Raw material studies of West Central Serbia

Abstract

Abstract:This paper deals with raw material problems in the territory of West Central Serbia geologically determined as the Čačak-Kraljevo (or West Morava) basin. Our research is presented through the most striking case studies, Lojanik, Vlaška Glava and Lazac.The Lojanik hill is a silicified forest by origin. It has occasionally been in use from the earliest periods of prehistory until today as a source of black and ochre-coloured flint, opal and silicified wood. A detailed prospection, including the mapping of surface finds using square nets, was conducted during two research campaigns.The Vlaška Glava is an open-air Palaeolithic site at which artefacts made of white, ochre, red, brown and black chert, silicified magnesite, volcanic and metamorphic rocks were found. Our research of primary and secondary geological deposits in the vicinity of the site showed equivalent raw material. We also found an interesting primary deposit of high quality bluish grey flint with outcrop activities (Workshop 1).The Lazac shaft is a contemporary magnesite mine, recently abandoned because of the high percentage of silicon-dioxide. We determined the same raw material in collections found at nearby Neolithic sites. Certain similarities between the wooden support systems of ore exploration in the Middle Ages and modern times were established at the entrance of the shaft.Our research in the territory of the West Morava basin resulted in reconstruction of some links between geological deposits and settlements and also creation of a relevant base for future raw material studies.

Grey zones of production: Discussing the technology of tools at the Lojanik quarry in west-central Serbia

“…The Ibar River presents an important route since it connects wide areas of modern day Serbia. This notion is backed by the early human presence in the area (Bogosavljević Petrović & Marković 2014;Mihailović & Bogosavljević Petrović 2009;Mihailović et al 2014). The relief diversity of this region is extremely pronounced with big rivers and their streams cut deeply into mountain massifs.…”

Raw material studies of West Central Serbia

“…In the Vinča culture, the structures of raw material showed the prevalence of magnesite, white opals and cherts in lithic collections. This is especially characteristic for the Late Vinča culture sites in Central Serbia: Divostin, Trsine, Divlje polje and Grivac (Prinz 1988, Mc Pherron 1988 Bogosavljević 1991, Bogosavljević Petrović 1999, Antonović 2008, Bogosavljević Petrović 2008. Besides the raw material studies, the research of the Lazac mine allowed us to make some parallels between ore exploration in the Middle Ages and modern times.…”

The Becoming of a Prehistoric Landscape: Palaeolithic Occupations and Geomorphological Processes at Lojanik (Serbia)

“…The Lojanik complex is an open-air locality that encompasses hills and valleys, which developed along faults [18] and drain into the Ibar River-an important axis of communication from Prehistory to today, crossing south to north from Montenegro until the West Morava River. Prehistoric societies have been documented in the region, which is regarded as part of important migratory routes for Prehistoric humans [16,19,20].…”

“…The geological history of Lojanik is unique, as it was formed by the silicification of an ancient forest by a cataclysmic event during the Miocene [21]. The petrified wood created by these processes has been exploited since prehistorical times until today as sharpening material for knives and agricultural tools, such as scythes [16]. This opalised wood was also a good quality knapping material, and its use by prehistoric humans has been attested in the nearby late-Neolithic site of Divlje Polje, leading to surveys of the Lojanik complex to understand the origin of the material [22,23].…”

“…The Lojanik complex is an open-air locality of west-central Serbia on the right bank of the Ibar river, 200 km south of Belgrade (Figure 1), where numerous lithic raw material outcrops have been identified over an area of twelve hectares [16,17]. The outcrops were exploited during later Prehistory (Neolithic and Chalcolithic, which date in the region from ca.…”