Material culture of Dardan's in pre-roman period

• Main Author: Savić Marija M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Serbian Culture Priština, Leposavić 2015-01-01
• Series: Baština
• Subjects: dardanians; territory; pre-roman period; material culture
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0353-9008/2015/0353-90081539067S.pdf

Dardan's cultural group may be followed from chronological and archaeological aspect starting from 8th century B.C. based on findings of ceramics decorated on a specific way by tooth like instrument. It is made by free hand of grey and sombre facture with polishing application. Out of shapes bowls with inner inset rim, jugs with oblique slanted rim, urns with lecherous and sloping or horizontally mounted rim, and conical bowls with a handle are dominating. By the tooth like instrument motives in the shape of slanting and horizontal lines are derivate often in the combination with keneluras. With coarser vessels plastic tape with finger prints or nail notches are being appeared. Such ceramics is characterized for the period from the 8th to 6th century B.C., and it is appeared in settlements and necropolis. Settlements in this period are of hill fort type such as: Belacevac, Gadimlje, Cernica, Hisar, Sredno Nerezi, Pelince, Kanarevo, Mlado Negoricano, necropolis are under tumulus (Siroko, Vlastica, Karagac, Glavucica) and flat graveyards with skelets in northern Macedonia. In the period from the 6th century to the middle of the 5th century B.C. Dardan's culture is Hellenised, thus to the increased concentration of imported findings, and the appearance of ceramics made on winch in reddish, ocher, sombre, and grey facture, and also painted ceramics and the one made by free hand in smaller percentage. After this period, from the 5th century B.C. the defence system is being perfectionnated, and also the space organization itself which indicates to the stratification of Dardan's society. The structure of the settlement is made of acropolis surrounded by vast ramparts, fortified suburb, and open settlement at some lower Plato. Such settlements are known in Krsevica, Skopsko Kale, Hisar and Veliko Gadimlje. From the 3rd century B.C. fort settlements are being abandoned without demolishing traces. In these settlements in the period before forts abandonment, grey local made ceramics dominates. On Dardanians more data originate in this period from antique sources. On some localities continuity of settlements has existed until the Roman period such as Hisar near Suva Reka, Karagac near Kosovska Mitrovica, Oraovica and Krsevica near Vranje.