THE STRUMA/STRYMON RIVER VALLEY IN PREHISTORY Praehistoricus (Popova... · Prehistoric Settlements in the Province of Kjustendil ... The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory

THE STRUMA/STRYMON RIVER VALLEY

IN PREHISTORY

In The Steps of James Harvey GaulVolume 2

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in PrehistoryProceedings of the International Symposium „Strymon Praehistoricus“,Kjustendil–Blagoevgrad–Serres–Amphipolis, 27.09–01.10.2004Editing: Henrieta Todorova, Mark Stefanovich and Georgi Ivanov1. Prehistoric–Europe; 2. Neolithic period–Europe; 3 Europe–Antiquities. 544 pp., 29 maps, 9 topograchical plans, 779 color photos, 81 b/w photos,815 drawings, 58 tabl., 32 diagrams and simplified graphs, 10 reconstructions drawing of houses.

Museum of History-KyustendilISBN: 978-954-8191-11-1

Sofia (2007) First published

Gerda Henkel Stiftung

GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNGMALKASTENSTRASSE 15, D-40211 DÜSSELDORF, GERMANYTELEFON +49 (0)211 35 98 53, TELEFAX +49 (0)211 35 71 [email protected] WWW.GERDA-HENKEL-STIFTUNG.DE

Copyright © 2007 by GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG and THE AUTHORS ISBN: 978-954-8191-11-1

No part of this publication may by reproduced by any means, including photocopy, recording or other information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG and THE AUTHORS. The copyright to the illustrations are hold by the authors.

Printed in Bulgaria at BULGED. Digital print. The technology of Indigo.

English texts edited by: MARK STEFANOVICHDrawings and Maps by: IVAN VAJSOV, MICHAIL GEORGIEV AND AUTHORS ©Photographs: KRASIMIR GEORGIEV AND AUTORS ©Graphic desing, layout and artistic supervisions: GEORGI IVANOV (pages I–X; 1–41; 121–534) AND IVAN VAJSOV (pages 42–120) ©Cover graphic desing by: GEORGI IVANOV AND IVAN VAJSOV ©Cover photographs by: KRASIMIR GEORGIEV, GEOGRI IVANOV AND CHAIDO KOUKOULI-CHRYSSANTHAKI ©

Sofi a 2007

Proceedings of the Internat ional Symposium

Strymon Praehistoricus

Kjustendil–Blagoevgrad

(Bulgaria)

Serres–Amphipolis

(Greece)

27.09–01.10.2004

Edited by

Henrieta Todorova, Mark Stefanovich, Georgi Ivanov

THE STRUMA/STRYMON RIVER VALLEY IN PREHISTORY

Gerda Henkel Stiftung

Table of Contents

Vorwort ........................................................................................................................................................... vii

Die paleoklimatische Entwicklung in VII–I Jt. vor Chr.H. Todorova ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Abrupt Climate Forcing Observed at Early Neolithic Sites in South-East Europe and the Near EastB. Weninger, E. Alram-Stern, E. Bauer, L. Clare, U. Danzeglocke, O. Jöris, C. Kubatzki, G. Rollefson, H. Todorova, T. van Andel .................................................................... 7

Social Network Analysis of Neolithic SocietiesE. Claßen ........................................................................................................................................................ 28

Promachon-Topolnica. A greek-bulgarian archaeological projectCh. Koukouli-Chryssanthaki, H. Todorova, I. Aslanis, I. Vajsov, M. Valla ................................................. 43

Promachon-Topolnica. A typology of painted decorations and its use as a chronological markerI. Vajsov .......................................................................................................................................................... 79

Tierdarstellungen und „Stierkult“ im Neolithikum Südosteuropas und AnatoliensF. Falkenstein ................................................................................................................................................121

Where Do Children Belong? Neolithic burials in western BulgariaK. Băčvarov ...................................................................................................................................................139

Нови сведения за ранния неолит в Северозападна БългарияГ. Ганецовски ...............................................................................................................................................147

Die Entstehung und Gliederung der neolithischen Kulturen auf dem Zentralbalkan: Fallbeispiel GălăbnikJ. Pavúk ........................................................................................................................................................ 165

Tell Gălăbnik. Architecture and Site PlanningA. Bakamska ..................................................................................................................................................177

Крайници – раннокерамично селище от басейна на река СтрумаС. Чохаджиев, А. Бакъмска Л. Нинов .....................................................................................................181

The Early Neolithic Site at Piperkov Čiflik, Near Kjustendil (Season 2004)V. Vandova ....................................................................................................................................................191

Proto-Starčevo Culture and Early Neolithic in the Struma ValleyM. Bogdanović ..............................................................................................................................................201

La périodisation des sites préhistoriques dans la vallée de la Strouma moyenneL. Perničeva .................................................................................................................................................. 209

Das Frühchalkolithikum des StrymonbereichsS. Čochadžiev ............................................................................................................................................... 223

Some Observations on Zoomorphic Images from Western BulgariaS. Terzijska–Ignatova ................................................................................................................................... 227

Prehistoric Settlements in the Province of KjustendilV. Genadieva ................................................................................................................................................ 239

Recent Researches at the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Eastern Macedonia, Greece: an OverviewP. Darcque, H. Koukouli-Chryssanthaki, D. Malamidou, R. Treuil, Z. Tsirtsoni ......................................247

Neolithic Societies: Recent Evidence from Northern GreeceM. Pappa .......................................................................................................................................................257

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2

Linguistische Angaben über die Namen der Flüsse Axios, Strymon, NestosI. Duridanov † ............................................................................................................................................. 273

Prehistorical Sites in the Middle Struma River Valley Between the End of the VIIth mill. BC and the Beginning of the Ist mill. BCM. Grębska-Kulowa, I. Kulow ..................................................................................................................... 279

Kryoneri: a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement in the Lower Strymon ValleyD. Malamidou .............................................................................................................................................. 297

Absolute Chronology of the Neolithic and Eneolithic Cultures in the Valley of StrumaJ. Bojadžiev ................................................................................................................................................... 309

Decline of the Painted Pottery in Eastern Macedonia and North Aegean at the End of the Final Neolithic/Chalcolithic PeriodS. Papadopoulos ............................................................................................................................................317

On the Late Stages of the Krivodol-Sălcuţa CultureP. Georgieva ................................................................................................................................................. 329

The Ethno-Cultural Affiliation of the North Anatolian Early Bronze AgeJ. Yakar ......................................................................................................................................................... 339

Dating the Donja Brnjica Culture Based on Metal FindsK. Luci .......................................................................................................................................................... 347

A Late Bronze Age Cemetery in Faia Petra, East of the Middle Strymon Valley M. Valla ........................................................................................................................................................ 359

The Late Bronze Age Necropolis in the Тown of Sandanski, Southwest BulgariaS. Alexandrov, V. Petkov, G. Ivanov .............................................................................................................373

Krsto Pokrovnik Excavations at a Late Bronze Age Site in the Middle Struma River Valley, Southwest Bulgaria. Preliminary results – 2004 seasonM. Stefanovich, I. Kulov .............................................................................................................................. 389

Tradition and Innovation in the Bronze Age Pottery of the Thessaloniki Toumba.Food and drink consumption and “tableware” ceramicsS. Andreou, K. Psaraki ................................................................................................................................ 397

Bronzezeitliche Goldornate aus Süddeutschland und ihre donauländisch-balkanischen BeziehungenW. David ....................................................................................................................................................... 421

The Beginning of the Iron Age in Macedonia D. Mitrevski .................................................................................................................................................. 443

Assiros Toumba. A brief history of the settlementK.A. Wardle, D. Wardle. ...............................................................................................................................451

Troy VIIB2 Revisited. The date of the transition from Bronze to Iron Age in the Northern AegeanK.A. Wardle, M. Newton, P.I. Kuniholm .....................................................................................................481

Palaeobotanical Data in South-Western Region of BulgariaTz. Popova, E. Marinova .............................................................................................................................. 499

Промахон-Тополница. Компаративно изследване на дивите и домашни животни от сектор ТополницаН. Илиев, Н. Спасов .................................................................................................................................. 509

Agriculture and Use of Space at Promachon/Topolnica. Preliminary observations on the archaeobotanical materialS.M. Valamoti ............................................................................................................................................... 523

Palaeoecological Evidence of the Main Postglacial Vegetation and Climate Changes in Southwestern Bulgaria from the Neolithic to Modern TimesE. Božilova, S. Tonkov ..................................................................................................................................531

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory

Участниците в конференцията пред Археологическия музей на Серес, 1 октомври 2004 г.Οι συμμετέχοντες στο συνέδριο μπροστά από το Αρχαιολογικό μουσείο στις Σέρρες, 1 Οκτωβρίου 2004.The participants of the conference in front of the Archaeological Museum of Serres, 1st of October 2004.

Henrieta Todorova [email protected] Weninger [email protected] Claßen [email protected] Koukouli-Chryssanthaki [email protected] Aslanis [email protected] Vajsov [email protected] Falkanstein [email protected] Bačvarov [email protected] Ganetzovski [email protected] Pavuk [email protected]

Aneta Bakamska [email protected] Čochadžiev [email protected] Vandova [email protected] Liljana Perničeva [email protected] Terzijska–Ignatova [email protected] Genadieva [email protected] Darcque [email protected]é Treuil [email protected]ï Tsirtsoni [email protected] Papa [email protected] Grębska-Kulowa [email protected] Kulow [email protected] Malamidou [email protected] Bojadžiev [email protected]

Stratis Papadopoulos [email protected] Georgieva [email protected] Yakar [email protected] Luci [email protected] Valla [email protected] Alexandrov [email protected] Ivanov [email protected] Stefanovich [email protected] Andreou [email protected] David [email protected] Mitrevski [email protected] Ken Wardle [email protected] Wardle [email protected] Newton [email protected]. Kuniholm [email protected] Popova [email protected] Spasov [email protected] Božilova [email protected] Tonkov [email protected] Maria Valamoti [email protected] Nasteva [email protected] Petar Zidarov [email protected] Gaydarska [email protected] Debochichki [email protected]

vi


The South-Western region of Bulgaria is one of the less studied with respect to the paleobo-tanic regions of Bulgaria compared with some other parts of the country. In the last years the archeological excavations in this area have in-creased in number. Most of the studied sites (settlements) are located alongside the main

stream and the feeders of the river of Struma. The river of Struma is one of the most signifi-cant rivers in Bulgaria. For is length – 290 km – measured from its sources till the state frontier with Greece it stands 4th in the country after the rivers of Iskar, Tundja and Maritza; and as for the size of its water catching ent – of 10797 sq.

Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria

Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova

The archeobotanics of Southwestern Bulgaria is less investigated, than the Thracian plain. Here the development of the prehistoric cultures, and mainly on the valley of Struma/Strimon, has special importance for the prehistory of the Balkans. The Struma valley is one of the roads connecting Anatolia and Northern Aegean with Balkans. The investigated settlements existed from the Neolithic Period to the Late Bronze Age. Most of them are located along the valley of Struma and the feed-ers. The attempt was made to draw general conclusions from some sites – Slatino, Vaksevo, Topolnica, Kamenska Čuka, Kovačevo, Bălgarčevo, Gălăbnik, Drenkovo-Ploshteko and compare together with the data, obtained from other research workers of the area. The hulled wheat is mainly cultivated (Triticum monococcum - einkorn, Triticum dicoccum - emmer).

The wide spread of einkorn wheat is due to adaptation to different ecology environment. The emmer is presented in large amounts, followed by barley, mostly hulled (Hordeum vulgare var.vulgare), but naked occurred too – H.vulgare var. nudum. Pulses are the next group of cultivated plants grown in the area, most abundant and numerous of them were lentils and bitter vetch. The finds from chick pea from Gălăbnik are particularly interesting. Similar ones were found in the Early Neolithic settlement Orlica near the town of Kirkovo, Eastern Rhodope Mountains, and in Kapitan Dimitrievo too. This plant is almost unknown from paleobotanical data from this period. Its’ present in these settle-ments as well as in Chalcolithic layers of the Yunacite tell demonstrates that it came together with the whole Anatolian complex of cultivated plants in the territory of Bulgaria.

The Neolithic settlements from Southwestern Bulgaria are rich in archaeobotanical material. The presence of these species in the investigated settlements from the territory of Bulgaria is similar with the results from other settle-ments in the Balkans.

Палеоетноботанични данни в района на Югозападна БългарияЦветана Попова, Елена Маринова

Югозападна България е един слабо изследван в палеоботанично отношение район. Тук развитието на праисторическите култури, главно по течението на р. Струма, е от особено значение за Балканската праисто-рия, тъй като р. Струма е един от пътищата, свързващ Анатолия и Северна Егея с Балканите. Изследваните селища обхващат с отделни прекъсвания периода от ранния неолит до късната бронзова епоха. В по-голяма-та си част те са разположени по долината на р. Струма и по нейните притоци. Направен е опит да се обобщят резултатите от палеоботаническите изследвания от няколко обекта: Слатино, Ваксево, Тополница, Каменска чука, Ковачево, Българчево, Гълъбник, Дренково-Площеко както и да се сравнят с данните, получени от дру-ги изследователи на обекти от района.

Анализът показа, че в района са били отглеждани предимно плевестите пшеници (Triticum monococcum – еднозърнеста пшеница, Triticum dicoccum – двузърнеста пшеница). Широкото разпространение на едно-зърнестта пшеница се дължи на приспособимостта й към различните екологични условия. Двузърнесттата пшеница също е представена в големи количества, следва ечемикът, предимно плевест (Hordeum vulgare var.vulgare), но се е срещал и голозърнест – H.vulgare var. nudum.

Бобовите растения са втората група отглеждани земеделска култури. Основно са се отглеждали уровът и лещата. Интерес представляват находките от нахут от Гълъбник. Подобни са открити и в раннонеолитното селище Орлица, до гр. Кирково в Източните Родопи, и в Капитан-Димитриево (Тракия). Растението бе почти непознато досега по палеоботанични данни от този период. Присъствието му в неолитните селища доказва, че то е донесено заедно с целия анатолийски арсенал от културни растения на територията на страната в рамките на неолитизационните процеси.

Неолитните селища от Югозападна България са богати на археоботанични материали. Присъствие на изброените видове е констатирано и в други неолитни селища от територията на България, което е в унисон с резултатите от палеоботаническите изследвания от останалата част на Балканския полуостров.


km. – it stands second after the river of Maritza. The rivers of Struma and Mesta are included in the district falling under the influence of the Mediterranean – a fact that is essential for the structure of the water balance. This region is distinguished for the highest rainfalls compared to the surrounding regions. The most often to be found in the region are the maroon forest soils and the most significant characteristics of the soil tegument here is the heavy erosion. The alluvium and delluvium soils alongside the river beds are shallow (ГЪЛЪБОВ 1982).

In the period about 8000 ВР according to climatic reconstructions based on precipitation of sapropel in the Mediterranean lands (DAVIS et al 2003) presumably there has been an in-crease in humidity in South-Eastern Europe. The palynological data from Pirin Mts. point

to warmer and humid conditions in the period about 7200–6500 BP. In this time the temper-ate decidous trees reached higher altitudes than today. According to the palaeoecological investigations in Pirin Montains around 6000 BP a change of the seasonality of the climate took place, when summers became significant cooler and winters warmer (STEFANOVA/AMMAN 2003).

The vegetation in the Struma valley west-ward of the town of Simitly, in the Tundja val-ley south of Belitza, Slavjanka and the East Rhodopes is described as one with superiority of the Mediterranean vegetable life. Charac-teristic species for the region are: Quecus coc-cifera, Pistacia sp., dendriform and red juniper, wild jasmine. A considerable place in the struc-ture of the vegetation take the hairy oak tree

Fig. 1. Map of the considered sites.

1 – Gălăbnik2 – Kovačevo3 – Čavdar4 – Slatina5 – Vaxevo6 – Kapitan Dimitrievo7 – Rakitovo8 – Kremenik9 – Bălgarčevo10 – Drenkovo11 – Slatino12 – Topolnica13 – Kamenska čuka14 – Koprivlen15 – Arkadikos16 – Dikili Tash

Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova500


(Quercus), Quercus frainetto, mangy horn-beam ( joke-elm), water horn-beam – ostria. Many south kinds of vegetation are also represented as: the red juniper, Pistacia sp., the wild jassem-ine, the Coronilla emerus, the Artemisia campestre etc. (ГЪЛЪБОВ 1982 )

After L. Pernicheva (1999) the develop-ment of prehistoric cultures in south-western Bulgaria, and particularly along the Struma valley, is a key question in Balkan prehistory. The direct territorial connection of this region with the northern Aegeen coast, and from there with Anatolia, conditioned specific dynamics of development through all prehistoric periods. (PERNICHEVA 1999). After V. Nikolov today the Struma valley is considered the prime route for the Neolithization of the Balkan peninsula. (НИКОЛОВ 1999).

The studied settlements comprise the period Early Neolith – late Bronze Age and, in its major part they are located alongside the main stream and the feeders of the Struma river (Fig. 1). In the recent study an attempt has been made to summarize the results of the studied by the authors several sites (settlements) – Kovačevo, Gălă bnik, Balgarčevo, Drenkovo-Ploshteko, Sla-tino, Vaxevo, Topolnica, Kamenska Čuka, as well as to compare the data with that of some other scholars who have studied sites in the re-gion (Fig.1).

Dating of the studied sites (settlements)

VaxevoThe prehistoric settlement in the place „Stu-

dena voda“ is located on the first non-inlet ledge of the left waterside of Eleshnitza river. The terrain represents vast, East slopping ter-race of 550–554 altitude. Differenciated are 3 basic strata, comprising 7 horizons (levels). The first stratum comprises the 1st and 2nd horizons of the Early Neolith, characterised by white-painted ceramics (pottery). The second stratum comprises the 3rd and the 4th horizons belonging to the final period of the Early Neolith, char-acterised by brown painted ceramics as we as the 4th of the Middle Neolith. The third stratum comprises 3 horizons (levels) – one from the Late Eneolith, one from the Post Eneolith and one from the Early Bronze Age (ЧОХАДЖИЕВ 2001).

The charred vegetal remains are found in: granary of the 1st construction horizon, in a pit, together with white-painted pottery. The con-tents is about 150 grams.

The dominant quantity is of hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare var.vugare). In the mixture there have been found grains of: einkorn ( Triticum monococcum – 51), emmer, (Triticum di-coccum – 7 ), ryе (Secale cereale – 5), Triticum ae-sivo/durum – 1 (ПОПОВА 2001). The presence of the accompanying grains could be explained by the fact that they have been previously into the grain store and subsequently they have mixed with the barley. The studied grains are sized under the norm and fractured – which leads us to think that the conditions in the region have not been suitable enough. Having in mind that the settlement is located in a mildly hilly district with infertile soil – the only land suitable to sow has been alongside the river, it is obvious that those factors have influenced the degree of de-velopment of the crops.

KovačevoThe settlement is located on one of the ter-

races of Pirinska Bistritza river – at a distance of 20 km to the East from the outflow of Stru-ma river. It is dated from the earliest phase of the European Neolith according to the explor-ers making the excavations (LICHARDUS 2000). The latest period is dated by means of 14С: 6830–6760 ВР., and by means of paleomagnet-ism in-between: 5590–5410 BC. The analysis of the archeobotanic material done by Popova

Sites Data AutorsKovačevo early neolithic LICHARDUS 2000

Gălăbnik early neolithic ČOCHADJIEV 1998

Topolnica late neolithic TОДОРОВА/ВАЙСОВ1993

Vaxevofinal early neolithic

ČOCHADJIEV 2001

Balgarčevofinal early neolithic

PERNICHEVA1995

Drenkovo-Poshteko

late neolithicGREBSKA-KULOVA,

in press

Slatino early eneolithic COCHADJIEV1986

Kamenska čuka late bronze ageSTEFANOVICH et al.1998

Tab.1. Dating of the studied sites.

Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria 501


(1992) has shown a dominating presence of the einkorn – Triticum monococcum, followed by em-mer – Triticum dicoccum, as well as presence of hulled and naked barley – Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare; Hordeum vulgare var.nudum; millet – Panicum muliaceum; Lathyrus sativa. The archeo-botanic studies of Е. Маrinova during the later archeological campaigns but prove a dominant presence of emmer – Triticum dicoccum. The presence of Lathyrus sativa is documented also in her papers (materials) as well as of the other 3 kinds of pulses – Lens culinaris, Pisum sativum, Vicia ervilia.

The recent studies of the site demonstrated influence of the Mediterranean vegetation most clearly manifested by the fruits of Pistacia tere-binthus. Quite abundant in the settlement layers together with Cornus mas is the wild vine (Vi-tis vinifera ssp. sylvestris). All the last mentioned three species belong to the collected in the settle-men wilde plants. Another abundant fruit-stons in the archaeobotanical record are this of plums (Prunus sp.). Some of them have more rough sur-face and, supposedly pertain to Prunus spinosa, whereas some others with smooth rounded sur-face maybe pertain to Prunus cerasifera (MARINO-VA 2001). This show a wide use of the wild plant resources in the surrounding of the site.

GălăbnikThe settlement is located in the South-East-

ern part of the Radomir kettle and it has been

found during a correction (rectification) of Blato river in the „Gyuritza“ district. It has come into being on the left river side, at a 420 m altitude. It is dated from the Early Neolith. The 1st resi-dential level (horizon) is dated 6000–5700 cal. BC. (BOJADZIEV 2000). The results have shown a domination of the emmer in all the three stud-ied horizons, where the second place is taken by the einkorn. Barley is less as quantity. From the leguminous plants lentils (Lens culinaris), pea (Pisum sativum), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia ) and chick-peas (Cicer arietinum) are found. The chick-peas is found in a vessel, dated from the Early Neolith as appointed by Е. Маrinova (MA-RINOVA et al. 2002). A similar finding has been discovered also in the Early Neolith settlement Orlitza, near the town of Kirkovo, East Rho-dopes, (POPOVA, non-published) as well as also in the village of Kapitan Dimitrievo (МАRINOVA 2001). The chick pea is a Mediterranean plant of which our country is its Nordest frontier of spreading. Its presence in those settlements as also in the Chalcolith strata of the tell Junatz-ite comes to prove that it has come together with the whole Anatolian complex of cultivated plants in the territory of the country.

BalgarčevoThe settlement is located to the north of the

Kresna gorge and it is dated from the Early Ne-olith. It comprises two construction horizons. The settlement is located on a middle river ter-

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stivum

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usitatissimum

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Panicum

milliaceum

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Prunus sp.

Pistaciaterebinthus

Vitis vinifera ssp

. sylv.

Rubus sp.

Sambucusnigra

Fig. 2. The Ubiquity of the cultivated and collected plants in the considered Neolithic sites.



race on the right bank of the Struma near 10 km north-west of Blagoevgrad. The archeo-botanical study reveals availability of Triticum monococcum and Triticum dicoccum. In one of the examined dwellings storage of hulled wheats has been found which was not in treshed state. The grains of the found cereals are bigger than average size which is evidence of favorable con-ditions of development. As for the leguminous the biggest quantity found in this dwelling is of peas. Together with it in the samples are present Lens culinaris and Vicia ervilia. The location of the site close to the Struma-river has been favo-rable for growing leguminous crops. The weed flora is presented by Gallium sp., Verbena offici-nalis, Ajuga chamaepitys. The last two sorts are indicators of chalky soils.

Drenkovo-PloshtekoThe settlement is located in proximity of the

town of Blagoevgrad. From topographic point of view its location is of importance both for the connections North-South and East-West in the valey of the Struma river. The late-Neo-lith levels have been studied archeobotanically. The material originates from the floor areas of two dwellings. There have been found chaff from the sort of Triticum monococcum and Triti-

cum dicoccum and, in great quantities, Lathyrus sativus. Interesting finding is the millet in be-ing (Panicum milliaceum), which appears to be a comparatively rare finding in the Neolith Age in our lands.

SlatinoThe settlement is located at the foot of West-

ern Rila mountain, at about 380 m altitude, in the neighbourhood of the outflow of the Stru-ma river. Here Early Chalcolithic period is dat-ed (ČOHADZIEV 1986), and it comprises 5 build-ing horizons. The data achieved by С14 show: 4650–4500 cal.ВС. The archeobotanical mate-rials substantiate presence of: Triticum monococ-cum and Triticum dicoccum, as well as of hulled and naked barley, bitter vetch, lentil. (POPOVA 1995). The data of Marinova show a dominant participation of emmer, as well as the presence of various leguminous plants. In storages of Triticum dicoccum different kinds of weeds have been found: Bromus sp, Asperula arvensis, Poly-gonum convolvulus, Centaurea sp. Most of those weed sorts speak for the availability of winter sowings (MARINOVA et al. 2002). In the material there is also another kind of storages of seeds of Chenopodium sp. That could be considered as likely food in periods of crisis. The seeds of

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s

Buxus

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mas

Crataegu

s

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rus

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s

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Popu

lus

Fig. 3. Distribution of the mineralized wood of the Neolithic in Gălăbnik (after GROZEVA, not published).



Chenopodium sp. are abounding in proteins and fats so gruels could be made from some of the sorts (СТОЯНОВ/КИТАНOВ 1960).

Kamenska ČukaThis site is located nearby the town of Blago-

evgrad. The site consists of a settlement and a mound occupying a commanding height (eleva-tion 404 m above sea levels). Geologically, the basin is composed of low- lying alluvium sur-rounded by colluvial slopes and older metamor-phic hills (STEFANOVICH/BANKOFF 1999). The site is dated Late Bronze Age. The achreobotanical results show the presence of a number of cereals and legumes, where in the first place has been the einkorn. Besides it in the sown fields also naked barley, millet, lentil, bitter vetch have been sown (POPOVA 1998).

DiscussionThe results of the studied settlements are gen-

eralized and compared with other archeobotani-cal materials of the same period and of adjoining regions in Table 2. The ubiquity of finding the sorts of cultural and wild growing plants is pre-sented in Fig. 2. There it could be seen that in all

of the studied by us sites the hulled wheat prevail. Comparatively well are presented the both spe-cies of barley as well. It makes impression that the barley or the einkorn wheat prevail in the settle-ments with higher altitude or by infavorable soil conditions – as Kremenik (CAKALOVA /SARBINSKA 1986), Vaxevo, Rakitovo (ЧАКАЛОВА/БОЖИЛОВА 2002), Kapitan Dimitrievo (MAРИНОВА 1999). The naked wheats (Triticum aestivum/durum s.l.) appear sporadically, which comes to show that during this period they still haven’t succeeded to take over. The ubiquity of leguminous crops and their variety (5 species) is of special interest. In the most of the settlements they are found in great quan-tities as storages. The availance of this diversity is in connection with evasion of any risks for the crops, as some have greater power of endurance in drought and poor soils (Lathyrus sativus и Vicia ervilia), when the pea needs higher humidity. On that basis a conclusion could be drawn that they have had a big importance as sources of proteins for the Neolithic man. Most of the settlements are located in the by-mountain regions, near to water sources. The findings of chik pea among the legu-men are of a special interest, as it has been known to be found till recently only in the Southern parts

Alnus sp.

cf. Carpinus

Cornus sp.

Corylus avellana

Fraxinus

Pinus nigra/sylvestris

Pomoideae

Prunus sp.

Rosaceae

Quercus f.c.

Ulmus sp.

Indet.

Fig. 4. Charred wood from the Neolithic site Kovačevo.

Kovacevo I (Early Neolithic)



of the Balkan peninsula, namely Dimini and Ot-zaki (KROLL 1981). Тhis kind of legume comes to our lands in the Near Eastern crop assеmblage, still it does not succeed to take an equal place to-gether with the other legumen.

In the diet of neolithic man particular role have played also the wild plants. In the stud-ied settlements are often to be met a number of remains of fruits: of Cornus mas, Sambucus nigra, Vitis sylvestris, Rubus sp., Prunus sp. and

partly Pistacia terebinthus which have been ob-jects of collection. The situation is different with the seeds of wild grasses and legumes that are found in appreciable numbers in some Early Neolithic sites. Various wild plants could have been collected for human consumption. A good example in that respect is the available supply of Chenopodium sp. that appears in the Eneolithic Slatino. The mere presence of manz others in archaeological deposits is not yet proof of their

Quercus

Pinus silvestris

Abies

Juniperus

Ulmus

Fraxinus

Rosa sp.

Pinus sylvestris

Pinaceae

Abies

Juniperus

Quercus

Corylus

Carpinus

Fagus

Fraxinus

Prunus

Populus

Acer

Cr.monogina

Pomoideae

Cornus mas

Alnus

Fig. 5. Charred wood in the Late Bronze Age Kamenska čuka (A) and Koprivlen (B).

A

B



use as such. The may have been brought to the settlement unintentionally (VAN ZEIST 1988).

The findings of the einkorn are numerous in the territory of Bulgaria.(HOPF 1973; REN-FREW 1973, POPOVA 1995). On the Balkan penin-sula it presents in the Neolith in the territory of Greece – Franchti, Achileon, Sitagri ІІ (HANSEN 1991; VAN ZEIST 1980; KROLL 1981); Jugoslavia – Starčevo, Оbre І; Аnzabegovo І–ІІ (RENFREW 1979). The evidence of early einkorn cultiva-tion in Cajönü, SE Turkey (7500–6500 BP.) (VAN ZEIST 1972; 1988) prove the close contacts be-tween Anatolia, the Greek territories and the Balkans as a whole, where einkorn was of great importance especially during the early stages of Neolithic period.

The wide areal of the emmer could be ex-plained with its ability to give crops in differ-ent ecological conditions. By relatively not vast lands the sowings have decisive importance in keeping the crops. Its ears do not fall apart, its stems are extremely robust and for that reason they are used for roofs and to strengthen walls. It is drought-resistant and could be cultivated in different soils on account of its developed root system. The emmer wheat grains recovered from the basal levels of Cayönü. Its findings are numerous. The barley in its both varieties

appears in the Neolith but it takes the second place with the exception for the settlements of Vaxevo and Rakitovo. It is obvious that the dif-ferent kinds of the barley plant have entered through Asia Minor and Greece to the territory of Bulgaria.

New data from Northeren Greece (VALAMOTI 2004) from the neolithic levels of Dikili Tash and Arkadikos show concurrent type of data with those of Sredna and Gorna Struma. In these settlements prevailance of hulled wheat and a rich spectrum of legumen has been also estab-lished. The predominant leguminous crops are the drought-resistant Lathyrus sativus and Vicia ervilia. The spectrum of the wild-growing fruits is presented by Malus/Pyrus/Sorbus, most likely preserved as dried fruits.

As the here presented data shows the ar-cheobotanically studied sites in the valey of the Struma river belong mainly to the Neolithic period. That is connected predominantly with the significance of the region in clarifying the problems of the Neolithisation in our lands. From this region only one settlement of the Eneolithic period and one of the Bronze Age have been studied archaeobotanically untill now. It comes to show that the further work in the region should be directed also in the study

Cultivated plants Wild plants

Sites Data

Tritic

um m

onoc

occu

m

Tritic

um di

cocc

um

T.aes

tivo/

duru

m

H.vu

lgare

v.nud

um

H.vu

lgare

v.vulg

are

Panic

um m

illiac

eum

Lens

culin

aris

Vicia

ervil

ia

Lath

irus s

ativu

s

Pisum

stivu

m

Cicer

arieti

num

Linum

usita

tissim

um

Corn

us m

as

Prun

us sp

.

Pistac

ia ter

ebint

hus

Vitis

vinife

ra ssp

. sylv

.

Rubu

s sp.

Sam

bucu

s nigr

a

1. Gălăbnik early neolith xxx xxx x x x x x x

2. Kovačevo early neolith xx xxx x x x x x x x xx x x x x x

3. Čavdar early neolith x x x x x

4. Slatina early neolith xx xx x x x x xx x x x xx x

5. Vaxevo early neolith x x xxx

6. Kap. Dimitrievo early neolith xxx x x x x x x xxx x x x xx x x x xx x

7. Rakitovo early neolith x x x xxx x x

8. Kremenik early/midle neolith xx xx x x x

9. Balgarčevo final early neolith x xx x x x xxx

10. Drenkovo late neolith xxx x x x x xxx x x x

11. Slatino early eneolithic x x x x x x

12. Kamenska čuka late bronze age xxx x xx x x x x x

13. Koprivlen late bronze age x x x x x

Tab. 2. Cultivated and collected plants in the considered sites (with Bold own studies in Struma valley).



of those later periods. This would contribute to following the overall picture of the ancient agri-culture in the process of its development in the pre-history in the valey of the Struma river.

Mineralized, nonchared and charred wood The presence of wood in the archeological

sites usually is connected with its usage in differ-ent activities: construction, instruments of pro-duction, fuel, etc. Almost always it has been col-lected in the vicinity, thanks to which the wood provides precise information about the flora in the studied region. Such studies are extremely important in the low-lying lands of our coun-try, in particular the valey of the Struma river, where there are none preserved sediments suit-able for polen analysis.

The settlement Topolnitza is dated Early Neolith. The not-charred wood is from the ІІ horizon of dwelling no. 2. It is highly mineral-ized. After the run analysis the presence of oak and wood of Rosaceae family has been proved. 3 fragments of conifer trees, Gymnospermae and 2 of Pinus sp. have been determined. The mate-rial contained in addition a wooden awl, which has been done by oak wood and a wooden nail, originating of wood – representing a kind of Rosaceae.

The noncharred wood in the Gălăbnik (Fig. 3.) settlement has been studied by Groseva. 21 species of wood have been found, total 126 frag-ments. The most numerous are the oak frag-ments – 26, followed by the Rosaceae – 14 and those of the ashl-tree – 15 and the pine trees – 13. It has been determined that the ashl-tree has been used for the longitudinal beams, and the wood of the conifer trees, the sycamore and the Rosaceae – for objects of the evryday life. It is confirmed by the finding in Topolnitza, where the nail is also done from Rosaceae wood.

In the neolithic settlement of Kovačevo (Fig. 4), together with the oak tree (Quercus) that pre-vails, widely spread is the cornel-tree (Cornus mas) as well. A possible explanation of its large scale presence but could be its usage as construc-tion material. The cornel tree has robust and re-

silient wood which is extremely suitable for weav-ing the walls of dwellings. The riverside forests are presented by Alnus, Ulmus, Fraxinus, and the sub-Mediterranean flora by Pinus nigra.

Oak wood has been found also in Kamenska čuka (Fig. 5.). In a smaller quantity fragments of: Abies sp., Juniperus sp. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, Ulmus sp., Fraxinus sp. Rosa sp. have been found. It is possible that they have been collected in a more remote places as well as in the higher place of the mountains (POPOVA 1988).

Oak wood has been found also in the village of Vaxevo The oak is widespead kind of wood and its role in the archeological context could be ex-plained with some of its qualities. The oak wood is very robust, the oak could be found in easy of access places and used for fuel it comes fast to high temperature, which is an advantage for house-holds

Conclusions The neolithic settlements in South-Western

Bulgaria are rich in archaeobotanical mate-rial. The wide spread of Triticum monococcum is based on its ability aclimate to different eco-logical circumstances. Due to its well developed root system Triticum monococcum grows well on infertile mountain soil,as well as in very damp soils. In investigated settlements Triticum dicoc-cum is represented by a large quantity. Barley takes second place among the cereals in the studied samples. Additional to the cereals wide spectrum of pulses was used. We conclude that the represantation of this species in investigated settlements from territory of Bulgaria is com-parable to results from other settlements in the Balkan peninsula.

The wood presented in the settlement lay-ers witnesses of the oak forests prevalance and of the use made of diverse ecological niches in the near proximity. In the riverside valleys the woods collected have been of elm-tree (Ulmus), alder-tree (Alnus glutinosa/incana), ashl-tree and plums. The data of use of black pine-tree (Pinus) show that it has been even more widely spread in the past as nowadays.

Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria

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