Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia 9781407356907, 9781407356914

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Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia A L E K S A N D A R B U L AT O V I Ć

B A R I N T E R NAT I O NA L S E R I E S 2 9 7 8

2020

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia A L E K S A N D A R B U L AT O V I Ć

B A R I N T E R NAT I O NA L S E R I E S 2 9 7 8

2020

Published in 2020 by BAR Publishing, Oxford BAR International Series 2978 Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia isbn isbn

978 1 4073 5690 7 paperback 978 1 4073 5691 4 e-format

© Aleksandar Bulatović 2020 doi

https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407356907

The site of Meanište in Ranutovac, SE Serbia, captured from the west. (Photo by the author)

cover image

The Author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. Links to third party websites are provided by BAR Publishing in good faith and for information only. BAR Publishing disclaims any responsibility for the materials contained in any third party website referenced in this work. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

BAR titles are available from: BAR Publishing 122 Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2 7BP, UK email [email protected] phone +44 (0)1865 310431 fax +44 (0)1865 316916 www.barpublishing.com

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The Complex of Tumuli 9 10 and 11 in the Necropolis of Apollonia (Albania) Maria Grazia Amore Special studies by V. Dimo, L. Bejko, and L. Schepartz with Contributions by S. Aliu, P. Pearce, A. Bardho, E. Bitri, L. Buchet, B. N. Damiata, V. Grimes, A. Powell, M. P. Richards, J. Southon, and J. Stallo BAR International Series 2059

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Preface The site of Meanište in the village of Ranutovac near Vranje is unique in the area since the site hosts an Early Bronze Age necropolis with exclusively incinerated deceased, which at the moment represents the sole necropolis with such a burial ritual in the Central Balkans. Furthermore, a settlement from the Early Iron Age, including the later phase of this period, is recorded at the site. This settlement had wheel-made pottery imported from the south and made according to Greek standards, which also highlights the curiosity of the site considering that such settlements are quite uncommon for the heartland of the Balkan Peninsula. The monograph represents the results of the rescue excavations conducted on the route of the E 75 highway back in 2012, during which the Early Bronze Age necropolis was investigated. At the end of the foreword, I would like to thank my colleagues from the National Museum in Vranje, Goran Mitrović and Gordana Stojičić, for providing me with archaeological material from the site, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation for financial support for the AMS dating of samples from the site, as well as my colleague Мarc Vander Linden for his assistance and suggestions in terms of presentation of absolute dates in the monograph. Special gratitude goes to my colleagues, the team members who carried out the excavations and greatly contributed to their successful realization: Aleksandar Kapuran, Dragan Milanović, Selena Vitezović, Ljiljana Muždeka, Petar Stevanović, Dragica Bizjak, Tigran Jovanović, Jelena Todorović, Jelena Antić and Nino Rosi. I would also like to thank my colleagues Maja Gajić-Kvaščev, Marija Vuksanović, Dragana Filipović, Sofia Filatova and Velibor Andrić, whose appendices complemented the quality of the monograph. The author is exclusively responsible for any lapses and omissions in the monograph.

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Contents List of Figures..................................................................................................................................................................... vii List of Plates......................................................................................................................................................................... x List of Tables........................................................................................................................................................................ xi 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Position and characteristics of the site...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. History of research and stratigraphy of the site........................................................................................................ 2 2. The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis............................................................................................ 5 2.1. The architecture of the necropolis and graves and burial customs........................................................................... 5 2.1.1. The northern segment of the necropolis............................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2. The eastern segment of the necropolis............................................................................................................ 21 2.1.3. The southern segment of the necropolis.......................................................................................................... 21 3. Finds from the Graves.................................................................................................................................................. 49 3.1. The northern segment of the necropolis.................................................................................................................. 49 3.1.1. Grave 1............................................................................................................................................................ 49 3.1.2. Grave 2............................................................................................................................................................ 49 3.1.3. Grave 3............................................................................................................................................................ 49 3.1.4. Grave 4............................................................................................................................................................ 50 3.1.5. Grave 5............................................................................................................................................................ 50 3.1.6. Grave 6............................................................................................................................................................ 52 3.1.7. Grave 7............................................................................................................................................................ 52 3.1.8. Grave 8............................................................................................................................................................ 52 3.1.9. Grave 9............................................................................................................................................................ 53 3.1.10. Grave 10........................................................................................................................................................ 53 3.1.11. Grave 11........................................................................................................................................................ 53 3.1.12. Grave 12........................................................................................................................................................ 53 3.1.13. Grave 13........................................................................................................................................................ 53 3.2. The southern segment of the necropolis.................................................................................................................. 55 3.2.1. Grave 14.......................................................................................................................................................... 55 3.2.2. Grave 15.......................................................................................................................................................... 55 3.2.3. Grave 16.......................................................................................................................................................... 56 3.2.4. Grave 17.......................................................................................................................................................... 57 3.2.5. Grave 18.......................................................................................................................................................... 58 3.2.6. Grave 19.......................................................................................................................................................... 58 3.2.7. Grave 20.......................................................................................................................................................... 60 3.2.8. Grave 21.......................................................................................................................................................... 60 3.2.9. Grave 22.......................................................................................................................................................... 61 3.2.10. Grave 23........................................................................................................................................................ 61 3.3. The eastern segment of the necropolis.................................................................................................................... 62 3.3.1. Grave 1............................................................................................................................................................ 62 4. The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory................................................................................................................... 65 4.1. Cups........................................................................................................................................................................ 65 4.2. Bowls...................................................................................................................................................................... 65 4.3. Beakers.................................................................................................................................................................... 67 4.4. Amphorae................................................................................................................................................................ 68 4.5. Ember containers..................................................................................................................................................... 68 4.6. Other types of vessels and the remaining finds....................................................................................................... 71 4.6.1. Double-vessel.................................................................................................................................................. 71 4.6.2. Askos............................................................................................................................................................... 71 4.6.3. Vessel on a high foot....................................................................................................................................... 71 4.6.4. Stone axe......................................................................................................................................................... 73 v

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia 5. The Anthropological Analysis and Burial Rites......................................................................................................... 75 5.1. The anthropological analysis................................................................................................................................... 75 5.2. The analysis of the architecture of the necropolis and burial rites.......................................................................... 75 6. The Dating of the Necropolis........................................................................................................................................ 81 7. Interpretation of the Necropolis through the Social and Cultural Processes in the Central Balkans in the Early Bronze Age.......................................................................................................................................... 85 8. Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 95 Bibliography....................................................................................................................................................................... 97 Appendix 1. Wood charcoal from Early Bronze Age funeral pyres in Ranutovac, southeast Serbia..................... 103 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................. 103 Methodology................................................................................................................................................................ 103 Selection and processing of the archaeobotanical samples .................................................................................... 103 Sorting of the samples and identification of the plant remains............................................................................... 103 Results of the analysis.................................................................................................................................................. 105 Plant remains from flotation samples...................................................................................................................... 105 Hand-collected wood charcoal................................................................................................................................ 106 Discussion.................................................................................................................................................................... 106 The availability of wood in the area of Ranutovac................................................................................................. 106 The choice of wood for funeral pyres at Ranutovac............................................................................................... 107 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................................................. 108 References.................................................................................................................................................................... 108 Appendix 2. Characterization of Early Bronze Age pottery fragments from the Meanište site in the village of Ranutovac near Vranje, Serbia.............................................................................................................111 1. Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................111 2. Materials and methods..............................................................................................................................................111 2.1. Pottery fragments and preparation for analysis.................................................................................................111 2.2. Analytical techniques....................................................................................................................................... 112 3. Results and discussion............................................................................................................................................. 113 4. Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................... 114 References.................................................................................................................................................................... 120

vi

List of Figures Fig. 1.1. Map of the Central Balkans with the position of Ranutovac.................................................................................. 1 Fig. 1.2. The portion of the topographic map with the positions of the sites of Meanište, Stošić backyard and the clay pit in the village of Suvi dol............................................................................................................................. 2 Fig. 1.3. The panoramic view of the site of Meanište with the excavated area.................................................................... 3 Fig. 1.4. The area of excavation with trenches and geographic coordinates........................................................................ 4 Fig. 2.1. The layout of trenches within the area of the site in which the Early Bronze Age necropolis and Early Iron Age settlement have been recorded..................................................................................................................... 6 Fig. 2.2. The southern (in the foreground) and the northern segment of the necropolis with test-trenches in between....... 7 Fig. 2.3. The northern segment of the necropolis during the expansion of trench 8, captured from the north..................... 8 Fig. 2.4. The northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the northeast................................................................... 8 Fig. 2.5. Technical documenting of the northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the north................................ 9 Fig. 2.6. The state of preservation of the stone structures of the graves within the northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the south...................................................................................................................................... 9 Fig. 2.7. Ground plan of the upper level of the northern segment of the necropolis in trench 8, with cross-sections....... 10 Fig. 2.8. Ground plan of the lower level of the northern segment of the necropolis in trench 8, with the crosssection of feature 39............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Fig. 2.9а. Ground plan of graves 1 and 3 in the northern segment, with grave goods....................................................... 13 Fig. 2.9b. Ground plan after the removal of stones between graves 1 and 3, with the beaker........................................... 13 Fig. 2.10. Grave 3, with potsherds and stone axe............................................................................................................... 14 Fig. 2.11. Grave 3 with potsherds, after the removal of a stone axe................................................................................... 15 Fig. 2.12. Ground plan of graves 2 and 10, with grave good.............................................................................................. 15 Fig. 2.13. Ground plan of Grave 5, with grave goods........................................................................................................ 16 Fig. 2.14. Stone structure without human remains, marked as Grave 6............................................................................. 17 Fig. 2.15. Ground plan of Grave 7 with grave goods......................................................................................................... 18 Fig. 2.16а. Fragments of ember container in situ in Grave 7.............................................................................................. 19 Fig. 2.16b. Vessels beneath ember container in Grave 7, with the remains of the incinerated deceased........................... 19 Fig. 2.16с. Vessels in the bottom of Grave 7 after clearing, with the remains of the incinerated deceased....................... 20 Fig. 2.17. Grave 10............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Fig. 2.18. Ground plan of Grave 11.................................................................................................................................... 21 Fig. 2.19. Grave 12, fragments of ember container in situ................................................................................................. 22 Fig. 2.20. The eastern segment of the necropolis, the ground plan of trench 6 with the stone structure and Grave 1....... 22 Fig. 2.21. The eastern segment of the necropolis, stone structure in trench 6, captured from the south............................ 23 Fig. 2.22. Southern and eastern cross-section of trench 6, with the remains of the stone structure of the grave............... 23 Fig. 2.23. The eastern segment of the necropolis, the remains of cremated deceased in Grave 1...................................... 24 Fig. 2.24. The layout of the upper level of the southern segment of the necropolis........................................................... 25 Fig. 2.25. Trench13, the southern segment of the necropolis, captured from the south..................................................... 26 Fig. 2.26. The southern segment of the necropolis, captured from the east....................................................................... 27 vii

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia Fig. 2.27. The layout of the lower level of the southern segment of the necropolis........................................................... 28 Fig. 2.28. Ground plan of Grave 14, with grave goods...................................................................................................... 29 Fig. 2.29. Grave14 with potsherds in the eastern periphery of the stone structure............................................................. 30 Fig. 2.30. Grave 14 with potsherds in the central part of the stone structure..................................................................... 30 Fig. 2.31. Grave 14 with potsherds in the northeastern part of the stone structure............................................................ 31 Fig. 2.32. Ground plan of graves 15 and 23, with grave goods.......................................................................................... 32 Fig. 2.33. The stone structure of Grave 15......................................................................................................................... 33 Fig. 2.34. The central part of the stone structure of Grave 15............................................................................................ 33 Fig. 2.35. Grave 15, гк. 66 in the central part of the grave................................................................................................. 34 Fig. 2.36. The stone structure of Grave 16......................................................................................................................... 34 Fig. 2.37. The stone structure of Grave 17......................................................................................................................... 35 Fig. 2.38. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 17................................................................................................ 35 Fig. 2.39. Grave 17, гк. 67 in the southern part of the grave.............................................................................................. 36 Fig. 2.40. Grave 17, гк. 69 in the southern part of the grave.............................................................................................. 36 Fig. 2.41. Ground plan of graves 18 and 20, with grave goods.......................................................................................... 37 Fig. 2.42. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 18................................................................................................ 38 Fig. 2.43. Ground plan of graves 19 and 21, with grave goods.......................................................................................... 39 Fig. 2.44. Grave19, гк. 63 in the northwestern part of the grave........................................................................................ 40 Fig. 2.45а. Grave 19, гк. 38 in the northern part of the grave............................................................................................ 41 Fig. 2.45b. Grave19, гк. 38 in the northern part of the grave, after the removal of stones surrounding the vessel........... 41 Fig. 2.46. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 20................................................................................................ 42 Fig. 2.47. Grave 20, гк. 55 in the northern part of the grave.............................................................................................. 42 Fig. 2.48. The stone structure of Grave 21......................................................................................................................... 43 Fig. 2.49а. Grave 21, гк. 50 in the central part of the grave............................................................................................... 43 Fig. 2.49b. Grave 21, гк. 50, detail..................................................................................................................................... 44 Fig. 2.50. Between graves 19 and 21, гк. 46...................................................................................................................... 44 Fig. 2.51. North-south cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 22............................................................................ 45 Fig. 2.52. Grave 23, гк.64 in the central part of the grave.................................................................................................. 46 Fig. 2.53. Trench 13, after the excavations of the southern segment of the necropolis...................................................... 47 Fig. 2.54. Northern cross-section of КРС 1........................................................................................................................ 47 Fig. 2.55. Northern cross-section of КРС 2........................................................................................................................ 48 Fig. 2.56. Northern cross-section of КРС 3........................................................................................................................ 48 Fig. 4.1. The typological table of finds from the Ranutovac necropolis............................................................................. 69 Fig. 4.2. Distribution map of ember containers.................................................................................................................. 72 Fig. 5.1. Overall table of finds from the graves.................................................................................................................. 76 Fig. 6.1. Table with absolute dates from graves at the Ranutovac necropolis.................................................................... 82 Fig. 6.2. Ground plan of the necropolis with absolutely dated graves................................................................................ 82 Fig. 6.3. The overview of absolute dates according to the Bayesian model....................................................................... 83 Fig. 7.1. Table of chronological correlations between Early Bronze Age cultural groups in the territories of the Central Balkans and southern Pannonia................................................................................................................... 91

viii

List of Figures Fig. 7.2. Chronological table of two-handled beakers within the Early Bronze Age cultural groups in the territories of the Central Balkans and southern Pannonia................................................................................................... 92 Fig. A1.1. Flotation tank (converted waste bin) used for processing the samples from Ranutovac................................. 104 Fig. A1.2. Light fraction of the archaeobotanical samples from Ranutovac hung to dry................................................. 105 Fig. A1.3. Example of hand-collected pieces of charred oak wood from the graves in Ranutovac and the transversal and radial view of their anatomy.................................................................................................................... 107 Fig. A2.1. Appearance of a ceramic fragment prepared for analysis................................................................................ 112 Fig. A2.2. Detail of EDXRF testing at Vinča Institute..................................................................................................... 113 Fig. A2.3. Bruker ALPHA-R spectrometer. https://www.bruker.com/products/infrared-near-infraredand-raman-spectroscopy/ft-ir-routine-spectrometers/alpha/alpha-ii-art-conservation/overview.html............................. 113 Fig. A2.4. DRIFT modules: 3 mm aperture, shutter for measurement of the reference spectrum and 5 mm aperture................................................................................................................................................................... 114 Fig. A2.5. Comparative EDXRF spectra of fragment CS-2 (double-vessel) and the soil/clay sample............................ 115 Fig. A2.6. Comparative EDXRF spectra of fragment CS-10 and the soil/clay sample.................................................... 115 Fig. A2.7. Comparative EDXRF spectra of fragment CS-44 and the soil/clay sample.................................................... 116 Fig. A2.8. Comparative EDXRF spectra of fragment CS-15 and the soil/clay sample.................................................... 116 Fig. A2.9. Comparative EDXRF spectra of fragment CS-7 (bird-shaped ember container), fragment CS-24 (ember container) and the soil/clay sample...................................................................................................................... 117 Fig. A2.10. Comparative FTIR spectra of ceramic fragments CS-1 – CS-3 (double-vessel)........................................... 117 Fig. A2.11. Comparative FTIR spectra of ceramic fragments CS-21 – CS-24 (ember container)................................... 118 Fig. A2.12. Comparative FTIR spectra of ceramic fragments CS-14 and CS-15 (cup from Grave 5)............................. 118 Fig. A2.13. Comparative FTIR spectra of ceramic fragments CS-16 and CS-44............................................................. 119 Fig. A2.14. FTIR spectrum of ceramic fragment CS-7..................................................................................................... 119 Fig. A2.15. FTIR spectrum of ceramic fragment CS-32................................................................................................... 120

ix

List of Plates Pl. 1 Finds from Grave 1..................................................................................................................................................... 50 Pl. 2 Finds from Grave 3..................................................................................................................................................... 51 Pl. 3 Finds from Grave 5..................................................................................................................................................... 52 Pl. 4 Finds from Grave 6..................................................................................................................................................... 53 Pl. 5 Finds from Grave 7..................................................................................................................................................... 54 Pl. 6 Finds from Grave 10................................................................................................................................................... 55 Pl. 7 Finds from Grave 12................................................................................................................................................... 55 Pl. 8 Finds from the stone structure of the northern segment of the necropolis................................................................. 56 Pl. 9 Finds from Grave 14................................................................................................................................................... 56 Pl. 10 Finds from Grave 15................................................................................................................................................. 57 Pl. 11 Finds from Grave 16................................................................................................................................................. 58 Pl. 12 Finds from Grave 17................................................................................................................................................. 59 Pl. 13 Finds from Grave 18................................................................................................................................................. 60 Pl. 14 Finds from Grave 19................................................................................................................................................. 61 Pl. 15 Finds from Grave 20................................................................................................................................................. 62 Pl. 16 Finds from Grave 21................................................................................................................................................. 63 Pl. 17 Finds from Grave 22................................................................................................................................................. 64 Pl. 18 Finds from Grave 23................................................................................................................................................. 64 Pl. 19 Finds from Grave 1 in the eastern segment of the necropolis.................................................................................. 64 Pl. 20 Early Bronze Age finds from the Vranje-Bujanovac Basin and Upper Pčinja Valley.............................................. 89

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List of Tables Table A1.1. List of flotation samples from the Early Bronze Age contexts in Ranutovac............................................... 104 Table A1.2. Charcoal pieces in flotation samples from the Early Bronze Age contexts in Ranutovac............................ 106 Table A1.3. List of hand-collected charcoal pieces from the Early Bronze Age contexts in Ranutovac; one fragment from each grave was identified................................................................................................................... 107 Table A2.1. Identification of archaeological pottery fragments........................................................................................ 112

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1 Introduction 1.1. Position and characteristics of the site The village of Ranutovac is located in the hillymountainous zone of the Central Balkans, on the southern foothill of the Kukavica Mountain along the upper course of the Južna Morava River and the western edge of the Vranje-Bujanovac Basin, some 5 km northeast of the city of Vranje (Fig. 1.1). The site of Meanište is situated in the southern periphery of the village of Ranutovac, on the furthest portion of the Južna Morava River terrace at the point where the terrain slightly elevates towards the southern slopes of the Kukavica Mountain (Fig. 1.2). In geographical terms, the site is located at the transition from the alluvial zone to the zone of sands, clay, marlstones, bentonite clays and lignite,1 meaning the transition from the alluvium to diluvial-proluvial relief (the area of moderate rinsing and dredging).2 The Early Iron Age settlement partly covered the gentle slope to the northwest of the Early Bronze Age necropolis, which is nowadays urbanized with modern houses (Fig. 1.3). The eastern periphery of the site is located some 600 m from the present-day riverbed of the Južna Morava, and the site was surrounded by small streams which have meanwhile dried up (Fig. 1.2). The vertical stratigraphy of the site, observed during the excavations, pointed out that the entire site, and especially the eastern and northeastern portions, had been flooded during a period preceding inhabitation. Likewise, there are certain indications that the site was periodically flooded afterward, and the degree of flooding is represented by different layers – the deepest with a depth of more than 1 m, composed of yellow sand mixed with gravel, followed by a layer of greenish-yellow sandy soil and a layer of greenish-grey clayish soil that covers the entire surface of the site at the relative depth of around 0.50.7 m. These layers indicate that the Južna Morava River periodically shifted the riverbed and flooded the part of alluvium on which the site is positioned. On the other hand, it is possible that the streams descending from the slopes of Kukavica Mountain, which surrounded the site from the north and south, flooded the area during torrents.

Fig. 1.1. Map of the Central Balkans with the position of Ranutovac.

be assumed that during the Neolithic, meaning the second half of the 6th and the first half of the 5th millennium BC, the site of Meanište was unsuitable for life as it was most likely marshy or often flooded. The intensive hydrographic potential of the site is confirmed by numerous wells that were active in the area up to 30 years ago. During the dry periods such soil was suitable for the cultivation of various domesticated plants, which has been confirmed by paleobotanical analyses of the samples from the site, and even nowadays this terrain is utilized for cultivation of wheat, corn and other crops.

The Neolithic site of Čuka is located on a nearby elevation, some 250 m east of the site of Meanište and elevated some 50 m above it (Fig. 1.2).3 Although both sites, Čuka and Meanište, are quite close to each other, not a single fragment of Neolithic pottery was recorded during the excavations at the site of Meanište, and therefore it can

Despite the favorable hydrogeological and pedologic conditions, it seems that yet another factor played an important role, if not the most important, in terms of the selection of the location for the settlement: namely, a clay pit with high-quality pottery clay located in the adjacent village of Suvi Dol some 2 km southwest of the site by air (Fig. 1.2) and which is still in use today.4 This clay

1  Basic geological map of SFRY, Vranje, R 1:100000, portion Leskovac-K34-44. 2  Menković 2003. 3  М. Garašanin, D. Garašanin 1965, 10; Bulatović 2007, 111.

4  I would like to thank Iva Laković, the curator ethnologists of the National Museum in Vranje for providing me with the information. For the results of the analyses refer to the appendix 2 in this monograph.

1

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 1.2. The portion of the topographic map with the positions of the sites of Meanište, Stošića backyard and the clay pit in the village of Suvi dol.

pit contains two different types of the so-called Suvodolka clay, a dark-brown variety that is fat and less porous and a greyish-white variety that is lean and less porous. Both varieties are quite pure and mostly contain small stones which, when crushed, provide a certain stability during the baking process. Following the baking process, both varieties have the same color. All of the aforementioned properties make this clay very suitable for processing, modeling and baking.5

be assumed that the route following the valleys of the Vardar, Južna Morava, Velika Morava and Danube was extremely important in prehistory, especially in several distinct periods when it served as a bridge between the Mediterranean world and Central Europe.6 All of the aforesaid suitable life conditions led to the settlement of the site of Meanište by Early Iron Age communities, and it is assumed that the Early Bronze Age settlement was situated somewhere in the vicinity, not far from the concurrent necropolis that is the focus of this monograph.

In terms of the broader geostrategic position of the site, it should be pointed out that the site lies on one of the main natural communication routes in the Central Balkans, along the upper course of the Južna Morava Valley some 40 km north of the Kumanovo-Preševo watershed, which divides Aegean and Black Sea drainage basins. Judging by the numerous prehistoric sites recorded along this communication route, as well as the importance of this route during the Antique and Modern periods, it can

1.2. History of research and stratigraphy of the site The site of Meanište was registered back in 2000 when a local, Saša Stošić-Tašul, found an almost completely preserved beaker with one handle and numerous Early Iron Age potsherds while digging the foundations for a

5  I would like to thank Ivan Stošić, a potter from Vranje, for providing me with the information.

6 

2

Bulatović 2007, 23-56, maps 1-5.

Introduction

Fig. 1.3. The panoramic view of the site of Meanište with the excavated area (Framed space – excavated area; S1 – Trench 1; KS – Test-trench; Black dot – Stošić Backyard).

house.7 A 0.5-m-thick cultural layer was recorded at the depth of around 1 m during the supervision of the site. A layer of yellow sand was beneath it.

east-southeast of the Stošić backyard.8 The excavations directed by the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade took place between April and July 2012.9 The excavation zone was square shaped and oriented northeast-southwest, with a width of around 20 m and a length of around 200 m. A total of 4000 m2 was excavated (Fig. 1.4). The northeastern corner of the excavated area was at the coordinates N42° 33’ 42.54’’ and E21° 57’ 10.49’’ at the altitude of 373.00 m, and the southwestern corner was at the coordinates N42° 33’ 37.09’’ and E21° 57’ 5.40’’ at the altitude of 373.18 m. The highest point of the excavated area, measuring an altitude of 373.80 m, was at the future location of trench 11. From that point, the terrain slightly descends towards the northeast, southwest and east. The lowest point, measuring

Two years later, the site was visited again during a systematic survey related to the construction of the E 75 highway. Pottery similar to the aforementioned one was recorded some 50 m east of the Stošić backyard, in the exact location in which the excavations would be conducted 10 years later (Fig. 1.3). No Bronze Age finds were recorded on that occasion. Realized within the construction of the E 75 highway, the systematic rescue excavations at the site of Meanište were conducted in the eastern portion of the site, around 50 m

The excavations proved that this, in fact, represents the eastern periphery of the site and the Iron Age settlement. 9  The excavations were directed by A. Bulatović. 8 

7 

Bulatović 2007, 112-113, Т. XVIII-XIX.

3

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia an altitude of 372.03 m, was registered in trench 4 in the southeastern corner of the excavated area (Fig. 1.4). Test-trenches 5, 7 and 9 (Fig. 1.4) indicated that the northwestern part of the excavated area had no traces of human activity in the past. Similar was indicated for the southwestern part of the excavated area. The remains of the Early Iron Age settlement were registered in trenches 1-3, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 in the southeastern part of the excavated area, as well as in trench КС 1, some 35 m northwest of the excavated area and south of the Stošić backyard (Fig. 1.4). On the other hand, remains of the Early Bronze Age necropolis were recorded in the trenches 6, 8 and 13.10 Sporadic finds and a small medieval pit11 were all recorded in trenches that contained the remains of the Iron Age settlement (trenches 1, 2, 3, 11 and 13).12 The vertical stratigraphy indicates that the site was marshy or flooded before the first settling in the Iron Age, as well as later, before the younger phase of the Early Iron Age. The cross-sections in trench 6, in which an Early Bronze Age grave was recorded in brown soil with greenish-grey clayish soil beneath (Fig. 2.22), indicate that the site was marshy or flooded even before that period. Similar can be noted for trench 13, in which the necropolis lies on the bottom of a layer of brown soil with clayish greenish-grey soil beneath. According to all of the available data, and especially the stratigraphy, it can be concluded that the site was often flooded, and most certainly prior to the Early Bronze Age as well as between two phases of the Iron Age. Therefore, the site was dry and available for settling during the Early Bronze Age, most of the older phase of the Early Iron Age and during the medieval period at the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. The Early Bronze Age necropolis lies in brown soil in those trenches that do not contain the remains of the older phase of the Early Iron Age, such as trenches 6 and 13, while in trench 8 the necropolis lies on the bottom of a layer composed of brown-yellow soil that belongs to the older phase of the Iron Age.

Fig. 1.4. The area of excavation with trenches and geographic coordinates. Trench 12 is not marked in plans since it was gradually incorporated into trench 13. 11  Those finds most likely belong to the 11th century AD, and gratitude for the chronological attribution goes to Vesna Bikić from the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade. 12  The publication of the results of the excavations of the Iron Age settlement is in preparation. 10 

4

2 The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis the stone structures above the graves, though the graves themselves were well preserved. The southern and eastern segments were in a much better state of preservation, even though the eastern segment was not completely excavated. The distance between the southern edge of the northern segment and the northern edge of the southern segment was around 23 m, between the southern and eastern segments around 6-7 m and the distance between the northern and eastern segments was around 28 m.

In addition to the Iron Age settlement, the remains of an Early Bronze Age necropolis with incinerated deceased were recorded in the southern and southeastern portions of the excavated area.1 This find was quite unexpected, due to the fact that earlier surveys and chance finds had not indicated the existence of a period prior to the Iron Age at the site. The remains of the Early Bronze Age necropolis were recorded in trenches 6, 8 and 13. On the other hand, test-trenches excavated between trenches 8 and 13 and south of trench 13 (КРС 1-3) (Figs. 2.1, 2.542.56) determined that the necropolis had not spread to that location and that the necropolis was restricted to the area encompassed by the aforementioned trenches (Figs. 2.542.56). It could be noted that the necropolis comprised three segments – southern in trench 13, eastern in trench 6 and northern in trench 8 (Fig. 2.2). According to the results of the excavations, the necropolis extended solely in trench 6, towards the east, but that part of the site was outside of the expropriation zone and therefore it was impossible to further extend the excavations (Fig. 2.22). Apparently, the segments were not connected to each other and it seems as if it was a large burial complex with three separate smaller units (segments) composed of several graves each.2

2.1.1. The northern segment of the necropolis The northern segment of the necropolis was excavated within trench 8, in the southern half of the excavated portion of the site on quite flat terrain that suddenly rises some 40 m to the west. Actually, the necropolis is located on the edge of alluvium and the transition towards diluvium and it is enclosed by a local stream to the northeast and a vast river terrace to the east and southeast, which extends up to the Južna Morava River (Figs. 1.2, 1.3. and 2.3.). As previously noted, the stone structures recorded within the trench had been significantly devastated by later pits and farming activities and remained partially preserved only in the eastern part of the trench above graves 1, 3, 12 and 13 (Figs. 2.4-2.7). The stone structure was partially and quite poorly preserved in the northern corner of the trench, above Grave 5, and only traces of structures in the form of dislocated stones were recorded above graves 7, 8, 10 and 11 (Figs. 2.6 and 2.7). No remains of stone structures were recorded above Grave 4. According to the scarce and poorly preserved remains of stone structures in the northern segment of the necropolis, it can be assumed that these structures were circular, with a presumed diameter of around 2 m, and comprised large crushed stone at the periphery and somewhat smaller stones within the structure itself. It is hard to imagine how tall these stone structures were, or whether there were stone or earthen mounds above the graves, or even above the entire necropolis since it was buried quite shallow, in some cases at a depth not more than 0.2 m. Even if some sort of mounds existed, they could have been destroyed by a younger prehistoric settlement or modern farming activities.

Originally, a total of 25 graves were recorded within the entire burial complex, and later analyses pointed out that three graves (graves 6 and 9 in the northern segment and Grave 16 in the southern segment) did not contain human but rather animal osteological material and, in fact, do not represent graves but most likely the remains of burial rituals. It has also been determined that graves 13 and 14 in the southern segment comprise one grave. Therefore, in actuality, the total number of graves was 21. Interestingly, the graves mostly contained quite a small amount of remains of deceased. Therefore, ten graves contained remains of deceased measuring a weight of up to 10 g, eight graves contained remains measuring a weight between 10 and 100 g, and only three graves contained human remains weighing more than 100 g (Fig. 5.1b). 2.1. The architecture of the necropolis and graves and burial customs All three segments of the necropolis were of similar architecture, which comprised crushed stone forming smaller or larger circular structures. Unfortunately, the northern segment was quite devastated by Iron Age pits and modern farming activities, and therefore it was quite difficult to precisely reconstruct the shape and size of 1  2 

Evidently, the stone structures had been touching each other, forming in that way a large area covered with rocks with multiple circular structures (the so-called stone fields). The remains of the incinerated deceased were laid directly on the ground and in some cases covered with a vessel (Fig. 2.8), either below or within the stone structures. The burnt remains of the deceased were recorded inside of vessels only in two cases (graves 3 and 7), though there are certain indications that such burial practice was utilized in other

Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 71-89. Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 72.

5

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.1. The layout of trenches within the area of the site in which the Early Bronze Age necropolis and Early Iron Age settlement have been recorded.

2.1.1.1. Grave 1

graves as well since almost completely preserved vessels were recorded either above or next to the cremated bones. It seems as most of the graves (graves 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13) were grouped within an oval zone measuring the dimensions of 5 x 3.5 m and oriented east-west, which was positioned in the central part of the trench. All of the graves, meaning the remains of incinerated deceased from the northern segment of the necropolis, were recorded at approximately the same level, between 372.80 and 373.00 m altitude.

Based on the appearance of the stone structures during the excavations at the necropolis, it seems that Grave 1 was located below the point where two stone structures were touching each other, covering Grave 12 (meaning Grave 13), although there is the possibility that another stone structure that was devastated over time existed between those two (Figs. 2.7, 2.8 and 2.9a). The cremated remains were positioned beneath the stone structure, between 6

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.2. The southern (in the foreground) and the northern segment of the necropolis (in the background) with test-trenches in between (KРС 1 and КРС 2).

7

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.3. The northern segment of the necropolis during the expansion of trench 8, captured from the north.

Fig. 2.4. The northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the northeast.

8

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.5. Technical documenting of the northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the north.

Fig. 2.6. The state of preservation of the stone structures of the graves within the northern segment of the necropolis, captured from the south.

9

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.7. Ground plan of the upper level of the northern segment of the necropolis in trench 8, with cross-sections.

10

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis graves 3 and 13, some 0.5-0.7 m away. A small quantity of human bones weighing 1.2 g (E 23)3 was recorded in the grave, which is not unusual at this necropolis. Fragments of several vessels and the remains of burnt pyre wood were located around the bones.4 Some of the vessels from the grave, such as the double-vessel or a bowl with wide ribbon-like handles, had been exposed to extremely high temperatures that caused complete vitrification (Pl. 1/2, 8), which indicates the possibility that the vessels had been burned on the pyre together with the deceased. According to the preservation and the color of the bones, the deceased had also been exposed to extremely high temperatures.5 Fragments of at least nine vessels were recorded in the grave, but only three vessels were preserved to a level suitable for ideal reconstruction (Pl. 1/2, 4, 8). A sample of human bone from this grave was AMS dated to the first quarter of the 2nd millennium calBC (Fig. 6/1).6

recorded within this zone. A circular stone structure with a diameter of around 2 m was preserved above this zone (Fig. 2.7). The remains of incinerated deceased weighing 688.7 g, around 50 g of animal bones and 0.05 g of remains of wood from the pyre were recorded beneath the northeastern periphery of the stone structure (Figs. 2.9a and 2.11). The remains of the deceased and the burnt animal bones were laid on the ground over a surface of around 0.2 m2 and covered with fragments of different vessels (гк. 13-16).8 A small number of human remains and an einkorn grain (Triticum monococcum) were recorded in a cup with one handle (гк. 9).9 In terms of grave goods, fragments of several vessels that had covered the cremated bones, of which atypical belly fragments were the most represented, were recorded in the grave. One of the partially reconstructed vessels was a completely vitrified askos and the other was a biconical cup with one handle that had not been exposed to fire. The vessels were recorded to the south and west of the remains of the deceased (гк. 9 and 13) (Fig. 2.9a; Pl. 2/1, 3). A circularly perforated stone axe was recorded between the aforementioned vessels, next to the remains of the deceased (Fig. 2.10, Т. 2/4). A beaker with two handles that surpass the rim was recorded below a large stone between graves 1 and 3 (гк. 26) (Fig. 2.9b; Pl. 2/2). It remains unclear whether the beaker belongs to grave 1 or grave 3.

2.1.1.2. Grave 2 The grave was located in the central part of trench 8, between graves 10 and 8. Most of the stone structure belonging to this grave had been devastated by Iron Age feature 45, and therefore not much can be told about it (Figs. 2.7 and 2.8). Nevertheless, the southern portion of the inner ring of stone with a diameter of around 1 m was preserved in the central part of the grave. Beneath it, cremated human bones weighing a total of 98.6 g were recorded in three spots, as well as animal bones weighing around 20 g and remains of wood from the pyre (the largest group of remains is presented in Fig. 2.12, marked as Е 33). No grave goods were recorded.

A sample of human bone from this grave was AMS dated to the final quarter of the 3rd millennium calBC (Fig. 6.1). 2.1.1.4. Grave 4 This grave represents the only grave with no stones or any traces of a stone structure recorded above it (Fig. 2.7). The grave had the southernmost position as compared to all of the other graves from the northern segment of the necropolis. The grave contained 175.8 g of cremated human remains and around 14 g of pyre wood laid on the ground in one spot, and 5 g of unburnt animal bones in another spot not far from the previous one. No grave goods were recorded.

2.1.1.3. Grave 3 Considering the number of grave goods, this grave represents one of the richest graves in the necropolis. It was located around 0.7 m south of Grave 2 and 1 m east of Grave 12. An irregularly shaped zone composed of burnt soil, with a surface of around 1 m2, 2-4 cm thick, was located immediately next to the southern edge of the grave (feature 39) (Fig. 2.8). It is assumed that this area served as a place for the deposition of hot remains from the pyre, in order to cool them down before placing them into the grave.7 Pieces of burnt wood weighing around 50 g were

2.1.1.5. Grave 5 Grave 5 was located in the northern portion of the northern segment of the necropolis, and it possessed visible remains of dislocated stone structure above it (Fig. 2.7). As in the case of Grave 4, this grave was slightly distanced from the other graves, which were mostly grouped within a large oval area in the central part of the northern segment of the necropolis. The grave contained cremated human remains (62.5 g), around 10 g of burnt animal bones and around 5 g of remains of pyre wood. All of the mentioned remains

The capitalized letter E on figures marks samples of human or animal bones and soot, and in the text it mostly refers to human remains. 4  I would like to thank colleagues Dragica Bizjak, Nataša MiladinovićRadmilović and Dragana Vulovič for the anthropological analysis. Refer to the chapter Anthropological analysis of buried individuals in: Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 78-79. 5  Refer to the appendix by M. Gajić-Kvaščev, V. Andrić and M. Vukasnović in this monograph. 6  The AMS analyses were conducted in KIK-IRPA, The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, Belgium (Dr. Mathieu Boudin). The absolute dates for the graves will be further discussed in a separate chapter of this monograph. 7  Even though certain experiments have pointed out that the thickness of burnt soil in question, or even smaller, is sufficient proof of the existence of a pyre on which one individual was incinerated (Fülöp 2018), the area on which the pyre was laid out should be significantly larger compared to feature 39 at the Ranutovac necropolis. Therefore, one can assume that it represented a place for the deposition of hot remains from the pyre 3 

(especially due to the fact that vessels burnt at high temperatures were found in graves around this zone). It is also possible that only vessels were burnt in this place, but the possibility that the zone represents the remains of the pyre should not be completely ruled out, especially considering that the eastern part of this zone had been devastated by an Iron Age feature and its original dimension is unknown. 8  The abbreviation гк marks groups of pottery in this monograph. 9  Refer to the appendix by D. Filipović and S. Filatova in this monograph.

11

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.8. Ground plan of the lower level of the northern segment of the necropolis in trench 8, with the cross-section of feature 39.

12

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.9а. Ground plan of graves 1 and 3 in the northern segments, with grave goods.

Fig. 2.9b. Ground plan after the removal of stones between graves 1 and 3, with the beaker.

13

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.10. Grave 3, with potsherds and stone axe.

were laid on the ground (E 42), and the grave goods are represented by large fragments of two vessels – a beaker with two handles and a cup with one handle (гк. 17 and 18) (Fig. 2.13; Pl. 3/1, 2). The cremated bones were recorded beneath a fragment of a cup, together with the remains of the pyre, and it is assumed that the function of the cup within the burial ritual was to cover and protect the bones.

exclusively animal bones are represented, leading to the conclusion that this was not a grave (Fig. 2.14). Remains of burnt wood, oak and ash tree were recorded within the zone of the grave.10 It is possible that the animal bones originate from nearby Grave 7. A significant portion of a vessel with a long perforated foot was recorded within this context (Pl. 4/1, 2).

2.1.1.6. Grave 6

2.1.1.7. Grave 7

A circular stone structure with a diameter of 1.5 m, composed of several large stones positioned immediately next to the western side of Grave 7, was marked as Grave 6 (Fig. 2.7). Later anthropological analysis determined that there were no human bones in the grave and that

The grave was located in the western periphery of the oval group of graves within the central part of the northern I would like to thank Dragana Filipović for the paleobotanical analysis of the samples from the site and the subsequently provided data. 10 

14

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.11. Grave 3 with potsherds, after the removal of a stone axe.

Fig. 2.12. Ground plan of graves 2 and 10, with grave good.

15

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.13. Ground plan of Grave 5, with grave goods.

segment of the necropolis. A disturbed stone structure was positioned above the grave. The eastern part of the construction preserved a somewhat circular form with a diameter of 1 m (Fig. 2.7). Two vessels were recorded some 1 m to the west of the center of the circular structure and below an agglomeration of stones (Fig. 2.16a). A small amount of cremated human bones was recorded (E 55) in the vessel (Pl. 5/4) with a specific form, having a cylindrical neck, rectangular front opening and a handle on the back part of the vessel body (гк. 20) (the term “lamps” was used for such vessels in earlier literature,11 while the term “ember containers” will be used in this monograph) (Fig. 2.15).12 The other vessel was a cup with one handle. Cremated human bones (935 g in total) were recorded immediately beneath the aforementioned vessel in Grave 7. Unburnt and burnt animal bones (54 g) and 0.3 g of remains of pyre wood (E 56, 57) were lying on the ground covered with three vessels (гк. 23, 24 and 25) (Figs. 2.16b and 2.16c; Pl. 5/1-3), of which a biconical bowl and a cup were placed upside down. 11  12 

Vessels with a specific form were recorded in multiple graves at this necropolis (of which some contained remains of pyre with human bones), and it is assumed that those vessels served as recipients in which the remains of the deceased were carried from the pyre to the grave, and which were subsequently buried together with the deceased.13 The grave was dated to the first quarter of the 2nd millennium calBC (Fig. 6.1). 2.1.1.8. Grave 8 Grave 8 was also located in the western periphery of the oval group of graves, some 2 m to the west of Grave 2 and around 2.5 m northwest of Grave 7 (Fig. 2.8). Remains of a devastated stone structure were recorded above the grave (Fig. 2.7). Remains of incinerated deceased (7.2 g), burnt animal bones (0.3 g), remains of pyre wood (0.1 g) and a small number of atypical vessel fragments were laid out directly on the ground in one spot.

Sanev 1999, 133. Such vessels will be thoroughly discussed in chapters 3 and 4.

13 

16

Bulatović 2013, 11.

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.14. Stone structure without human remains, marked as Grave 6.

2.1.1.9. Grave 9

total of 7.7 g of remains of incinerated deceased, 0.7 g of burnt animal bones and a small quantity of remains of pyre wood were recorded directly on the ground next to the cup and below the base of a large vessel.

The anthropological analysis determined that this grave contained exclusively animal bones, and therefore its interpretation as a grave was abandoned (Figs. 2.7 and 2.8). It is assumed that the animal bones originated from the nearby Grave 8. Besides bones, a few atypical potsherds were recorded.

2.1.1.11. Grave 11 The grave was located in the southern periphery of the oval group of graves and most of the grave had been disturbed by an Iron Age pit, marked as feature 32 (Fig. 2.8). The stone structure above the grave was partially preserved (Fig. 2.7) and a cremated bone of the deceased, weighing 1.2 g (E 64), was recorded on the ground directly beneath it. Atypical potsherds, without characteristics that would allow for recognition of the type or shape of the vessel, were recorded below and surrounding the bone, as well as some 0.5 m to the northeast (Fig. 2.18). A piece of burnt wood was recorded on an animal bone in the eastern part of the grave.

2.1.1.10. Grave 10 Grave 10 was located in the central part of the oval group of graves in the northern segment of the necropolis, around 1.5 m northwest of Grave 2 (Fig. 2.8). Remnants of a stone structure mostly devastated by Iron Age feature 45 were recorded above the grave. The northern part of the inner stone ring was partially preserved, which had a diameter of 1 m. Its western part leans on the inner stone ring of Grave 2 (Fig. 2.7). In terms of grave goods, several atypical potsherds of a large vessel, a base of a vessel placed upside down and a completely preserved cup with one handle (Fig. 2.17; Pl. 6/1) were recorded. The cup was positioned immediately next to the bones and whether it covered the bones or the bones were in it remains unclear, as it was discovered lying on its side (гк. 27) (Fig. 2.12). No remains of cremated bones were recorded in the cup. A

2.1.1.12. Grave 12 Grave 12 was located in the eastern part of the oval group of graves within the northern segment, to the west of graves 1, 3 and 13. The northern part of the stone structure had been devastated by an Iron Age pit (feature 45), but 17

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.15. Ground plan of Grave 7 (upper and lower level), with grave goods.

18

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.16а. Fragments of ember container in situ in Grave 7 (гк. 20 and 21).

Fig. 2.16b. Vessels beneath ember container in Grave 7, with the remains of the incinerated deceased.

19

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.16с. Vessels in the bottom of Grave 7 after clearing, with the remains of the incinerated deceased.

Fig. 2.17. Grave 10.

20

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis of incinerated deceased weighing a total of 2.4 g were recorded on the ground beneath the stone structure. No grave goods were recorded. 2.1.2. The eastern segment of the necropolis The part of the burial complex on the eastern periphery of the excavation area, some 27 m south-southeast of the northern segment and between 6 and 7 m east of the southern segment of the necropolis, is marked as the eastern segment (Fig. 2.1). The stone structures recorded in trench 6 had been devastated by later pits and farming activities. Solely one grave with remains of incinerated deceased was registered in this segment, along with a greater amount of burnt wood some 2.5 m from the grave, albeit without bones. A large quantity of stone, which was recorded in the trench cross-sections (Fig. 2.22), indicated that the necropolis spread towards the south and east; yet, unfortunately, there have been no technical requirements to excavate it completely. 2.1.2.1. Grave 1 An agglomeration of stones was recorded above Grave 1 in trench 6. The agglomeration had no regular form, except for the central part in which several stones formed an approximately oval structure with a diameter of around 1.1 m (Fig. 2.21). Grave 1, comprising incinerated human bones weighing 83 g, animal bones (7 g) and several pieces of pyre wood that were mixed between several slab-shaped stones, was recorded immediately beneath the northern periphery of the aforementioned oval stone structure (E 45) (Figs. 2.20 and 2.23). Apparently, the grave was quite devastated, which was later confirmed by the discovery of an Iron Age pit below the grave. Some 2.5 m south of Grave 1, a certain amount of burnt wood (around 30 g) was recorded beneath the agglomeration of stones, yet no bones were recorded, and therefore it remains unclear if this find represents a disturbed grave, an empty grave (cenotaph) in which solely the remains of pyre wood were placed, or a grave disturbed by a later feature, similar to Grave 1.

Fig. 2.18. Ground plan of Grave 11.

the structure was quite well preserved above the other parts of the grave (Figs. 2.7 and 2.8). Scarce remains of incinerated deceased weighing a total of 0.2 g were recorded together with animal bones (0.2 g) next to the aforementioned zone of burnt soil (feature 39), which most likely represents the place in which the remains from the pyre were placed before the burial.14 We believe that this zone was formed simultaneously with graves 3 and 12, since the remains of the deceased from those graves, along with the accompanying grave goods, were located directly next to it (Grave 3 is even partially positioned within the zone, and a part of the zone is indented near Grave 12 as if a place for this grave was saved), and therefore it can be assumed that these graves were concurrent (Fig. 2.8). A completely vitrified ember container with an elongated and funneled neck, rectangular front opening and a handle on the back of the body, similar to the example from Grave 7, was recorded in this grave (Fig. 2.19; Pl. 7/1).15

A piece of an ember container, similar to the examples from graves 7 and 12 (Pl. 19/1), as well as a piece of a semi-globular vessel with one wide handle and a tunneled handle (Pl. 19/2, 3) were recorded within the stone agglomeration of Grave 1.

2.1.1.13. Grave 13 Grave 13 was formed some 0.6 m north of Grave 1, and a part of the stone structure above the grave had been damaged by an Iron Age pit (feature 40). However, most of the stone structure having a diameter of 2.4 m was preserved and visible (Fig. 2.7). Several fragments of unburnt animal bones and a piece of pyre wood were recorded within the stone structure, and the remains

Grave 1 from the eastern segment of the necropolis was AMS dated to a period between the end of the 21st and the end of the 19th century calBC (Fig. 6.1). 2.1.3. The southern segment of the necropolis The southern segment of the necropolis was located at approximately the same level as the previous two segments, however, it was preserved to a much greater degree. The western and eastern edges of the segment had been disturbed by Iron Age pits (features 49 and 50), but it seems that

See note 19. Cf. the appendix by M. Gajić-Kvaščev, V. Andrić and M. Vuksanović in this monograph. 14  15 

21

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.19. Grave 12, fragments of ember container (гк. 32) in situ.

Fig. 2.20. The eastern segment of the necropolis, the ground plan of trench 6 with the stone structure and Grave 1.

22

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.21. The eastern segment of the necropolis, stone structure in trench 6, captured from the south.

Fig. 2.22. Southern and eastern cross-section of trench 6, with the remains of the stone structure of the grave.

23

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.23. The eastern segment of the necropolis, the remains if cremated deceased in Grave 1.

farming activities did not completely devastate the stone structures of the necropolis, and therefore this segment of the necropolis provided additional data on those structures. Three circular stone structures with a diameter of around 3 m were clearly visible in the eastern portion of the segment, above graves 15-18 (Figs. 2.24 and 2.25). The structure in the center of this segment, meaning above Grave 19, with a somewhat smaller diameter of around 2 m, was slightly less visible, while the forms of other structures were quite irregular (Fig. 2.26). It has also been noticed that the larger stones are in the outer portions of the structures, forming some sort of a ring, while the small stones are within the outer ring. It is quite interesting that the largest and most regular structure was recorded above the spot in which no human or animal bones were registered (the assumed Grave 16), as well as no other portable finds, save for one grindstone originating from within the stone structure itself.

is less uniform compared to the northern segment and varies between 372.38 and 378.82 m of altitude, although solely Grave 18 (372.82 m) deviates from the altitudes of the other graves which vary between 372.38 and 372.68 m. It has also been noticed that the remains from the pyre were placed in several spots in the graves in this segment, usually correlated with potsherds that most likely covered them (graves 13, 14, 15 and 19). The remains of the deceased were mostly laid directly on the ground, sometimes in shallow pits and gravel was often registered within the grave zone, as well as pebbles in three graves, which was not the case in the other two segments of the necropolis. After the excavations, the stone appeared sporadically in the cross-sections of the trenches, which indicates that the southern segment of the necropolis did not extend further and, thus, it was investigated completely.

The surface of the southern segment was around 100 m2 (measured at the level of the stone structures), and a total of nine graves were recorded in this segment.16 The level in which the remains of incinerated deceased were recorded

Test-trenches 1 and 2 determined that the necropolis did not spread between trenches 13 and 8, meaning between the northern and the southern segments, and test-trench 3, which was laid to the south of trench 13, determined that the necropolis (at least its southern segment) did not extend further to the south (Fig. 2.1).

16  A total of 12 graves were mentioned in Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 73, but additional analysis confirmed that graves 16 and 24 did not contain human bones, and that graves 13 and 14 were in fact one grave.

24

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.24. The layout of the upper level of the southern segment of the necropolis.

25

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.25. Trench13, the southern segment of the necropolis, captured from the south.

26

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.26. The southern segment of the necropolis, captured from the east.

2.1.3.1. Grave 14

2.1.3.2. Grave 15

Тhis grave was at first treated as two graves (13 and 14) by mistake and later it became obvious that those graves, in fact, represented a single grave. A partially regular circular stone structure comprising one row of crushed stone was registered above Grave 14 (Figs. 2.24, 2.27 and 2.29). Remains of incinerated deceased and a small quantity of unburnt animal bones (E 86) were recorded in a shallow pit in the central part of the grave (Fig. 2.28). A large atypical fragment of pottery (Fig. 2.30) was recorded above bones that had been laid directly on the ground. Numerous potsherds were recorded both within the grave and the stone structure (Fig. 2.30; Pl. 9/1-4). A small quantity of cremated human bones (around 1 g) and a slightly larger amount of animal bones (around 4 g) (E 77, 78), were recorded in the eastern periphery of the stone structure. Based on such a small quantity of human remains it was not possible to determine whether those represent the remains of another deceased, or belong to the same deceased as the previously mentioned cremated bones.

Grave 15 was located in the central part of the southern edge of the southern segment of the necropolis, between graves 17 and 23. Quite a regular oval stone structure with the dimensions of 3.5 x 2.8 m and comprising one row of crushed stone was preserved above Grave 15 (Figs. 2.27 and 2.32). A smaller stone structure with a diameter of 1 m, comprising large stones that were easily distinguished on the southern side of the structure, was recorded within the aforementioned larger stone structure (Fig. 2.34). A fragmented amphora with a long cylindrical neck and four arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section was recorded beneath the central part of the stone structure (гк. 34)(Pl. 10/1), together with numerous fragments of different vessels surrounding it (Pl. 10/2, 3). Several small pebbles were recorded immediately next to the base of the amphora, which could indicate that the amphora was originally placed on pebbles. The cremated remains of the deceased (47.1 g in total) were laid directly on the ground in the eastern part of the structure (E 108) and covered with potsherds (гк. 65) (Fig. 2.32), and small quantities of tiny burnt animal bones (3.8 g) were registered some 0.7-0.8 m to the west.

The remains of cremated human bones were recorded in two more spots within the grave, together with a small quantity of burnt and unburnt animal bones. Hence, human remains weighing a total of 24.4 g, as well as burnt and unburnt animal bones weighing a total of 6.4 g were recorded in the grave. It is possible that the lack of stone structure above the grave enabled such a disposition of cremated human bones and animal bones in the grave, meaning that the bones were partially dislocated by farming activities. The argument that could further support such assumption is the fact that the bones were also recorded within the dislocated stones from the stone structure, and not exclusively beneath it.

2.1.3.3. Grave 16 No remains of deceased or animal bones were recorded beneath a quite regular circular structure comprising one row of crushed stone at the southern edge of the segment (Figs. 2.27 and 2.36). Only a part of a grindstone with a calotte-shaped indentation in the middle was recorded within the structure (Pl. 11/1), and several atypical potsherds were recorded in a layer beneath the structure. 27

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.27. The layout of the lower level of the southern segment of the necropolis.

28

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.28. Ground plan of Grave, 14, with grave goods.

29

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.29. Grave14 with potsherds (гк. 33) in the eastern periphery of the stone structure.

Fig. 2.30. Grave 14 with potsherds (гк. 47) in the central part of the stone structure.

30

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.31. Grave 14 with potsherds (гк. 57) in the northeastern part of the stone structure.

2.1.3.4. Grave 17

2.1.3.5. Grave 18

The grave was located between graves 15 and 18, and practically bordered those graves. A quite devastated stone structure with irregular form and missing stones in the central part was lying above the grave (Figs. 2.27 and 2.37). The structure comprised one or two rows of stones, with larger stones distributed within the rim of the structure (Fig. 2.38). Remains of deceased weighing 6.9 g (E 109 and 112) were laid directly on the ground in the western part of the structure, beneath its remains.

Grave 18 was located in the northernmost brim of the southern segment of the necropolis (Fig. 2.24). The stone structure was devastated, yet retained a circular form, especially in the southern part (Fig. 2.7). Similar to the other graves, the stone structure comprised one or two rows of stones (Fig. 2.42). The cremated bones of the deceased weighing 36 g (E 94) were laid on the ground in the central part of the grave below the stone structure, and pieces of burnt pyre wood and four collections of atypical fragments of pottery were recorded surrounding the bones (Fig. 2.41). Only a fragment of a cylindrical neck of an amphora and a vessel belly with a narrow vertical handle are typologically relevant (гк. 53) (Pl. 13/1, 2).

The remains of the deceased were placed around and below several potsherds (гк. 69 and 70) (Pl. 12/2, 5, 6, 8). Soot, burnt soil and a chipped stone flake were also recorded in the same spot. It is quite interesting that this grave contained a large number of vessels (гк. 67) (Fig. 2.39; Pl. 12/4, 9, 10) of which some were completely preserved. A river pebble was located below pottery group no. 36 (Pl. 12/1) as well as below pottery group no. 69/70 (Fig. 2.38, Figs. 2.32 and 2.40).

2.3.1.6. Grave 19 Similar to Grave 18, the stone structure of Grave 19 in the center of the southern segment of the necropolis partially retained a circular form, especially in terms of the southern portion, while the northern portion was quite devastated (Fig. 2.27). The remains of the deceased were laid in two spots directly on the ground, in the northern part of the grave (E 85 and E 87), together with fragments of a globular amphora with three handles (гк. 38) (Figs. 2.43

The grave was AMS dated to a period between the end of the 21st and the beginning of the 19th century calBC (Fig. 6.1). 31

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.32. Ground plan of graves 15 and 23, with grave goods.

32

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.33. The stone structure of Grave 15.

Fig. 2.34. The central part of the stone structure of Grave 15.

33

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.35. Grave 15, гк. 66 in the central part of the grave.

Fig. 2.36. The stone structure of Grave 16.

34

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.37. The stone structure of Grave 17.

Fig. 2.38. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 17.

35

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.39. Grave 17, гк. 67 in the southern part of the grave.

Fig. 2.40. Grave 17, гк. 69 in the southern part of the grave.

36

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.41. Ground plan of graves 18 and 20, with grave goods.

37

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.42. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 18.

container modeled as a pigeon with circular perforations and a rectangular front opening, which were recorded some 0.3 m to the east (гк. 60) (Pl. 15/7). Pieces of burnt wood, most likely originating from the pyre, were recorded on the walls of the vessel and surrounding the vessel. Later analysis determined that the pieces of wood were elm. The potsherds, of which most were atypical, were recorded in several spots within the grave (Pl. 15/2-4, 6).

and 2.45; Pl. 19/2) and atypical potsherds which most likely covered them (гк. 48) (Fig. 2.43). Two pieces of quartzite measuring the dimensions of 3 x 3 and 2 x 2.5 cm were recorded beneath. Save for the human bones (85.8 g), a total of 37.9 g of unburnt animal bones (E 104, E 107) and the remains of pyre wood (E 105) were recorded some 0.7-0.8 m to the west. All of the aforementioned were laid directly on the ground. More or less typologically relevant potsherds were also recorded in the western and northern periphery of the grave, lying on a zone of burnt soil (гк. 59 and 63) (Fig. 2.44; Pl. 19/3-7).

2.1.3.8. Grave 21 Grave 21 was registered at the eastern edge of the southern segment of the necropolis (Fig. 2.24). The stone structure was barely visible and represented by several large stones in the northern part of the structure, which formed a ring around the small stones in the middle of the structure (Fig. 2.27). This was the easternmost grave of the segment and judging by the eastern cross-section of the trench, which had no traces of stone structures, the segment did not expand further to the east (Fig. 2.53). Several groups of pottery (гк. 49 and 50) (Figs. 2.49a and 2.49b) were recorded in the central part of the grave beneath the stone structure (Fig. 2.48) and atypical potsherds were recorded in two spots within the eastern periphery of the grave. Remains of cremated and crushed human bones weighing 66.3 g were recorded together with potsherds in one of the spots (гк. 40, E 81) (Fig. 2.43). Similar to Grave 17, a river pebble was lying beneath the bones. A large quantity of burnt wood (around 90 g), together with fragments of a beaker and a large cup (гк. 50) (Pl. 16/1-3) were recorded in the middle part of the grave, as well as next to the group of potsherds some 0.5 m to the west of them (гк. 52). Likewise, a small area of burnt soil containing a slightly burnt bone was registered next to the beaker (Fig. 2.49a). A similar burnt bone was recorded next to another group of pottery (гк. 49) (Pl. 16/4, 5).

Remains of deceased covered with a large cup turned upside down were recorded immediately next to the large stones near the eastern part of the stone structure of Grave 19 (гк. 46 and E 82) (Figs. 2.43 and 2.50; Pl. 19/1), and two unburnt animal bones were recorded some 0.3 m to the northeast (E 80) (Fig. 2.43), beneath atypical potsherds. It seems that the remains of a small oval stone structure were visible in that part of the necropolis, between graves 19 and 21, which could indicate the existence of another grave. Unfortunately, based on the remains of the deceased it was not possible to determine whether those bones belong to another deceased or the same one as in Grave 19 (E 85 and E 87), and therefore, these bones were treated as a part of Grave 19. 2.1.3.7. Grave 20 The stone structure of Grave 20 in the northern part of the southern segment of the necropolis was almost completely devastated and only several large stones encircling the small stones in the center of the structure were preserved (Fig. 2.27). The eastern part of the structure had been disturbed by Iron Age feature 50 (Figs. 2.24 and 2.46). Remains of cremated deceased weighing 1.1 g (гк. 55, E 97) (Figs. 2.41 and 2.47; Pl. 15/1) were recorded in the central portion of the grave beneath the stone structure, together with fragments of a beaker with two handles and fragments of almost a completely preserved ember

The grave was AMS dated (sample of human bone) to a period between the mid-22nd and the end of the 20th century calBC (Fig. 6.1). 38

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.43. Ground plan of graves 19 and 21, with grave goods.

39

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.44. Grave 19, гк. 63 in the northwestern part of the grave.

2.1.3.9. Grave 22

above it (Fig. 2.24). A collection of atypical potsherds was recorded beneath the stone structure (гк. 64) and remains of cremated deceased weighing 5.1 g (Figs. 2.27 and 2.52; Pl. 18/1) were registered between the potsherds. Save for the pottery, remains of burnt wood (around 130 g), lumps of burnt soil and one burnt animal bone were all recorded in the grave.

The grave was located in the eastern periphery of the southern segment and the stone structure had been almost completely destroyed by feature 50. Solely the ring comprising large stones on the northern edge of the structure was partially preserved (Figs. 2.24, 2.27 and 2.51). The stone structure of Grave 22 leaned on the stone structure of Grave 21. Iron Age finds have been registered both within and partially beneath the stone structure, which indicates that the grave was devastated to a great degree by feature 50. A lump of burnt soil mixed with pieces of burnt wood, which could represent the remains from the pyre, was recorded along the northern edge of the stone structure. Several prehistoric potsherds were recorded lying on the ground in the eastern half of the grave (Pl. 17/1, 2) together with a small quantity of cremated human bones (1.4 g). In the area of feature 50, two quite indicative fragments of pottery were recorded (Pl. 17/3, 4) that could have originated from Grave 22, which was devastated by the aforementioned feature, although there is also the possibility that those fragments of pottery originated from Grave 20 (Fig. 2.27).

Comparison of the stone structures of all three segments of the necropolis is practically impossible since only the structures within the southern segment were well preserved, whereas the structures from the northern and eastern segments were almost completely devastated. Based on those constructions within the southern segment and the size of crushed stone recorded in the other segments of the necropolis, it can be assumed that structures similar to the ones from the southern segment were formed above the graves in other two segments as well. This assumption is supported by almost identical burial rituals and absolute dates, which indicate that the segments are practically concurrent, meaning that successive burials took place during a somewhat longer period of time. The burial ritual was uniform in all of the graves: the deceased were cremated on a pyre, mostly at quite high temperatures, and the hot remains, or in some cases cooled remains, were laid into graves, mainly directly on the ground on a prepared and cleared space, which often

2.1.3.10. Grave 23 Grave 23 was located between graves 15, 17 and 19, and a small agglomeration of large stones was recorded 40

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.45а. Grave 19, гк. 38 in the northern part of the grave.

Fig. 2.45b. Grave19, гк. 38 in the northern part of the grave, after the removal of stones surrounding the vessel.

41

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.46. Cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 20.

Fig. 2.47. Grave 20, гк. 55 in the northern part of the grave.

42

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.48. The stone structure of Grave 21.

Fig. 2.49а. Grave 21, гк. 50 in the central part of the grave.

43

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.49b. Grave 21, гк. 50, detail.

Fig. 2.50. Between graves 19 and 21, гк. 46.

44

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.51. North-south cross-section of the stone structure of Grave 22.

contained a portion of gravel (almost all of the graves within the southern segment) or several pebbles (graves 15, 17 and 21). In Grave 15, the pebbles were located right next to the base of an amphora, which could indicate the possibility that the amphora was in fact placed onto pebbles during the burial.

It is assumed that some of the small stones, and especially the ones registered surrounding the remains of the deceased or grave goods, had a purpose of protecting those from the stone structures or possibly from the weight of the soil, which was registered in graves 3 (Figs. 2.10 and 2.11), 14 (Fig. 2.30), 19 (Fig. 2.45) and 23 (Fig. 2.52).

A quite shallow pit with the remains of the deceased was registered solely in one case (Grave 14), although it can be speculated that the pits existed in several graves. It was difficult to define such pits as they represent more of a cleared space with the purpose of burial ritual than pits in a general sense. Spacious zones of burnt soil with the remains of pyre wood were recorded immediately next to graves 3 and 12 in the northern segment, which indicates that the hot remains of the deceased from the pyre were cooled in those zones.17 It is interesting that the grave goods from both of the aforementioned graves were burned on the pyre together with the deceased and therefore completely vitrified. Judging by the existence of small zones of burnt soil within the graves, the hot remains of the deceased were buried in graves 17, 19, 21, 22 and 23 in the southern segment.

Some of the graves (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 19) contained a sufficient amount of good quality bone remains, on the basis of which it was possible to determine that all of the burials were individual, meaning one deceased per grave. It is assumed that similar can be noted for other graves at the necropolis, especially considering the fact that small amounts of bones of deceased were registered in graves, indicating a low possibility of several deceased buried within the same grave.

17 

In some of the graves, the remains of the deceased were laid out in one spot, although in some cases the remains of the deceased were staggered in two or more spots and often buried together with burnt animal bones, which could indicate that the animals or certain parts of the animals were cremated on the pyre together with the deceased. Unburnt animal bones were registered in a number of graves (mostly separated in special spots within the grave, yet sometimes mixed with human bones

See note 19.

45

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia It has also been noted that all of the deceased whose remains were suitable for analysis (a total of eight graves) were under the age of 40. Such data indicate the possibility that the collection of the cremated remains of younger individuals from the pyre was performed more carefully and with more dedication than in the cases of older individuals, if some of the undefined deceased’s remains belonged to older individuals at all. In terms of burial rituals, another important difference is noted for the southern and northern segments. Not a single vitrified grave good was recorded within the southern segment, while vitrified pottery was recorded in a total of three graves within the northern segment. Those three graves were quite close to each other, immediately next to the zone of burnt soil (Fig. 2.8) and contained vitrified vessels as grave goods, and it is interesting that at least two of those (graves 1 and 3) are not concurrent (refer to Fig. 6.1). According to that, it can be assumed that the custom of burning the vessels on the pyre lasted for a longer period of time, yet based on the available data it was practiced exclusively for certain deceased buried within the northern segment of the necropolis.

Fig. 2.52. Grave 23, гк.64 in the central part of the grave.

and burnt animal bones), which could be treated as a part of some sort of burial ritual. Though the remains of the deceased were laid directly on the ground in most of the graves, in several graves the remains of the deceased were recorded in ceramic vessels (graves 3 and 7). This could not be confirmed for other graves, although there are some indications based on the large number of graves in which the fragmented vessels were recorded next to the remains of the deceased. It has been noted also that significant amounts of remains of deceased were buried in graves in the northern segment (a total of 1978.1 g in 11 graves), in comparison to the southern segment (272.1 g in 9 graves). On average, the cremated remains of deceased were 179.8 g per grave in the northern segment and only 30.2 g per grave in the southern segment. Solely one grave (83 g) was recorded in the eastern segment, and therefore there are no arguments for further conclusions on that segment. The fact that in all of the segments of the necropolis, except maybe in the northern, a small amount of cremated human remains was buried indicates that the burial ritual was rather symbolic and did not include the collection of all of the remains of the deceased. The exceptions are graves 3, 4 and 7, in which a large number of remains of deceased were recorded in comparison to other graves (a total of around 1800 g). Such graves could possibly represent the graves of individuals with high status within the community.18 18 

Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 79.

46

The Characteristics of the Early Bronze Age Necropolis

Fig. 2.53. Trench 13, after the excavations of the southern segment of the necropolis.

Fig. 2.54. Northern cross-section of КРС 1.

47

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 2.55. Northern cross-section of КРС 2.

Fig. 2.56. Northern cross-section of КРС 3.

48

3 Finds from the Graves Grave goods, such as fragments of ceramic vessels or completely preserved vessels that were gradually crushed from the pressure caused by earthen or stone structures, have been recorded within graves of all three segments of the necropolis. Besides the pottery, a perforated stone axe was recorded in one of the graves and chipped stone flakes were recorded in multiple graves. It is uncertain whether the flakes were deliberately placed in the graves since they could have ended up in the graves together with the soil that possibly covered the graves prior to the formation of the stone structure. In terms of the types of vessels, the most numerous are cups, bowls and beakers, followed by amphorae, one double-vessel and askos, as well as vessels of “unusual form” (ember containers) with a rectangular front opening, which will be further discussed. It should be noted that there are two different groups of pottery at the necropolis: first, atypical and usually large fragments of vessels, which often covered the remains of the deceased, and second, mostly completely preserved vessels which were placed as grave goods and had no other function. However, in certain graves the vessels were recorded in a position that could indicate that those vessels covered the remains of the deceased as well, as is the case with Grave 5 and the context between graves 19 and 21. Solely in the case of Grave 3 were the remains of the incinerated deceased recorded within the completely preserved vessels, in pottery group no. 9 (гк. 9) (Fig. 2.9a). It is interesting that river pebbles were registered in several graves within the southern segment. The pebbles were mostly registered beneath the remains of the deceased (graves 17 and 21), but also next to the remains (Grave 15), and almost all of the graves from the southern segment contained a small amount of river gravel. Such finds could represent the remains of some sort of ritual, such as purification connected with the mystical function of water in the burial custom of those communities, which has been recorded at other Bronze Age necropolises in the area.1

front opening) (Pl. 8/1, 2), which undoubtedly originate from a devastated grave, have been recorded in the layer above the stone structures in the northern segment. The remains of the deceased were recorded inside such a vessel in Grave 7 and burnt pyre wood was recorded inside such a vessel in Grave 20. Such vessels were buried in the graves together with the deceased and other grave goods. One such vessel (Grave 12) was completely vitrified, which indicates the possibility that it was burned together with the deceased on the pyre. 3.1. The northern segment of the necropolis 3.1.1. Grave 1 Fragments of at least nine vessels were recorded in Grave 1 in the northern segment of the necropolis.2 Based on the stylistic and typological characteristics, two bowls with a short rounded belly, a cylindrical neck and wide tunneled handles were distinguished (гк. 6) (Pl. 1/1, 3), as well as a vitrified S-profiled bowl with an arched handle that significantly surpasses the rim (гк. 2) (Pl. 1/2), and a small 44-mm-high globular cup with a short conical neck (Pl. 1/5) and a diameter of opening of 40 mm. Fragments of a pear-shaped beaker with two arched handles ribbonlike in cross-section (Pl. 1/4), a belly fragment decorated with incised lines accompanied by rows of dotted pricks (Pl. 1/6), a fragment of a vessel belly with a horizontally perforated arched handle decorated with a row of dotted pricks (гк.4) (Pl. 1/7) and the greater part of a vitrified double-vessel with globular recipients and triangular modeled handle (гк. 5) (Pl. 1/8) were all recorded. The reconstructed diameters of the recipients are around 165 mm and the height is around 150 mm. The pottery is hand-thrown, tempered with quartz sand, mica and small stone, and baked in shades of grey and ochre-red. The outer surfaces of vessels are mostly burnished, save for two fragments on which the outer surfaces are slightly burnished (Pl. 1/6, 7). Some of the vessels had a dark grey (Pl. 1/1, 3, 5, 6) or grey coating (Pl. 1/4, 8).

The custom of placing the grave goods in a form of ovoid ember container with an elongated upper portion usually ending with a circular opening and somewhat resembling a chimney is also interesting. A rectangular opening is positioned on the front side of such vessels. The lower portion of the opening is protruded and resembles a small shovel. A total of four such vessels were recorded at the necropolis – two examples in the northern segment (graves 7 and 12) and one example in both the southern and eastern segments, in graves 20 and 1/6. Two more fragments of such a vessel (a part of an upper opening with a profiled rim and the upper right corner of the rectangular

3.1.2. Grave 2 No grave goods were recorded in this grave. 3.1.3. Grave 3 Fragments of at least ten vessels were recorded in Grave

1  Srejović 1960, 101; Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, 283, 379; Dmitrović 2016, 31, 33, 34, 47 and other.

2  Around 100 atypical vessel fragments have been recorded within the stone structure above graves 1 and 3, as well as immediately beneath it.

49

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 1 Finds from Grave 1.

3, if a beaker with two handles surpassing the rim that was registered between graves 1 and 3 is taken into account (гк. 26). Pottery from this grave is mostly represented by atypical potsherds, for which neither the type nor the form could be determined. In terms of typologically defined vessels, a slightly biconical cup with a wide opening measuring a diameter of 155 mm and a height of 60 mm with one 33-mm-wide arched handle ribbonlike in cross-section (Pl. 2/1), a pear-shaped beaker with an opening diameter of 75 mm and a height of 100 mm with two 33-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section that surpass the rim (Pl. 2/2), and a part of a vitrified ovoid askos with a small handle ribbon-like in cross-section on both sides of the opening (Pl. 2/3) are all recorded within the grave. The askos was quite distorted due to vitrification, and therefore it was impossible to precisely define its original form. It is presumed that it possessed a large vertical handle connecting the vessel belly and opening, which is common for this type of vessel

(Pl. 2/3a). All three vessels were baked in shades of red and possess a grey coating. This grave represents the only one that contained a nonceramic grave good, namely a perforated ground stone axe made of whitish stone of homogeneous structure (Pl. 2/4). The length of the axe is 95 mm, the width is 63 mm and the height is 25-47 mm, while the diameter of the perforation is 23 mm. Besides the axe, this grave provided some other specifics, which will be further discussed. 3.1.4. Grave 4 No grave goods were recorded in this grave. 3.1.5. Grave 5 Numerous large fragments of two vessels – a cup with one handle and a beaker with two handles (гк. 17 and 18) 50

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 2 Finds from Grave 3.

a 110-mm-wide opening, slightly emphasized belly and a narrow arched handle with a rectangular cross-section and a width of 15 mm. The cup was baked in red-brown, tempered the same as the beaker and the outer surface is slightly burnished. Several atypical potsherds have been recorded in this grave as well. Those potsherds were baked in shades of red and possess a dark-grey coating.

(Pl. 3/1, 2) were recorded in this grave. The beaker was somewhat wide compared to the other beakers from the site (the rim diameter is 68 mm and the height is 85 mm), with two 33-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in crosssection that surpass the rim. The beaker was baked in ochre red-grey, tempered with small grains of quartz sand and mica, and the outer surface is burnished. The cup possesses 51

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 3 Finds from Grave 5.

3.1.6. Grave 6

The reconstructed length of the vessel is 125 mm (from the handle to the end of the rectangular opening) and the height is around 100 mm. Three more vessels, one next to another, were recorded beneath the aforementioned potsherds – a beaker, a cup and a bowl. The opening of the bowl was facing the ground and covered the cremated bones of the deceased. The bowl is biconical with a short cylindrical neck decorated with four symmetrically positioned button-shaped applications with an indentation in the center (Pl. 5/1). The diameter of the opening is 87 mm and the height of the bowl is 78 mm. It was baked in ochre red-grey, with burnished walls and partially preserved dark-grey coating and made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica flakes. The height of a semiglobular cup is 45 mm, the diameter of the opening is 84 mm and the handle that slightly surpasses the rim is 22 mm wide. The cup was also facing the ground and covered the remains of the deceased. It was baked in ochre, with slightly burnished walls, and tempered with quartz sand and mica. The beaker is pear-shaped, with an opening diameter of 60 mm and a height of 120 mm, with two wide arched handles that surpass the rim (Pl. 5/3). It was baked in grey-brown, with burnished walls and dark-grey coating, and tempered with quartz sand and mica.

Although the area marked as Grave 6 contained no remains of deceased, animal bones and numerous fragments of a vessel with a cylindrical neck and a slightly rounded belly, with four tunneled and horizontally perforated handles, have been recorded within it. The vessel had a high conical hollow foot with four oval perforations (Pl. 4/1, 2). The diameter of the opening is 102 mm, the height with the foot is 165 mm, and the dimensions of the foot opening are 50 x 15 mm. The vessel was baked in ochre red-grey, with burnished walls, and tempered with quartz sand and mica. Grey coating is partly visible. 3.1.7. Grave 7 Atypical fragments of a vessel,3 together with fragments of an ember container with the elongated vertical part resembling a chimney, have been recorded in Grave 7. The front part of the vessel possesses a wide rectangular opening and a small arched handle is positioned on the backside (Pl. 5/4). The vessel is made of clay mixed with quartz sand and mica flakes, was baked in brown and has a grey-brown coating, while the vessel walls are burnished.

3.1.8. Grave 8

3  A total of 40 atypical fragments of vessels, different in color and surface treatment, with the same tempering comprised of quartz sand, mica and sporadically small grains of gravel, were recorded both in graves and within the stone structure.

Only a few atypical potsherds (4-5 fragments), baked in ochre and grey, with slightly burnished walls and tempered with quartz sand and mica, were recorded in Grave 8. 52

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 4 Finds from Grave 6.

3.1.9. Grave 9

cremated human bones, as well as approximately 0.5 m northeast of the bones. Those potsherds were baked in ochre, red-brown or dark grey, mostly with slightly burnished walls and tempered with the standard set of adulterants for the site.

Due to the fact that the zone primarily marked as Grave 9 contained only animal bones and a few potsherds (4-5 fragments), it was concluded that it does not, in fact, represent a grave. Those potsherds were baked in grey or brown, with slightly burnished and burnished walls, and tempered with quartz sand and mica, which are the common adulterants at the site.

3.1.12. Grave 12 A vitrified ember container, similar to the example from Grave 7, with an elongated conical neck and everted rim, was recorded in this grave. A rectangular opening is positioned in the front of the vessel, and the lower part of the opening is protruded and resembles a small shovel with a concave ending. A small arched handle is positioned on the back of the vessel (Pl. 7/1). The vessel was baked in reddish, has a grey coating, with a slightly burnished surface, and is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica.

3.1.10. Grave 10 Besides the atypical fragments belonging to some large vessel, the base of a vessel turned upside down and a semi-globular cup with one 18-mm-wide handle ribbonlike in cross-section that surpasses the rim were recorded in Grave 10 (Pl. 6/1). The diameter of the cup is 55 mm and the height of the recipient is 44 mm. The cup is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica, baked in dark grey, with burnished walls and dark-grey coating.

3.1.13. Grave 13

3.1.11. Grave 11

No grave goods were recorded in this grave.

Atypical potsherds without enough elements to reconstruct the types of vessels were recorded beneath and next to

The aforementioned pieces of an ember container (Pl. 8/1, 2) and the upper portion of a hollow foot of a vessel 53

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 5 Finds from Grave 7.

54

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 6 Finds from Grave 10.

Pl. 7 Finds from Grave 12.

A cup with a short cylindrical neck and one wide handle ribbon-like in cross-section, was baked in dark grey, has a coarse surface of the walls, and is made of clay with the same adulterants as the previous vessel (Pl. 9/2). A fragment of a large vessel (amphora?) was also recorded within the grave. The fragment has a tongue-shaped handle with a split in the middle (Pl. 9/4). It was baked in brown, with a coarse surface, and tempered with the standard set of adulterants for the necropolis.

(Pl. 8/3), similar to the one from Grave 6, were recorded outside of the graves, above the disturbed stone structure in trench 8 (the northern segment of the necropolis). 3.2. The southern segment of the necropolis 3.2.1. Grave 14 A large fragment of an ovoid pot (Pl. 9/3) that covered the bones was recorded in Grave 14 of the southern segment, above the cremated bones of the deceased that had been laid directly on the ground. The pot has a triangular widened rim, and is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica, and possesses a coarse or slightly burnished surface, baked in ochre. Approximately 80 potsherds were recorded within the grave and the stone structure, of which only several were typologically relevant (Pl. 9/1, 2, 4). A vessel with a conical neck and a slightly emphasized rim was baked in grey, has slightly burnished walls, and is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica (Pl. 9/1).

3.2.2. Grave 15 A fragmented globular amphora with a long cylindrical neck and four arched handles on the belly was located in the central part of Grave 15 (Pl. 10/1). The height of the amphora is 150 mm, the diameter of the opening is 62 mm, and the width of the handles varies between 13 and 22 mm. The amphora is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica, baked in reddish and possesses a slightly burnished grey coating. Several river pebbles 55

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 8 Finds from the stone structure of the northern segment of the necropolis.

Pl. 9 Finds from Grave 14.

were registered immediately next to the amphora, and therefore there is a possibility that the amphora was placed on the pebbles at the moment of burial. Numerous fragments of different ceramic vessels were located surrounding the amphora and in the eastern part of the grave. Unfortunately, almost all of the fragments were atypical and only a few could be defined in terms of stylistic and typological characteristics (Pl. 10/2, 3).4 One of those is a belly fragment of an amphora or a pot with a massive tongue-shaped handle decorated with a vertically positioned modeled rib (Pl. 10/5). The fragment was baked in dark grey, has a coarse surface of the walls and is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica. The other

fragment represents a non-profiled rim decorated with a vertically positioned modeled rib (Pl. 10/3). It was baked in grey, has a coarse outer surface and similar adulterants as the previous fragment. 3.2.3. Grave 16 No remains of deceased or grave goods were recorded in Grave 16, save for potsherds and the lower portion of a grindstone (palette) which was located within the stone structure. The palette measures the dimensions of 295 x 130 x 110 mm. It is made of grey abrasive stone of heterogeneous structure (Pl. 11/1). Around 60 atypical potsherds of vessels with slightly burnished walls, baked in ochre, grey or reddish and tempered with small stones were recorded in this grave.

4  Around 230 atypical fragments of pottery, belonging to different vessels, were recorded within the grave and the stone structure.

56

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 10 Finds from Grave 15.

3.2.4. Grave 17

atypical potsherds of ceramic vessels were recorded in this grave, of which some were suitable for reconstruction. The characteristic vessels are represented by a fragment of a semi-globular cup (or a bowl), a large bowl, a large cup with one handle, a beaker with two handles and a fragment of a tongue-shaped handle baked in reddish, with a coarse surface (Pl. 12/10).

Recorded in the western part of Grave 17 were numerous atypical potsherds, of which some could be typologically defined (Pl. 12/2, 5, 6 and 8), together with the remains of the cremated deceased, and a small river pebble was registered beneath. The typologically defined fragments belong to semi-globular bowls with triangular and tongueshaped modeled extensions on the rim, with dark-grey coating (Pl. 12/2, 5), a globular bowl baked in dark-greyreddish, with a rim diameter of 145 mm and a 20-mm-wide arched handle ribbon-like in cross-section that surpasses the rim (Pl. 12.6) and a semi-globular cup with an opening diameter of 145 mm and a height of 92 mm with an arched handle rectangular in cross-section (Pl. 12/8). The cup was baked in reddish and has a partly preserved burnished dark-grey coating. It is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica.

The semi-globular cup (bowl) was baked in grey and has slightly burnished walls (Pl. 12/3). The other bowl, with the slightly funneled and elongated neck, is larger in dimensions, baked in ochre, and has a partly preserved slightly burnished dark-grey coating. The reconstructed diameter of the opening measures 295 mm, and two 70-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section connect the belly and the rim (Pl. 12/4). A large cup with one handle has a semi-globular form with wide crescentshaped modeled extensions on the rim (Pl. 12/7). The diameter of the rim is 145 mm and the height of the cup is 100 mm. The cup was baked in reddish, and has a partly preserved burnished dark-grey coating. The beaker is pear-shaped with a rim diameter of 68 mm, with two 35-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section that surpass the rim (Pl. 12/9). Similar to the other pottery

A river pebble was also located beneath the small fragmented bowl, with an opening diameter of 140 mm and a height of 72 mm, with slightly burnished darkgrey coating, and the idea that the bowl was placed on the pebble should not be excluded. More than 80 mostly 57

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 11 Finds from Grave 16.

recorded at the necropolis, the beaker is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica flakes. It was baked in reddish and grey coating is partly preserved.

of the deceased.5 Only the lower portions of the amphora, base, belly and a part of the neck were preserved, while the neck and rim were missing (Pl. 14/2). Three 26-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section are positioned on the vessel belly. The amphora was baked in reddishochre-grey, has a slightly burnished surface and is made of clay tempered with quartz sand, fine gravel and mica flakes. A completely preserved large semi-globular bowl with an opening diameter measuring 150 mm and a height of 110 mm, with one 33-mm-wide arched handle ribbonlike in cross-section that slightly surpasses the rim, was recorded in the eastern part of the stone structure. This cup, which covered the remains of the deceased, is made of clay with the standard adulterants and has slightly burnished walls baked in brown-ochre-dark-grey.

3.2.5. Grave 18 More than 120 atypical potsherds were recorded in Grave 18. Around half of the potsherds were grouped in four collections in the central part of the grave, within a radius of around 1.5 m. The other half of the potsherds were recorded in various parts of the grave. Typologically relevant potsherds are represented by a piece of a cylindrical neck belonging to a vessel with a non-profiled rim, baked in ochre and made of clay tempered with quartz sand (Pl. 13/1), and a portion of a belly belonging to a vessel with a narrow horizontally perforated handle, baked in reddish and made of clay tempered with quartz sand (Pl. 13/2).

A number of atypical potsherds, of which only several could be typologically defined, were recorded both in the eastern and in the northern periphery of the grave. Those are a fragment of a semi-globular cup with one handle ribbon-like in cross-section that surpasses the rim (Pl. 14/3), a fragment of a semi-globular vessel baked in

3.2.6. Grave 19 The remains of the deceased in Grave 19 were recorded in the northern half of the grave, next to most of the fragments of a globular amphora with three handles, together with atypical potsherds, which supposedly covered the remains

5  A total of 144 mostly atypical potsherds, with no possibility to define the type of the vessel, were recorded in Grave 19.

58

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 12 Finds from Grave 17.

59

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 13 Finds from Grave 18.

part of a rim and neck of a small globular vessel, which possesses remains of a handle root below the rim and a grey coating (Pl. 15/4). A tongue-shaped handle with a split in the middle, baked in reddish-ochre and tempered with quartz sand and mica was also recorded in the grave (Pl. 15/6).

reddish-ochre with slightly burnished walls (Pl. 14/4), a fragment of a cylindrical neck and rim belonging to a vessel baked in grey-ochre with a slightly burnished surface (Pl. 14/5), a fragment of a wide arched handle ribbon-like in cross-section, baked in reddish and with a slightly burnished surface (Pl. 14/6) and a tongue-shaped handle with indentation on the upper surface, baked in reddish and with a slightly burnished surface (Pl. 14/7). All of the pottery from this grave is tempered with quartz sand, mica and often fine gravel.

3.2.8. Grave 21 More than 160 potsherds were recorded within Grave 21 and its stone structure. The potsherds were recorded in several groups in the central part of the grave (гк. 49, 50) (Fig. 2.43), as well as in the eastern periphery of the grave, where atypical potsherds were recorded in two spots. In addition to the potsherds (гк. 40), the remains of crushed cremated bones were recorded. A river pebble was located beneath, similar to Grave 17. Fragments of two beakers and one large cup were located in the central part of the grave, within pottery group no. 50. One of the beakers was completely reconstructed and has a pear-shaped form and two handles that surpass the rim (Pl. 16/1). The diameter of the opening is 65 mm, the height without the handles is 99 mm, and the width of the handles that are rectangular in cross-section and have a slightly concave upper surface is 26 mm. This beaker has a slightly acute profile of the belly, which is not characteristic for the beakers from this necropolis or the period beakers in the Central Balkans. It was baked in reddish shades and has a slightly burnished grey coating. It is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica. In terms of the other beaker, only parts of the rim, neck and one handle ribbon-like in cross-section are preserved. The form of the beaker is similar to the previous one, although the handles are different and the coating is slightly brighter (Pl. 16/3). The cup is semi-globular with one handle, which is preserved only on the belly and rim (Pl. 16/2). The presumed diameter of the opening is around 130 mm and the height is 72 mm. The dark-grey coating is slightly burnished, and the cup is made of clay tempered with the same adulterants as previous vessels. Another group of pottery was recorded around 0.5 m to the east of pottery group no. 50 (гк. 50), and yet another group of pottery was recorded not far from there (гк. 49). A fragment of a vessel with a conical neck and slantwise profiled rim with walls covered with dark-grey coating (Pl. 16/4) and a fragment of a belly of large vessel (most likely amphora) with wide arched handle ribbon-like in cross-

3.2.7. Grave 20 A fragmented pear-shaped beaker with a height of 130 mm and an opening diameter of 68 mm, with two 40-mm-wide arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section that surpass the rim (Pl. 15/1), was recorded beneath the stone structure in the central part of Grave 20, together with the remains of the deceased. The beaker was baked in reddish-ochre, has slightly burnished walls, and certain portions of the beaker have been secondarily exposed to fire. Fragments of a vessel with a long cylindrical neck and a slightly widened rim, baked in reddish-ochre-grey, with slightly burnished walls (Pl. 15/5), were recorded some 0.3 m east of the beaker. A fragmented ember container modeled in the shape of a pigeon, with circular perforations on the vessel body and a rectangular front opening (Pl. 15/7), was located some 0.7 west of the beaker. It is possible that the ember container possessed a small handle in the back, similar to the other ember containers at the necropolis, even though that portion of the vessel is missing, and therefore the question of the handle remains undisclosed. The vessel was baked in reddish-ochre and has a slightly burnished dark-grey coating which is only partly preserved. Around 160 mostly atypical potsherds, of which only several were suitable for typological determination, were recorded within the grave and the stone structure. Those fragments are a long conical neck, rim and shoulder of a large vessel, probably with a globular recipient, with slightly burnished dark-grey coating, and tempered with quartz sand and mica (Pl. 15/2), a fragment of a long conical neck of an amphora, with dark-grey coating and similar tempering as the previous vessel (Pl. 15/3) and a 60

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 14 Finds from Grave 19.

a dark-grey coating (Pl. 17/2). The pottery is made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica.

section and with dark-grey coating (Pl. 16/5) were all within this group of pottery. All of the fragments are made of similar clay as the other pottery from the necropolis.

Two indicative potsherds, which most likely originate from Grave 22, were recorded within the zone of feature 50. There is a possibility that those potsherds originate from Grave 20, which was also disturbed by the aforementioned feature. Both fragments of pottery belong to semi-globular bowls with a triangular modeled extension on the rim. In the first example the extension is positioned almost vertically (Pl. 17/3) and in the second the extension is positioned inwardly sloping (Pl. 17/4). The walls of those vessels are covered with a burnished dark-grey coating, and the vessels are made of clay tempered with quartz sand and mica flakes.

3.2.9. Grave 22 The western part of Grave 22 had been devastated by an Iron Age pit (feature 50), as indicated by the numerous finds of Iron Age pottery within both the grave and the stone structure. A total of around 10 atypical Bronze Age potsherds were recorded, of which only several could be typologically distinguished. Several fragments of prehistoric pottery were recorded on the ground in the eastern part of the grave, beneath the stone structure, together with a small amount of cremated human bones. The typologically defined vessels are a semiglobular cup with a partly preserved dark-grey coating (Pl. 17/1) and a globular amphora with a wide arched handle ribbon-like in cross-section on the belly, also with

3.2.10. Grave 23 Around 35 atypical potsherds of several vessels were recorded in Grave 23, and the largest group of pottery was 61

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 15 Finds from Grave 20.

located beneath the stone structure, next to several large stones (гк. 64), together with the remains of the incinerated deceased (Pl. 18/1). The pottery is made of clay tempered with mica and quartz sand, baked in reddish or grey, and some of the fragments possess a grey coating.

pit (feature 16). A total of 36 potsherds, mostly atypical, were recorded within the zone of the grave. In terms of recognizable fragments, a part of an ember container with a rectangular front opening and long conical neck (Pl. 19/1), a part of a semi-globular cup with a wide handle ribbon-like in cross-section slightly surpassing the rim (Pl. 19/2), and horizontally perforated arched handle ribbonlike in cross-section most likely belonging to an amphora (Pl. 19/2), were all recorded. The pottery was baked in reddish, has ochre or grey coating, and is made of clay tempered with a mixture of mica and quartz sand (ember container) or solely quartz sand (amphora).

3.3. The eastern segment of the necropolis 3.3.1. Grave 1 Grave 1 in trench 6 was not preserved in situ, as the grave had been damaged to a significant degree by an Iron Age 62

Finds from the Graves

Pl. 16 Finds from Grave 21.

63

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Pl. 17 Finds from Grave 22.

Pl. 18 Finds from Grave 23.

Pl. 19 Finds from Grave 1 in the eastern segment of the necropolis (trench 6).

64

4 The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory 4.1. Cups

21st century calBC,3 though similar cups were recorded in layer 9 as well.4

The analysis of the stylistic and typological characteristics of the pottery as well as the analysis of this kind of find within the graves at the necropolis pointed out that the cup represents the only type of vessel present in all three segments of the necropolis. Cups are recorded in most of the graves that contained pottery finds, except for graves 12, 15, 18 and 20. In terms of bowls, cups, beakers and amphorae, it has been noted that beakers and bowls are never represented without other vessels in the grave, while cups, amphorae and ember containers are represented as lone finds in graves 10, 12, 15 and possibly 18.

Similar semi-globular cups have been recorded in the Armenochori settlement in northern Greece.5 A cup similar to the example from Grave 14 (Pl. 9/2) was recorded in northern Greece, further to the east in the Struma confluence area at the site of Sitagroi, in layer Vb.6 Geographically closer analogies for the examples from graves 10 and 21 have been recorded within structure 1 in trench XVII at the site of Kokino Selo near Kumanovo. The cup was recorded together with a globular amphora with vertically positioned arched handles and a cylindrical neck, which resembles the examples from graves 15 and 19 from the Ranutovac necropolis.7 Large cups, similar to the examples from graves 17 and 19 at the Ranutovac necropolis, have been recorded at the site of Novačka Ćuprija,8 although the handles of those cups either do not surpass or only slightly surpass the rim, while the handles on the cups from the Ranutovac necropolis significantly surpass the rim. The biconical form of cup from Grave 3 has been recorded at the site of Konopnica,9 as well as at settlement I in Ljuljaci, and a semi-globular cup similar to the example from Grave 17 (Pl. 12/8) was recorded in this settlement as well, though the cross-sections of the handles from Ljuljaci are unknown.10 At the site of Bubanj, the eponymous site for the Bubanj-Hum culture, a cup similar to the example from Grave 17 (Pl. 12/8) was recorded within object 1. A direct analogy for a large semi-globular cup from Grave 19 was recorded in the cultural layer at the site of Bubanj, though the handle of the cup from the site of Bubanj is in line with the rim.11 Cups with modeled extensions on the rim, similar to the example from Grave 17 (Pl. 12/7), are known from north of the Balkan Peninsula, from Pannonia, at the Mokrin necropolis, where a similar example was recorded in Grave 168. The cup from that grave is somewhat different, as the handle is in line with the rim and the cup possesses a small foot.12

A total of 13 vessels that could be attributed as cups were recorded at the necropolis, which represents 26%, meaning more than a quarter of all of the typologically distinguished vessels from the necropolis (Fig. 4.1). The cups are mostly semi-globular, with a wide handle ribbonlike in cross-section that surpasses the rim. Biconical (graves 3 and 5) and globular cups with a short cylindrical neck are quite rare (Grave 1). The decoration of the cups is represented solely by triangular extensions on the rim, which was recorded only on one large cup from Grave 17 in the southern segment of the necropolis. The degree of preservation of the cups indicates that the cups were placed in graves complete, often turned upside down, and that the cups covered the remains of the deceased. In terms of cultural and chronological determination, the cups do not represent an indicative factor, since vessels similar to the examples from the Ranutovac necropolis have been recorded in a number of prehistoric periods and geographic regions. However, during the Early Bronze Age handles were usually wide and ribbon-like in cross-section, which could be counted as one of the main characteristics of the cups of this period, but also of other types of vessels, which will be discussed in this chapter as well.

4.2. Bowls Bowls are also significantly represented in the northern and southern segments of the necropolis (22%), yet slightly less represented than cups. It seems as if bowls were

The closest analogies for cups from graves 1 (Pl. 1/5) and 17 (Pl. 12/8) were recorded in layer 24 at the site of Kastanas, as well as at the sites of Arhontiko and Sovjan,1 which are all attributed to the Early Bronze Age.2 At the site of Sovjan, a similar cup was recorded in layer 8, which was absolutely dated to a period between the 23rd and the

Gori 2015, 144. Gori 2015, pl. II/16. 5  Gori 2015, fig. 64. 6  Sherrat 1986, fig. 13.26/6. 7  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LIX/1, 2. 8  Krstić et al. 1986, tab. XV/2-5. 9  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, T. XXIII/1. 10  Bogdanović 1986, cat. nr. 34 and 35. 11  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LIX/1, 2, T. XI/36. 12  Girić 1971, T. XLVIII/4. 3  4 

1  Papanthimou-Papanthimou, Pilali-Papasteriou 2003, cat. nr. 28; Gori 2015, fig. 37/097, 47/653, pl. XXXVII/697. 2  Аslanis 1985, taf. 15/2.

65

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia usually placed into graves already fragmented (perhaps as remains of the ritual breaking of the vessel or the fragments themselves were treated as gifts), unlike the cups which were completely preserved in a number of graves.

hand, north of the Sava-Danube line modeled extensions are quite rare.21 At the site of Nad Klepečkom near antique Viminacium, a total of two vessels decorated with triangular modeled extensions have been recorded,22 and a vessel from the Mokrin necropolis had similar though somewhat smaller extensions.23 Comparable modeled extensions on the rim of vessels have also been registered in western Bulgaria and Thrace,24 however, rectangular extensions are dominant in those territories. Based on the current absolute dates, slantwise positioned rectangular extensions are older than the triangular modeled extensions. Namely, a feature (remnants of a Bubanj-Hum II culture dwelling) from the site of Velika Humska Čuka near Niš, which besides the finds characteristic for that culture also contained rectangular modeled extensions decorated with stamps and incised lines, was dated to a period between the 27th and the 26th century calBC.25 Bowls with rectangular modeled extensions on the rim, but without the decoration, were recorded in Zone 2 of the ritual space at the site of Dve Mogili in Pelince, which was dated to a period between the 24th and the 23rd century calBC.26 The features in which vessels decorated with triangular extensions were recorded are mostly dated to a somewhat younger period, as is the case with feature 1 at the site of Bubanj,27 which was dated to a period between the 21st and the 20th century calBC, and the sites of Nad Klepečkom near Viminacium and Grave 17 at the Ranutovac necropolis, which were dated to approximately the same period.28 On the other hand, the absolute date from the site of Velika Humska Čuka, in which a bowl with a triangular modeled extension on the rim was recorded together with a two-handled beaker, positions this feature of the Bubanj-Hum III cultural group into the period between the 25th and the 24th century calBC.29 This indicates that both discussed types of extensions were simultaneous in this area at one point, or even for a longer period of time.

Bowls are represented in more variants than the cups, whose forms are quite uniform save for the biconical example from Grave 3. Besides the semi-globular bowls, which are the most common form at the necropolis albeit recorded exclusively within the graves in the southern segment (Fig. 4.1), biconical bowls (Grave 7), bowls with globular recipient, short cylindrical neck and a small handle on the belly (Grave 1) were recorded as well. S-profiled bowls with a handle that surpasses the rim (Grave 1) as well as bowls with a long and slightly funneled neck and with two wide handles connecting the belly and the rim (Grave 17) were also recorded. In addition to the globular bowl with arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section surpassing the rim from the same grave, the last variant is the only bowl in the southern segment that is not semi-globular. Similar to cups, this type of vessel is moderately decorated with triangular modeled extensions on the rim (Pl. 12/2, 5, Pl. 17/3, 4) or a button-shaped application with an indentation in the middle (Pl. 5/1). Bowls decorated with modeled extensions were recorded in graves 17 and 22 in the southern segment of the necropolis, and such manner of decoration is unrecorded in both northern and eastern segments. The semi-globular form of the bowl is widespread in the territory of the Balkans during various periods of prehistory, yet the examples with modeled extensions on the rim are quite indicative and, for the most part, attributed to the Early Bronze Age. The modeled extensions originating from the graves at the Ranutovac necropolis are primarily triangle shaped and positioned inwardly sloping, under a smaller or larger angle on the rim of the vessel (Fig. 4.1). The triangular modeled extensions on the rim have been recorded in Troy I settlement on the west coast of Asia Minor,13 in Thrace,14 as well as in the southwestern Balkans, meaning Albania, in layer 7 at the site of Sovjan,15 and phase IIIa of the settlement at the site of Maliq.16 Such extensions have also been recorded further to the north, in Pelagonia,17 and numerous examples have been recorded in the wider region of Upper Pčinja in Kokino Selo.18 Modeled extensions on the rim of vessels, usually bowls, were quite common in the Južna Morava Valley during the Early Bronze Age. A number of such bowls have been recorded at the site of Bubanj19 in an object which was absolutely dated, as well as at the sites of Kovačke Njive in Pavlovac and Gradište in Davidovac.20 On the other

However, the bowl with almost globular form and arched handles ribbon-like in cross-section, positioned high on the upper portion of the vessel (Pl. 12/6) is quite indicative. Almost identical examples have been recorded at several sites in southeastern Albania, in horizons IIIa and IIIb at the sites of Maliq and Tren,30 as well as within layer 26 at the site of Kastanas,31 and a similar bowl with handles positioned somewhat lower was recorded in pit S31 at the site of Axiohori.32 Geographically closer analogies have been recorded at the site of Bubanj, in the zone of a Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019, T. 1/1, T. 3/5. Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019, T. 1/1, T. 3/5. 23  Girić 1971, T. XLVIII/4. 24  Alexandrov 1998, fig. 3/8; Leštakov 1992, figs. 24/Џ, 26/л. 25  Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming. 26  Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming. 27  Bulatović, Vander Linden 2017, tab. 1, fig. 3/23, 24. 28  Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković, 2019. For the absolute date from Grave 17, in which two bowls with triangular extensions on the rim have been recorded, refer to fig. 6.1. 29  Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming. 30  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, pl. VIII/3, XXXIV/5, XLVII/4. 31  Аslanis 1985, taf. 8/17, 18. 32  Аslanis 1985, taf. 88/1. 21  22 

Blegen et al. 1950, fig. 253/18, 19; 254; 257. Leštakov 1992, figs. 10/2202, 26/л, 32/е. 15  Gori 2015, pl. LXXIV/920, 921. 16  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, pl. XVIII/1-3. 17  Simoska 1984, fig. 6. 18  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LXI/21-28. 19  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. IX/1,2, Т. X/13-15. 20  Bulatović 2014, pl. III/19-21, 25; Bulatović, Vander Linden 2017, tab. 1/9. 13  14 

66

The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory shallow pit (feature 1) originating from the Early Bronze Age, meaning the Bubanj-Hum III cultural group.33

Beakers with two handles are characteristic for the Early Bronze Age in the Balkans, as was highlighted several decades ago,42 and such cultural phenomena later became contemporary again.43 The beakers occur in different variants but possess one common element – two handles, and therefore certain authors have referred to them as “two-handled beakers”; subsequently, the entire period in which such beakers occur was named the “culture of twohandled beakers”.44 Indeed, this cultural phenomenon, which rapidly spread throughout the entire Balkans during the Early Bronze Age and prevailed over centuries, deserves the full attention of the archaeologists who deal with the period since those beakers indicate the intensive interactions of the populations that inhabited the area. So far, neither the geographic origin of those vessels nor the precise time period in which they occurred for the first time have been precisely defined. In terms of absolutely dated features in which such beakers have been registered, the earliest date originates from the site of Velika Humska Čuka, from an accumulation of pottery and animal bones within the cultural layer of the Bubanj-Hum III cultural group. The absolute date positions this feature, together with the beaker with two handles to a period between the 25th and the 24th century calBC.45 Another date, though not as reliable as the previous one, originates from one of the features in zone 2 of the ritual space at the site of Pelince. The feature itself did not contain a beaker with two handles, but similar beakers were recorded in other features of the mentioned zone.46 The feature was dated to a period between the 24th and the 23rd century calBC, which could be considered as one of the earliest dates for such beakers.47 Other absolute dates for features that contained beakers with two handles from the sites of Bubanj in the southern Morava Region, Ada in the western Morava Region and the sites of Nad Klepečkom and Rit in the Danube Region are younger and attributed to a period between the 22nd and the 20th century calBC.48 A similar vessel (beaker) with a long cylindrical neck and handles positioned closer to the vessel walls and below the line of the rim, compared to the aforementioned beakers (not as everted), was recorded in a skeletal grave at the site of Ruja in Dučalovići in western Serbia and dated to a period between the 25th and the 24th century calBC, which is the earliest date for this type of vessel. This type of vessel, though with one handle, is characteristic for the BelotićBela Crkva cultural group, yet almost identical vessels have been recorded within the Vinkovci-Somogyvár

Bowls with a long and slightly funneled neck, rounded belly and arched handles in line with the rim are quite characteristic, and an identical form of bowl without handles has been recorded in feature 10 at the site of Velika Humska Čuka, together with a two-handled beaker and other finds characteristic of the Early Bronze Age.34 A similar form of bowl with a more emphasized funneled neck and identical handles has been recorded within the cultural layer at the site of Bubanj, and a similar bowl without the handles has been recorded at the site of Reka in Mala Plana near Prokuplje.35 Based on the distribution of the aforementioned analogies, it seems as if this variant of bowl was characteristic for the territory of the Central Balkans. The ornament comprising a button-shaped application with an indentation in the middle, which decorates the biconical bowl from Grave 7 was, as it seems, a common decoration on bowls in the wide area between southeastern Albania,36 northern Greece,37 and the southern Morava Region,38 and further to the north, the Danube Region and Pannonia.39 Bowls with a rounded belly and short cylindrical neck, similar to the example from Grave 1 (Pl. 1/1), are the most widespread form in the southern and central parts of the Balkan Peninsula, though they are often represented in different variants and with different types of handles, either vertically or horizontally positioned, and often with tongueshaped handles,40 though similar forms are also recorded in Pannonian cultural groups of the Early Bronze Age.41 4.3. Beakers Of all of the typologically defined vessels at the necropolis, beakers are represented with a total of 16%, equally distributed, with 8% in both the northern and southern segments. The forms of beakers are quite uniform: pearshaped, with a wider or narrower belly and neck and with two arched handles surpassing the rim by approximately 1/5 (Grave 5) to 1/11 (Grave 20) of the height of the beaker. The handles are wide and mostly ribbon-like in cross-section, with one case having a concave crosssection (Grave 21) (Pl. 16/1). As with the cups, the beakers were mostly buried completely and fragmented to a lesser degree.

Garašanin 1956, 5-12; Garašanin 1983a, 720-722. Alexandrov 1998, 224; Roman 2006, 459; Bulatović 2011, 62, 67, fig. 2; Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, 323-326. 44  Stojić 1996, 248-250. Numerous authors refer to this type of beaker as ‘’kantharoi’’, yet this term is common for similar ceramic forms in multiple prehistoric periods, and therefore we are of the opinion that this particular term should be avoided. 45  Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming, fig. 3/3, fig. 7. 46  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LII-LVI. 47  Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming. 48  Bulatović, Vander Linden 2017, tab. 1, fig. 3/27; Bulatović, Gori, Vander Linden, forthcoming, fig. 3/7, 18, fig. 7; Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019, Т. 7/18, 19; Bulatović, Jovičić, Milovanović 2019, T. 1/9-11. 42 

Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. X/20, 22; Bulatović, Vander Linden 2017, tab. 1/9. 34  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. II/13. 35  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, T. XI/35, T. XIV/1. 36  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, pl. XXIII/2, 3; pl. XXX/1, 3, 6, pl. XLIX/14, pl. LI/17, pl. LIII/11. 37  Heurtley 1939, cat.nr. 360; Aslanis 1985, taf. 48 /15, taf. 63/17. 38  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LXII/36. 39  Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019, T.1/10; Kulcsár 2009, pl. 2/8. 40  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, tаb. VIII/4, T. XVI/6; Sanev 1999, pl. IV; Nacev 2009, kat. br. 75; Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. XLVIII/1, 2, T. LXIX/1, 2, 6, 10. 41  Kulcsár 2009, fig. 23/VII/20. 33 

43 

67

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia cultural group.49 Graves from the Mokrin necropolis that contained beakers with two handles, typologically more similar to the examples from the Morava Region than those from Pannonia and western Serbia, have been dated to a period between the 22nd and 20th century calBC (with a probability of 68%), meaning between the 19th and the 18th century calBC.50

encompassing the upper course of the Južna Morava River to the west and southwestern Bulgaria to the east in fact represents the interaction zone between the bearers of the Armenochori cultural group and the communities of the Bubanj-Hum III cultural group, meaning the Bubanj-Hum III-Pelince-Pernik phenomenon.57 The absolute date of the site of Pelince, which is around two centuries older than the earliest dated grave at the Ranutovac necropolis, could confirm such chronological relation among the aforementioned cultural groups.58

The pear-shaped beakers with two handles surpassing the rim recorded at the Ranutovac necropolis differ from the examples characteristic of the Bubanj-Hum III cultural group, which is considered autochthonous in the southern Morava Region. The beakers common for the BubanjHum III cultural group have handles that are mostly in line with the rim or slightly surpass it, and the beakers’ form is usually stubbier and wider. Similar beakers, especially the examples with handles in line with the rim or which slightly surpass the rim, are also common for the Early Bronze Age in western Bulgaria (phase 3 according to Bulgarian periodization), though there are certain beakers similar to the examples from the Ranutovac necropolis, with handles slightly surpassing the rim.51 Unfortunately, there are no absolute dates in that region for this type of vessel, and therefore those cannot be included in the discussion of the problems of chronology and the geographical origin of the vessels.

Such beakers also occur as common inventory of the cultural groups in Pannonia, Oltenia and Muntenia, which will be further discussed in the chapter on the cultural and chronological relations of the Early Bronze Age in the area. 4.4. Amphorae Amphorae represent a total of 20% of the ceramic vessels at the Ranutovac necropolis. Most are fragmented, and almost completely preserved amphorae were only recorded in graves 15 and 19.59 In terms of preserved vessels, the amphorae are small in dimensions, with a height of up to 20 cm, and possess a globular recipient and a long cylindrical or conical neck and vertically positioned arched handles on the belly (Fig. 4.1). It is quite interesting that the amphorae were registered exclusively within graves in the southern segment of the necropolis.

In terms of typological characteristics, the closest analogies for beakers from the Ranutovac necropolis are the examples attributed to the Armenochori culture in northern Greece and southeastern Albania. Compared to the examples from the Ranutovac necropolis, the handles on those beakers are positioned further from the walls and significantly surpass the rim (1/5 or 1/6 of the height of the beaker). Therefore, similar beakers have been recorded in Troy,52 southeastern Albania (layers Maliq IIIa and IIIb; Tren IIIa; Nezir VIa; Sovjan 8 and 7; Sveta Nedela, etc.),53 northern Greece (Armenochori; Kastanas layers 26-22; Koilada; Sitagroi Vb, Arhontico, etc.),54 and the territory of present-day Republic of North Macedonia (Bukri, Suvodol, Star Karaorman, Kravari, Karamani, Pribovce, etc.).55 On the other hand, beakers originating from sites in the Upper Pčinja Region (the sites of Kokino and Pelince) are usually similar to the examples from the Armenochori cultural group.56 Similar has been noted in western Bulgaria, and it seems as if the entire geographical region

The globular form of amphora with a cylindrical neck is quite represented at the Early Bronze Age sites in the territories of the southern Balkans and Aegean. Similar vessels are known from the settlements Troy 1-3,60 Thrace,61 Central Balkans62 and the Romanian Danube Region.63 4.5. Ember containers Vessels of an unusual form with a long slanted neck and a globular recipient with a small handle on the backside Bulatović 2011, 69; Bulatović 2014, 68. The Bayesian modeling of a series of dates for the Armenochori group in Greece and Macedonia and the date from the Ranutovac necropolis indicates that the cultural group was present in the mother territory at the time of the Bubanj-Hum III-Pelince-Pernik phenomenon in the southern Morava Region and western Bulgaria, and even later, at the time of the Ranutovac necropolis, while the early dates for this cultural group further to the north are lacking. Without the strontium isotope or ancient DNA analyses, it cannot be confirmed with certainty whether the aforementioned phenomenon represents solely the spreading of cultural transmission (a trend) or migrations. However, considering that the Ranutovac necropolis contains incinerated deceased, which is unusual for the Central Balkans in preceding periods, it could be assumed that the phenomenon represents migrations, especially considering the fact that almost all of the finds from the necropolis belong to fully formed Armenochori culture, and not a mixture of autochthonous and Armenochori elements. 59  Two amphora fragments from Grave 15 (pl. /2,3) have been treated as one vessel. 60  Blegen et al. 1950, fig. 370a/C5, fig. 389; Blegen et al. 1951, fig. 59b/ c5, c7. 61  Leštakov 1992, figs. 12/д, 17/и, 26/о1. 62  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LIX/1. 63  Маchnik 1991, fig. 4/8, 5/26. 57  58 

Garašanin 1983b, T. XCIX; Kulcsár 2009, fig. 48-50, 52. Girić 1971, T. XVII/2; LXVIII/4; O’Shea 1996; Nikolova 1999, 405. 51  Alexandrov 1998, 224, fig. 4, 6. 52  Podzuweit 1979, Taf. 5/IIIa, Taf. 7/FIVa and b. Layers of origin, meaning the exact settlement of Troy remains unknown, since the data refers to old excavations. 53  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, Т. VII/4, 5, Т. XXXIV/3, Т. XLVII/6,7, Т. LI/19; Gori 2015, pl. XXV/760, pl. XLV/626, pl. LXIX/824, pl. LXXI/900, pl. LXXXIV/1056, pl. XCIV/81, 87. 54  Heurtley 1939, cat. nr. 320-349; Aslanis 1985, taf. 5/15, taf. 11, taf. 30, taf. 57/11-13; Ziota 1998, fig. 7; Sherrat 1986, fig. 13.20/25; Papaefthimiou-Papanthimou, Pilali-Papasteriou 1997, fig. 4. 55  Simoska 1984, fig. 8; Gagić 1984, figs. 4 and 5; Sanev 1999, Pl. VI; Mitrevski 2003, photo 2; Nacev 2009, cat. nr. 68, 71; Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, T. LXX/15, 16, 18. 56  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, Т. LX/15, T. LIV/35, 38. 49  50 

68

The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory

Fig. 4.1. The typological table of finds from the Ranutovac necropolis.

69

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia and a rectangular opening with a protruded lower part in the front, resembling a small shovel, have been recorded in a total of four graves, in all of the segments of the necropolis (Pl. 4.1), as well as outside the graves in the northern segment (two fragments of such vessels). In total, ember containers represent around 10% of the ceramic inventory at the Ranutovac necropolis. In addition to those mentioned above, a vessel from Grave 20 was modeled in the shape of a bird (most likely a pigeon) and the back part, which usually contains a small handle, was missing so it can only be assumed that this vessel possessed a small handle similar to the other examples.

remains uncertain, except for at the Ranutovac necropolis where those vessels served a ritual purpose. On the other hand, the term “smoking pots” defines their function as a smoke-related vessel yet does not explain the function of the smoke itself.76 Since almost all of the authors agree that the vessels served for storing and transporting ember, the neutral term “ember containers” has been suggested as it describes their function with minimal chance for misunderstanding and does not detail a more precise function of the objects. Certain finds of such vessels at the Ranutovac necropolis, especially the ones from Grave 7, which contained the remains of the incinerated deceased, and Grave 20, which contained the remains of soot from the pyre, indicate that at least those vessels at the necropolis served for the transportation of the remains of the deceased from the pyre to the grave. Therefore, it can almost certainly be noted that those vessels at the necropolis had a function in the course of the burial ritual. The other two vessels recorded at the Ranutovac necropolis were fragmented and therefore it was not possible to register whether they contained the remains from the pyre, even if there were some.77 In a sense, we believe that the shape of the vessels that are modeled as miniature ovens is not coincidental and that the symbolism of such shapes (fire– the one that heats, light– the one that illuminates the way) contributes to an overall symbolism of burial ritual and the passage of the deceased to the afterlife. Similar can be noted for the bird (the vessel from Grave 20 is modeled in the shape of a bird), which symbolized the soul, the spirit of the deceased, passing and the connection between the sky and earth during prehistory, and therefore its symbolism within the burial ritual is unambiguous.78 In fact, in the past the pigeon represented a holy bird, and for that reason it adorned the Zeus sanctuary in Dodona (certain authors consider this sanctuary Pelasgian), and the pigeon is also mentioned within the cults of the Assyrian goddess Ishtar, Phoenician goddess Astarte as well as within other antique cults.79 Based on the find of such vessels at the site of Tatićev Kamen in the village of Kokino, it is indicated that such vessels were utilized in other rituals as well, probably connected to the cult of the deceased and the sacrifice to the underworld. The find was recorded on the northeastern slope of the megalithic Bronze Age observatory, in which a ritual space containing numerous dozens of pits or circular stone structures in which gifts comprised of vessels and other objects have been recorded.80

This type of vessel has been recorded exclusively in the territory of northern Greece, southeastern Albania and Pelagonia, and sporadically in the wider area of the middle course of the Pčinja River.64 Therefore, vessels from the Ranutovac necropolis represent the first finds of such vessels in the territory of Serbia and the northernmost finds in general (Fig. 4.2.).65 During the Early Bronze Age, the territories of Greece, southeastern Albania and Pelagonia were inhabited by communities defined as the bearers of the Armenochori cultural group,66 and several authors define the type of vessel in question as one of the most indicative characteristics of that cultural group.67 In terms of the function of the vessels, several theories have been offered so far: smoke repellent for bees,68 miniature ovens for food heating,69 vessels for ritual purposes70 and lamps.71 Some of the simpler variants of these vessels registered at the Early Bronze Age sites in northern Greece in fact resemble ovens,72 which makes the interpretation offered by Prendi and Bunguri quite logical. The problem with this interpretation lies in the fact that no traces of secondary burning on the inner walls of the vessels from the Ranutovac necropolis were recorded, which should have been noted due to constant exposure to fire or heat if the vessels served as miniature ovens. The shape of some of the vessels, with the disposition of openings and perforations, negates the thesis that the vessels were used in beekeeping73 or as lamps.74 Given the aforementioned different opinions on the function of the vessels, no suitable term to define those vessels has yet been proposed since both “lamps” and “miniature ovens” cannot be considered suitable terms. The recently proposed term “miniature models of ovens”75 solely describes their shape but not function, which 64  For the distribution of such vessels refer to: Bulatović 2013, 1-4, map 1, and Gori 2015, 117-120. 65  Bulatović 2013. 66  Garašanin 1983c, 724-725. Although, M. Garašanin considers Maliq III a separate cultural group. 67  Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016, 85. 68  Harissis-Harissis 2009 (from Gori 2015, 117). 69  Prendi, Bunguri 2008, 255. 70  Rambach 2002, 194; Papanthimou-Papanthimou, Pilali-Papasteriou 2003, 51; Bulatović 2013, 6-7. 71  Sanev 1999. 72  Papanthimou, Papasteriou 2001. 73  Gori 2015, 117. 74  Bulatović 2013, 6. 75  Bulatović 2013.

However, the ember containers have mostly been recorded in settlements and the question of their utilization within settlements arises. There is the possibility that their purpose Gori 2015, 118. Considering that the vessel from Grave 12 was completely vitrified, it was probably burned on the pyre together with the deceased, and therefore it is less likely that it served for the transportation of the remains from the pyre to the grave. 78  Chevalier, Gheebrant 1983, 540-542; Lampić 2000, 116. 79  Mosenkis 2009, 60. 80  Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, 270-276. 76  77 

70

The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory in everyday life was to heat a small portion of liquid or to fumigate the space during some sort of household ritual. Unfortunately, the descriptions of those vessels from other sites do not provide data on whether the insides were burned or other specific technical data, but rather only the form and context of the find, which is insufficient for completely defining their function.

The feature in which a portion of a double-vessel was recorded at the site of Rit at antique Viminacium near Požarevac was dated to the 20th century calBC, which represents the earliest Bronze Age date for such a vessel in the territory of the Central Balkans,87 since Grave 1 at the Ranutovac necropolis was dated to a slightly later period between the 20th and the 19th century calBC (Fig. 6.1).

4.6. Other types of vessels and the remaining finds

4.6.2. Askos

Other typologically defined vessels – a double-vessel, an askos and a vessel on a high foot, represent a total of 6% of the ceramic inventory of the necropolis. It is interesting that all three vessels were recorded within the northern segment of the necropolis. The only non-ceramic find is a perforated stone axe.

The only askos at the necropolis was recorded in Grave 1. It is an ovoid horizontal vessel with one small handle on each side of the opening and most likely one large handle connecting the rim and the backside of the vessel (Pl. 2/3). Such vessels are known from earlier prehistoric periods, the Neolithic in Greece, and are quite common for certain Eneolithic cultural groups including the ones in the territory of the Balkans. From the Early Bronze Age, the askos type of vessel has been recorded in the Troy II settlement,88 in Karanovo VII settlement,89 and in the north, the Glina IIISchneckenberg culture.90 This form of vessel is common for the Coţofeni cultural group91 and also occurs during the preceding Bubanj-Hum I cultural group92 as well as in the Gumelnica cultural group.93 Thus, it cannot be regarded that this form of vessel was characteristic for the Armenochori group or that it came from the south during the Early Bronze Age, considering that this form of vessel was also common for the preceding period and could represent Eneolithic survival. On the other hand, the askos type of vessel has not been recorded at other Early Bronze Age sites in the Central Balkans, and the theory of its penetration from the south at the Ranutovac necropolis stands acceptable, especially considering that most of the ceramic finds at the necropolis bear elements of the Armenochori culture from the territories of southwestern Greece, southeastern Albania and Pelagonia.

4.6.1. Double-vessel Based on the state of preservation, the only double-vessel, which was recorded in Grave 1 (Fig. 4.1), had been exposed to high temperature on the pyre, probably together with the deceased buried in the grave. While the form of the double-vessel is common, it is a sporadic ceramic form for numerous prehistoric cultures81 and therefore finds of such vessels are not frequent. Even though this vessel served a ritual and sacral purpose at the Ranutovac necropolis, such a vessel probably had a certain function in everyday life in settlements as well and could possibly be connected with a certain type of economy. However, such vessels did not occur in the Central Balkans prior to the Early Bronze Age, when those were recorded in the Danube Region,82 Morava Region, Kosovo83 and northeastern Macedonia.84 Based on the chronology and distribution of those finds, it seems that the concept of such ceramic form originated in the south. Namely, such form of vessel has not been recorded within the ceramic inventory of pre-Bronze Age cultures in the Central Balkans, yet it has been recorded within the concurrent period in the south, in Troy and Termi.85 On the other hand, such vessels have not been recorded at the sites of the Armenochori group in its home territory of northwestern Greece, southeastern Albania and Pelagonia, and the exact mechanisms and routes of their penetration towards the Central Balkans remain unknown. At the site of Razkopanica in Thrace, a similar vessel was recorded in the 6th horizon (above the layer in which two-handled beakers occur),86 which could indicate the possible route through which this type of vessel came to the Central Balkans.

4.6.3. Vessel on a high foot Another vessel whose stylistic and typological origin should be sought after in the south is a vessel on a high hollow perforated conical foot (Pl. 4/1). A portion of a similar vessel was recorded above the stone structure of the northern segment of the necropolis (Pl. 8/3). Vessels on a foot, different in form and the height of the foot, are also known from almost all of the prehistoric 87  Bulatović, Jovičić, Milovanović 2019. A slightly earlier date originates from the nearby site of Nad Klepеčkom (the 21st century BC), where a feature contained such vessels. That date could be considered relevant, even though the feature itself has not been dated, the feature next to it has been (Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019). 88  Podzuweit 1979, taf. 24/B/Ia. 89  Leštakov 1992, fig. 11/a,б, fig. 26/и. 90  Маchnik 1991, fig. 4/13, 5/32. 91  Roman 1976, fig. 49/1, 97/1, 115/1; Nikolova 1999, fig. 9.4. 92  Georgieva 2012, tab. 5/2, tab. 23/5. An askos type of vessel was recorded at the site of Begov Most in Staničenje near Pirot, within the cultural layer of this cultural group. I would like to thank Sofija Petković, the director of excavations, for providing me with insight on the archaeological material. 93  Voinea 2005, pl. 97, 98.

81  Маntu, Dumitroaia, Tsaravopoulos 1997, cat. nr. 103, 159; Voinea 2005, pl. 88 and other. 82  Kapuran, Bulatović, Danković 2019, Т. 6/9, 10; Bulatović, Jovičić, Milovanović 2019, T. 2/13. 83  Krstić et al. 1986, T. XVI/1-3; Srejović 2002, fig. 22/3, 5. 84  Nacev 2009, fig. 65. 85  Podzuweit 1979, taf. 25/NI-IV. Unfortunately, it is unknown from which settlement at the site of Troy these vessels originate. 86  Detev 1981, fig. 37.

71

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia

Fig. 4.2. Distribution map of ember containers (1. Ranutovac; 2. Kokino; 3. Lopate; 4. Radobor; 5. Bukri; 6. Maliq; 7. Sovjan; 8. Arhontiko; 9. Axiohori; 10. Mandalo; 11. Hagios Mamas)

periods, from the Neolithic to the Iron Age,94 and most likely represent some sort of ritual decorative vessel, though there are certain examples with an extremely high foot whose form and proportions mark them as unsuitable for repetitive everyday utilization.

recorded along the Aegean coast,95 and a similar vessel on a high hollow perforated foot, without the base, was recorded in a ritual pit at the nearby site of Davidovac.96 During the Early Bronze Age, vessels on a somewhat shorter foot, often perforated, have been recorded in almost the entire territory of the Balkans, including Pannonia and the southern fringe of Central Europe,97 but remain most numerous in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and the Aegean.98

In terms of the Early Bronze Age, vessels most similar to the example from the Ranutovac necropolis with a long hollow foot, but without the perforations, have been

Vessels on a high foot are quite common for the Eneolithic, the Cucuteni culture in eastern Europe (Маntu, Dumitroaia, Tsaravopoulos 1997, cat. no. 41, 64, 67, 68), lower Danube Region (Voinea 2005, pl. 21; Georgieva 2012, figs. 20, 21), Pannonia (Тasić 1995, pls. I and III), Central Balkans (vessel on a high foot has been recorded in a pit containing remnants of a Bubanj-Hum I culture house at the site of Velika Humska Čuka, unpublished) and southern Balkans (Weisshaar 1989, tаf. 19, 20, 37/8).

94 

Podzuweit 1979, taf. 4/NII (Poliochni). Bulatović 2014, pl. III/30. 97  Krstić et al. 1986, T. XV/6; Machnik 1991, fig. 1, fig. 28; Kulscar 2009, fig. 27-30, fig. 60. 98  Blegen et al. 1950 (bowl on a medium high foot with oval perforations), fig. 223a/A13; Pullen 2011, fig. 6.78; Bulatović, Stankovski 2012, T. LVI/50, T. LX/17. 95  96 

72

The Analysis of the Necropolis Inventory Certain authors treat similar vessels on a high foot with multiple handles or applications on the shoulder, with or without the bottom, as drums (tarabuka).99 At the end of this chapter representing the pottery, it should be noted that all of the pottery from the necropolis has approximately the same fabric, with adulterants such as mica flakes and medium-sized quartz sand, and possess a slightly burnished outer surface. The baking color varies between numerous shades of grey, red and ochre, while a grey and mostly dark-grey coating is completely or partially preserved on many vessels. 4.6.4. Stone axe Save for a large grindstone with an indentation from the stone structure of Grave 16, the only non-ceramic find at the necropolis is a ground stone perforated axe made from whitish stone from Grave 3 (Pl. 2/4). The axe is attributed to type 5 of axe-hammer according to the typology proposed by Antonović and Đorđević. This type is quite rare in the territory of Serbia and originates exclusively from Bronze Age sites.100 However, similar axes are widespread at numerous Bronze Age sites in the Balkans and beyond.101

Аiano 2006; Gergov 2011. Antonović, Đorđević 2011, 60. 101  Blegen et al. 1950, fig. 561 (Troy II settlement); Aslanis 1985, Taf. 82/1-4 (layers 21-22); Bogdanović 1986, cat. no. 108; Krstić et al. 1986, T.XVIII/5, 8; Machnik 1991, fig. 10/13, fig. 33/9, fig. 34/9, 10; Girić 1971, T.XIX/1, T. XLVII/1, T. LXXXIII/11, 14 and numerous other sites. 99 

100 

73

5 The Anthropological Analysis and Burial Rites 5.1. The anthropological analysis

soil at the bottom of the grave (graves 17, 19, 21, 22 and 23).

The anthropological analysis of the deceased included the incinerated remains of 21 individuals from the Ranutovac necropolis (Fig. 5.1).1 The analysis pointed out that each of the graves contained the remains of a single individual, even in cases where a considerable amount or several groups of incinerated bones were recorded within a grave. Unfortunately, as the number of bones was small in most of the graves and the bones were cremated at high temperatures, determination of the sex of the deceased was possible solely for Grave 3. This grave contained the remains of a male individual between 20 and 29 years of age, and the individuals in graves 4, 5, 7, 14, 15 and 19 were of similar age. The poor state of preservation and small number of bones were insufficient for an assessment of health status, physical activities and eventual kinship among the deceased buried at the necropolis.

Animal bones were often recorded within the graves but not within the stone structures, which leads to the assumption that the burial feasts took place following the backfilling of the grave, although the possibility that the feasts took place before the backfilling, meaning during the burial itself, should not be excluded. Save for the animal bones, almost all of the graves contained grave goods in the form of vessels, usually cups, as well as bowls, beakers and other vessels. Only Grave 3 contained a non-ceramic object, a perforated stone axe. It is in that grave that a larger quantity of bones was recorded (almost 700 g), as well as in Grave 7 (more than 900 g), indicating a more delicate process of bone collection, which could also indicate a higher social status of the deceased. On the other hand, the largest amounts of bones were recorded in the graves of younger deceased, those under 40 years old, and therefore their age could represent the reason behind the more careful treatment of bones during collection from the pyre. Unfortunately, at this stage of research, this is only assumption since age determination was not possible for most of the deceased whose remains were recorded in small quantities (up to 10 g).

However, several conclusions related to the incineration temperature and certain burial rites were obtained. The remains of the deceased were cremated on a pyre, which was not located within the excavated part of the site.2 The remains were cremated at a quite high, yet uneven temperature, which varied between 645 and 1200 °C in most of the cases. During cremation, the deceased were most likely laid in the supine position. Burnt animal bones, which probably represent remains of food offerings provided to the deceased or served as additional fuel in the form of animal fat in order to reach higher temperatures on the pyre, were recorded together with human bones in several graves. Following incineration, the remains were collected from the pyre without additional crushing and laid into the grave, and some of the deceased were bestowed with grave goods in the form of a piece of meat.3 In most of the cases, a rather small amount of bones was collected from the pyre. The cremated bones were transported from the pyre to some of the graves (possibly all of the graves?) within the so-called ember containers, and the hot remains of the deceased were laid next to the grave before the burial, at least in graves 3 and 12, where an area of intensively burnt soil was recorded next to the graves.4 In some of the graves the remains from the pyre were buried directly, before cooling down, which left a mark of burnt

5.2. The analysis of the architecture of the necropolis and burial rites The Ranutovac necropolis is quite peculiar since only graves with incinerated deceased have been recorded. In other Early Bronze Age necropolises in the Balkans, which are few, inhumation represents a common sepulchral ritual and the combination of incineration and inhumation is recorded as well. A total of 214 graves, of which just 12 contained incinerated deceased placed into ceramic vessels, pits, stone cists or graves hedged with stones were recorded at the Armenochori group necropolis in Xeropigado (Koilada) in northwestern Greece.5 No cists have been recorded at the Ranutovac necropolis, yet all of the graves were hedged and covered with stone, and the remains of the deceased were placed into vessels in some of the graves. Hence certain parallels with the Koilada necropolis can be noticed, though solely in terms of the incinerated graves. The Koilada necropolis was dated to a period between the 23rd and the 19th century calBC, which corresponds

1  Detailed anthropological analysis was carried out by Dragica Bizjak. The analysis is published in: Bulatović, Bizjak, Vitezović 2016. 2  See note 19. 3  Similar ritual was registered at the concurrent necropolis in Mokrin, where animal bones were recorded within the palm area in certain graves, most likely to serve as food for the deceased in the afterlife (Girić 1971, 53, 64, 165, 172). 4  Compare note 19.

5 

75

Maniatis, Ziota 2011, 461.

Ranutovac, an Early Bronze Age Necropolis in southeastern Serbia Grave nr.

Human remains (g)

Sex/ Age

Animal bones (g)

Bowls

Cups

Beakers

Amphorae

NO

3

1

1

1

Ember containers

1

1.2

2

98.6

Adult