Rockshelter mokranjske stene - A new late prehistoric site in eastern Serbia region

Abstract

Archaeological research in Mokranjske stene rockshelter represents the first survey in the region of northeastern Serbia after a three decade long pause, since salvage archaeological work had been conducted prior to the construction of the Derdap II dam. Beside the Byzantine forts dating back to the Middle Ages, finds and cultural horizons had been identified from the La Tène period, the Late Iron Age (Zlot group), the Middle Bronze Age (Verbicioara group), the Late Eneolithic period (Co{ofeni group) and the Middle Eneolithic period (Bubanj-Sǎlcuta-Krivodol cultural complex). The previously unknown Byzantine fort is associated with a larger neighboring fort above the rockshelter. The La Tene period at the rockshelter site is best represented by the find of the infant grave. The settlements from the Late Iron Age and the Middle Bronze Age were probably short-term in contrast to the horizon of the Late Eneolithic Co{ofeni-Kostolac group, which presence was the most intense through the stratigraphy. The horizon with finds from the Bubanj-Salcuja-Krivodol cultural complex is the oldest horizon reached by the test trench, although it contains very few finds.