Nemanja Marković
Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia, Medieval archaeology, Department Member
Research Interests:
Велики међународни пројекат изградње гасовода Турски ток је дуг 930 км са капацитетом од 31,5 милијарди кубних метара гаса годишње. Први његов крак пролази кроз Турску, а други иде ка Бугарској, Србији и Мађарској. Србија и Бугарска овај... more
Велики међународни пројекат изградње гасовода Турски ток је дуг 930 км са капацитетом од 31,5 милијарди кубних метара гаса годишње. Први његов крак пролази кроз Турску, а други иде ка Бугарској, Србији и Мађарској. Србија и Бугарска овај део гасовода називају и Балкански ток. Капацитет сваког крака је 15,75 милијарди кубних метара гаса. Изграђен је услед потребе да се обезбеди стабилно снабдевање гасом јужне – југоисточне Европе и Турске.
Србија је у току 2019. године изградила магистрални гасовод дужине 403 км од бугарске до мађарске границе, односно од Зајечара до Хоргоша. Градња је текла кроз четири деонице (https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/13/ekonomija/3801702/sest-stvari-koje-treba-da-znate-o-gasovodu-turski-tok.html). Прва деоница била је од бугарске границе до Ћуприје, друга од Ћуприје до Дунава, трећа од Дунава до Зрењанина, док је четврта деоница гасовода била од Госпођинаца до Хоргоша. Први кубици гаса потекли су почетком 2020. године (https://www.aa.com.tr/ba/balkan/deo-gasovoda-turski-tok-kroz-srbiju-pu%C5%A1ten-u-rad/2095358).
Траса гасовода кроз Србију прелазила је кроз многобројна археолошка налазишта у свим деоницама, те је сходно Закону о културним добрима Републике Србије („Сл. гласник РС“ број 71/94) било потребно извршити и велики број заштитних археолошких ископавања. Инвеститор ових радова био је Infrastructure Development and Construction DOO Beograd – Novi Beograd (IDC DOO), Булевар Михајла Пупина 115 г, Нови Београд.
Траса магистралног гасовода (интерконектор) од границе Бугарске до границе са Мађарском, на делу деонице 4, обухватала је област од Госпођинаца до мађарске границе и
прелазила је преко општина Aда, Сента и Кањижа, над којима је као служба заштите непокретних културних добара територијално надлежан Међуопштински завод за заштиту споменика културе Суботица. Део деонице 4, од Госпођинаца до Аде, био је у надлежности Покрајинског завода за заштиту споменика културе Петроварадин.
На траси гасовода у општинама Кањижа, Сента и Ада налазило се девет претходно детектованих археолошких локалитета (Сл. 1). Четири налазишта била су угрожена изградњом гасовода на територији општине Кањижа (локалитети 19, 61, 122, 127 у KO Велебит, КО Трешњевац, КО Кањижа, КО Мартонош, КО Хоргош), два на територији општине Сента (Локалитет 42, Црквено брдо и локалитет 45 у КО Сента) и три на територији општине Ада (локалитети 2, 5, 6 у КО Мол, КО Ада). Већина ових налазишта откривена је и мапирана у оквиру пројекта Археолошка мапа северне Бачке, који од 2017. године реализује Међуопштински завод за заштиту споменика културе Суботица, уз подршку Министарства културе и информисања Републике Србије и локалних самоуправа. Неки од локалитета који су ископавани у оквиру заштитних радова на траси гасовода били су познати од раније у архивској и археолошкој документацији установа заштите северне Бачке. Такав је случај са локалитетима Црквено брдо (Локалитет 42) у Горњем Брегу, општинa Сента и Чонтпарт (Локалитет 127) у општини Кањижа.
Током октобра и новембра 2019. године, истражена је планирана траса гасовода кроз наведене општине на свих девет археолошких локалитета у дужини од око 1,5 км. Након земљаних радова на полагању цеви гасовода, археолошки радови су настављени на четири локалитета у оквиру радне зоне гасовода да би археолошки објекти и структуре, који су претходно делимично откривени у оквиру трасе, били проширени и истражени у целини.
Приликом ових ископавања детектовано је и ископано више стотина археолошких целина и прикупљено око 100 кутија покретног археолошког материјала.
У току истраживања узет је велики број узорака за различите врсте анализа: апсолутно датовање, палеоботаничке (250 узорака), антраколошке, геохемијске и друге. Анализе радиоактивног угљениковог изотопа ¹⁴С рађене су у Curt Engelhorn – Zentrum Archäometrie, у Манхајму у Немачкој. Резултати других специјалистичких анализа су у обради и биће презентовани у другом тому публикације.
Такође, за све ове локалитете који тренутно уживају статус претходне заштите, на основу резултата истраживања биће урађени елаборати за предлог утврђивања у непокретна културна добра, чиме би се појачала њихова правна заштита. Због великог потенцијала за употпуњавање археолошке слике ове области, надамо се да ће резултати заштитних истраживања на неким од локалитета пружити основ за даља систематска истраживања.
Србија је у току 2019. године изградила магистрални гасовод дужине 403 км од бугарске до мађарске границе, односно од Зајечара до Хоргоша. Градња је текла кроз четири деонице (https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/13/ekonomija/3801702/sest-stvari-koje-treba-da-znate-o-gasovodu-turski-tok.html). Прва деоница била је од бугарске границе до Ћуприје, друга од Ћуприје до Дунава, трећа од Дунава до Зрењанина, док је четврта деоница гасовода била од Госпођинаца до Хоргоша. Први кубици гаса потекли су почетком 2020. године (https://www.aa.com.tr/ba/balkan/deo-gasovoda-turski-tok-kroz-srbiju-pu%C5%A1ten-u-rad/2095358).
Траса гасовода кроз Србију прелазила је кроз многобројна археолошка налазишта у свим деоницама, те је сходно Закону о културним добрима Републике Србије („Сл. гласник РС“ број 71/94) било потребно извршити и велики број заштитних археолошких ископавања. Инвеститор ових радова био је Infrastructure Development and Construction DOO Beograd – Novi Beograd (IDC DOO), Булевар Михајла Пупина 115 г, Нови Београд.
Траса магистралног гасовода (интерконектор) од границе Бугарске до границе са Мађарском, на делу деонице 4, обухватала је област од Госпођинаца до мађарске границе и
прелазила је преко општина Aда, Сента и Кањижа, над којима је као служба заштите непокретних културних добара територијално надлежан Међуопштински завод за заштиту споменика културе Суботица. Део деонице 4, од Госпођинаца до Аде, био је у надлежности Покрајинског завода за заштиту споменика културе Петроварадин.
На траси гасовода у општинама Кањижа, Сента и Ада налазило се девет претходно детектованих археолошких локалитета (Сл. 1). Четири налазишта била су угрожена изградњом гасовода на територији општине Кањижа (локалитети 19, 61, 122, 127 у KO Велебит, КО Трешњевац, КО Кањижа, КО Мартонош, КО Хоргош), два на територији општине Сента (Локалитет 42, Црквено брдо и локалитет 45 у КО Сента) и три на територији општине Ада (локалитети 2, 5, 6 у КО Мол, КО Ада). Већина ових налазишта откривена је и мапирана у оквиру пројекта Археолошка мапа северне Бачке, који од 2017. године реализује Међуопштински завод за заштиту споменика културе Суботица, уз подршку Министарства културе и информисања Републике Србије и локалних самоуправа. Неки од локалитета који су ископавани у оквиру заштитних радова на траси гасовода били су познати од раније у архивској и археолошкој документацији установа заштите северне Бачке. Такав је случај са локалитетима Црквено брдо (Локалитет 42) у Горњем Брегу, општинa Сента и Чонтпарт (Локалитет 127) у општини Кањижа.
Током октобра и новембра 2019. године, истражена је планирана траса гасовода кроз наведене општине на свих девет археолошких локалитета у дужини од око 1,5 км. Након земљаних радова на полагању цеви гасовода, археолошки радови су настављени на четири локалитета у оквиру радне зоне гасовода да би археолошки објекти и структуре, који су претходно делимично откривени у оквиру трасе, били проширени и истражени у целини.
Приликом ових ископавања детектовано је и ископано више стотина археолошких целина и прикупљено око 100 кутија покретног археолошког материјала.
У току истраживања узет је велики број узорака за различите врсте анализа: апсолутно датовање, палеоботаничке (250 узорака), антраколошке, геохемијске и друге. Анализе радиоактивног угљениковог изотопа ¹⁴С рађене су у Curt Engelhorn – Zentrum Archäometrie, у Манхајму у Немачкој. Резултати других специјалистичких анализа су у обради и биће презентовани у другом тому публикације.
Такође, за све ове локалитете који тренутно уживају статус претходне заштите, на основу резултата истраживања биће урађени елаборати за предлог утврђивања у непокретна културна добра, чиме би се појачала њихова правна заштита. Због великог потенцијала за употпуњавање археолошке слике ове области, надамо се да ће резултати заштитних истраживања на неким од локалитета пружити основ за даља систематска истраживања.
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The aim of this research is to determine whether palaeoparasitological analysis of mineralized concretions found within a stone vessel from the Roman city of Viminacium can shed light on its past use. The ruins of Viminacium, the capital... more
The aim of this research is to determine whether palaeoparasitological analysis of mineralized concretions found within a stone vessel from the Roman city of Viminacium can shed light on its past use. The ruins of Viminacium, the capital of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, are situated 90 km southeast of the Belgrade in Serbia, and about 12 km from the town of Kostolac in the vicinity of villages Stari Kostolac and Drmno. It was established as a military camp in the first century CE with a legion permanently stationed there. The stone vessel was discovered during systematic archaeological excavations of the public bath complex with a public toilet near the amphitheater in Viminacium. The finding is dated by relative chronology in the second half of the third century. The vessel is topologically defined as a mortarium according to shape and size. Mineralized deposits were preserved inside the vessel rim, sides, 2 and base. Microscopic analysis of the mineralized deposit revealed eggs of intestinal nematode roundworms (most likely Ascaris sp., but possibly Pterygodermatites sp.) from the sides and base of the vessel. This is the first time that parasite eggs have been identified from concretions inside a Roman stone vessel, and have strong parallels with a previous finding of parasite eggs in mineralized deposits from a ceramic chamber pot from late antique Sicily. The finding suggests the possible use, or secondary use, and function of the stone vessel as a sanitary item (such as storing wiping implements) for personal hygiene in the public bath of Viminacium. Further paleoparasitological research requires a systematic analysis of calcified deposits from Roman period stone vessels for more clear insights into their function, use and reuse.
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The pronounced growth in livestock populations since the 1950s has altered the epidemiological and evolutionary trajectory of their associated pathogens. For example, Marek’s disease virus (MDV), which causes lymphoid tumors in chickens,... more
The pronounced growth in livestock populations since the 1950s has altered the epidemiological and evolutionary trajectory of their associated pathogens. For example, Marek’s disease virus (MDV), which causes lymphoid tumors in chickens, has experienced a marked increase in virulence over the past century. Today, MDV infections kill >90% of unvaccinated birds, and controlling it costs more than US$1 billion annually. By sequencing MDV genomes derived from archeological chickens, we demonstrate that it has been circulating for at least 1000 years. We functionally tested the Meq oncogene, one of 49 viral genes positively selected in modern strains, demonstrating that ancient MDV was likely incapable of driving tumor formation. Our results demonstrate the power of ancient DNA approaches to trace the molecular basis of virulence in economically relevant pathogens.
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In 1956, the Institute of Archaeology and the National Museum in Belgrade carried out excavations at the site of Supska, near Ćuprija, in Central Serbia. Based on the material culture findings, the site is mostly known as a Late... more
In 1956, the Institute of Archaeology and the National Museum in Belgrade carried out excavations at the site of Supska, near Ćuprija, in Central Serbia. Based on the material culture findings, the site is mostly known as a Late Neolithic one; however, archaeological findings from other periods were discovered too. In the 1956 excavations, the cultural layers, and archaeological features with the Vinča culture archaeological materials were examined, as well as one grave, marked as Grave 1. The results of this excavation have been previously published in one monograph; however, an anthropological analysis of the individual found in Grave 1 has not been conducted before. In this paper, we present the results of contextual, bioanthropological, stable isotopes and C14 analyses of human skeletal remains found in Grave 1. The results showed that a young adult, who had experienced nonspecific metabolic stress during childhood, as evidenced by traces of linear enamel hypoplasia and porotic hyperostosis, was buried in this grave. AMS date revealed that this individual lived between 1280–1390 cal. AD, while the results of the stable isotope analyses suggested that it had mixed diet based on C4 plants (such as millet) and/or C3 plants, with larger amounts of animal protein, possible deriving from freshwater fish.
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Various socio-economic changes, including the introduction of metallurgy, mark the long duration of the Vinča culture. For detailed studies of the transformations of the Vinča societies, analyses of subsistence and economy must also be... more
Various socio-economic changes, including the introduction of metallurgy, mark the long duration of the Vinča culture. For detailed studies of the transformations of the Vinča societies, analyses of subsistence and economy must also be placed on the chronological line. The small-sized excavations carried out in 2018 at the Late Neolithic site of Jablanica
(c. 5000–4700 BC) in central Serbia provided a faunal assemblage that enabled analyses of animal exploitation patterns, bone technology and also provided the samples for radiocarbon dating. The faunal remains show the predominance of domestic species, especially cattle.
The site also yielded approximately 90 artefacts produced from bone and antler, including finished objects, preforms and manufacturing debris. Predominant raw materials were bones, mainly long bones, metapodials and ribs, followed by red deer antlers. Also, one artefact from Spondylus shell was found. Awls were the most frequent techno-type, and the typological repertoire also included other pointed tools, scrapers and other tools. Several preforms (mainly awls) and manufacture debris provided evidence of a working area or workshop within the settlement. Absolute dates showed that the beginning of the Late Neolithic occupation at the site of Jablanica could be equated with the relative depths of 4.5 meters at the type site of Vinča – Belo Brdo, or the late Vinča Pločnik I (Vinča C) period, while the radiocarbon dates associated with the end of the Late Neolithic occupation of the site can be correlated to layers
between 4.0 and 3.5 meters at the type site of Vinča, i.e., the Vinča Pločnik IIa.
(c. 5000–4700 BC) in central Serbia provided a faunal assemblage that enabled analyses of animal exploitation patterns, bone technology and also provided the samples for radiocarbon dating. The faunal remains show the predominance of domestic species, especially cattle.
The site also yielded approximately 90 artefacts produced from bone and antler, including finished objects, preforms and manufacturing debris. Predominant raw materials were bones, mainly long bones, metapodials and ribs, followed by red deer antlers. Also, one artefact from Spondylus shell was found. Awls were the most frequent techno-type, and the typological repertoire also included other pointed tools, scrapers and other tools. Several preforms (mainly awls) and manufacture debris provided evidence of a working area or workshop within the settlement. Absolute dates showed that the beginning of the Late Neolithic occupation at the site of Jablanica could be equated with the relative depths of 4.5 meters at the type site of Vinča – Belo Brdo, or the late Vinča Pločnik I (Vinča C) period, while the radiocarbon dates associated with the end of the Late Neolithic occupation of the site can be correlated to layers
between 4.0 and 3.5 meters at the type site of Vinča, i.e., the Vinča Pločnik IIa.
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Late Neolithic chronology in the contact zone between the
south edge of the Carpathian Mountains and the Pannonian
plain – the case study of the Vršac region
south edge of the Carpathian Mountains and the Pannonian
plain – the case study of the Vršac region
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The distribution of the black rat (Rattus rattus) has been heavily influenced by its association with humans. The dispersal history of this non-native commensal rodent across Europe, however, remains poorly understood, and different... more
The distribution of the black rat (Rattus rattus) has been heavily influenced by its association with humans. The dispersal history of this non-native commensal rodent across Europe, however, remains poorly understood, and different introductions may have occurred during the Roman and medieval periods. Here, in order to reconstruct the population history of European black rats, we first generate a de novo genome assembly of the black rat. We then sequence 67 ancient and three modern black rat mitogenomes, and 36 ancient and three modern nuclear genomes from archaeological sites spanning the 1st-17th centuries CE in Europe and North Africa. Analyses of our newly reported sequences, together with published mitochondrial DNA sequences, confirm that black rats were introduced into the Mediterranean and Europe from Southwest Asia. Genomic analyses of the ancient rats reveal a population turnover in temperate Europe between the 6th and 10th centuries CE, coincident with an archaeologically attested decline in the black rat population. The near disappearance and re-emergence of black rats in Europe may have been the result of the breakdown of the Roman Empire, the First Plague Pandemic, and/or post-Roman climatic cooling.
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A recent study from Central Europe has changed our perception of the cat's domestication history. The authors discuss how this has led to the development of an interdisciplinary project combining palaeogenetics, zooarchaeology and... more
A recent study from Central Europe has changed our perception of the cat's domestication history. The authors discuss how this has led to the development of an interdisciplinary project combining palaeogenetics, zooarchaeology and radiocarbon dating, with the aim of providing insight into the domestic cat's expansion beyond the Mediterranean.
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Large parts of the urban layout of the abandoned Roman town of Bassianae (in presentday Serbia) are still discernible on the surface today due to the deliberate and targeted quarrying of the Roman foundations. In 2014, all of the town's... more
Large parts of the urban layout of the abandoned Roman town of Bassianae (in presentday Serbia) are still discernible on the surface today due to the deliberate and targeted quarrying of the Roman foundations. In 2014, all of the town's intramural (and some extramural) areas were surveyed using aerial photography, ground-penetrating radar, and magnetometry to analyze the site's topography and to map remaining buried structures. The surveys showed a strong agreement between the digital surface model derived from the aerial photographs and the geophysical prospection data. However, many structures could only be detected by one method, underlining the benefits of a complementary archaeological prospection approach using multiple methods. This article presents the results of the extensive surveys and their comprehensive integrative interpretation, discussing Bassianae's ground plan and urban infrastructure. Starting with an overview of this Roman town's research history, we present the details of the triple prospection approach, followed by the processing, integrative analysis, and interpretation of the acquired data sets. Finally, this newly gained information is contrasted with a plan of Roman Bassianae compiled in 1935.
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The paper focuses on fish consumption and long-distance fish trade in the medieval monastery Studenica in Serbia, from the perspective of archaeozoology and historical evidence. Medieval written sources on the subject suggest that fish... more
The paper focuses on fish consumption and long-distance fish trade in the medieval monastery Studenica in Serbia, from the perspective of archaeozoology and historical evidence. Medieval written sources
on the subject suggest that fish was available primarily to particular social classes – the royalty, nobles and monasteries. Preserved muniments indicate that during the 13th-15th centuries the majority of
distinguished monasteries had their own fishing ponds, fishing grounds and their own fishermen. Fish consumption occupied an important role in monastic contexts, both in Christian religious practices (e.g. Lent) and in celebrations commemorating the Virgin Mary and the monastery founder, during which high-quality fish was obtained from greater distances. The ichthyoarchaeological remains discussed in this paper originate from waste deposition areas within and outside of the ramparts of the Studenica Monastery, accumulated during the 14th and the first half of the 15th century. Apart from the remains of the species available more or less locally (Wels catfish [Silurus glanis Linnaeus,
1758], carp [Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758], pike [Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758]), the faunal assemblage contained the remains of migratory sturgeons (beluga [Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758], Russian sturgeon [Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833], stellate sturgeon [Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771]) most likely transported from the Danube area, about 200 km away as the crow flies. Skeletal element distribution, butchering traces and size estimations (of beluga in particular) indicate that large specimens (c. 2-3.6 m in total length) were brought whole to the monastery, possibly dried or salted. Their occurrence is an additional indicator of long-distance fish trade recorded in muniments, and it offers new insights into economic, social and religious practices in medieval Eastern Orthodox monasteries.
on the subject suggest that fish was available primarily to particular social classes – the royalty, nobles and monasteries. Preserved muniments indicate that during the 13th-15th centuries the majority of
distinguished monasteries had their own fishing ponds, fishing grounds and their own fishermen. Fish consumption occupied an important role in monastic contexts, both in Christian religious practices (e.g. Lent) and in celebrations commemorating the Virgin Mary and the monastery founder, during which high-quality fish was obtained from greater distances. The ichthyoarchaeological remains discussed in this paper originate from waste deposition areas within and outside of the ramparts of the Studenica Monastery, accumulated during the 14th and the first half of the 15th century. Apart from the remains of the species available more or less locally (Wels catfish [Silurus glanis Linnaeus,
1758], carp [Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758], pike [Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758]), the faunal assemblage contained the remains of migratory sturgeons (beluga [Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758], Russian sturgeon [Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833], stellate sturgeon [Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771]) most likely transported from the Danube area, about 200 km away as the crow flies. Skeletal element distribution, butchering traces and size estimations (of beluga in particular) indicate that large specimens (c. 2-3.6 m in total length) were brought whole to the monastery, possibly dried or salted. Their occurrence is an additional indicator of long-distance fish trade recorded in muniments, and it offers new insights into economic, social and religious practices in medieval Eastern Orthodox monasteries.
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Caričin Grad is located in southern Serbia, on the eastern slopes of the Radan Mountain, 30 km southwest of Leskovac. The remains of Caričin Grad are associated with the important Early Byzantine city Justiniana Prima, founded ex nihilo... more
Caričin Grad is located in southern Serbia, on the eastern slopes of the Radan Mountain, 30 km southwest of Leskovac. The remains of Caričin Grad are associated with the important Early Byzantine city Justiniana Prima, founded ex nihilo in the AD 530s by the emperor Justinian I (527– 565), in order to perpetuate his birthplace. Situated in a rural area in the western part of the province of Dacia Mediterranea, the city presents a unique example of late urbanisation in the northern provinces of Illyricum. Since it lasted for a very short time – only 80 years – and the area has remained uninhabited until today, the site has yielded well-preserved monuments and remains of material culture. Animal bones showing pathological changes come from three locations in the city: the complex of the south-eastern corner tower of the Lower town, the intramural housing in the Lower town and the intramural housing in the Upper town. The main part of the material originated from occupation layers dated to the second half of the 6th century. This paper presents the analysis of animal remains with pathological changes from Caričin Grad, discussing their significance for economy and social status in Justinia Prima.
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The modes of subsistence of the early Byzantine inhabitants of the Balkans are subject to intense discussion. The core of the problem is the lack of sites of a clearly discernible agricultural character after the collapse of the villa... more
The modes of subsistence of the early Byzantine inhabitants of the Balkans are subject to intense discussion. The core of the problem is the lack of sites of a clearly discernible agricultural character after the collapse of the villa system in late Antiquity and the question of how to interpret certain changes in the architecture and layout of fortified sites that indicate ruralization. Even though animal bones and plant remains are strong indicators for economical strategies, only few sites of the region have so far been put to bioarchaeological analysis.
Recent research in the early Byzantine city of Caričin Grad in Illyricum has produced new evidence for subsistence economies that sheds some light on the “rural” side of this splendid city, which was newly built in the foothills of southern Serbia in the fourth decade of the sixth century. The city comprises many features of classical urbanity and a large number of churches. Yet very modest dwellings were also found, as were several agricultural implements.
In this paper, preliminary results from the archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological analyses carried out in Caričin Grad are presented and situated in the context of published assemblages from other contemporaneous sites in the Danube provinces.
Whereas the “ruralization” of early Byzantine cities is commonly seen as a symptom of the decline of classical urbanity, this discussion of the findings aims for a positive interpretation, in which the ruralization of urban life can instead be seen as a clever strategy to enhance urban food security.
Recent research in the early Byzantine city of Caričin Grad in Illyricum has produced new evidence for subsistence economies that sheds some light on the “rural” side of this splendid city, which was newly built in the foothills of southern Serbia in the fourth decade of the sixth century. The city comprises many features of classical urbanity and a large number of churches. Yet very modest dwellings were also found, as were several agricultural implements.
In this paper, preliminary results from the archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological analyses carried out in Caričin Grad are presented and situated in the context of published assemblages from other contemporaneous sites in the Danube provinces.
Whereas the “ruralization” of early Byzantine cities is commonly seen as a symptom of the decline of classical urbanity, this discussion of the findings aims for a positive interpretation, in which the ruralization of urban life can instead be seen as a clever strategy to enhance urban food security.
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Abstract The site of Caričin Grad in south-eastern Serbia – currently listed on UNESCO’s tentative list – has been the subject of archaeological investigations for more than 100 years. For the last decades it has been the focus of a... more
Abstract
The site of Caričin Grad in south-eastern Serbia – currently listed on UNESCO’s tentative list – has been the subject of archaeological investigations for more than 100 years. For the last decades it has been the focus of a joint project of the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade and the École Française de Rome. A reconstruction of the economic, environmental and social history of the city is the main objective of a cooperative project started in 2014 with the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz.
The remains of the early Byzantine complex of Caričin Grad show the features of a city built in the classical, Hellenistic-Roman tradition, combined with ecclesiastical Christian architecture. Based on the comparison of Byzantine text sources with the settlement’s topography and its architecture, Caričin Grad is supposed to be identical to Iustiniana Prima, a city newly founded by the Emperor Justinian as the region’s episcopal and administrative centre.
With the period of occupation covering a mere 90 years, from circa AD 530 to circa AD 615, the site allows a rare archaeological “snapshot” of a short period of very intensive use, which furthermore remained undisturbed from later encroachments. Due to these circumstances, Caričin Grad offers the unique opportunity to analyse a city at the turn of the Late Antique era to the Early Medieval epoch and the complex issues associated with periods of cultural transition.
Based on the perspective of human ecology and social sciences, the project will establish new approaches and investigate the concept of “city” during periods of cultural transition by using methods of archaeozoology, archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, soil science and GIS.
The main topic addressed within this context, “Households, consumption and everyday life” will deal with single domestic units concerning methods of production, consumption and activity zones regarding comestible goods. This perspective on the town and its consumption will be complemented by a viewpoint on the surrounding landscape focussing on its resources and agrarian production.
The site of Caričin Grad in south-eastern Serbia – currently listed on UNESCO’s tentative list – has been the subject of archaeological investigations for more than 100 years. For the last decades it has been the focus of a joint project of the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade and the École Française de Rome. A reconstruction of the economic, environmental and social history of the city is the main objective of a cooperative project started in 2014 with the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz.
The remains of the early Byzantine complex of Caričin Grad show the features of a city built in the classical, Hellenistic-Roman tradition, combined with ecclesiastical Christian architecture. Based on the comparison of Byzantine text sources with the settlement’s topography and its architecture, Caričin Grad is supposed to be identical to Iustiniana Prima, a city newly founded by the Emperor Justinian as the region’s episcopal and administrative centre.
With the period of occupation covering a mere 90 years, from circa AD 530 to circa AD 615, the site allows a rare archaeological “snapshot” of a short period of very intensive use, which furthermore remained undisturbed from later encroachments. Due to these circumstances, Caričin Grad offers the unique opportunity to analyse a city at the turn of the Late Antique era to the Early Medieval epoch and the complex issues associated with periods of cultural transition.
Based on the perspective of human ecology and social sciences, the project will establish new approaches and investigate the concept of “city” during periods of cultural transition by using methods of archaeozoology, archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, soil science and GIS.
The main topic addressed within this context, “Households, consumption and everyday life” will deal with single domestic units concerning methods of production, consumption and activity zones regarding comestible goods. This perspective on the town and its consumption will be complemented by a viewpoint on the surrounding landscape focussing on its resources and agrarian production.
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Wirtschaftliche Ressourcen und soziales Kapital Gründung und Unterhalt der Kaiserstadt lustiniana Prima Die Stadtarchäologie ist ein bedeutendes Arbeitsfeld in der Archäologie des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit. Stadtgründung oder-genese... more
Wirtschaftliche Ressourcen und soziales Kapital Gründung und Unterhalt der Kaiserstadt lustiniana Prima Die Stadtarchäologie ist ein bedeutendes Arbeitsfeld in der Archäologie des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit. Stadtgründung oder-genese stellen dabei ein wichtiges Fragenfeld der Forschung dar. Das zentrale Interesse gilt meist der Planung und der Entwicklung der Stadt, wohingegen eine explizit umwelt-und sozialhistorische Perspektive, welche die materi-ellen Grundlagen der Stadt und die Bedürfnisse ihrer Bewohner in den Mittelpunkt stellt, weit seltener verfolgt wird. Aktuelle Forschungen in der frühbyzantinischen Stadt Caricin Grad/Iustiniana Prima in Südserbien versuchen, die relativ kurze Existenz der Stadt aus umwelt-und sozial-historischer Perspektive zu betrachten. Dabei spielen Fragen nach den wirtschaftlichen Ressourcen wie auch nach dem sozialen Kapital der beteiligten Personengruppen eine wesentliche Rolle. Das Beispiel Caricin Grad sei hier dazu genutzt, einige Aspekte des Themas Ressourcen zu skizzieren, die weit über dessen wirtschaftliche Aspekte hinaus reichen.
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Animal paleopathology is not a very well known scientific discipline within veterinary science, but it has great importance for historical and archaeological investigations. In this paper, authors attention is focused on the description... more
Animal paleopathology is not a very well known scientific discipline within veterinary science, but it has great importance for historical and archaeological investigations. In this paper, authors attention is focused on the description of one of the most common findings on the skeletal remains of animals - osteoarthropathies. This review particularly emphasizes the description and classification of the most common pathological changes in synovial joints. The authors have provided their observations on the importance of joint diseases in paleopathology and veterinary medicine. Analysis of individual processes in the joints of the animals from the past may help in the understanding of diseases in modern veterinary medicine. Differential diagnosis was made a point of emphasis and discussion, so that this work could have practical significance for paleopathology and veterinary medicine
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Advances in paleogenomic research have provided new information about domesticated animals, but we still know little about the history of cats. Until now, only one subspecies, the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), was known... more
Advances in paleogenomic research have provided new information about domesticated animals, but we still know little about the history of cats. Until now, only one subspecies, the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), was known to have been domesticated. The domestication areas were assumed to be the Near East and Egypt. From this region, cats spread to the Mediterranean and beyond. It has been accepted that the Roman legions played the primary role in the expansion of cats through northern Europe. However, we found that cats that carried mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes of wildcats from the Near East were present in Central Europe as early as the Neolithic, well before Roman times, and may have been associated with Neolithic expansion. Our new results reveal the presence of the mtDNA haplotypes of the Near Eastern wildcats in Poland even in the pre-Neolithic period. This may suggest that the Near Eastern wildcats could have spread across Europe independently of agricultural expansion. Consequently, the natural range of Near Eastern wildcats may have been much broader than previously assumed. To understand how and when domestic cats appeared in Central Europe, we performed a target enrichment of ca. 57,000 genomic SNPs. We believe that this will allow us to definitively determine whether the appearance of the Near Eastern wildcat mtDNA in Central Europe was a natural admixture between the two subspecies or whether it was a human-induced dispersal of tame/domestic cats. The study is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, grant no. 2019/35/B/HS3/02923.
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Despite significant progress in paleogenomics and the increasing amount of new data on animal domestication, we still know little about the history of cats. Until now, it was known that only one subspecies, the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis... more
Despite significant progress in paleogenomics and the increasing amount of new data on animal domestication, we still know little about the history of cats. Until now, it was known that only one subspecies, the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), was domesticated. The domestication area was assumed to be the Near East during the
Neolithic period, with a prominent role in ancient Egypt. From this region, the cats spread through the Mediterranean and beyond. It has been accepted that the primary role in the expansion of cats through northern Europe was that of the Roman legions. However, we found that cats that carried mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes of wildcats from the Near East were present in Central Europe already in the Neolithic, much before Roman times. This indicates that the cats' route from the domestication centers to Central Europe might have been more complex than previously thought and could have been related to the Neolithic expansion. Our new results reveal the presence of the mtDNA haplotypes of the Near Eastern wildcats in Poland even in the pre-Neolithic period. This may suggest that the Near Eastern wildcats could spread across Europe independently of the expansion of farming, and, in consequence, the natural range of the Near Eastern wildcat could have been much broader than previously assumed. To understand how and when domestic cats appeared in Central Europe, we perform a target enrichment of ca. 57,000 genomic SNPs. We believe that it will allow us to finally determine whether the appearance of the Near Eastern wildcat mtDNA in Central Europe was a natural admixture between two subspecies or was human-mediated dispersal of tamed/domesticated cats. The study is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, grant no. 2019/35/B/HS3/02923.
Neolithic period, with a prominent role in ancient Egypt. From this region, the cats spread through the Mediterranean and beyond. It has been accepted that the primary role in the expansion of cats through northern Europe was that of the Roman legions. However, we found that cats that carried mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes of wildcats from the Near East were present in Central Europe already in the Neolithic, much before Roman times. This indicates that the cats' route from the domestication centers to Central Europe might have been more complex than previously thought and could have been related to the Neolithic expansion. Our new results reveal the presence of the mtDNA haplotypes of the Near Eastern wildcats in Poland even in the pre-Neolithic period. This may suggest that the Near Eastern wildcats could spread across Europe independently of the expansion of farming, and, in consequence, the natural range of the Near Eastern wildcat could have been much broader than previously assumed. To understand how and when domestic cats appeared in Central Europe, we perform a target enrichment of ca. 57,000 genomic SNPs. We believe that it will allow us to finally determine whether the appearance of the Near Eastern wildcat mtDNA in Central Europe was a natural admixture between two subspecies or was human-mediated dispersal of tamed/domesticated cats. The study is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, grant no. 2019/35/B/HS3/02923.
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Idjoš Gradište site, located in Serbian Banat is the subject of a multidisciplinary archaeological research since 2014, focusing on formation and transformation of human societies between the Neolithic and Late Bronze Age, human landscape... more
Idjoš Gradište site, located in Serbian Banat is the subject of a multidisciplinary archaeological research since 2014, focusing on formation and transformation of human societies between the Neolithic and Late Bronze Age, human landscape interactions, local area
networks, communications and trade and exchange in a liminal area constantly awashed by influences of major traditions originating
both of the Balkans and the Carpathian basin.
The site with several settlement horizons, occupied between the late sixt millenium and the first millenium BC is a large area of
diverse traces of human activities, illustrating its varying use through time. In our efforts to eludicate the origins, development and transformations of local population through time, a multidisciplinary approach to material culture remains, Bayesian chronological dating of events and scientific analysis of period proxy data is crucial.
We present the current state of research on the Neolithic settlement after five seasons and propose directions for future activities.
networks, communications and trade and exchange in a liminal area constantly awashed by influences of major traditions originating
both of the Balkans and the Carpathian basin.
The site with several settlement horizons, occupied between the late sixt millenium and the first millenium BC is a large area of
diverse traces of human activities, illustrating its varying use through time. In our efforts to eludicate the origins, development and transformations of local population through time, a multidisciplinary approach to material culture remains, Bayesian chronological dating of events and scientific analysis of period proxy data is crucial.
We present the current state of research on the Neolithic settlement after five seasons and propose directions for future activities.
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The paper focuses on fish consumption and long-distance fish trade in the Medieval monastery Studenica in Serbia, from the perspective of archaeozoology, historical sources and pictorial evidence. Medieval written sources on the subject... more
The paper focuses on fish consumption and long-distance fish trade in the Medieval monastery Studenica in Serbia, from the perspective of archaeozoology, historical sources and pictorial evidence. Medieval written sources on the subject suggest that fish was available primarily to particular social classes – the royalty, nobles and monasteries. Preserved muniments indicate that the majority of distinguished monasteries during the 13th-15th century had their own fishing ponds, fishing grounds and their own fishermen. Fish consumption occuppied an important role in monastic contexts, both in Christian religious practices (lent periods) as well as in celebrations commemorating Virgin Mary and the monastery founder, during which high-quality fish was obtained from greater distances. Ichthyoarchaeological remains discussed in this paper originate from waste deposition areas within and outside of the ramparts of the Studenica monastery, accumulated during the 14th and first half of the 15th century. Apart from remains of locally available species (catfish, carp, pike), the faunal assemblage contained the remains of migratory sturgeons (beluga, Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon) most likely transported from the Danube area, about 200 km away as the crow flies. Skeletal element distribution, butchering traces and size estimations (of beluga in particular) indicate that large specimens (over 2 m in total length) were brought whole to the monastery, possibly dried or salted. Their occurrence is an additional indicator of long-distance fish trade recorded in muniments, and it offers new insights into economic, social and religious practices in Medieval Eastern Orthodox monasteries.
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У овом раду је представљена реконструкција исхране и стратегије снабдевања рибом средњовековног манастира Студенице, првенствено из археозоолошке перспективе. Будући да се сва досадашња сазнања о улози рибе у православним средњовековним... more
У овом раду је представљена реконструкција исхране и стратегије снабдевања рибом средњовековног манастира Студенице, првенствено из археозоолошке перспективе. Будући да се сва досадашња сазнања о улози рибе у православним средњовековним манастирима темеље искључиво на писаној речи, овај рад представља пионирски интердисциплинарни подухват који комбинује резултате археозоолошке анализе и историјске изворе. Релевантни извори наводе на закључак да је риба првенствено била доступна одређеним друштвеним категоријама, на првом месту владарском двору, племству и манастирима. Сачуване манастирске повеље указују да су у периоду од XIII до XV века сви значајни манастири имали своје рибњаке, риболовишта (преграђене делове реке у којима се ловила риба) и своје риболовце који су их снабдевали рибом. Значај рибе за манастирску трпезу је био двојак најпре као вид исповедања хришћанства (у време поста), али и у време обележавања значајнијих догађаја (празника посвећених Богородици и ктитору), када се у манастир допремала квалитетна риба из удаљених области. Остаци риба који су у овом раду анализирани прикупљени су током дугогодишњих систематских археолошких истраживања манастира Студенице, и потичу из отпадних простора датованих у XIV и прву половину XV века. Резултати археозоолошке анализе показали су да поред локално доступних врста (сом, шаран, штука), у манастир стизале и високо квалитетне рибе са Дунава (моруне, руске јесетре, паструге). Реконструкције величине и трагови касапљења на костима моруна указују да су крупни примерци ове врсте (по правилу већи од 2 м) у манастир допремани цели, могуће сушени или усољени. Ова студија доприноси новом и другачијем погледу на економски и религијски значај рибе у манастиру Студеница, и истовремено представља прво археозоолошко истраживање остатака фауне из средњовековних православних манастира уопште.
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Поводом јубилеја шест векова манастира Павловац у раду је представљен историјат живота манастира од његовог настанка почетком XV века до данашњих дана. Приказане су хронолошки све фазе на његовој обнови, од архитектонских и археолошких... more
Поводом јубилеја шест векова манастира Павловац у раду је представљен историјат живота манастира од његовог настанка почетком XV века до данашњих дана. Приказане су хронолошки све фазе на његовој обнови, од архитектонских и археолошких истраживања до конзерваторско-рестаураторских радова. Такође је обрађена стратиграфија платоа изнад Тихановачког потока са посебним освртом на најмлађу фазу којој припада манастирски комплекс Павловац.
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Током 2011. године у оквиру заштитних археолошких истраживања на траси пута Е75 у селу Давидовац код Врања, на простору касноантичке некрополе са ранохришћанском провенијенцијом, откривен је скелет коња. Скелет је пронађен у јами испод... more
Током 2011. године у оквиру заштитних археолошких истраживања на траси пута Е75 у селу Давидовац код Врања, на простору касноантичке некрополе са ранохришћанском провенијенцијом, откривен је скелет коња. Скелет је пронађен у јами испод гроба са конструкцијом од опека. Будући да дно цисте гроба належе на задњи леви екстремитет коња, који се налази у анатомском положају, може се претпоставити да су ове сахране истовремене, односно да се сахрана коња може довести у везу са особом која је била сахрањена изнад њега. Археозоолошком анализом утврђено је да остаци коња припадају мужјаку старости између 7 и 9 година, који пропорцијом и растом не припада аутохтоној популацијикоња са простoра централног Балкана. Променe узроковане траумом које могу указати на карактер употребе животиње (за јахање или вучу), као и друге патолошке промене, слабо су изражене на посткранијалном скелету. Добро здравствено стање јединке наводи на закључак да је животиња имала специјалан третман и негу током живота. Сахране коња представљају ретке налазе на касноантичким некрополама на територији Србије, па ће се у раду уз резултате археозоолошке анализе расправљати и о симболичким значењима ове сахране.
The ruins of Caričin Grad are believed to be the site of the once important regional centre of Justiniana Prima, the city built by Emperor Justinian I (527-565) to honor his birthplace. Archaeological excavations brought to light many... more
The ruins of Caričin Grad are believed to be the site of the once important regional centre of Justiniana Prima, the city built by Emperor Justinian I (527-565) to honor his birthplace. Archaeological excavations brought to light many traces of antler-working which were clearly accumulated within a short span of time, from AD c. 535 to c. 615. During the excavations in the area of the city’s South-Eastern corner tower, numerous evidences of craft production were recorded. A total of 81 pieces of craft material, unfinished, semi-finished, and finished products made from antler have been found. The workshop was active, based on coin finds, during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. The objects were made from the preliminary processing of material to the final stage of production, as testified by numerous diverse elements of unfinished and semi-finished combs. This kind of activity is also confirmed in the southwestern quarter of the Lower Town, with an additional 37 pieces of antler waste and semi-finished combs originating from there. Specialized craft tools have also been found which allowed us to reconstruct some aspects of antler production such as procurement of raw materials and manufacturing technology.
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During the rescue archaeological excavation in 2012 at site Ranutovac-Meanište near Vranje, southern Serbia, remains of the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt B-C) settlement were revealed. In one of the settlement pit a complete horse skeleton... more
During the rescue archaeological excavation in 2012 at site Ranutovac-Meanište near Vranje, southern Serbia, remains of the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt B-C) settlement were revealed. In one of the settlement pit a complete horse skeleton was discovered. The skeleton is that of a mare, based on the shape of the pelvis and the presence of small vestigial canines. Analysis of lower incisor wear indicate an age of around 4 to 5 years of death. On this poster, paleopathological changes in horse skeleton are described and used to interpret the posible use of the animal. Several paleopathological changes are recorded in the spinal column, particularly in thoracic vertebrae 10–17, and lumbar vertebrae 1. Paleopathological changes in fore-limbs are restricted to the lower leg bones (the metacarpals and the first phalanges). Bone changes in hind-limbs, beside the metatarsals and the fist phalanges, are also observed in the left thigh bone, and both shinbones. These paleopathological changes were caused by chronic inflammation of ligaments as a consequence of the intensive exploitation of animal, most likely riding.
In 567 AD the Avar tribes appeared in Europe and ruled the Pannonian Plain all until the beginning of the 9th century, with a short break in the middle of the 7th century. Considering their nomadic way of living, the Avar stock herding... more
In 567 AD the Avar tribes appeared in Europe and ruled the Pannonian Plain all until the beginning of the 9th century, with a short break in the middle of the 7th century. Considering their nomadic way of living, the Avar stock herding was based on raising big herds of horses in the vast steppes of Eurasia. Pannonian Plain was a fertile ground for their living habits. The Avar tradition of burying a horse with a horsemen, enabled explorations of the whole skeletons. However, there are no written sources about breeding horses in Avar period. One of the useful interdisciplinary approaches in the reconstruction of interaction between man and horse is animal paleopathology.
During September 2009, on the late antiquity necropolis Ušće near Obrenovac (Serbia), a horse burial from the Late Avar period (VIII century) was investigated. This is, the first Аvar horseman's grave excavated south from the Sava and Danube. Skeletal remains of the horse belonged to a male, age from 7 to 8 years. Based on the metric analysis it was determined that dimensions of the postcranial skeleton correspond to horse population in the area of the Pannonian Plain during the Avar period. On the postcranial skeleton pathological changes that were observed incurred as a result of intense riding. The animal was used for this purpose most likely before the end of its body growth, more precisely since the subadult age.
During September 2009, on the late antiquity necropolis Ušće near Obrenovac (Serbia), a horse burial from the Late Avar period (VIII century) was investigated. This is, the first Аvar horseman's grave excavated south from the Sava and Danube. Skeletal remains of the horse belonged to a male, age from 7 to 8 years. Based on the metric analysis it was determined that dimensions of the postcranial skeleton correspond to horse population in the area of the Pannonian Plain during the Avar period. On the postcranial skeleton pathological changes that were observed incurred as a result of intense riding. The animal was used for this purpose most likely before the end of its body growth, more precisely since the subadult age.
Палеопатологија представља поддисциплину патологије, која за предмет истраживања има болести људи и животиња у прошлости. За разлику од хумане палеопатологије, проучавање древних животињских болести има знатно краћу историју. Први подаци... more
Палеопатологија представља поддисциплину патологије, која за предмет истраживања има болести људи и животиња у прошлости. За разлику од хумане палеопатологије, проучавање древних животињских болести има знатно краћу историју. Први подаци о болестима животиња са археолошких налазишта широм Европе, сумирани су у публикацији Animal Diseases in Archaeology аутора Ј. Baker и D. Brothwell (1980). Већи помак у развоју палеопатологије у археозоологији настаје током 1999. године оснивањем радне групе у оквиру ICAZ-а (International Council for Archaeozoology) под називом Animal palaeopathology working group.Од оснивањa ове радне групе број радова на тему палеопатологије животиња значајно се повећао. Међутим, и даље је мали број палеопатолошких истраживања, с обзором на велику количину археозоолошког материјала.
На археозоолошком материјалу са археолошких налазишта из Србије, до сада нису вршена палеопатолошка истраживања. Шандор Бекењи (Sándor Bökönyi) у својим радовима приказује животињске остатке са патолошким променама, али овај истраживач није писао специјализоване текстове на тему палеопатологије. Прва палеопатолошка и радиолошка испитивања у Србији извршена су 2012. године, на скелетним остацима коња из коњаничког гроба (Други Аварски каганат) са некрополе Ушће код Обреновца. Истраживачки тим чинили су доктори ветеринарске медицине са Факултета ветринарске медицине у Београду и археозоолог из Лабораторије за биоархеологију, Филозофског факултет у Београду. Циљ истраживања био је да се индентификују и реконструишу узроци који су утицали на стварање обољења. Уочено патолошко стање на скелетним остацима коња, резултат је хроничног инфламаторног процеса лигамената и хрскавица, узроковано вишегодишњим интензивним јахањем животиње.
На археозоолошком материјалу са археолошких налазишта из Србије, до сада нису вршена палеопатолошка истраживања. Шандор Бекењи (Sándor Bökönyi) у својим радовима приказује животињске остатке са патолошким променама, али овај истраживач није писао специјализоване текстове на тему палеопатологије. Прва палеопатолошка и радиолошка испитивања у Србији извршена су 2012. године, на скелетним остацима коња из коњаничког гроба (Други Аварски каганат) са некрополе Ушће код Обреновца. Истраживачки тим чинили су доктори ветеринарске медицине са Факултета ветринарске медицине у Београду и археозоолог из Лабораторије за биоархеологију, Филозофског факултет у Београду. Циљ истраживања био је да се индентификују и реконструишу узроци који су утицали на стварање обољења. Уочено патолошко стање на скелетним остацима коња, резултат је хроничног инфламаторног процеса лигамената и хрскавица, узроковано вишегодишњим интензивним јахањем животиње.