this material was conducted by S. Živanović. M. Roksandić analyzed epigenetic variations and also she did a re-examination of sex and age determinations. Sofija Stefanović did pathological analysis. Recently, besides from radiometric dating this material, a lot of other archaeometric analyses have been done. Stable isotope analysis of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur have been carried out in order to reconstruct paleodietary behaviors and length of lactation. Also, strontium isotope analyses were done to clarify the patterns individual and group mobility Tooth cementum annulation analysis was done to reconstruct individual age and ageing models in this population.

Bibliography:

Borić, D., & Miracle, P. 2004. Mesolithic and Neolithic (dis) continuities in the Danube Gorges: new AMS dates from Padina and Hajdučka Vodenica (Serbia). Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 23(4), 341-371.

Borić, D., Grupe, G., Peters, J., & Mikić, Ž. 2004. Is the Mesolithic–Neolithic subsistence dichotomy real? New stable isotope evidence from the Danube Gorges. European Journal of Archaeology, 7(3), 221-248.

Borić, D., & Price, T. D. 2013. Strontium isotopes document greater human mobility at the start of the Balkan Neolithic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(9), 3298-3303.

Jovanović, B. 1968. Elements of the Early Neolithic architecture in the Iron Gate Gorge and their Functions. Archaeologia Iugoslavica, 9, 1-19.
Ј

овановић, Б. 1984. Хајдучка воденица, праисторијска некрополоа. Старинар, XXXIII-XXXIV, (1982-1983), 305-312.

Greenfield, H., Bonsall, C., Boroneanţ, V., & Radovanović, I. (2008). The vertebrate fauna from Hajducka Vodenica in the Danubian Iron Gates: subsistence and taphonomy from the Early Neolithic and Mesolithic. The Iron Gates in Prehistory: New Perspectives (British Archaeological Reports International Series 1893). Oxford: Archaeopress, 205-26

Стефановић, С. 2012. Сифилис контроверза: трепонематозне инфекције у европској праисторији. Београд: Филозофски факултет.

Јовановић, Ј., де Бекделиевр, К., Гуд, Г., Ле Руа, М., Ершер, Е. и Стефановић, С. 2015. Исхрана и здравствени статус деце у мезолиту и неолиту Ђердапа. Археика, 1, Београд.

Nehlich, O., Borić, D., Stefanović, S., & Richards, M. P. 2010. Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(5), 1131-1139.Radovanović 1992

Radović, M. 2012. ageing in the Danube Goreges population (9500-5500 BC) – tooth cementum annulation method. Starinar, LXII, 9-18.

Roksandić, M. 1999. Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Iron Gates gorge Physical anthropology perspective. PhD Thesis, Simon Fraser University.

The eponymous site of Lepenski Vir is situated in the Upper Gorge on a terrace consisting of finely laminated riverine sands, between right bank of the Danube and steep slope of Koršo hill, near the confluence of Boljetin river. This is an inaccessible area of the Gorges due to the height of the hills (up to 500m) and the narrow width of the Danube. The name Lepenski Vir (Vir means whirlpool in Serbian) is derived from the existence of the whirlpool in front of the site that may have played an important role in fishing. It is located between Padina (upstream) and Vlasac site (downstream). D. Srejović and his team from Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade conducted excavations at the site from 1965 to 1970. In 1969, one of the floor plans of the excavated portion of the site was cut into blocks and reconstructed on the terrace some 30 meters above its original setting.
Lepenski Vir is one of the best C14 dated sites of the period in Europe. Those dates had shown that site was inhabited from Mesolithic through Early Neolithic sequence as well as during Eneolithic, Roman and Medieval time.
Mesolithic sequence last from 9400 to7400 calBC. In this period we have remains of dwellings, stone hearths, various artefacts, and occasional burials. The site is settled again during the Transitional Period or Mesolithic/Neolithic Transformation phase (6200-5900 BC). This is the time when site reached its fullest development with numerous and more complex trapezoidal dwellings. Rectangular stone hearths are still present and were placed in the centre of each dwelling. Also there are findings of sculptured boulders of fish-human features which were found on building floors, around the hearth area. At this time, in the Danube Gorges, we have appearance of non local people. Namely, strontium isotope ratios suggest an increase in the number of non-local people, of which five were buried at Lepenski Vir. One of the most important changes of this period may be related to the extensive use of Early Neolithic technologies such as pottery, polished stone axes and yellow-spotted Balkan flints. In this context, the appearance of typical Neolithic spondylus beads suggests also intensive contacts with early Neolithic communities across the region. After 5950 cal BC significant changes occurred in the lifestyle of Lepenski Vir communities. Almost all the trapezoidal buildings have been abandoned and the discovery of several domed ovens as well as pits filled by fragments of daub and wattle, indicate to the new kind of architecture. Also, at that time there are more non-local individuals, with seven non-locals females buried at the site. During this final Neolithic phase (ended c. 5700 BC) most of the buildings had been abandoned.
The artefacts found on Lepenski Vir include chipped and ground stone tools, tools made out of animal bones and antlers, pottery, and different ornaments and sculptures.
From archaeozoological record, the most dominant animal species through entire Mesolithic Neolithic sequence are red and roe deer, wild boar and various fishes (cyprinides such as carp, vyrezub; Acipenseridae such as Russian sturgeon, sterlet, beluga; and others such as catfish and huchen). Dog has been locally domesticated during the Mesolithic. On dog remains there are traces of cut marks and burning suggesting people could use them as a food. One of the most important changes concerning faunal remains is noted around 5900 cal BC with the appearance of domesticated animals, such as cattle, sheep/goat, and pig. However fish, as well as wild animals remain predominant in the faunal spectrum suggesting that diet remains based on an intensive fishing and hunting at the start of the Neolithic. The palynological study shows no evidence for cereal and plant cultivations. This lack of plant remains has been interpreted by Chapman as an evidence for the active resistance of the fisher population to the introduction of the new farming system, but may simply be due to the fact that the Gorges didn’t represent a suitable environment for the development of such cultures.
At Lepenski Vir 134 graves with minimum number of 190 individuals have been excavated. Also, 34 adults, 5 subadults and 3 newborns have been observed but from different unidentified archaeological contexts. In funerary practice during the Mesolithic period the most representative are extended supine inhumations, but there is also a few seated burials in lotus position or with crossed legs. At the advent of Neolithic, around 6200 cal BC in the burial rite, there is continuity with previous Mesolithic practices of extended supine position parallel to the Danube, often placed in burial pits made through the floors of trapezoidal buildings. However, a major change is seen in children funerary practices. They are buried as single inhumations beneath the red-plastered floors of Lepenski Vir. Around 40 neonates have been discovered often close to the hearths or in the rear of the houses. Infant burials inside the dwelling structures appear also throughout the Neolithic Balkans and eastern Mediterranean. From 6200 BC, farming communities are already settled in the Balkans and changes in the Gorges seem to be related to intensive contacts between the local foragers and the Early Neolithic farmers. Around 5900 cal BC there are significant changes in mortuary practice with the appearance of first flexed inhumations, which are typical Neolithic mortuary rite.
First anthropological analysis of the skeletons was carried out in 70-ies. J. Nemeskéri, Z. Zoffmann and Ž. Mikić were among the first who analyzed skeletal remains from this site. Đ. Grga performed dental analysis. M.Roksandić analyzed epigenetic variations and also she did a re-examination of sex and age determinations. S. Stefanović analyzed skeletal remains of neonates and children from LepenskiVir and she also did re-examination of sex and age, pathological analysis, and musculo-skeletal stress markers. Recently, besides from radiometric dating this material, a lot of other archaeometric analyses have been done. Stable isotope analysis of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur have been carried out in order to reconstruct paleodietary behaviors. Also, strontium isotope analyses were done to clarify the patterns individual and group mobility. B. Čuljković performed ancient DNA analysis of neonates. Tooth cementum annulation analyses were done to reconstruct individual age and ageing models in this population.

Bibliography:

Antonović, D. 2006. Stone tools from Lepenski Vir. Beograd: Arheološki Institut.

Bonsall, C., Cook, G. T., Hedges, R. E. M., Higham, T. F. G., Pickard, C., & Radovanović, I. 2004. Radiocarbon and stable isotope evidence of dietary change from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages in the Iron Gates: new results from Lepenski Vir. Radiocarbon, 46(1), 293-300.

Bonsall, C., Radovanović, I., Roksandic, M., Cook, G. T., Higham, T., Pickard, C., & Boroneanţ, V. 2008. Dating burial practices and architecture at Lepenski Vir. The Iron Gates in Prehistory. Oxford: Archaeopress. p, 175-204.

Borić, D. 2001. Mesolithic and early Neolithic hunters and fishers in the Danube Gorges: an analysis of archaeozoological data. Archaeolingua.

Borić, D., & Stefanović, S. 2004. Birth and death: infant burials from Vlasac and Lepenski Vir. Antiquity, 78(301), 526-546.

Boric, D., Dimitrijevic, V. 2005. Continuity of foraging strategies in Mesolithic-Neolithic transformations: Dating faunal patterns at Lepenski Vir (Serbia). Atti della Società per la preistoria e protostoria della regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 15, 33-80.

Borić, D., & Dimitrijević, V. 2007. When did the ‘Neolithic package’reach Lepenski Vir? Radiometric and faunal evidence. Documenta Praehistorica, 34, 53-71.

Borić, D., & Price, T. D. 2013. Strontium isotopes document greater human mobility at the start of the Balkan Neolithic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(9), 3298-3303.

Cook, G. T., Bonsall, C., Hedges, R. E., McSweeney, K., Boroneant, V., Bartosiewicz, L., & Pettitt, P. B. 2002. Problems of dating human bones from the Iron Gates. Antiquity, 76(291), 77-85.

Garašanin, M. and Radovanović, I. 2001. A pot in house 54 at Lepenski Vir I. Antiquity, 75. 118-125.

Srejović, D. 1969. Lepenski Vir – Nova praistorijska kultura u Podunavlju. Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga.

Srejović, D. 1972. Europe’ first monumental scultpure: New discoveries at Lepenski Vir. London: Thames & Hudson.

Whittle, A., Bartosiewicz, L., Borić, D., Pettitt, P., & Richards, M. P. 2002. In the beginning: new radiocarbon dates for the Early Neolithic in northern Serbia and south-east Hungary. Antaeus., 25, 63-118.

Živaljević, I. 2017. Ribolov na Đerdapu u ranom holocenu (10-6. milenijum pre n.e.). Belgrade:
University of Belgrade.

The site of Padina is located in the Danube Gorges, downstream from the Gospođin Whirlpool. It was excavated during 1968-1970 under the direction of B. Jovanović from Archeological Institute in Belgrade. Archeological finds and radiocarbon dates showed Padina was inhabited from the early Mesolithic to the Transitional-Early Middle Neolithic phase. Absolute dates for Padina range from 9221-8548cal BC to 5930-5700 cal BC. The site was also occupied during the Late Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman and Medieval period.
From Mesolithic-Neolithic sequence 21 settlement objects (of which 17 trapezoidal in shape), pottery, dwellings and pit dwellings, hearths, graves and animal bones were found.
Typical Starčevo ceramics was only found in Neolithic layers and it is mostly fine monochrome, while barbotine and painted pottery are absent.
Archaeozoological analysis shows prevalence of wild animal species throughout the sequence (red deer, wild pig, aurochs, roe deer). Remains of domestic animals (cattle, pig, caprines) appear in Neolithic (except dog) and were not numerous. Concerning fish remains, the most abundant are catfishes, followed by carp, vyrezub, sturgeons (such as beluga, sterlet) and huchen from Trout family.
The people of Padina buried their dead around the stone constructions or surrounding later trapezoidal dwellings. In Mesolithic period burial positions are extended supine inhumations or in a sitting position with crossed legs while in Neolithic are mostly in flexed position. There are also examples of disarticulated body parts throughout the sequence. According to M. Roksandić minimal number of individuals is 52 from defined contexts. 26 were buried in single, 14 in double graves, while three grave units had three, four and five individuals each.

Bibliography:

Borić, D. 2001. Mesolithic and early Neolithic hunters and fishers in the Danube Gorges: an analysis of archaeozoological data. Archaeolingua.Borić and Price 2013

Clason, A. T. 1980. Padina and Starčevo: game, fish and cattle. Palaeohistoria, 22, 142-173.
de Becdelievre, C. in preparation. Eco-ethology of prehistoric population living in the Danube Goreges c. 9500-5500 BC. Bioarchaeological perspectives on human habitual behavior and adaptive strategies during the Mesolithic and Neolithic transformations. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade.

Jovanović, B. 2008. Micro-regions of the Lepenski Vir culture: Padina in the Upper Gorge and Hajdučka Vodenica in the Lower Gorge of the Danube. Documenta Praehistorica, 35, 289.

Јовановић, Ј., де Бекделиевр, К., Гуд, Г., Ле Руа, М., Ершер, Е. и Стефановић, С. 2015. Исхрана и здравствени статус деце у мезолиту и неолиту Ђердапа. Археика, 1, Београд.

Nehlich, O., Borić, D., Stefanović, S., & Richards, M. P. 2010. Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(5), 1131-1139.Radovanović 1992

Radović, M. 2012. ageing in the Danube Goreges population (9500-5500 BC) – tooth cementum annulation method. Starinar, LXII, 9-18.

Радовић, М. 2013. Трагови немастикаторних активноссти на зубима становника Ђердапа у периоду од 9500-5500.г. пре н.е. Докторска теза: Универзитет у Београду, Филозофски факултет.

Roksandić, M. 1999. Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Iron Gates gorge Physical anthropology perspective. PhD Thesis, Simon Fraser University.

Roksandic, M., Vlak, D., Schillaci, M. A., & Voicu, D. 2009. Applicability of tooth cementum annulation to an archaeological population. American journal of physical anthropology, 140(3), 583-588.

Стефановић, С. 2012. Сифилис контроверза: трепонематозне инфекције у европској праисторији. Београд: Филозофски факултет.

Živaljević, I. 2017. Ribolov na Đerdapu u ranom holocenu (10-6. milenijum pre n.e.). Belgrade: University of Belgrade.

Vlasac is situated in the Upper Đerdap Gorge on the right bank of the Danube River. Absolute dates for Vlasac range from 7035–6698 cal BC to 5700 -5500 cal BC. D. Srejović and Z. Letica conducted the first excavations of Vlasac in 1970-1971. An area of 640 sq m was investigated with various findings from Mesolithic, Neolithic and Eneolithic period. After, the site was flooded with the construction of the Ðerdap (Danube Gorges) Dam I leaving a big lake behind. However, in 2006 the water level dropped and created a small riverbank which enabled new excavations at this spot. The new excavations lasted from 2006-2009 under the direction of D. Borić.
Vlasac was inhabited from the late Mesolithic through Early Neolithic in the first phase of its existence. During the old excavations five dwellings with floors of reddish crushed limestone mixed with sand, 26 rectangular stone hearths as well as 17 stone constructions of unclear functions have been discovered. Additionally, a vast number (more then 35000) of portable findings and 87 graves were also investigated. During the new excavations two dugout features (possibly dwellings), several cremation pits with burnt human remains as well as 16 inhumation burials and scattered human remains have been discovered. Also, Early Neolithic Starčevo pottery was found at Vlasac, and C14 dates indicate it probably did not have reached Vlasac before ca. 6000 cal B.C. The excavations uncovered numerous chipped and ground stone tools, osseous tools made of bone, antler and ivory; red deer bones and antlers were especially important, followed by wild boar canines/tusks. Usewear traces and tool morphology indicate these tools were used in different activities such as woodworking, hunting and fishing.
Macrobotanical analysis showed that most abundant taxon was Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.). Pollen analysis of human coprolites showed pollen grains from species with potentially edible parts (e.g., Pinus, Quercus, Juglans, Corylus) (Cărciumaru 1978). This indicates they could be selected for food, which in that case could represent a good source of valuable vitamins and minerals.
In the faunal assemblage the most abundant are remains of red deer, followed by dog, wild pig, roe deer, while less than 2% of the sample comprises all other species: aurochs, various carnivores (brown bear, wolf, red fox, marten, badger, wild cat), hare, and beaver. Among fish remains Cyprinids family (various species of carp, vyrezub, bream) are the most numerous along with catfish, pike, pike, pearch, huchen and sturgeons. Cyprinid pharyngeal teeth perforated or unmodified were often used as ornaments in burials.
During the old excavations 87 graves with 164 individuals were found at Vlasac. In the course of new excavations 16 individuals from both primary and secondary inhumations along with seven cremation burials have been investigated. Burial customs have been almost unchanged through entire Mesolithic-Neolithic sequence. During the Mesolithic period the main burial position is extended supine parallel to the River Danube and with the heads largely pointing downstream. This position also appears at many other Late Mesolithic sites in the region. In burials there are often findings of perforated/unmodified pharyngeal carp teeth (probably they were attached to the some sort of cloak) as well as exotic materials such as Cyclo peneritea and Columbella rustica marine gastropod beads. Furthermore, there is also a practice of exhuming skeletal elements of already decomposed bodies, their additional fragmentation and burning in nearby pits. Sometimes bodies are covered with stone blocks. There are also burials of neonates beneath the red-plastered floors.
After ca. 6200 cal BC, new typical Neolithic ornaments in Vlasac burials started to replace old Mesolithic body decorations (carp teeth, marine gastropod beads). Although, sometimes new and old body decoration appears together illustrating the contacts between local foragers and first farming communities settled in the Balkan area. A new ornament features are characterized by ovoid shaped Spondylus shell beads, white and red discoid limestone beads. These new forms are coming to the local foragers from Neolithic cultural repertoire through the network of social interactions.

Bibliography:
Borić, D. 2001. Mesolithic and early Neolithic hunters and fishers in the Danube Gorges: an analysis of archaeozoological data. Archaeolingua.

Borić, D.2014. Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in the Neolithic and Early–Middle Copper Age of South-East Europe. In The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe.

Borić, D., & Stefanović, S. 2004. Birth and death: infant burials from Vlasac and Lepenski Vir. Antiquity, 78(301), 526-546.

Borić, D., & Price, T. D. 2013. Strontium isotopes document greater human mobility at the start of the Balkan Neolithic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(9), 3298-3303.

Borić, D., French, C. A., Stefanović, S., Dimitrijević, V., Cristiani, E., Gurova, M., … & Filipović, D. (2014). Late Mesolithic lifeways and deathways at Vlasac (Serbia). Journal of Field Archaeology, 39(1), 4-31.

Čuljković, B., Stefanović, S., Romac, S., Bonsall, C., Boroneant, V., & Radovanović, I. 2000. DNA-based sex identification of the infant remains from Lepenski Vir. In conference “The Iron Gates Prehistory: New Perspectives,” (pp.171-174). BAR International Series 1893. Oxford: Archaeopress
de Becdelievre, C. in preparation. Eco-ethology of prehistoric population living in the Danube Goreges c. 9500-5500 BC. Bioarchaeological perspectives on human habitual behavior and adaptive strategies during the Mesolithic and Neolithic transformations. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade.

Jovanović, B. 2008. Micro-regions of the Lepenski Vir culture: Padina in the Upper Gorge and Hajdučka Vodenica in the Lower Gorge of the Danube. Documenta Praehistorica, 35, 289.

Nehlich, O., Borić, D., Stefanović, S., & Richards, M. P. 2010. Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(5), 1131-1139.Radovanović 1992
Radović, M. 2012. ageing in the Danube Goreges population (9500-5500 BC) – tooth cementum annulation method. Starinar, LXII, 9-18.

Радовић, М. 2013. Трагови немастикаторних активноссти на зубима становника Ђердапа у периоду од 9500-5500.г. пре н.е. Докторска теза: Универзитет у Београду, Филозофски факултет.

Roksandić, M. 1999. Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Iron Gates gorge Physical anthropology perspective. PhD Thesis, Simon Fraser University.

Roksandic, M., Vlak, D., Schillaci, M. A., & Voicu, D. 2009. Applicability of tooth cementum annulation to an archaeological population. American journal of physical anthropology, 140(3), 583-588.

Srejović, D., Letica Z. 1978. Vlasac: Mezolitsko naselje u Đerdapu, vol. 1 arheologija. Beograd: SANU.
Стефановић, С. 2012. Сифилис контроверза: трепонематозне инфекције у европској праисторији. Београд: Филозофски факултет.

Živaljević, I. 2017. Ribolov na Đerdapu u ranom holocenu (10-6. milenijum pre n.e.). Belgrade: University of Belgrade.