Popov, V., Vajsov, I., Evlogiev, J., Markova, H., Markov, D., Dzhurkovska, G. 2020. Neo-Еneolithic Settlement Golo Bǎrdo. – Archaeological Discoveries and Exavations 2019, Sofia 2020, 250–255, 2020
The Neo-Eneolithic settlement "Golo Bǎrdo" is located in the "Golo Bǎrdo" locality, falling withi... more The Neo-Eneolithic settlement "Golo Bǎrdo" is located in the "Golo Bǎrdo" locality, falling within the territory of the villages Gradishte and Asenovtsi, Levski Municipality, Pleven District. It is located in the south of the Lower Danube Valley, on an Osǎm River terrace. The terrain is level, slightly inclined north and north-east.
In the first excavation stage, were plotted 29 test trenches with different length and breadth. Results indicated presence of several consecutive prehistoric settlements on the site, dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (the time of the Vinca А3/В1 and the Samovodene – Ovcharovo cultures); the Late Neolithic (the Podgoritsa cultural group); the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic (the Brenica phase of the Gradeshnitsa culture); the Early Eneolithic (the Polyanitsa – Vidra culture).
In the second and the third excavation phase, were excavated 184 archaeological structures – sunken featured buildings and pits with various functions (cult pits, refuse pits, pits for extraction of inert construction raw materials, etc.). The larger sunken features, which could be interpreted as buildings, were spaced 4 to 9 m apart and as a rule had oval plan. We assume these also featured suspended wooden floor superstructures, upon which the ovens were found.
The next phase in the settlement’s development is associated with the Late Neolithic, with structures including ground level and semi-sunken buildings, pits, etc. Notably, also to this period belong designated flint and bone tools processing areas.
The Early Eneolithic phase is registered only in the site’s west sector. The respective structures include destructions of the superstructures of raised buildings, deposits, refuse pits, special purpose pits, pits with deposited burnt wall plaster, etc.
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In the first excavation stage, were plotted 29 test trenches with different length and breadth. Results indicated presence of several consecutive prehistoric settlements on the site, dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (the time of the Vinca А3/В1 and the Samovodene – Ovcharovo cultures); the Late Neolithic (the Podgoritsa cultural group); the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic (the Brenica phase of the Gradeshnitsa culture); the Early Eneolithic (the Polyanitsa – Vidra culture).
In the second and the third excavation phase, were excavated 184 archaeological structures – sunken featured buildings and pits with various functions (cult pits, refuse pits, pits for extraction of inert construction raw materials, etc.). The larger sunken features, which could be interpreted as buildings, were spaced 4 to 9 m apart and as a rule had oval plan. We assume these also featured suspended wooden floor superstructures, upon which the ovens were found.
The next phase in the settlement’s development is associated with the Late Neolithic, with structures including ground level and semi-sunken buildings, pits, etc. Notably, also to this period belong designated flint and bone tools processing areas.
The Early Eneolithic phase is registered only in the site’s west sector. The respective structures include destructions of the superstructures of raised buildings, deposits, refuse pits, special purpose pits, pits with deposited burnt wall plaster, etc.
Ivan Vajsov, Volodya Popov
The results of the archaeological research in 2018 confirmed the stratigraphic observations made during previous seasons. Three negative structures were investigated dating from the Early Neolithic, Koprivets Culture (6200–6000 BC); and two more of the same kind – from the Late Neolithic. On the ground, two layers of the Early Neolithic have been clearly distinguished, the lowest being recorded only in the filling of the pits chronologically corresponding to the first phase of Koprivets Culture, and the second one – registered in the space around the pits and also in the upper layers of their filling corresponding to the second phase of the same culture.
In sq. Aa5 and Aa6 the layers from the Early Neolithic are interrupted by two pits from the Late Neolithic (Hotnitsa Culture); and in sq. Aa4 – by a similar one dating from the Bronze Age (structure No. 2018). The nature of the filling of Pit 3 compared to data on deposited daub in Aa2 (structure No. 2019), gives us grounds to identify the dug structures of the Late Neolithic as proving the existence of a specific social practice in the Late Neolithic, referred to in the literature as a "structural deposit". Here, however, there are no facts that speak of a purposeful arrangement of the burned daub (burned clay architectural elements).
The pottery assemblage reveals similarity to the Vinča B2-Kurilo style.
The test trenches at site 10B were situated at the S part of Izvor Late Neolithic site. The archaeological excavations revealed several interesting contexts situated above ground. Context 13 is a stone concentration and covered 25 sq. m. It comprised several layers of stones including many fragmented grinding stones, pieces of fired daub, potsherds, clay altars, etc. The chipped stone artefacts were found only at the periphery of the context. Context 7B was pyramid-shape and was made from small stones, daub, male anthropomorphic figurines mainly, spindle whorls, potsherds and animal bones. Remains of buildings were documented in several areas of the site, e. g. a corner of a burnt house in sq. F175. Postholes were found all over the site. It seems that the buildings were scattered and there were vast areas between them. The concentrations of artefacts can be interpreted as landmarks. The finds at the northern part of the site are typical for Vinča B2 culture, whereas the artefacts discovered at the southern part can be related to the so-called Vinča-Gradac phase.
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In the first excavation stage, were plotted 29 test trenches with different length and breadth. Results indicated presence of several consecutive prehistoric settlements on the site, dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (the time of the Vinca А3/В1 and the Samovodene – Ovcharovo cultures); the Late Neolithic (the Podgoritsa cultural group); the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic (the Brenica phase of the Gradeshnitsa culture); the Early Eneolithic (the Polyanitsa – Vidra culture).
In the second and the third excavation phase, were excavated 184 archaeological structures – sunken featured buildings and pits with various functions (cult pits, refuse pits, pits for extraction of inert construction raw materials, etc.). The larger sunken features, which could be interpreted as buildings, were spaced 4 to 9 m apart and as a rule had oval plan. We assume these also featured suspended wooden floor superstructures, upon which the ovens were found.
The next phase in the settlement’s development is associated with the Late Neolithic, with structures including ground level and semi-sunken buildings, pits, etc. Notably, also to this period belong designated flint and bone tools processing areas.
The Early Eneolithic phase is registered only in the site’s west sector. The respective structures include destructions of the superstructures of raised buildings, deposits, refuse pits, special purpose pits, pits with deposited burnt wall plaster, etc.
In the first excavation stage, were plotted 29 test trenches with different length and breadth. Results indicated presence of several consecutive prehistoric settlements on the site, dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (the time of the Vinca А3/В1 and the Samovodene – Ovcharovo cultures); the Late Neolithic (the Podgoritsa cultural group); the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic (the Brenica phase of the Gradeshnitsa culture); the Early Eneolithic (the Polyanitsa – Vidra culture).
In the second and the third excavation phase, were excavated 184 archaeological structures – sunken featured buildings and pits with various functions (cult pits, refuse pits, pits for extraction of inert construction raw materials, etc.). The larger sunken features, which could be interpreted as buildings, were spaced 4 to 9 m apart and as a rule had oval plan. We assume these also featured suspended wooden floor superstructures, upon which the ovens were found.
The next phase in the settlement’s development is associated with the Late Neolithic, with structures including ground level and semi-sunken buildings, pits, etc. Notably, also to this period belong designated flint and bone tools processing areas.
The Early Eneolithic phase is registered only in the site’s west sector. The respective structures include destructions of the superstructures of raised buildings, deposits, refuse pits, special purpose pits, pits with deposited burnt wall plaster, etc.
Ivan Vajsov, Volodya Popov
The results of the archaeological research in 2018 confirmed the stratigraphic observations made during previous seasons. Three negative structures were investigated dating from the Early Neolithic, Koprivets Culture (6200–6000 BC); and two more of the same kind – from the Late Neolithic. On the ground, two layers of the Early Neolithic have been clearly distinguished, the lowest being recorded only in the filling of the pits chronologically corresponding to the first phase of Koprivets Culture, and the second one – registered in the space around the pits and also in the upper layers of their filling corresponding to the second phase of the same culture.
In sq. Aa5 and Aa6 the layers from the Early Neolithic are interrupted by two pits from the Late Neolithic (Hotnitsa Culture); and in sq. Aa4 – by a similar one dating from the Bronze Age (structure No. 2018). The nature of the filling of Pit 3 compared to data on deposited daub in Aa2 (structure No. 2019), gives us grounds to identify the dug structures of the Late Neolithic as proving the existence of a specific social practice in the Late Neolithic, referred to in the literature as a "structural deposit". Here, however, there are no facts that speak of a purposeful arrangement of the burned daub (burned clay architectural elements).
The pottery assemblage reveals similarity to the Vinča B2-Kurilo style.
The test trenches at site 10B were situated at the S part of Izvor Late Neolithic site. The archaeological excavations revealed several interesting contexts situated above ground. Context 13 is a stone concentration and covered 25 sq. m. It comprised several layers of stones including many fragmented grinding stones, pieces of fired daub, potsherds, clay altars, etc. The chipped stone artefacts were found only at the periphery of the context. Context 7B was pyramid-shape and was made from small stones, daub, male anthropomorphic figurines mainly, spindle whorls, potsherds and animal bones. Remains of buildings were documented in several areas of the site, e. g. a corner of a burnt house in sq. F175. Postholes were found all over the site. It seems that the buildings were scattered and there were vast areas between them. The concentrations of artefacts can be interpreted as landmarks. The finds at the northern part of the site are typical for Vinča B2 culture, whereas the artefacts discovered at the southern part can be related to the so-called Vinča-Gradac phase.
In the first excavation stage, were plotted 29 test trenches with different length and breadth. Results indicated presence of several consecutive prehistoric settlements on the site, dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (the time of the Vinca А3/В1 and the Samovodene – Ovcharovo cultures); the Late Neolithic (the Podgoritsa cultural group); the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic (the Brenica phase of the Gradeshnitsa culture); the Early Eneolithic (the Polyanitsa – Vidra culture).
In the second and the third excavation phase, were excavated 184 archaeological structures – sunken featured buildings and pits with various functions (cult pits, refuse pits, pits for extraction of inert construction raw materials, etc.). The larger sunken features, which could be interpreted as buildings, were spaced 4 to 9 m apart and as a rule had oval plan. We assume these also featured suspended wooden floor superstructures, upon which the ovens were found.
The next phase in the settlement’s development is associated with the Late Neolithic, with structures including ground level and semi-sunken buildings, pits, etc. Notably, also to this period belong designated flint and bone tools processing areas.
The Early Eneolithic phase is registered only in the site’s west sector. The respective structures include destructions of the superstructures of raised buildings, deposits, refuse pits, special purpose pits, pits with deposited burnt wall plaster, etc.
The settlement is located in the southern part of the Lower Danube valley, on a river terrace of the river Osam. The terrain is flat, slightly sloping to the north and northeast. The sources of several rivers are located in the immediate vicinity. During the rescue archaeological excavations conducted in 2019 and 2020, part of the site was excavated. Sunken and above-ground structures were revealed. The first human presence at this place dates from the earliest stages of the Late Neolithic (5100 – 4900 BC), when a settlement emerged on an area of about 19 ha. In the material culture, one could observe the presence of a number of new elements, a kind of symbiosis between the western Vinča Culture A3/B1, the northern Dudeşti Culture, and the eastern Samovodene-Ovcharovo Culture. A typical feature of the settlement from this period is the presence of structures dug into the alluvial horizon, some of which could be defined as the remains of semi-dug-out dwellings with thermal facilities at their peripheries. From this period, special areas for the production of flint tools were identified, as well as depots for the extracted raw material. Dog skulls were found deposited in several of the pits, indicating the existence of an unknown Neolithic cult practice. A new type of stylized seated anthropomorphic figurines was discovered here – some of them are bisexual, hermaphroditic images. The fertile soils and abundant water sources provided good conditions for meeting the basic needs of the inhabitants. The discovery of a significant number of standardized sickles made from the antlers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) indicates the practising of intensive agriculture, the production of which probably served not only to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the village, but also for exchange. One of the richest collections of bone tools was discovered in the settlement. It is not clear why this population abandoned the village, but after a short interruption, small groups of new inhabitants resettled here during the Late Neolithic Period (Podgoritsa Cultural Group, 4750 – 4600 BC). To this period, the remains of massive above-ground buildings could be attributed. They were burnt down before the village was abandoned, and the burnt remains were “hidden” in specially prepared pits. Later, the place was inhabited by people that migrated from the west, carriers of the Early Chalcolithic Gradeshnitsa Culture (Brenitsa Phase), and once again during the later phase of the Early Chalcolithic by a population from Polyanitsa/Boyan Culture (4550-4400 BC). At this time, the buildings were already above-ground, with a rectangular shape oriented southeast-northwest. This settlement was destroyed by fire, which is the reason why the place was left for good. To this period belong also two shallow pits, covered inside with large fragments of thick-walled ceramic pithos. In one of them, there was a depot of seven ceramic vessels, and in the other – pottery sherds and a necklace of clay beads.