Vinkovci, Croatia –
archaeological dig site
unearthing the largest
Stone Age city in region
Archaeologists in Croatia have unearthed what they consider to be the largest New Stone Age city ever discovered in the region. The new find stretches for more than 100 thousand square meters and is believed to be dating back to 4,000 or 5,000 years Before Christ (BC) – roughly 7,000 years old.
New Stone Age city
unearthed near Vinkovci Croatia
This find is located a few kilometres west of Vinkovci (near Vukovar). A research team led by Maja Krznaric Skrivanko and Hrvoje Vulic from Vinkovci Municipal Museum announced this week (Croatian news agency HINA reports) that they had discovered a previously unknown village that dates back to the fifth or fourth millennium BC after having been on the archaeological site for some months.
The archaeologists involved reportedly had no clue that they would find such a massive repository of archaeological treasures before they started the dig.
“At the beginning,” Vulic said, “we found the remains of tanks, wells, and ceramic items dating back to the Stone Age, and we decided to investigate further.”
About 30 inches below the surface, the researchers came upon a treasure trove of ancient materials. As they continued the excavation, the dig unfolded into a site about 100 thousand square meters in area. For now, the researchers are concentrating on a smaller area of about 3,000 square meters. In that spot alone, they’ve found 325 archaeological objects, including fences, wells, and kilns for ceramics.
Ritually buried Bovid skulls found
Whole dishes and
remnants of sacrificial animals
They have also found the remains of children buried in what appear to have been ritualistic burials. Children and infants’ graves, the researchers say, are a good way of determining what the level of prosperity existed for the village. The graves the researchers uncovered had cattle/bovid skulls and horns interred alongside a child’s remains, as well as pottery placed there as if in a ritual.
Excavated dishes from New Stone Age
A child’s grave more than
7000 years old at the dig
The culture present in the area in the fourth and fifth millennium BC was called the Sopot culture, and it stretched across what is now Croatia, Bosnia, and Hungary. The Sopot communities typically settled alongside rivers, streams, and wetlands, while animal husbandry was prevalent.
There is a consensus in Croatia, and wider, that this archaeological discovery represents a most important discovery in the area to date, from the Neolithic to the Roman period. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
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Well, that must have been a great day for those archeologists. 😀 Happy researching!
Amazing stuff, Kat 🙂
This is an amazing find.
Brings history right back home, Carol – just so nice 🙂
Archaeologists can now fly over an area and square, rectangular or round shapes pop up as buildings. There are also mass graves or rows of graves that show as well. I cannot remember that the technology is called but it has sped up archaeology tremendously. This was very interesting; I’m always curious about our ancestors.
The finds remind us, Jackie, that our long gone ancestors were smart people indeed
Love historical finds like this 🙂
Me too, Christina 🙂
Hi Ina…
Love your posts and thanks for sharing! Wishing you a day of
Soft Curves—Wonder and Joy! Phil
Aw, thank you Philip, love your visits and all the best wishes back to you too
Fascinating discovery, Ina. It’s such a crucial part of Croatia’s history. Because of it’s tremendous size, I’m sure archaeologists will be busy for years.
Yes, isn’t it just wonderful, Carol – I love this stuff 🙂
An impressive find.
It’s been a good week for Croatia despite the rotten politicians – there was US Open and then this wonderful find, Gallivanta 🙂
Politicians…well…..we are having to think very hard about them because our elections are on 20 September. The choices are not very enticing but at least I can vote freely, so I will.
Go with your heart it has the right intuition 🙂 Good luck at the elections, I think it’s needed everywhere, so much dirt gets shoved around during campaigns that it’s all about personal power and little about anything else
That is the trouble!
Hear, hear…
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing that.
Cheers, Jacqui
Excellent post,probably the discovery will let the world know more about our existence.Regards.
The more we know, the richer we are, Jalal
What a marvelous finding Inavukic!
Thank you very much for sharing
Best wishes to you for the week ahead, Aquileana 😛
Thank you, Aquileana – I’m always intrigued and I marvel at our past and now, so much more we did not know about. Simply great. Cheers to you too 🙂
Incredible find giving highlighting the mode of living of people at that time.
Just so great to find out, Harbans
My gratitude.
Fascinating! I will have to read more about this. Thanks
Cheers, Dana
Hi Ina, this was a great post. Amazing archeological discovery. After all the political turmoil that Croatians are going through, this must have been a good news for them. 🙂
Have a blessed day.
Thanks Shibu, a really nice treat 🙂
🙂