More than floors and domes – contexts around ovens in the late neolithic of the Central Balkans

Cercetări Arheologice 31.1, 2024, 11-30
https://doi.org/10.46535/ca.31.1.01



More than floors and domes – contexts around ovens in the late neolithic of the Central Balkans

More than floors and domes – contexts around ovens in the late neolithic of the Central Balkans

Authors: Ana Đuričić

Keywords:

Oven, Neolithic architecture, Vinča culture, Late Neolithic, Balkan Neolithic

Abstract:

Even though ovens are the most prominent feature in the Vinča culture houses, they have often been neglected in the archaeological publications. Usually, only the information about their location or number of floors is provided, but more detailed descriptions are missing. This is also influenced by their poor preservation in the archaeological record, as parts of their upper structure are often missing. But, although fully preserved ovens represent quite a rarity, contexts surrounding them are usually filled with different categories of artefacts and architectural features. These complex contexts that include ovens, offer plethora of information about different socio-economic phenomena in the Late Neolithic of the Central Balkans. Therefore, ovens should be perceived as more than just fire installations for food processing and house heating, as they can offer insight into household organization and symbolic aspects of the Neolithic life. Additionally, ovens located in the outdoor spaces can provide information about settlement organization and social dynamics on a larger scale. In this paper, different contexts around ovens are presented and interpreted – from functional, economic, social, and symbolic perspective.

Download: PDF

How to cite: Ana Đuričić, More than floors and domes – contexts around ovens in the late neolithic of the Central Balkans, Cercetări Arheologice, Vol. 31.1, pag. 11-30, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.46535/ca.31.1.01

Bibliography

  1. Banning, E. B. 1998. The Neolithic Period: Triumphs of Architecture, Agriculture, and Art. Near Eastern Archaeology 61(4): 188-237, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3210656.
  2. Belderok, B. 2000. Developments in bread-making processes. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 55: 1–14, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008199314267.
  3. Benac, A. 1971. Obre II. Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja u Sarajevu 26: 5-300.
  4. Bogdanović, M. 1988. Architectural and Structural Features at Divostin, in: A. McPheron and D. Srejović (eds.) Divostin and the Neolithic of Central Serbia, Ethnology Monographs 10: 35–142. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh – Department of Archaeology.
  5. Bogdanović, M. 2008. Settlements of Vinča culture, Architecture, in: N. Tasić (ed.) Grivac, Settlements of Proto-Starčevo and Vinča culture: 145-191. Kragujevac: Center for Scientific Research of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
  6. Borghi, B., Castagna, R., Corbellini, M., Heun, M. and Salamini, F. 1996. Breadmaking quality of einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp. Monococcum). Cereal Chemistry 73: 208–214.
  7. Borojević K., Antonović D., Vuković J., +7 authors, and Tasić N. N. 2020. Use of Space in a Late Neolithic/Early Eneolithic Building at the Site of Vinča–Belo Brdo in the Central Balkans, in: N. N.Tasić, D. Urem-Kotsou, and M. Burić (eds.) Making Spaces into Places. The North Aegean, the Balkans and Western Anatolia in the Neolithic: 157–180. Oxford: BAR Publishing.
  8. Byrd, B. 1994. Public and Private, Domestic and Corporate: The Emergence of the Southwest Asian Village. American Antiquity 59(4): 639-666, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/282338.
  9. Cauvin J. 2000. The Birth of the Gods and the Origins of Agriculture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  10. Çilingiroglu Ç. 2005. The concept of “Neolithic package”: considering its meaning and applicability. Documenta Praehistorica 32: 1–13, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.32.1.
  11. Crnobrnja, A. 2011. Arrangement of Vinča culture figurines: a study of social structure and organization. Documenta Prahistorica 38: 131-147, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.38.11.
  12. Crnobrnja, A. 2012. Investigations of Late Vinča House 1/2010 at Crkvine in Stubline. Starinar 62: 45-64, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/STA1262045C.
  13. Crnobrnja, A., Simić, Z. and Janković, M. 2009. Late Vinča culture settelment at Crkvine in Stubline. Starinar 59: 9-25, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/STA0959009C.
  14. Cuba, L. and Hammon, D. M. 1993. A Place to Call Home: Identification with Dwelling, Community, and Region. The Sociological Quarterly 34(1): 111-131, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.1993.tb00133.x.
  15. Чаусидис, Н. 2010а. Отац хлеба. Мушки аспекти квасца и други елементи обредне производње хлеба. Етно-култутолошки зборник за проучавање културе источне Србије и суседних области 14: 89-112.
  16. Чаусидис, Н. 2010b. Мати хлеба: женски аспекти наћви, пећи и црепуље у словенском фолклору, у релацији с праисторијским традицијама. Традиционална естетска култура 4: 131-161.
  17. Đuričić, A. 2014. The Construction and Usage of the Neolithic Oven: Experimental Archaeology, in:  D. Antonović and S. Vitezović (eds.) Archaeotechnology: studying technology from prehistory to the Middle Ages:  257–276. Beograd: Srpsko arheološko društvo.
  18. Đuričić, A. 2019. Ognjišta i peći u neolitu centralnog Balkana – tehnike izrade i upotreba. Unpublished PhD thesis. Faculty of Philosophy. Beograd: University of Belgrade, https://nardus.mpn.gov.rs/handle/123456789/122 28?locale-attribute=sr_RS.
  19. Đuričić, A. 2020. Oven daub preservation in the archaeological record – Vinča culture sites, in: S. Vitezović, K. Šarić, and D. Antonović (eds.) Current interdisciplinary studies in technology in the archaeology of the South-East Europe: 138–144. Beograd: Srpsko arheološko društvo.
  20. Đuričić, A. 2021. Vinča culture ovens – from cinnabar to bread: a review of interpretations and the role of ethnology in archaeological studies, in: I. Kaić, M. Cvetko and H. Tomas (eds.) Proceedings of the 1st & 2nd International Doctoral Student Conference on Archaeology (IDSCA): 11-19. Zagreb: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Archaeology, Archaeological Institute.
  21. Đuričić, A. 2022. What we do for food – social strategies for overcoming food scarcity in the Neolithic of the Central Balkans. Documenta Praehistorica 49: 46-66, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.49.23.
  22. Filipović, D. 2014. Southwest Asian founder-and other crops at Neolithic sites in Serbia. Blgarsko e-Spisanje za Arheologija 4(2): 195–215.
  23. Filipović D. and Obradović, Đ. 2013. Archaeobotany at Neolithic sites in Serbia: a critical overview of the methods and results, in: N. Miladinović-Radmilović and S. Vitezović (eds.) Bioarheologija na Balkanu: bilans i perspective: 25–55. Beograd: Srpsko Arheološko Društvo.
  24. Filipović, D., Obradović, Đ. and Tripković, B. 2018. Plant storage in Neolithic southeast Europe: synthesis of the archaeological and archaeobotanical evidence from Serbia. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 27(1): 31–44, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-017-0638-7.
  25. Филиповић, М. 1951. Женска керамика код балканских народa. Београд:  Српска академија наука.
  26. Gur-Arieh, S., Mintz, E., Boaretto, E. and Shahack-Gross, R. 2013. An ethnoarchaeological study of cooking installations in rural Uzbekistan: development of a new method for identification of fuel sources. Journal of Archaeological Science 40: 4331-4347, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.06.001.
  27. Haaland, R. 2007. Porridge and Pot, Bread and Oven: Food Ways and Symbolism in Africa and the Near East from the Neolithic to the Present. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 17: 165-182, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774307000236.
  28. Hodder, I. 1990. The Domestication of Europe: structure and contingency in Neolithic societies. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
  29. Јовановић, Б. и Глишић, Ј. 1961. Енеолитско насеље на Кормадину код Јакова. Старинар 11: 113-139.
  30. Kaiser, T. and Voytek, B. 1983. Sedentism and economic change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 2(4): 323-353, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4165(83)90013-2.
  31. Карапанџић, Д. 1933. Д-р М. М. Васић: „Преисторијска Винча”. Српски књижевни гласник 38(7): 545–548.
  32. Katina, K., Sauri, M., Alakomi, H.L. and Mattila-Sandholm, T. 2002. Potential of lactic acid bacteria to inhibit rope spoilage in wheat sourdough bread. LWT-Food Science and Technology 35(1): 38-45, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/fstl.2001.0808.
  33. Lyons, D. and D’Andrea, C. 2003. Griddles, Ovens, and Agricultural Origins: An Ethnoarchaeological Study of Bread Baking in Highland Ethiopia. American Anthropologist. New Series 105(3): 515-530, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.2003.105.3.515.
  34. Mallett, S. 2004. Understanding home: a critical review of the literature. Sociological review 54(1): 62-89, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2004.00442.x.
  35. Марић, М. 2011. Архитектура и иедеална реконструкција објеката од лепа. Колубара 5:  69–83.
  36. Miller, N. F. and Wetterstrom, W. 2000. The Beginnings of Agriculture: The Ancient Near East and North Africa, in: K. F. Kiple and K. C. Ornelas (eds.) The Cambridge World History of Food: 1123-1239. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.
  37. Moore, J. 2000. Placing home in context. Journal of Environmental Psychology 20: 207-217, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.2000.0178.
  38. Nikolić, D. and Vuković, J. 2008a. Vinča ritual vessels: archaeological context and possible meaning. Starinar 58: 61-69, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/STA0858051N.
  39. Николић, Д. и Вуковић, Ј. 2008b. Чувари и заштитници – култни предмети, у: Д. Николић (ур.) Винча – праисторијска метропола: 165-179. Београд: Филозофски факултет универзитета у Београду, Народни музеј у Београду, Музеј града Београда.
  40. Orton D. 2012. Herding, settlement, and chronology in the Balkan Neolithic. European Journal of Archaeology 15(1): 5–40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/1461957112Y.0000000003.
  41. Пецикоза, В. 2009. Анализа пећи из млађег неолита на централном Балкану. Архаика 2: 27–35.
  42. Perić, S. 2008. The oldest cultural horizon of trench XV at Drenovac. Starinar 58: 29–50, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2298/STA0858029P.
  43. Perić, S. 2017. Drenovac: a Neolithic settlement in the Middle Morava Valley, Serbia. Antiquity 91(357): e4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2017.41.
  44. Петровић, Б. 2001. Модел неолитске пећи из Прогара. Годишњак града Београда 47-48: 11-20.
  45. Porčić, M. 2018. Evaluating Social Complexity and Inequality in the Balkans Between 6500 and 4200 BC. Journal of Archaeological Research 27(3): 335–390, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-018-9126-6.
  46. Porčić, M. 2020. Observations on the origin and demography of the Vinča culture. Quaternary International 560– 561: 57–64, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.04.012.
  47. Родић, З. 2010. Народно градитељство и становање у Пироту и околини. Глсник Етнографског музеја 74(1): 109–142.
  48. Samuel, D. 1999. Bread Making and Social Interactions at the Amarna Workmen´s Village, Egypt. Word Archaeology 31(1): 121–144, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.1999.9980435.
  49. Spasić, M. 2012. Cattle to settle – bull to rule: on bovine iconography among Late Neolithic Vinča culture communities. Documenta Praehistorica 39: 295-308, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.39.22.
  50. Spasić, M. and Živanović, S. 2015. Foodways architecture: storing, processing and dining structures at the Late Neolithic Vinča culture site at Stubline. Documenta Praehistorica 42: 219-230, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.42.15.
  51. Stevanović, M. 1997. The Age of Clay: the social dynamics of house destruction. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 16(4): 334–395, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jaar.1997.0310.
  52. Šljivar, D and Jacanović, D. 2005. Zoomorphic figurines from Belovode. Зборник Народног музеја 18(1): 69-78.
  53. Тасић, Н. Н, Ђуричић, С, Лазаревић, Б. 2007. Анализа конструкције жрвња из куће 01/06 у Винчи. Гласник Српског археолошког друштва 23: 211-218.
  54. Todorović, J. 1981. A recently discovered house in the late neolithic settlement of Banjica in Belgrade. Archaeologia Iugoslavica 18: 13-16.
  55. Тодоровић Ј. и Цермановић, А. 1961. Бањица, насеље винчанске културе. Београд: Музеј града Београда.
  56. Tringham, R. 2005. Weaving house life and death into places: a blueprint for a hypermedia narrative, in: D. Douglass, A. Whittle, W. Cummings and U. Vicki. (Un)settling the Neolithic: 98-111. Oxford: Oxbow.
  57. Tringham, R., Brukner, B. and Voytek, B. 1985. The Opovo Project: A Study of Socioeconomic Change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology 12(4): 425-444, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/009346985791169832.
  58. Tringham, R. Brukner, B., Kaiser, T., Borojević, K., Bukvić, Lj., Šteli, P., Russell, N., Stevanović M., and Voytek. B. 1992. Excavations at Opovo, 1985-1987: Socioeconomic change in the Balcan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology 19(3): 351-386, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/009346992791548860.
  59. Трипковић, Б. 2007. Домаћинство и простор у касном неолиту. Београд: Српско археолошко друштво.
  60. Трипковић, Б. 2011. Домаћинство и заједница – кућне и насеобинске историје у касном неолиту централног Балкана. Београд: Филозофски факултет, Универзитет у Београду.
  61. Васић, М. 1911. Дневник са ископавања у Винчи, рукопис. Београд: Народни музеј.
  62. Васић, М. 1912. Дневник са ископавања у Винчи, рукопис. Београд: Народни музеј.
  63. Васић, М. 1932. Преисторијска Винча I. Београд: Државна штампарија.
  64. Вишекруна, Д. 2005. Израда пећи од блата у Бегечу. Гласник Етнографског музеја у Београду 69: 133–146.
  65. Вуковић, Ј. 2011. Технике обликовања каснонеолитске грнчарије: Питос из куће 01/06 у Винчи. Зборник Нардног музеја 20(1): 71-82.
  66. Watkins, T. 1990. The Origins of House and Home? World Archaeology 21: 336-347, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.1990.9980112.
  67. Weinstein, M. 1973. Household Structures and Activities. Anatolian Studies 23: 271-276, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3642545.
  68. Zaharieva, M., Maria, A. Negash, G., Al Hakimi, A., Misra, S. C. and Monneveux, P. 2010. Cultivated emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon Schrank), an old crop with promising future: a review. Genet Resour Crop Evol 57: 937–962, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9572-6.

Creative Commons Licence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License