Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of an extraordinary prehistoric house dating back to around 8,000 years. Found in Southern Serbia, this find helps shed light on how sedentary societies in Europe looked like.
It can also help understand the early agricultural societies and the spread of Neolithic innovations in the Balkans.
Found at a place called Svinjarička Čuka, this building was constructed from wattle, which was combined with wooden posts and was well preserved by fire.
As per the experts, this discovery provides insights into the architecture and how the early agricultural pioneers lived.
Neolithic house in Serbia
The experts further revealed that this discovery can also help give rise to the central European Linear pottery culture. According to them, the structure of the building was made using wickerwork reinforced with wooden posts. The partially collapsed architectural elements preserved through the burning indicated this.
Several tools, scattered vessels, and designated areas were also discovered within the structure that would help store food like grain and seeds.
The experts believe that this recent discovery challenged the previous models which anticipated that the early settlers of Europe were nomadic or only seasonally settled. This was presumed owing to the widespread pits that were thought to be light huts.
“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,” explained researcher Barbara Horejs.
The archaeologists further added that the excavations at Svinjarička Čuka have been happening since 2018, and have helped understand several occupation phases of the Early to Middle Neolithic.
They noted that this culture represents the oldest Neolithic communities in the Balkans and has also played a key role in spreading agriculture from Anatolia to Europe.
In order to delve deeper, researchers are applying micro-archaeological methods. These include examining sediments, botanical, and zoological remains and chemical soil analysis. Besides this, the use of early houses or the coexistence of humans and animals are also included.
Starčevo culture
The experts further highlighted the Starčevo culture, one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in Serbia and the wider Balkans. It was the Starčevo culture that introduced concepts like agriculture, domesticating animals, and also establishing small and semi-permanent villages, according to the experts.
This site helps scholars trace cultural and trade exchanges between ancient communities in the region. Svinjarička Čuka, along with other nearby archaeological sites, contributes to understanding the development of early civilizations in Southeastern Europe.
Svinjarička Čuka also helps contribute to a broader understanding of the spread of Neolithic culture and technology throughout the region, revealing the complex social dynamics and connections that shaped early European societies.
Apart from the archaeologists, artists like Elham Hadian visited the site as part of the new ‘Artist-in-Archaeology’ programme. Her body of work will be further displayed in several art galleries.
This current research is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and supported by the ÖAW, the Agency for Education and Internationalization OeAD, and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.