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ANZABEGOVO-VRŠNIK
GROUP

Iz kolegija:Neolitik bliskog istoka i jugoistočne Europe Studenti:Emil Kmetič

Mentor:dr.sc.Kristina Horvat Luka Žarković
Introduction
 Anzabegovo-Vršnjik group:one of the oldest Neolithic cultural group outside the Aegean
 First research campaigns on the site of Vršnik in 1954 by Gockova-Slavska
 Later excavations at Anzabegovo show its global importance in the region
 Content:
 Neolithization process
 Geographical context
 Periodization
 Settlements
 Economy
 Material Culture(Pottery and Stone tools)
 Burials
 Art
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
Neolithization process
 Neolithization process in Macedonia from 6400 to 6100BC
 Already developed form of Neolithic
 Ginbutas Neolithization hypothesis
 Zvelebil Neolithization hypothesis(Frog-leap colonization)
Geographical context
 Located inSkopje basin region,Ovče pole and Polog
 Skopje Basin: Ovče pole: Polog:
-Zelenikovo -Anzabegovo -Dolno Palčište
-Govrlevo -Vršnik -Stenče
-Mađari -Rug Bair
Periodization
 Neolithic in Macedonia is divided in three stages

Early Neolithic ( BC)

Middle Neolithic ( BC)
Late Neolithic ( BC)
 Periodization

According to Garašanin and According to Gimbutas:

Sanev:
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik I (Early Neolithic) • Anzabegovo-Vršnik I (Early Neolithic)
 Ia
• Ia
 Ib
• Ib
 Ic

• Anzabegovo-Vršnik II (Middle Neolithic)

 Anzabegovo-Vršnik II (Middle Neolithic)
• Anzabegovo-Vršnik III (Middle Neolithic)
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik III (Middle
Neolithic) • Anzabegovo-Vršnik IV (Late Neolithic)
• IVa
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik IV(Middle Neolithic) • IVb
Chronological Frame According to
Gimbutas
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik I (Early Neolithic)
 Ia
6100-5800
 Ib
BC

 Anzabegovo-Vršnik II (Middle Neolithic)

5800-5300
BC
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik III (Middle Neolithic)

 Anzabegovo-Vršnik IV (Late Neolithic)

 IVa 5200-5000
 IVb BC
 Settlements
 Mainly two types of settlements-tumba and river terraces
 Tumba are small hills created due to continous occupation
 River terraces are flat and spread horizontally

House models
 Stone Foundation
 Trapezoid,rectangular or square
 Wooden post as structure
 Wall made of mud,soil and clay or bricks of unbaked clay
 Economy
 Neolithic based on agriculture and stock breeding
 Cultivation of three sorts of wheat,two sorts of barley,oats,lentils and various
fruits
 Sheep,goat and cattle domestication(pig domestication attested but not
local)
 Presence of dog
 Hunting and presence of wild animals
 Possible trade with neighbouring region
Material culture
Pottery
Anzabegovo:
 Early Neolithic potteries(Anzabegovo-Vršnik I)
 Regional different characteristics
 Monochrome white or red painted clay

Allin dol: Tumba Stenče:

 Pottery
 Middle Neolithic(Anzabegovo Vršnik II-III)
 Development and diffusion of Anzabegovo-Vršnik culture through potterry
 Fine red and dark brown clay obtained with different tehniques
 Repetition of dimension(measure system? moulds?)

Askoi:
Globular vessel:
 Anzabegovo-Vršnik II-III: Cup:
Cup(fragmented):

Bowl on a foot:

Pot: Pyxis:
 Pottery
 Late Neolithic(Anzabegovo-Vršnik IV)
 Influence of Vinča culture Vessel fragment:
 Black polished vessels
 Main types of vessels:plates,bowls,jars and askoi(small vases)

Four legged vessel:

Bowl on a foot:
 Stone tools:
 Large area of the group is abundant in volcanic rocks and minerals
 A common feature is the presence of serpentinite, volcanic rocks and
sandstones
 Most of the artefacts were made of a raw material of local provenance
 Balkan flint
 Stone tools found at sites consist of blades,scrapers,perforators and arrow
points
 Another important category are polished stone tools that include
hammers,axes.adzes and chisels.
 Burials
 Absence of necropolis or any burials found outside settlements
 Burials are mainly of children, youngsters and women
 A place of predilection was inside the house
 Bones had a strong symbolic value
 Art
Anthropomorphic figurines:
 The most common figurines are those of women
 In the Middle Neolithic period, female figurines are steatopygic(pear like
idols)
 The head is usually missing
 Zoomorphic figurines:
 Neolithic man was focused on providing food
 Zoomorphic figurines represent a wide variety of animals: cattle and mainly
bulls, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, dogs, frogs, snakes and birds
 Same treatment of painting as the anthropomorphic figurines
Anthropomorphic House models and altars:
 The most complex forms
 Usually built on platform resting on four legs
 Lower part represents architectural features
 Upper part represents anthropomorphic features
Conclusion
 Thriving economy that allowed population growth
 Anzabegovo in Late neolithic:10 hectares and 4000 people
 Complex form of art and social behaviours
Bibliography
 NAUMOV, Goce et al. Neolithic Communities in the Republic of
Macedonia. Dante, Skopje, 2009.
 NAUMOV,Goce The early neolithic Communities in Macedonia,2015
 DIMITROVSKA,Vasilka The system of local supply of stone tools in
Amzabegovo-Vršnik culture from Neolithic Macedonia,2012
 BASLER,Đuro et.al. Praistorija Jugoslavenskih zemalja II Neolitsko doba,1979
 NAUMOV,Goce The Process of Neolithization
 DIMITROVSKA,Vasilka Local supply for Chipped Stone Tools from the site of
Rug bair
 ŠEMROV,Andrej Neolithic Art in the Republic of Macedonia
 Prehistoric Macedonian ladies