2014/01/01 by Miljana Radivojević, Julka Kuzmanovic-Cvetković · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies #Ornaments #Vinca #Copper #Nomination #Archaeology #Mineral #Metallurgy #History #Geology #Materials science #Political science
paper · pdf · doi:10.2298/sta1464007r
openalex publication_date 2014/01/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19
The Vinca culture sites of Belovode and Plocnik have been attracting scholarly attention for decades now, due to numerous discoveries indicative of copper mineral and metal use in these settlements, which are confirmed as, currently, the earliest worldwide and very likely developed independently in Eurasia.1 The authors attempt to give an overview of already published data along with new results stemming from the recently completed doctoral research of the primary author.2 All materials related to copper mineral use and pyrometallurgical activities are presented through the concept of metallurgical cha?ne op?ratoire, following the established sequence of operations,3 which is adjusted for this specific case study and divided into three categories: copper mineral processing, (s)melting debris, and the making and working of finished metal objects. The qualitative overview of available data is therefore focused mainly around the material side of the studied samples and provides an insight into the technological choices for making copper mineral ornaments and copper metal artefacts in the sites of Belovode and Plocnik. Accordingly, it provides a model for the understanding of similar material assemblages that occur in other Vinca culture sites, or beyond.