,

NI Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museum, Strumica

ACTA MUSEI
ACTA MUSEI

TIBERIOPOLITANI

vol. 1


,
Institute for Protection of the Monuments of
Culture and Museum Strumica

ACTA MUSEI
TIBERIOPOLITANI
,
NI Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museum, Strumica

ACTA MUSEI
TIBERIOPOLITANI
,
NI Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museum, Strumica

Publisher
NI Institute for protection of cultural
monuments and Museum Strumica
Advisory Board
Marjan Jovanov (Skopje)
Svetla Petrova (Sofia)
Ina Minoglav (Zagreb)
Elena Kanzurova (Skopje)
Adam N. Crnobrnja (Beograd)
Martina Blei Kavur (Koper)
Lene Jovanova (Skopje)
Editorial Committe
Zoran Rujak
Vane P.Sekulov
Duko Cvetanov
Editor
Vane P.Sekulov
Computer Layod
Nikola Magleev
Technical Editor
Nikola Magleev
Printed by
ZDVILUPT Fokus Print DOOEL
Copies
350

This collection of works has been published with

funds from the Ministry of culture of the
Republic of Macedonia

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350

Contents
Mitja Gutin , Alja or
Nova tablaat MurskaSobota,
A case of a burial siteas a sacred area
[8]
Cristian SCHUSTER
FUNERARY CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY
BRONZE AGE IN SOUTHERN ROMANIA
[14]
Anelia Bozkova, P. Kiyashkina
CIST GRAVES FROM THE HELLENISTIC
NECROPOLIS OF MESAMBRIA
ON THE BLACK SEA COAST
[23]
Krastina PANAYOTOVA
FAMILY PLOTS IN THE NECROPOLIS
OF APOLLONIA PONTICA
[35]
Slavica BABAMOVA

NEW GRAVE INSCRIPTIONS FROM MACEDONIA
[44]
Jovanova Lene
Colonia Flavia Scupinorum
The world of the dead
[54]
Aleksandar Bulatovi
HORIZON OF THE LATE ROMAN GRAVES WITH
RECTANGULAR VESSELS IN SOUTHEAST SERBIA,
EAST MACEDONIA AND WEST BULGARIA
[74]
Traje Nacev , Vane P.Sekulov
The tumulus of the domina from Gaynov Dol
[85]
Svetla Petrova
THE FUNERARY URNS WITH GARLAND
DECORATION FROM THE VALLEYS
OF MIDDLE STRUMA
[101]

Gordana Janeva
Coins from the necropolis in Crveno Pole
[123]
Maja PETRINEC
PAGAN BURIAL CUSTOMS IN THE EARLY
AND LATE MIDDLE AGES IN THE CROATIAN
TERRITORY BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL
FINDS FROM MEDIEVAL GRAVEYARDS
[134]
Lene Jovanova
Inscriptiones Stoborum
[142]
Peter Turk
Settlements of the middle 5th Millennium
BC in central Slovenia
[146]
Dragisha Zdravkovski , Elena Stoyanova
Kanzurova
NEOLITHIC PILE DWELLINGS IN MACEDONIA
AND LATER BUILDING TRADITIONS
[156]
Zoran Rujak
HOUSEHOLD IN THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD
ON THE TERRITORY OF SOUTHEAST MACEDONIA
[161]
Marina Onchevska Todorovska
Opus Caementicumand ScupiConstruction
[167]
Kiro Ristov
GRADISHTE TAOR (TAURESIUM) TOPOGRAPHY
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT
[178]

PREFACE
The challenge for the NI Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museum, Strumica to
publish this edition Acta Musei Teberipolitani comes as a logical consequence of the already published
edition "Water, Llife and Pleasure."
This edition summarizes several scientific papers presented in the second international symposium "The
Dead Teach the Living" (Mortui Vivos Docent) held during 2011 and the third international symposium
"Usefulness, Strength, Beauty," (Vtilitas, Firmitas, Venustas) ie, "From Wattle and Daub to Mortar held
during 2013.
In these symposia were presented several scientific papers in which arguments dealt with certain issues
related to the archeology of the Balkans and the wider area.
The latest results of interdisciplinary studies at several localities and areas pertaining to the Balkan Peninsula and beyond are published in sixteen scientific papers. These papers are intended to familiarize the
general public and the experts with the latest information derived from the decades of archaeological
research of the region. Some of them refer to funeral practices and others are connected with the architectural activities from prehistoric times until the Middle Ages.
Thus, this edition represents another significant contribution to the enrichment of knowledge about the
activities of cultures and civilizations that left traces in the past of the region.
Zoran Rujak

The 2nd International Symposium of Archaeology

Funerary customs

UDK: 903.2/.23 (497.74) "634"

HOUSEHOLD IN THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD ON THE TERRITORY OF

SOUTHEAST MACEDONIA
Zoran Rujak
NI Institute for protection of cultural monuments and Museum-Strumica
zoranrujak@yahoo.com

Explorations of the Neolithic cultures on the

territory of SE Macedonia, was significantly less
than in the other regions in R. Macedonia. Almost
all explored sites in the region, Angelci, Atici,
Damyan (Kanly Cair and Boykovci), were excavated with few trenches during the eighties in the
20th century as part of the project The oldest
agglomerations from the early stone age in Macedonia from the aspect of territorial, chronological
and cultural determination.
We have partial information from most of the sites
which considers the vertical stratigraphy of the
layers, as well as determination of the cultural
affiliation through the ceramographic characteristics of the pottery and terracotta idols.
Almost all of the explored sites belong to the type
of settlements constructed on the low river
terraces, close to good water springs. Unfortunately, the data which considers the dynamics of
foundation, development and the end of the
settlement, the degree of sedentism and social
organization of the community, as well as
relations in the household, are still open questions
in the prehistoric archaeology in R. Macedonia.
This is due to the fact that most of the explored
sites are not completely revealed, so we can only
form the picture about the growing dynamics of
the settlement on the basis of the vertically
formed cultural layers in the small explored area.
As discussed, at present we have not completely
explored dwelling sites from the Neolithic period
in Southeastern Macedonia. Past explorations
were focused only on the determination of the
cultures and chronological sequences in the
phases of the settlement.

During most of the campaigns surface facilities for

households were identified. On the more extensively explored sites we have the same picture
where, if we judge through the constructive
elements, the dwellings were built with piles,
woven with branches, and covered with wattle
and daub. The roof of the dwellings was covered
with this construction made from branches, straw
and reed. In order to protect the roofs from the
strong wind, heavy rains and snow, they were
stabilized with branches and small stones on the
roofs. Indeed as a large number of stones were
found on the upper layers of collapsed wall structures, this does suggest that they were used to
stabilize the roof.
Explorations undertaken on the Golema Trpeza
site suggest that we have a complex site with
three phases of development. The first phase is
from the Late Neolithic period, the second from
the latest phases of The Early Bronze Age and the
third is from the period of the Roman Empire.
During the years 2010, 2012 and 2013, systematic
archaeological excavations were undertaken on
the site of Golema Trpeza, near the village Staro
Konyarevo, in the vicinity of the border between R.
Macedonia and R. Bulgaria. Proceeding with
knowledge of architectonic characteristics of the
epoch of the Neolithic, the first few dwellings from
the Late Neolithic period were defined. The excavations showed that both pit and surface dwellings existed on the site.
The pit house on the Golema Trpeza site has oval
form with the surface of 6,72 m and we could
hardly accept that it was used for members of
even one family.

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Its explored dimensions are 4,20 x 1,60 m

with the depth of 1,20 m (fig. 1).

The last agricultural activities took place during

the last decade of the 20th century when heavy,
mechanized equipment was used for tillage of the
whole area. However, we managed to separate
several closed architectural units which we
believe represent dwellings from the time of Neolith.
The remains of the excavated dwelling indicate
that it was rectangular with dimensions 7.20 x 6.10
m, oriented NE - SW, which is the direction of the
plateau extension (fig.2).

Fig.01

Also, the absence of hearths and oven in the

dwelling could be explained by its use during the
hotter days in the year, and during the time of
constructing the surface building. At the termination of its function for housing, it was used as a
landfill for debris, which additionally supports its
use as an interim dwelling pit house. Most archaeologists consider that pit houses and semi-subterranean dwellings, particularly during the Late
Neolithic, are short-term housing objects whose
interval of use could be measured with the time
needed to build a surface dwelling. Some of them,
as B. Bruckner, considered that they were used as
temporary lodging for the founders of the settlement who used it while constructing a bigger and
more comfortable surface building (Brukner 1976:
48; Brukner 1982: 144).
There were several remains of surface dwellings of
which only the dwelling excavated during campaigns in 2012 and 2013 was predominantly excavated. This dwelling appears on the central area of
the plateau, i.e., on the east side of the excavated
squares. This facility, together with the space
around it, gives us sufficient data to provide an
initial picture of housing during the Late Neolithic
period.
Unfortunately, with these excavations we have
concluded that the entire area of the settlement
was located, relatively shallow, about 30-40 cm
under the surface layer, and that over the years it
has been devastated by extensive tillage. Many of
the architectural elements were relocated from
their original constellations.

Fig.02

The west side of the house is limited by poles set

in rows. Unfortunately, the poles which determine
the perimeter of the facility are not preserved in
large number. Only two poles were found with the
excavations on the west side of the facility with
the direction of extension east - west, two poles
on the north side with the direction of extension S
- W and one pole on the east side of the facility.
Diameter of the post holes varies and they are
usually with the average width of 12-18 cm.
There are two concentrations of collapsed wall in
the dwelling itself, with extension direction NE SW. The collapsed wall partially covered a raised
platform about 10-15 cm above the floor
substructure. The wattle and daub wall structure
was made from a mixture of earth, clay, finely cut
straw, chaff, etc.

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HOUSEHOLD IN THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD ON THE TERRITORY OF SOUTHEAST MACEDONIA

The imprints of thinner branches and beams

on the collapsed wall made from wattle and daub
could be clearly seen. On the other hand, the
imprints of the poles that held the construction of
the facility are rather rarer. The poles are clearly
seen on some imprints and they are usually with a
width of 14-20 cm. Most fragments of wattle and
daub with imprints of woven branches were
found on the east side that may indicate the direction of the demolition of the building during the
time it was deserted.
On the collapsed wall structure (made from wattle
and daub) are specifically located fragments decorated with stucco decoration. One of them, found
on the south side of the building, has a plastic
molded horseshoe application that was decorated
with small recesses. The other one, with an irregular rectangular shape, was decorated with incised
zigzag lines (fig.3).

Its preserved remnants could only be explained by

the fact that it was an oven destroyed when the
facility was abandoned (fig.4)

Fig.04

Two fragmented female figurines (fertile goddesses) were excavated in the structure made from
daub (fig.5).

Fig.05
Fig.03

In this structure was a raised surface some 15-20

cm above the floor substructure and it suggests
some kind of platform that stood in a certain
relation with an oven. The practice of locating, the
so-called "Sacred Places" near an oven, has been
noted in dwellings across various sites in Macedonia and beyond.Near this structure fragments of a
larger jar dug into the soil were uncovered that
may have had a function in food preparation
(fig.6). The remains of this fine monochromatic
pottery in the same position and finding of the
bottom of a bowl (that probably hung over this
spot) with two holes through which a tiny band
would be inserted is another confirmation of the
importance of this space next to the oven.

Considering the fact that the fragment with a

zigzag decoration had extensive traces of burning,
we think that it was probably a constructive part
of an oven.
In the northeastern part of the building a large
quantity of fine dirt mixed with ashes was found.
After removal of this layer a larger oval structure
appeared (with dimensions 1.5 x 1.20 m).Despite
the great devastation, remains of this structure
suggest the possibility that an oven used for heating and cooking was located on this position.

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Zoran Rujak

Everything presented here points us to the

conclusion that after the time of relatively stable
residence in the dwelling, the facility was probably
abandoned and that during the abandonment
some structures from the facility were destroyed
(fig.7, 8).

Fig.06

The finding of a constructive element made from

wattle and daub, and perforated in the middle, is
interesting. This finding suggests either a plastered pillar or some kind of chimney for the smoke
from the dwelling.
In the area, south of an oven, there was a platform
raised about 10 cm above the floor substructure
made from well-sifted and well pressed reddish
earth. On the same position were found several
recipient-basins, described by some authors as
small silos for grain. Another confirmation of this
thesis we received from the east side where a fragment of a stone mill with a small circular hole on
the top of the surface recipiente was found.
In the vicinity of this position a post hole of a bearing pole appeared, which probably held the ridge
of the roof.
The floor substructure was made with a thick layer
of daub and well-sifted reddish dirt. The excavation noted several layers of floor which indicates
that it was renewed several times.
On the NE side, outside the facility, several vessels
were found buried in virgin soil. The first two, with
smooth surface, in the immediate vicinity of the
facility, were fine monochromatic vessels. The
other two, with rough surface, were found in the
northern part of the trench. Those were large
store-jars placed parallel to each other. In the
northern profile of the trench traces of at least one
store-jar is clearly noticeable, so this part of the
settlement was probably organized as a space for
storing grains.
In the external area, west of the facility, were
several waste pits and one circular hearth on
which, most probably, the food was prepared
during the hotter days.

Fig.07

Fig.08

Namely, what Chapman observed analyzing

material from Vinca, we can apply to our sites too.
His conclusions, based on the material remains,
are that no particular specialization in production
activities existed (Chapman 1981: 62-68).
Although the structure of the findings in the
houses did not provide a complete inventory
during the time when the object was in its full
phase of life, but its last stage when the dwelling
was extinguished by abandonment or aggressive
destruction, certain elements still give us clear
indications of its final sequences. The existence of
ovens and hearths, small basins interpreted as
barns, cult places, buried store-vessels - pithoi, etc.
still gives us some insight into the internal and
external organization of the houses.

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HOUSEHOLD IN THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD ON THE TERRITORY OF SOUTHEAST MACEDONIA

The ratio of all these elements speaks in

favor of the determination of household life
during the Neolithic in this region.
If we accept the fact, on the basis of yet insufficient exploration of the settlements in the region,
that a household is the lowest socio-economic
entity during the Neolithic period, we have to
mention that we can't identify special characteristics that would complete the exploration of housing in our region. The architecture of the Neolithic
house usually gives us information from the
beginning of its use, while the actual end of its use
should be related with the findings in it.
Knowing the size of the household is important
because it is one of the key factors for the implementation of various activities in, around and out
of the house. Bearing in mind the size of the
houses during the Late Neolithic on Golema
Trpeza, we think that small and close family relationships prevail in households which also
represents the dominant form of social organization during the Neolithic. Correlation with the
other households within the settlement, their
placement and structure, unfortunately, is not
known.
So, in the upcoming years we need further intensification of the archaeological and multidisciplinary research on the different settlements from
the Neolithic period in the area of SE Macedonia.
With their completion we hope to obtain a full
picture of the relation between architectural units,
i.e. possible phases, the manner of their organization, dynamics of their construction etc., and, on
the other hand, we hope that we will be able to
determine the socio-economic and cultural issues
related to holders of Neolithic cultures in our
country.

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Bibliography:
Brukner, B, 1976, Novi prilozi proucavanja formiranja neolitskih i eneolitskih naselja ujugoslovenskom Podunvlju. Naseljavanje i naselja u praistoriji,
Materijali XIV. Prilep: Arheolosko drustvo Makedonije, Savez arheoloskih drustava ugoslavije,
47-51.
Brukner, B, 1982, Ein Beitrag zur Formeirung der
neolithischen und neolithischen Siedlungen im
jugoslawischen Donaugebiet. Palast und Htte.
Bauen und Wohnen in Altertum, herausgegeben
von D.Papenfuss und V.Michael Strocka, Mainz am
Rhein, 141-151.
Chapman, J. 1981, The Vinca Culture of South East
Europe, BAR International Series 117, Oxford
Editors, Lee Roberts and Carol Partridge

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NI Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museum, Strumica