The neolithic settlements in the Timok region and Djerdap gorge hinterland
Authors: Kapuran Aleksandar , Bulatovic Aleksandar , Jovanovic Igor 
Published: June 2011

For many years, the territory along the course of the Crni Timok river in
northeast Serbia was not presented as an interesting area for early Neolithic
excavation. However, recent inspection of older unpublished data, with newer
reconnaissance, has shed new light on this period of prehistory. A larger
number of sites have been discovered with similar topographical positions on
the edges/rims of large areas or on ridges above river courses. Thanks to
cooperation between the geographical project TOPOI from Berlin and the
Archaeological Institute in Belgrade, work has begun on the production of a
digital ?archaeological model of probability? (ARM), which will improve
reconnaissance of this region. Alongside the only systematic
excavation/investigation of settlements in Kucajna, 16 more localities have
been confirmed, situated in the area between the Roman imperial palace of
Felix Romuiana in the south and Bor in the north. They are located at the
following sites: Cerova Faca and Dubrava in Brestovac; Kot 1 and 2, Pundjilov
potok (Pundjil?s stream) in Metovnica; La Bunar in Sarbanovac; Smolnica, Abri
above Lazareve pecine (Lazarus? cave), Donja Stopanja (Lower Stopanja) Kobila
in Zlot. In the area around Felix Romuliana several settlements have been
discovered: in sectors Intra and Extra muros, Kravarnik, Varzari, Petronj 2,
sites between Magura and Rimski majdan (Roman mine) and Visicina Basta. From
the examination of finds discovered at these sites it can be concluded that
on the territory along the course of the River Timok the population of the
Starcevo-Keres-Kris cultural complex was relatively well established during
the early Neolithic period. The Neolithic occupation of the region had
proceeded from the Djerdap gorge in the north and Sicevacka, Svrljiska and
Trgoviska gorges in the south, towards the course of the River Timok i.e. the
central part of north-east Serbia. The Mesolithic populations had gradually
accepted the production of food. Utilizing the optimal climate and fertile
soil, they improved their husbandry through new agricultural methods and the
better domestication of animals. This experimental process demanded
successive migrations, which impoverished the quality of soil and the
seasonal movements of animals that needed to be tamed. By analysis of the
topographical and geomorphologic character of this terrain, early Neolithic
settlements can be described as being agricultural-livestock husbandry and
livestock husbandry-hunting based. The first settlements were located on
gently inclined terrains relatively close to water sources, at altitudes of
180 to 300 m. The second category of settlements were formed on uplands,
offering a better view of the terrain, 230 to over 450 metres above sea
level. These were probably short-term or seasonal settlements since such
territories were usually unsuitable for habitation during the winter months.
The poor geomorphology of the land, the magma-rock substratum and ill-drained
soil, in combination with primitive agriculture, guaranteed greater soil
erosion, which would destroy the economic worth of the soil. With the
disappearance of the early- Neolithic population from this region, human
habitation did not reoccur until several millennia later, during the middle
Bronze age.