The Discovery Of An 8,000-Year-Old House In Serbia Challenges Assumptions That Early Neolithic People Were Nomadic
In southern Serbia, the remains of a prehistoric house dating back around 8,000 years ago were recently unearthed. The discovery could reveal new insights into what ancient societies in Europe looked like.
Researchers from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) in Svinjarička Čuka, Serbia, found the rectangular dwelling. The ÖAW described the building as “extraordinary.”
“The new finds in Svinjarička Čuka provide substantially new insights and data that are likely to change previous models on the development of settlement in the Balkans,” said Barbara Horejs, an archaeologist and scientific director of the ÖAW’s Austrian Archaeological Institute.
The house was constructed around 8,000 years ago. It was made from wickerwork and reinforced with wooden posts.
Its excellent preservation is due to a fire, which caused some architectural elements to collapse partially and burn.
The debris covered the floors inside the house, as well as artifacts, tools, and vessels in the nearby outdoor area, protecting them from the elements.
There is evidence that the inhabitants of the house were storing food like seeds and grain, providing a glimpse into the lives of early agricultural practices during the Neolithic period.
In the Balkans, the Neolithic period began around 6500 B.C. and lasted until approximately 3500 B.C.
During this time, people started transitioning from hunting and gathering to permanent agricultural settlements. Some of Europe’s earliest farming communities emerged in the Balkans region.
vladimirnenezic – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only – pictured above is a view of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia
Experts believe this recent discovery challenges previous assumptions that early Neolithic people were nomadic or settled in one place seasonally.
These assumptions were based on the widespread presence of pits that were thought to be temporary shelters.
“Instead of nomadic or only seasonally settled small groups, the Neolithic pioneers in the Balkans apparently built stable houses with facilities for supplies and grain storage,” said Horejs.
Excavations have been taking place at Svinjarička Čuka since 2018. In that time, Austrian and Serbian archaeologists have managed to document multiple phases of settlement ranging from the early to middle Neolithic period.
These finds are associated with the Starčevo culture, one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in Serbia and in all the Balkans. The Starčevo culture thrived between 6200 and 4500 B.C.E.
They introduced agriculture and animal domestication to the region. In addition, they were the first to establish small, semi-permanent villages.
With new finds, new questions about the origins of these communities and their possible interactions with hunter-gatherers are bound to come along.
“The geographical and cultural origin of these groups, as well as their possible interactions with regional hunter-gatherers, are still open questions that are now being further investigated,” said Horejs.
The research team is employing advanced archaeological techniques, such as sediment analysis, to learn more about the findings. They are also studying any botanical and zoological remains.
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