Crkvine locality gets status of archaeological site

BELGRADE- The Serbian government adopted a decision on Monday according to which the Crkvine locality in Stubline, Belgrade municipality of Obrenovac, should be granted the status of an archaeological site, the Belgrade City Museum released.

The site holds the remains of the settlement from late Neolithic and the period of Vinca culture. On the basis of the features of ceramic finds, the settlement has been dated back to the period between 5250 and 4600 BC.

The first written data concerning the site date back to the first half of the 20th century, when an old church reportedly stood in the area.

Small-scope archaeological digs were conducted in 1967, and in the period from 2007 to 2011, geo-magnetic and geo-electrical scans were carried out in the area.

Systemic archaeological digs and research activities begun in 2008. The Vinca culture settlement has so far provided important information on the organisation of life in teh area and the shape of the facilities built from massive wood and demijohn structures.

The remains of two rectangular houses divided in two sections have been thoroughly searched. The premises held remains of ovens for food preparations and heating, storage compartments, sacrificial altar, grindstones and small clay tables, as well as architectural clay decorations and dishes for food preparation.

An exceptional find piece consists of 43 clay figurines and accompanying 11 miniature clay tools discovered by the side of one oven.

On grounds of the geographic position, size, remains of housing architecture and a number of discovered artefacts of exceptional artistic and craftsman features, the archaeological site represents a unique
settlement type of Vinca culture...