Videos by Mario Gavranovic
How we should interpretate the movements of the people throughout Bronze Age Europe?
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Papers by Mario Gavranovic
Radiocarbon, 2025
Ever since the first discovery of urn burials in eastern Serbia during the 1980s, their dating ha... more Ever since the first discovery of urn burials in eastern Serbia during the 1980s, their dating has been uncertain and based on distant analogies and typological parallels. In this paper, we present radiocarbon dates from five urn cemeteries and three associated settlement sites, showing that the initial dating (Late Bronze Age; 14th-11th BCE) is highly questionable. Instead, radiocarbon dating and modeling presented here connect the urn cemeteriescharacterized by a specific grave architecture and associated with settlements that display evidence of copper production-to a period between the 20th and 16th centuries BC. The fact that many of our dates come from cremated bones requires a discussion with regard to the circumstances of carbon exchange during cremation. The absolute dates thus far available for most urn cemeteries from the neighboring regions of the Balkans are all markedly younger (15th-11th century BC) than the data presented here and fall in the frame of the overall expansion of cremation in Europe during the Urnfield period. The new absolute dates from eastern Serbia provide a possibility to change our understanding of the Bronze Age dynamics of the 2nd millennium in the broader area of southeastern Europe and indicate a much earlier acceptance of cremation among certain groups than previously thought.
Long-distance Connections in Metal Ages of Southeastern Europe, 2025
In this paper, we present and discuss the results of archaeometallurgical analyses (EDXRF and Lea... more In this paper, we present and discuss the results of archaeometallurgical analyses (EDXRF and Lead Isotope Analysis) on metal objects from several hoards from northeastern Serbiadating to different periods, including Topolnica and Urovica (BA D–Ha A1), Bradarac, Bradarac-
Rukumija and Stari Kostolac- Mali Grad (Ha A1), Alun, Brza Palanka, Leskovo and Vojilovo (HaA2–Ha B1) and Stari Kostolac-Leštar and Živica (Ha C1). The area along the Danube River Gorgestands out as one of the very few European microregions with a continuity of metal deposition
activities throughout the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (13th–8th centuries BC). The depositionof metal hoards additionally highlights the unique character of this landscape and the importance of the Danube Gorge in the prehistoric communication networks. From a diachronic perspective, our analyses revealed different alloy mixtures and provided hints regarding the provenance of copper raw material used for the casting. Currently, there are no data that support the use of nearby abundant local copper deposits in northeastern Serbia during this period.
Arheološki vestnik 76, 2025
Three-loop bow fibulae with triangular footplates were previously considered an exceptional pheno... more Three-loop bow fibulae with triangular footplates were previously considered an exceptional phenomenon within the Early Iron Age jewelry repertoire in the western Balkans and only became known through a find, from the city of Zenica in central Bosnia, presented in this journal in 2007. With the increase of archaeological research in this region, which led to the discovery and excavation of the Kopilo burial ground and the localization of other potential cemeteries, the number of characteristic fibulae has grown to six. Despite differing dimensions, all specimens display distinct common features (three loops with a rhomboid cross-section, a decorated triangular footplate, and ribbed bow), which allow this jewelry to be recognized as a distinct type in the archaeological sense. Considering the fact that all newly discovered specimens come from sites around the city of Zenica or the Zenica Basin of the Bosna River, it is reasonable to refer to this form of fibula as the Zenica Type.
Glasnik Zemaljskog Muzeja, n.s. Arheologija, 2024
This paper discusses the collection of metal finds discovered in the Pavlovica area, in the immed... more This paper discusses the collection of metal finds discovered in the Pavlovica area, in the immediate vicinity of the Rostovo plateau, within the Vranica mountain massif in central Bosnia. All the finds were lying in close proximity to the ruined stone construction, across a surface area of 1 by 1.5 metres. Several typologically and chronologically indicative items, such as a double-looped fibula with a foot in the shape of a Boeotian shield, a fibula with three buttons on the bow, and a perforated belt buckle, suggest a time frame between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Particularly interesting are two conical buckles with an eyelet on the inner side and engraved decorations, as these forms have mostly been found thus far in contexts dating to the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age (9th/8th century BCE). The find from Pavlovica, along with several other buckles and ornaments of the same type recently found in central Bosnia, suggests the
persistence of these specific forms into the Early Iron Age.
Bronze Age Metallurgy Production – Consumption – Exchange, OREA 32, 2024
In this paper, we discuss the results of the chemical and lead isotope analyses on metal objects ... more In this paper, we discuss the results of the chemical and lead isotope analyses on metal objects from the Late Bronze Age hoards Klenje and Kličevac-Rastovača, both located in northeastern Serbia. The results of trace element analysis are available for 31 finds from Klenje, and 15 finds from Kličevac-Rastovača, showing a range of different alloys in terms of added tin or lead and the presence of various impurities (arsenic, antimony, nickel, and silver). In order to narrow down the possible source of copper used for the production, lead isotope analyses were additionally conducted on 12 samples from Klenje and four samples from Kličevac-Rastovača. Most of the finds confirmed the general trend for the Late Bronze Age in the western and central Balkans, with a prevalence of copper having an isotopic signature that corresponds to the Trentino mining region in northern Italy. 4 However, we also attested the copper from other distant regions such as Eastern Alps (Hochkönig-Mitterberg) and Cyprus. Based on the typo-chronological evaluation of deposited objects, both hoards can be associated with the stage Ha A1 or the second horizon/stage of Late Bronze Age hoards, according to the regional chronologies for southeast Europe. 5 This period (13 th and early 12 th century BC) is marked by the peak of deposition activity in a vast area between central Europe, the Adriatic Sea and the Carpathian Mountains with well-recognisable regional hoarding patterns and wide distribution of specific metal types. 6 Indicative of Klenje and Kličevac-Rastovača and other hoards in northeastern Serbia around Požarevac is their position on the southeastern fringe of the overall distribution in Europe and their proximity to the abundant copper ore deposits in eastern Serbia.
The Mechanism of Power_The Bronze and Iron Ages in Southeastern Europe, 2024
The lavishly decorated bracelets/anklets of the type Juhor are one of the most distinguished Bron... more The lavishly decorated bracelets/anklets of the type Juhor are one of the most distinguished Bronze Age objects of the central Balkans. The core distribution area includes the Morava Valley in Serbia, with other finds spread
between Slovakia, southern Hungary, eastern Croatia, and North Macedonia. From a typological point of view, previous studies identified three main groups: 1) large bracelets in a hollow cast; 2) large, full-casted bracelets;
3) smaller, full-casted bracelets. Based on weight and incised decoration, bracelets of the first two groups were unanimously described as status or prestige objects, worn only on special occasions and by prominent community members. A few of closed contexts, such as the inhumation grave from Iglarevo, the cremation grave from Kopačevo, or the hoards from Trućevac, Kórós, and Bodajk indicate a chronological frame between the 19th/18th and 16th/15th centuries BCE and show that the Juhor type occurs in regions with a different cultural background.
Apart from typological and chronological aspects, the technological background of these outstanding objects in terms of metal composition was less known. This paper will present the first results of archaeometallurgical analyses of 13 bracelets from the collection of the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade and the National Museum in Požarevac. The chemical composition of the objects points to copper alloy with a stable tin ratio between 8 % and 10 %. The copper used to produce bracelets has a geochemical signature (lead isotopes) corresponding to the local deposits in eastern Serbia and the slags from the copper-producing sites in the same area.
Searching for gold, 2024
This article presents a more detailed discussion of new absolute dates for the Middle Bronze Age ... more This article presents a more detailed discussion of new absolute dates for the Middle Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age in the central Balkans. The dates are significant for two reasons. Firstly, they provide general information about a chronological frame of the Middle and Late Bronze Age cultures in Serbia, and secondly, they indicate certain corrections in the dating of the one specific type of socketed axe that appears to be somewhat older than previously considered. What is important to underline for the period of the Middle and Late Bronze Age is also evidence of the existence of a local metallurgy, including the detection of tin ore in western Serbia on the south slopes of Cer Mountain, remnants of the copper smelting activities at the Ružana site in eastern Serbia and numerous finds of stone moulds for casting different bronze objects.
Austrian Archaeological Institute, Annual Report, 2023
The annual report 2023 of the Department of Prehistory & West Asian/Northeast African Archaeology... more The annual report 2023 of the Department of Prehistory & West Asian/Northeast African Archaeology of the Austrian Archaeological Institute include Quaternary archaeology, prehistory, Near Eastern archaeology and Egyptology. The groups of the department cover an essential cultural area of prehistoric and early historical developments in Europe, Northeast Africa and West Asia. The chronological expertise of the groups covers the periods Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. In 2023, the groups conducted fieldwork and material analyses in Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Türkiye, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Sudan and South Africa.
The Moment of Creation: Typology and Relative Dating of Finds from the Vukovar and Lovas Assemblages
Vukovar and Lovas hoards: New Biographies. Raw Materials, Metallography, Typology, Metalwork Wear, Chronology and Context, 2024
Both the Vukovar and Lovas assemblages have attracted significant research interest since their d... more Both the Vukovar and Lovas assemblages have attracted significant research interest since their discoveries. The finds have served as important anchors for the relative chronology of the Bronze Age in the Carpathian Basin. In the scope of the new archaeological investigations in the region and the vicinity, as well as the analyses conducted on metal finds from the Vukovar and Lovas assemblages, a revision of the typological classifications and relative dating is desirable. This chapter focuses on artefact shapes and equivalent finds in the broader vicinity. It aims to re-evaluate the relative dating of finds from both sites and provide a possible chronological framework for the deposition of the assemblages.
Godisnjak Centra za balkanoloska ispitivanja , 2023
The cooperation between the Austrian Archaeological Institute (Austrian Academy of Scie... more The cooperation between the Austrian Archaeological Institute (Austrian Academy of Sciences) and City Museum Zenica in the frame of the project “Visualizing the unknown Balkans” resulted in the discovery and subsequent archaeological investigations of the first documented graveyard of Late Bronze and Early Iron Age in central Bosnia at the site Kopilo. The excavations conducted in 2021 and 2022 brought to light the cemetery locat-ed on the terrace below the previously investigated hilltop settlement and provided new insights into the mortuary practices of the local prehistoric population. In total, we unearthed 46 graves, with 51 individuals of all age groups. Most of the graves were placed in stone constructions that included several inhumation burials. We also found clear evidence of grave reopening and reuse, multiple burials and graves containing only selected body parts. The spectrum of metal and pottery finds consists of local, regional and forms of supra-regional distribution, indicating well-established communication networks of the community that used the cemetery.
In Southeastern Europe, the Metal Ages – Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age – are characteriz... more In Southeastern Europe, the Metal Ages – Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age – are characterized by dynamic
processes that led to significant socio-economic changes. Many prehistoric societies unwittingly made substantial
social and economic changes reflected throughout history by obtaining materials and resources for their
daily lives. Overall, the availability of resources has always been an essential factor in shaping human societies
and continues to be so today.
The procurement and distribution of resources like food, water, and raw materials cannot be studied in isolation
without considering their relationship to time and space, their socioeconomic or technological background, and
their spiritual connotation. Religious beliefs and practices often guided the use and management of resources,
as certain rituals might be performed to honour or appease the gods or other spiritual beings to ensure a bountiful
supply of resources.
The exploitation and trade of resources in prehistoric societies cannot be conceived without its connection to
a transcendental sphere. In this sense, the conference aims to relate economic and religious aspects to study
the prehistoric communities of the Metal Ages in an integrated approach.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici, Dec 22, 2020
The Late Bronze Age settlement in Dolina at the location of Babine Grede stands on two elevated r... more The Late Bronze Age settlement in Dolina at the location of Babine Grede stands on two elevated ridges lying along the course of the River Sava in the direction of west – east. The settlement is known on the basis of previously collected surface finds of
potsherds and was confirmed by a geomagnetic survey conducted in 2014. Trench 1, located in the eastern part of the western ridge, was excavated in 2015 and 2016. The archaeological excavations of the location of Babine Grede – Tukovi in 2018 determined that the settlement on the east ridge was partly contemporary in Ha A2, i.e. in the first half of the 11th cent. BC. Trench 2 included younger horizons than those recorded in Trench 1. The excavations conducted in the spring of 2019 opened
Trench 3, which is a smaller trench on the western part of the eastern ridge. Trench 3 is located south of the settlement on the western ridge. This trench was excavated with the aim of locating a flat cemetery, but it located a peripheral part of the
settlement with a large buried structure. The new excavation results have supplemented the findings about the borders of the settlement and the directions of its expansion, as well as the assumptions about the position of the flat cemetery. According to the published findings, the Bronze Age settlement of Donja Dolina on the other side of the river was at least partly contemporary with the settlement at Babine Grede, and this fact raises a number of new questions about the specific use of landscape along the River Sava in the Late Bronze Age, especially during the younger phase of the Urnfield culture.
Starinar, 2022
Following more than seven decades of research on the Bronze Age cremation burial grounds in the t... more Following more than seven decades of research on the Bronze Age cremation burial grounds in the territory of Serbia, the new absolute dates provide us with an opportunity to determine a more precise chronological sequence of different local cultural manifestations. Although the pioneers of the Serbian archaeology after WWII defined the main cultural trajectories that led to the establishment of cremation as the main burial rite during the 2 nd millennium BC, several misconceptions were established that need to be corrected, considering new data. We regard this paper as our contribution to the better understanding of the cultural and chronological sequence in the Central Balkans during the Bronze Age.
Antiquity, 2023
Excavations of the Kopilo cemetery in central Bosnia in 2021 and 2022 have provided the first ins... more Excavations of the Kopilo cemetery in central Bosnia in 2021 and 2022 have provided the first insights into Bronze and Iron Age burial practices in this part of Europe. We documented a total of 46 inhumation graves, with the variety of finds indicating supra-regional contacts of this population.
Macedoniae Acta Acrhaeologica, 2021
Journal of World Prehistory, 2022
Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric t... more Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric times. In addition to the long-standing theoretical dichotomy between ‘cultural transmission’ and ‘demic diffusion’, many alternative models borrowed from sociology can be used to explain the spread of innovations. The emergence of urnfields in Middle and Late Bronze Age Europe is certainly one of these large-scale phenomena; its wide distribution has been traditionally emphasized by the use of the general term Urnenfelderkultur/zeit (starting around 1300 BC). Thanks to new evidence, we are now able to draw a more comprehensive picture, which shows a variety of regional responses to the introduction of the new funerary custom. The earliest ‘urnfields’ can be identified in central Hungary, among the tell communities of the late Nagyrév/Vatya Culture, around 2000 BC. From the nineteenth century BC onwards, the urnfield model is documented among communities in northeastern Serbia, south of t...
Kaiser, Elke; Schier, Wolfram (Ed.). Time and Materiality. Periodization and Regional Chronologies at the Transition from Bronze to Iron Age in Eurasia (1200-600 BCE) Prähistorische Archäologie in Südosteuropa 31, 2021
Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie. Deta... more Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie. Detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar.
Godišnjak, Centar za balkanološka ispitivanja, Knjiga 50, 2021
The paper present results of the investigations on the prehistoric sites in the vicinity of the c... more The paper present results of the investigations on the prehistoric sites in the vicinity of the city of Zenica conducted during 2018 and 2019. Based on the cooperation between the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and City Museum of Zenica we applied geophysical prospection, air-borne laser scanning and excavations in order to get a better understanding of the Bronze and Iron Age developments in this specific part of the central Bosnia along the Bosna River. This research is emebeded within the project "Visualizing the unknown Balkans, supported by the Innovation Fond of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Apart from previously known and to smaller extent excavated hillfort Kopilo, our work also focused on the sites situated on the ridge above Gradišće in the northern part of the Zenica Basin. What appears to be indicative of this micro-region are high attitudes (600-900 m a.s.l.) of the identified Bronze and Iron Ages settlements in comparison to the situation in the neighboring valleys and basins of the central Bosnia. Such position provided mutual visual contact between the sites and an excellent control of the entry and exit from the Zenica Basin. Our work also brought evidences of prehistoric stone mounds on the ridge above Gradišče. The numerous archeological finds indicatate the importance and a long continuity of the hillforts such as Kopilo that obviuolsy lasted unti the advanced La Téne Period.
Journal of World Prehistory, 2022
Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric t... more Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric times. In addition to the long-standing theoretical dichotomy between 'cultural transmission' and 'demic diffusion', many alternative models borrowed from sociology can be used to explain the spread of innovations. The emergence of urnfields in Middle and Late Bronze Age Europe is certainly one of these large-scale phenomena; its wide distribution has been traditionally emphasized by the use of the general term Urnenfelderkultur/zeit (starting around 1300 BC). Thanks to new evidence, we are now able to draw a more comprehensive picture, which shows a variety of regional responses to the introduction of the new funerary custom. The earliest 'urnfields' can be identified in central Hungary, among the tell communities of the late Nagyrév/Vatya Culture, around 2000 BC. From the nineteenth century BC onwards, the urnfield model is documented among communities in northeastern Serbia, south of the Iron Gates. During the subsequent collapse of the tell system, around 1500 BC, the urnfield model spread into some of the neighbouring regions. The adoption, however, appears more radical in the southern Po plain, as well as in the Sava/Drava/Lower Tisza plains, while in Lower Austria, Transdanubia and in the northern Po plain it seems more gradual and appears to have been subject to processes of syncretism/hybridization with traditional rites. Other areas seem to reject the novelty, at least until the latest phases of the Bronze Age. We argue that a possible explanation for these varied responses relates to the degree of interconnectedness and homophily among communities in the previous phases.
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Videos by Mario Gavranovic
Papers by Mario Gavranovic
Rukumija and Stari Kostolac- Mali Grad (Ha A1), Alun, Brza Palanka, Leskovo and Vojilovo (HaA2–Ha B1) and Stari Kostolac-Leštar and Živica (Ha C1). The area along the Danube River Gorgestands out as one of the very few European microregions with a continuity of metal deposition
activities throughout the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (13th–8th centuries BC). The depositionof metal hoards additionally highlights the unique character of this landscape and the importance of the Danube Gorge in the prehistoric communication networks. From a diachronic perspective, our analyses revealed different alloy mixtures and provided hints regarding the provenance of copper raw material used for the casting. Currently, there are no data that support the use of nearby abundant local copper deposits in northeastern Serbia during this period.
persistence of these specific forms into the Early Iron Age.
between Slovakia, southern Hungary, eastern Croatia, and North Macedonia. From a typological point of view, previous studies identified three main groups: 1) large bracelets in a hollow cast; 2) large, full-casted bracelets;
3) smaller, full-casted bracelets. Based on weight and incised decoration, bracelets of the first two groups were unanimously described as status or prestige objects, worn only on special occasions and by prominent community members. A few of closed contexts, such as the inhumation grave from Iglarevo, the cremation grave from Kopačevo, or the hoards from Trućevac, Kórós, and Bodajk indicate a chronological frame between the 19th/18th and 16th/15th centuries BCE and show that the Juhor type occurs in regions with a different cultural background.
Apart from typological and chronological aspects, the technological background of these outstanding objects in terms of metal composition was less known. This paper will present the first results of archaeometallurgical analyses of 13 bracelets from the collection of the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade and the National Museum in Požarevac. The chemical composition of the objects points to copper alloy with a stable tin ratio between 8 % and 10 %. The copper used to produce bracelets has a geochemical signature (lead isotopes) corresponding to the local deposits in eastern Serbia and the slags from the copper-producing sites in the same area.
processes that led to significant socio-economic changes. Many prehistoric societies unwittingly made substantial
social and economic changes reflected throughout history by obtaining materials and resources for their
daily lives. Overall, the availability of resources has always been an essential factor in shaping human societies
and continues to be so today.
The procurement and distribution of resources like food, water, and raw materials cannot be studied in isolation
without considering their relationship to time and space, their socioeconomic or technological background, and
their spiritual connotation. Religious beliefs and practices often guided the use and management of resources,
as certain rituals might be performed to honour or appease the gods or other spiritual beings to ensure a bountiful
supply of resources.
The exploitation and trade of resources in prehistoric societies cannot be conceived without its connection to
a transcendental sphere. In this sense, the conference aims to relate economic and religious aspects to study
the prehistoric communities of the Metal Ages in an integrated approach.
potsherds and was confirmed by a geomagnetic survey conducted in 2014. Trench 1, located in the eastern part of the western ridge, was excavated in 2015 and 2016. The archaeological excavations of the location of Babine Grede – Tukovi in 2018 determined that the settlement on the east ridge was partly contemporary in Ha A2, i.e. in the first half of the 11th cent. BC. Trench 2 included younger horizons than those recorded in Trench 1. The excavations conducted in the spring of 2019 opened
Trench 3, which is a smaller trench on the western part of the eastern ridge. Trench 3 is located south of the settlement on the western ridge. This trench was excavated with the aim of locating a flat cemetery, but it located a peripheral part of the
settlement with a large buried structure. The new excavation results have supplemented the findings about the borders of the settlement and the directions of its expansion, as well as the assumptions about the position of the flat cemetery. According to the published findings, the Bronze Age settlement of Donja Dolina on the other side of the river was at least partly contemporary with the settlement at Babine Grede, and this fact raises a number of new questions about the specific use of landscape along the River Sava in the Late Bronze Age, especially during the younger phase of the Urnfield culture.
Rukumija and Stari Kostolac- Mali Grad (Ha A1), Alun, Brza Palanka, Leskovo and Vojilovo (HaA2–Ha B1) and Stari Kostolac-Leštar and Živica (Ha C1). The area along the Danube River Gorgestands out as one of the very few European microregions with a continuity of metal deposition
activities throughout the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (13th–8th centuries BC). The depositionof metal hoards additionally highlights the unique character of this landscape and the importance of the Danube Gorge in the prehistoric communication networks. From a diachronic perspective, our analyses revealed different alloy mixtures and provided hints regarding the provenance of copper raw material used for the casting. Currently, there are no data that support the use of nearby abundant local copper deposits in northeastern Serbia during this period.
persistence of these specific forms into the Early Iron Age.
between Slovakia, southern Hungary, eastern Croatia, and North Macedonia. From a typological point of view, previous studies identified three main groups: 1) large bracelets in a hollow cast; 2) large, full-casted bracelets;
3) smaller, full-casted bracelets. Based on weight and incised decoration, bracelets of the first two groups were unanimously described as status or prestige objects, worn only on special occasions and by prominent community members. A few of closed contexts, such as the inhumation grave from Iglarevo, the cremation grave from Kopačevo, or the hoards from Trućevac, Kórós, and Bodajk indicate a chronological frame between the 19th/18th and 16th/15th centuries BCE and show that the Juhor type occurs in regions with a different cultural background.
Apart from typological and chronological aspects, the technological background of these outstanding objects in terms of metal composition was less known. This paper will present the first results of archaeometallurgical analyses of 13 bracelets from the collection of the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade and the National Museum in Požarevac. The chemical composition of the objects points to copper alloy with a stable tin ratio between 8 % and 10 %. The copper used to produce bracelets has a geochemical signature (lead isotopes) corresponding to the local deposits in eastern Serbia and the slags from the copper-producing sites in the same area.
processes that led to significant socio-economic changes. Many prehistoric societies unwittingly made substantial
social and economic changes reflected throughout history by obtaining materials and resources for their
daily lives. Overall, the availability of resources has always been an essential factor in shaping human societies
and continues to be so today.
The procurement and distribution of resources like food, water, and raw materials cannot be studied in isolation
without considering their relationship to time and space, their socioeconomic or technological background, and
their spiritual connotation. Religious beliefs and practices often guided the use and management of resources,
as certain rituals might be performed to honour or appease the gods or other spiritual beings to ensure a bountiful
supply of resources.
The exploitation and trade of resources in prehistoric societies cannot be conceived without its connection to
a transcendental sphere. In this sense, the conference aims to relate economic and religious aspects to study
the prehistoric communities of the Metal Ages in an integrated approach.
potsherds and was confirmed by a geomagnetic survey conducted in 2014. Trench 1, located in the eastern part of the western ridge, was excavated in 2015 and 2016. The archaeological excavations of the location of Babine Grede – Tukovi in 2018 determined that the settlement on the east ridge was partly contemporary in Ha A2, i.e. in the first half of the 11th cent. BC. Trench 2 included younger horizons than those recorded in Trench 1. The excavations conducted in the spring of 2019 opened
Trench 3, which is a smaller trench on the western part of the eastern ridge. Trench 3 is located south of the settlement on the western ridge. This trench was excavated with the aim of locating a flat cemetery, but it located a peripheral part of the
settlement with a large buried structure. The new excavation results have supplemented the findings about the borders of the settlement and the directions of its expansion, as well as the assumptions about the position of the flat cemetery. According to the published findings, the Bronze Age settlement of Donja Dolina on the other side of the river was at least partly contemporary with the settlement at Babine Grede, and this fact raises a number of new questions about the specific use of landscape along the River Sava in the Late Bronze Age, especially during the younger phase of the Urnfield culture.
public and scientific perception of archaeological research in the region.
The program of the workshop will include a wide range of regional studies as well as region-spanning contributions dealing with specific topics. The final objective is to gain a better understanding of the technological and social processes that led to the interweaving of the metallurgical know-how across the different Urnfield Culture societies in Europe.
The event is free, but space is limited. For more information and to register, please contact mario.gavranovic@oeaw.ac.at or mathias.mehofer@univie.ac.at
see:
https://www.orea.oeaw.ac.at/veranstaltungen/event-detail/article/uk-gespraeche-bronze-age-metallurgy/
Examining the procurement, distribution, and processing of resources like food, water, and raw materials helps us trace the diverse social and economic changes during the Metal Ages in southeastern Europe – the Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages. It is precisely these “things of life” which give us insights into prehistory that would otherwise remain completely hidden from us due to the lack of written sources. Through them, topics such as lifestyles, social structures, religious beliefs, and workmanship of these societies become tangible to us.
Especially in this context, southeastern Europe proves to be archaeologically valuable, as the region is particularly prominent for its key role in metalworking in Europe. This geographical “bridge region” between the Near East, the Mediterranean, and Central Europe is unique and has always attracted considerable interest as a “crossroads of (pre-)history”. In this light, it might seem surprising that the Balkans remain critically understudied in prehistorical archaeology.
The research network “Perspectives on Balkan Archaeology” (PeBA) aims to reduce this gap. It promotes prehistoric sciences in this region by connecting early-career scholars and senior researchers from a multitude of countries and academic institutions through seminars, common publications, and conferences. Part of the series of conferences starting in 2016, the fourth edition was dedicated to the aforementioned “things of life”.
(20th November 2024)," our objective is to provide insights into the
recent research on body ornaments throughout the Bronze and Early
Iron Age in central and southeast Europe. The findings of jewelry on
buried bodies, the iconographic presentation on figurines, and the
remains of textile or leather clothing, in most cases, represent relics of
funerary or everyday costumes. In addition to the fundamental typochronological question regarding short-lived and long-lived elements
of costume, we also wish to discuss the symbolic and communicative
aspects of body ornaments. We aim to elucidate the role of body
ornaments and any potential differences in their use in relatio n to
different burial practices and treatments of the deceased, for instance
during the transition from inhumation to cremation. In addition,
we intend to examine broad-scale diachronic changes in ornament
use throughout the second and early first millennium BC and the
technological and raw material (copper, gold, amber ) background, if
possible.
The one-day program will commence with a keynote lecture by Karina
Grömer (Natural History Museum Vienna) and continue with talks
on the different regional and chronological characteristics of body
ornaments. The event will conclude with our traditional joint dinner.
The Things of Life: society, economy and religion in Southeast Europe (5000 – 800 BC)
In Southeastern Europe, the Metal Ages - Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and Early Iron Age – are characterized by a series of dynamic processes that led to significant changes in society, economy, and religion. Many prehistoric societies, in their quest to obtain new and better materials and resources for their daily lives, unwittingly made significant social and economic changes that would be reflected throughout history.
The economy and religion of ancient societies cannot be studied in isolation without considering their relationship to the time and space in which they occurred. In this sense, the conference aims to combine the economic and religious aspects in order to study the prehistoric communities of the Metal Age in an integrated approach.
We invite speakers cordially to present papers related to one or several of the following issues:
- How did the daily need for materials and resources affect the social and economic development of prehistoric communities?
- Power and Landscape: How is the emergence of power related to access to and control over different types of materials and resources?
- Production, Trade, and Competition: How did economic developments, new technologies in the extraction and production of various materials, and expanded trade networks facilitate societies' access to resources from more distant places?
- What role did animals play in communities? What was the symbolic significance of certain animals in societies (in terms of archaeozoology and animals in funerary contexts, deposits, or pictorial representations)?
- What role does access to water sources play in the location and development of settlements, roads, and networks? And how are water sources were used or associated with a religious or ritual context?
- How and what materials and resources were used for the various rites, burial facilities and treasures?
Nevertheless, outstanding graves represent only a fraction of the accumulation of wealth. This led to interpretations that focus more on the individual than on the origins of wealth and power
The program of the workshop will include a wide range of regional studies as well as region-spanning contributions dealing with specific topics. The final objective is to gain a better understanding of the technological and social processes that led to the interweaving of the metallurgical know-how across the different Urnfield Culture societies in Europe.
The event is free, but space is limited. For more information and to register, please contact
mario.gavranovic@oeaw.ac.at.
The conference “Perspectives on Balkan Archaeology – Spheres of Interactions” focuses on the connections and relationships between Late Bronze / Iron Age communities in the Western and Central Balkans and the surrounding regions, including the Aegean, the Apennine Peninsula, the Black Sea region, the Southeast Alps and the Carpathian Basin.
Speakers will present papers related to one or several of the following issues:
• How are contacts and relationships expressed in material culture? How do relationships materialize in settlements, grave contexts, and sanctuaries or in certain (burial) rituals or technological choices? How can one categorize and identify “foreign” objects and objects based on foreign ideas or techniques (what is foreign and why)?
• Is it possible to distinguish between, for instance, political/diplomatic relationships, economic interactions, and migrations of groups or individual mobility?
• If connections are visible in the archaeological record, how can they be interpreted? Are they perceivable as stable and permanent or as variable networks? Are buffer-zones, contact zones or isolated regions identifiable?
• Can spheres of interaction be shown to change over time? Are different regions linked (or isolated) in the Late Bronze, early and developed Iron Age respectively?
• Comparative archaeology: How are different chronological systems affecting supra-regional studies and how can this issue be addressed?