The Iron Gates Mesolithic – a brief review of recent developments

Boroneanț, Adina

doi:10.1016/j.anthro.2018.03.003

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…[25,26,32,39,72,79–82]). While at sites such as Schela Cladovei, there is a hiatus between the Late Mesolithic occupation and re-occupation by groups displaying characteristically Neolithic traits [24], recent studies of both ancient DNA and strontium isotope signatures from human tooth enamel now provide evidence for the interaction of immigrant farmers with local foraging communities, including burial of non-locals in a ‘Mesolithic’ tradition [37,38,83,84], leading some authors to recognize a ‘transformational’ phase between the Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic [26,72]. Our research has demonstrated the continued preparation of riverine resources in the Iron Gates, now using Neolithic pottery, which may relate to both the resource base encountered and cultural interactions occurring within pre-existing and newly formed social networks.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional diversity in subsistence among early farmers in Southeast Europe revealed by archaeological organic residues

et al. 2019

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The spread of early farming across Europe from its origins in Southwest Asia was a culturally transformative process which took place over millennia. Within regions, the pace of the transition was probably related to the particular climatic and environmental conditions encountered, as well as the nature of localized hunter–gatherer and farmer interactions. The establishment of farming in the interior of the Balkans represents the first movement of Southwest Asian livestock beyond their natural climatic range, and widespread evidence now exists for early pottery being used extensively for dairying. However, pottery lipid residues from sites in the Iron Gates region of the Danube in the northern Balkans show that here, Neolithic pottery was being used predominantly for processing aquatic resources. This stands out not only within the surrounding region but also contrasts markedly with Neolithic pottery use across wider Europe. These findings provide evidence for the strategic diversity within the wider cultural and economic practices during the Neolithic, with this exceptional environmental and cultural setting offering alternative opportunities despite the dominance of farming in the wider region.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional diversity in subsistence among early farmers in Southeast Europe revealed by archaeological organic residues

et al. 2019

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“…The hybrid character of the site is generally well accepted, with the forager culture seen as “dominant” during the transitional phase (Borić, 2019, p. 43). Assuming that burial in extended supine position parallel to the Danube with the head pointing downstream was the norm among Late Mesolithic Iron Gates HGs (Bonsall & Boroneanț, 2018), then some of the incoming Aegeans can be considered to be buried in a similar fashion to local people during the transitional phase (e.g. Burials 61, 54e).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Was fishing village of Lepenski Vir built by Europe’s first farmers?

Brami

Winkelbach

Schulz

et al. 2022

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Today, it is widely accepted that agriculture and settled village life arrived in Europe as a cultural package, carried by people migrating from Anatolia and the Aegean Basin. The putative fisher-forager site of Lepenski Vir in Serbia has long been acknowledged as an exception to this model. Here, the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition - possibly inspired by interaction with the new arrivals - was thought to have taken place autochthonously on site. Our reinterpretation, based on ancient genomes, as well as archaeological and isotopic evidence, revisits this conclusion, indicating that here too, house construction, early village society and agriculture were primarily associated with Europe's first farmers, thus challenging the long-held interpretation of Lepenski Vir as a Mesolithic community that adopted Neolithic practices. A detailed timeline of population changes at the site suggests that Aegean incomers did not simply integrate into an established Mesolithic society, rather founded new lineages and households. Iron Gates foragers and their admixed descendants appear to have been buried largely separately, on the fringes of the settlement, their diet showing no major shift from aquatic to terrestrial food resources.

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“…The hybrid character of the site is generally well accepted, with the forager culture seen as 'dominant' during the transitional phase (Borić, 2019, p. 43). Assuming that burial in extended supine position parallel to the Danube with the head pointing downstream was the norm among Late Mesolithic Iron Gates HGs (Bonsall & Boroneanț, 2018), then some of the incoming Aegeans can be considered to be buried in a similar fashion to local people during the transitional phase (e.g. Burials 61, 54e).…”

Section: Trapezoidal Houses At Lepenski Vir Associated With Incoming ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Was the Fishing Village of Lepenski Vir Built by Europe’s First Farmers?

et al. 2022

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It is now widely accepted that agriculture and settled village life arrived in Europe as a cultural package, carried by people migrating from Anatolia and the Aegean Basin. The putative fisher-forager site of Lepenski Vir in Serbia has long been acknowledged as an exception to this model. Here, the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition—possibly inspired by interaction with the new arrivals—was thought to have taken place autochthonously on site. Our reinterpretation, based on ancient genomes, as well as archaeological and isotopic evidence, indicates that here, too, house construction, early village society and agriculture were primarily associated with Europe’s first farmers, thus challenging the long-held view of Lepenski Vir as a Mesolithic community that adopted Neolithic practices. Although aspects of the site's occupation, such as the trapezoidal houses, were inspired by local Mesolithic traditions, it is far from certain that the village was founded by Iron Gates foragers. A detailed timeline of population changes at the site suggests that Aegean incomers did not simply integrate into an established Mesolithic society, but rather founded new lineages and households. Iron Gates foragers and their admixed descendants largely appear to have been buried separately, on the fringes of the settlement. The diet of those buried outside in pits shows no major shift from aquatic to terrestrial food resources.

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The Iron Gates Mesolithic – a brief review of recent developments

Cited by 8 publications

References 30 publications

Regional diversity in subsistence among early farmers in Southeast Europe revealed by archaeological organic residues

Regional diversity in subsistence among early farmers in Southeast Europe revealed by archaeological organic residues

Was fishing village of Lepenski Vir built by Europe’s first farmers?

Was the Fishing Village of Lepenski Vir Built by Europe’s First Farmers?

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