Ljubo Fidanoski - Cerje-Govrlevo and Miloš Bilbija

-

CERJE - GOVRLEVO AND MILO BILBIJA

Ljubo Fidanoski

:

: ,

:

:

:

:

- 2012

500

Publisher:MusEuM OF thE CIty OF

skOPJE

For the publisher:Ljubica sazdova kondijanova,

director

translation: Zorica teofilova

Design:koo Fidanoski

Proofreading:Zdravko orveziroski

Computer realization:Vlado Fidanoski

PrintJugoreklam - skopje2012

Print run 500

-

CERJE - GOVRLEVO AND

MILO BILBIJA

Ljubo Fidanoski

. , , , , , , .

Ljubo FidanoskiAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known of hereafter invented, including pho-tocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing form from the author and publisher.

CIP . ,

902-05, .902.2(497.712)1981/2010903`13(497.712)634903.2/.4(497.712)634,

- / ; = Cerje - Govrlevo and Milosh Bilbija / Ljubo Fidanoski ; English translation Zorica Teofilova. - : = Skopje : Museum of the City of Skopje, 2012 ( : ). - 192 . : . ; 30

. . . - . - Milosh Bilbija bibliography ; : . 28-31. - ; Bibliography: . 141-149. - :

ISBN 978-608-233-018-1) , (1948-2010)) ( ) , 1981-2010 ) ( ) - COBISS.MK-ID 92554762

:

this publication is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia within the project: Neolithic settlement Govrlevo.

................................................................................................. 11: .............. 13 - 15 : - - ........................ 17 - 27 .................................................... 29 - 31: - - ...................................................................................... 33 - 45 ............................................................................................. 47 - 57: - - - .. 61 - 135 ............................................................................................ 137 - 139 .................................................................................. 141 - 149 ..................................................................................................... 151

CONTENTS

Introduction ....................................................................................... 10 Govrlevo: Natural and Geographic Characteristics ....................12 - 14Milo Bilbija: his Journey - Biography - ................................... 16 - 26Milo Bilbijas Bibliography ...................................................... 28 - 30Vodno: Along the tracks of Milo Bilbija - history of Archaeological Research - ................................................................................... 32 - 44Discoveries ................................................................................. 46 - 58Notes: Neolithic Govrlevo - Perceptions on Cerje - Govrlevo . 60 - 140Afterword ................................................................................ 142 - 144Bibliography ........................................................................... 146 - 148supplements ...................................................................................... 151

- . , , . , , , .. , , .. , , .. .

( , . , , 2008)

the geologic-geographic basis for human existence in this area is in the distant past. the first thing we encounter is this quite tame soil on the horizon there is the limestone hill, named after the martyr st. tryphon, followed by kitka mountain, then by solunska Glava rising from the mountain range of David, i.e. Dautica, Jakov, i.e. Jakupica, Crnica i.e. karadica and Belica.

(From Wine Drops to the truth, M. Bilbija, skopje, 2008)

, . , , . , .

, - , , -, , , , , , . , - .

- . , , , - . - , .

, - (. 1). , . - , . , , -.

-, - , , . , . , , , .

INTRODuCTION

the Balkan Peninsula has long been known for its rich history, culture and tradition. Many different cultures with different views of the world and their immediate surrounding have lived and are still living here, a state characteristic of this region even today, and will probably carry on in the future. this, above all, is owing to the good geographical position and the natural characteristics of this part of Europe.

the heart of the Balkans is Macedonia, its geo-morphological characteristics and favourable relief, with numerous mountainous areas, plains, valleys, lowlands, together with the wealth expressed in pastures, forests and water being the basic condition for the long-lasting survival of birds, animals and people in its territory. In almost all micro-geographical units in Macedonia this condition is fulfilled, so that today we are witnessing the remnants of high achievements by historic and prehistoric cultures that have lived in these areas.

Cerje - Govrlevo is the nucleus of prehistory in the skopje region. It houses the germs of the Neolithic, its development and decline, as well as the emergence of the Chalcolithic, the Bronze and the Iron Age in the upper Vardar part of Macedonia. the discovery of this site has posed numerous questions regarding the age of this region, most of which have probably already been given an answer.

We owe the discovery, research and evaluation of this important site to Milo Bilbija (Fig. 1). though originally not from Macedonia, his lifes journey brings him precisely here. the ordeals of different cultures and with it of human destinies in the Balkans are in fact mutual confrontation. One such confrontation of contemporary man and the prehistoric man is the discovery and research of Govrlevo.

the true link between Neolithic Govrlevo and Milo Bilbija is known to few. therefore, this book aims at the best possible and most authentic presentation of that link to the wider audience. this edition will discuss the discovery and research of Govrlevo, as well as some of its features, the co-existence of Milo Bilbija and the site, and in the end, the most important, some of his thoughts on it.

12

Cerje - Govrlevo and Milo Bilbija -

13

:

, (. 2). , , . . , , , (. 3). , , , . , : , , , , , , , , (. 4). . , (. 5).

. , , , . 1000 ( ), 470 , 0,5 (. 6). ( ), ( ), (, ) ( ) (. 7).

, ( 7 ). 35 , - 5 , . , .

, 20 , - . , 3 , , . , , ,

Govrlevo: NATuRAL AND GEOGRAphIC ChARACTERISTICS

the present village of Govrlevo is located on one of Vodnos southwest branches, looking towards mount kitkas western side (Fig. 2). unfortunately, the village has very few residents today, mainly older people born there. In the past the village was very rich owing to the natural resources of the area. today, the Govrlevo houses built in the traditional Macedonian manner with Neolithic reminiscences, the wooden construction daubed in mud, witness the continuity of life here (Fig. 3). Owing to Vodnos abundance of water, on its slopes flocks of sheep and goats can be seen grazing even today. Apart from the lush vegetation of deciduous forests and pastures, almost all known agricultural cultivars thrive here: wheat, maize, tomato, peppers, cabbage, potato, strawberries, cherries, apples, etc (Fig. 4). Even today, walnut trees older than two hundred years can be found. Whatever is planted, it certainly grows here, and the taste and quality are well known far and wide (Fig. 5).

the village and the site are situated in the micro-region covering the south slopes of Vodno. some hills end as flattened terraces suitable for pastures, fields, and in our case, settlements from the distant past. the altitude is slightly above 1000 m (the Vodno peak), and it lowers to 470 m, approximately 0.5 km south of the site (Fig. 6). the geological sediments from the Precambrian period (calcite marbles), the Cambrian (cipolines and marbles), the Neogene (sandstones, clays and marlstones) and the Quaternary (diluvial detritus) are an undisputable proof of the age and the metallic and mineral wealth of this region (Fig. 7).

the climate in this area is moderate, frequently absolutely different from the one in skopje (only 7 km air-line distance). the maximum temperatures here do not exceed 35 , and the minimal do not fall below -5 , except in very rare extreme weather conditions. During most parts of the year it is predominantly sunny, and rain and snowfall are just enough for successful ripening of the crop.

seen widely, in a radius of 20 km, the region contains several important natural-geographical features. Namely, only 3 km from the

14


15

, . .

- (), 15 , 1,5 - 2 , 500 ( 1984, 39; Bilbija 1986, 35) (. 8). ( ) - , , 15 (. 9). - , , . - (. 9). . : , , , . - , , , . .

, , . , , s - , , , , .

site to the north is the Matka canyon, well-known for its natural riches and endemic rarities. On the opposite, south side Jakupica mountain can be seen, with karadica mountain nearby, both exceptionally rich in game. the vicinity of these two important natural units has resulted in mild climate and abundance of natural resources.

the Cerje - Govrlevo site is situated on the south slope of Vodno mountain (karijak), 15 km south-west of skopje, 1.5 km south-east of the village Govrlevo and 2 km south-west of village Dolno sonje, at an altitude of 500 m ( , 39; Bilbija 1986, 35) (Fig. 8). the site covers a flattened terrace (agricultural land at present) in the area called Cerje, outspread in a smaller valley surrounded by low hills, covering about 15 ha (Fig. 9). the northern side of the terrace ends in the slopes of Vodno, the western and the eastern sides are closed by lower hills, while the south side is almost completely open. to the east and west of the terrace, onto which the site is situated there used to be two smaller rivers in the past - ifliki and Cereki (Fig. 10). this gives the name of the site Cerje meaning between rivers. this natural amphitheatre today houses several villages: Dolno sonje to the north-east, iflik to the north, Barovo and sveta Petka to the north-west and Govrlevo to the west. In the south edge of the site there is a curative spring known from long ago, with a small church dedicated to the holy healers Cosmas and Damian, and over the terrace onto which the site lies, in the area Brzovec is the monastery st. tryphon.

the positioning of the site onto this natural, flattened terrace need not surprise us, on the contrary, it only reminds us of the great experience and knowledge of the ancient man who lived here. Namely, as soon as the first Neolithic comer lay foot on the south slopes of Vodno, at the moment when he noticed the natural ramparts - the branches of kitka, karadica and Jakupica, at the moment when he was warmed by the strong sun from the clear sky and was cooled by the cold spring water, at the moment when he tasted the fruits of this area and discovered its natural resources, he realised that this truly was the real place to live.

16


17

: - -

26. 02. 1948 , , ( 2010, 25; 2010, 5). , . , , , , , , .

, , 1973 . , . 1975 . , . 1979 , , .

, . : - ; ( , ), - ( ) (); - . , , , . , - - (. 11).

Milo BilBija: hIS JOuRNEy- Biography -

Milo Bilbija was born on 26. 02. 1948 in ugarci, Bosansko Grahovo, Bosnia and herzegovina ( 2010, 25; 2010, 5). In his native village he spent the most pleasant days of his childhood, learning many of the essential matters regarding man precisely through the village life. there he observed and participated in the house building process, the creating of the home hearth, the cooking, the production of various items, animal husbandry, and through that interaction with life he came to the choice regarding his professional direction in life, that is, the permanent determination for studying ancient cultures.

he completed primary and secondary education in Bosansko Grahovo, and in 1973 graduated from the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. During his studies he took active participation in a number of archaeological sites in former yugoslavia, and his work in Lepenski Vir is especially prominent. In 1975 he was briefly employed in the National Museum in travnik, and that same year, life took him to Macedonia, where his first employment was in the Institute for Protection of Monuments of the City of skopje. In 1979 he was employed in the Museum of the City of skopje, at the post of Neolithic period custodian, a position he occupied to the end of his life.

During his professional career he participated in numerous archaeological researches in almost all prehistoric and historic periods on the whole territory of Macedonia, but also beyond its territory. he was the head and member of expert teams in the research of the Palaeolithic site: Matka - Mihajlova Petera; the Roman sites: skupi (city territory, east and west necropolis, and the ancient theatre), Banjani - etiri vodeniki (villa rustica), stobi (necropolis); of the Late Antiquity site: rne - Markovi kuli, etc. his professional interest, throughout his entire career was the Neolithic, as a result of which he was included in the research of Neolithic cultures in slavonia (Croatia) on more than few occasions. still, a permanent mark in yugoslavian and Macedonian archaeology was made by his research of the Neolithic sites slatina - Zelenikovo and Cerje - Govrlevo (Fig. 11).

18


19

, , , : . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . (. 12). . . , , , , , . , , , , , . - .

, ( ). , , , . , 1985 , , (. 13). , . , , , , 8- , 2001 , ( 2010, 8). 2004 , , , 2007 , , . 2006 , , , (. 14). ( - Exploring Macedonia)

During the research of the sites from different periods, he demonstrated a lot more than mere professional interest and engagement, thus becoming close with number of great names of science, such as: D. srejovi, M. Garaanin, A. Benac, B. Gavela, B. Bruckner, s. Markovi, s. Peri, k. Minichreiter, k. Ljuci, V. sanev, D. simoska, B. kitanoski, s. saroski, etc (Fig. 12). As a student of D. srejovi and M. Garaanin, he was under their strong influence, accepting from the former his wide views and interpretations of the world and the past, and applying from the latter his strict German precision and methodicalness in archaeology. this originated his, most often unconventional, yet logical thoughts on the research discoveries which have regularly attracted attention among the academic circles, often inspiring numerous scientific debates. Precisely this is his greatest contribution which lead to revision of opinions regarding ancient cultures on the territory of former yugoslavia and beyond.

Apart from archaeological research, as a part of his professional duties Milo Bilbija was a member of the Archaeological Association of yugoslavia and the Association of Archaeologists of Macedonia (today called Macedonian Archaeological scientific Association). In the course of his years of service, Milo Bilbija, besides actively participating in symposiums of archaeological societies in former yugoslavia and Macedonia, also held numerous lectures and presentations on the Neolithic in Macedonia. he was also the organizer of several thematic exhibitions, of which especially important is Neolithic houses from Zelenikovo and Govrlevo held in 1985, an exhibition with which he, with the presentation of two reconstructions of Neolithic houses and their inventory in the exhibition hall of the Museum of the City of skopje, managed to attract great attention of the expert and wider public within the entire former yugoslavia (Fig. 13). Moreover, this exhibition is special for it was the first occasion of presenting reconstructions of prehistoric houses and their contents in enclosed museum space in Macedonia. With his lecture on the epochal find Adam, entitled Man, bread, pottery, elaborating the problems underlying the essence of human existence, within the 8th Neolithic seminar held in Ljubljana in 2001, and by breaking the bread brought all the way from Govrlevo, he managed to dumbfound the other participants ( 2010, 8). he achieved the same success at the international symposiums in 2004 in Pula, Croatia and in 2007 in tuzla, Bosnia and herzegovina. In september 2006, within the cultural event White Night, Milo for

20


21

(yahoo) . , . , . , .

, a - : ( ). , , .

, , - . , , . , , -, , , , , , , , . - -.

, , , , , , , , - , , . -, , - , , -. , , . , , .

, , - . , - , , . - -, .

, , , - ,

the first time presented to the wider public the epochal find Adam of Macedonia, attracting enormous audience (Fig. 14). that same year he gave his contribution in the coverage on Macedonia (Exploring Macedonia) at the internet portal yahoo with the author Richard Bangs. Milo, also, participated in several documentaries in the electronic media in Macedonia. he is the author of the present archaeological exhibition in the Museum of the City of skopje, in the Neolithic section. Besides, he was the author and collaborator in numerous catalogue entries for the Museum of the City of skopje, as well as for other museums in Macedonia and beyond.

he published a part of his research in the professional periodicals of former yugoslavia and in Macedonia, and he also took part in the preparation of the three-volume publication Archaeological Map of Macedonia (Macedonian Academy of sciences and Arts publication). unfortunately, his untimely death prevented him from bringing into light the long-prepared monograph The Neolithic Settlement Govrlevo.

In brief, this would make up the factography of his lifes journey, but it is not enough to present his lifelong professional engagement and the contributions he gave. Above all, knowing his logical approach in understanding things, we the colleagues often could not interpret his perceptions regarding a particular problem. this was owing to his intellect curiosity, as well as the good knowledge of other scientific disciplines, such as: art history, ethnology, religion, philosophy, linguistics, engineering, geology, geomorphology, biology, and even medicine. the starting points he took when making his analyses were unreachable for many of the colleagues.

Meek, quiet, smiling and modest man, seemingly calm, with silent charge, with his temperament and sense he was precisely the opposite, serious, curious and with incredible wish for resolving the problems which he posed to himself, as well as to us colleagues. Many times, without previous conversation, out of the blue, as the saying goes, he managed to give and answer or a theory on a problem presented a while ago, sometimes an even forgotten problem. Milo was, in fact, a perfectionist in his work, often forgetting about time. this was probably the reason why he did not manage to write more on the site he dedicated his life to - Govrlevo.

there were days when Milo did not talk much with the colleagues, not out of misunderstanding, but out of his preoccupation to contemplate on things in life. For example, while entering some data, he

22


23

. , , , - , : - ? -, (), , . , , , ; , , , , . ( ), , - : , , ( 2010, 8).

, : , , , . , : -, , , . , -. , , - , . , . , -. , , .

, - , , , , , , , , , , , . , , : , () . , -

simultaneously thought about something else, far more essential from the information he recorded. these very contemplations lead him to some unexpected conclusions, which many others have failed to reach.

In moments of rest, with a glass of rakia, he was able to leave everyone, sometimes even European archaeologists of high academic ranking, speechless. For example, to a doctor specialist he would present a Neolithic flint blade, while cutting a Govrlevo tomato, with the question: has science come up such a surgical scalpel like the Neolithic blade? he considered the Neolithic stone axes to be copies of human front teeth (incisors), not only because of their form, but also because of the purpose of human teeth. For him the Neolithic pottery was more than a functional item, often wandering whether the large presence of chaff in them is of technical nature only, or it marks something more essential; whether the receptacle is only for milk, and if so, why is it such, in short, he aimed at reaching the source of the idea. therefore (those who knew him well were quite familiar with his thoughts on the bread), for him the chaff in the Neolithic pottery actually meant discovery of bread and man, which gave rise to this thought of his: he created man out of earth, and man eating bread born by mother earth, elevated it making pottery out of it. ( 2010, 8).

For him the essence of the finds did not lie only in the form, but also in other aspects which they carry with them: technique of manufacturing, colour, possible decoration, and functionality in the end. speaking of the finds, he always began with a premise: the Neolithic man was practical, everything he made was simple, long-lasting and absolutely functional, without unnecessary additional elements. he evolved this attitude towards the items as a result of knowing the village life, especially the household affairs which during the Neolithic were the nucleus of the community. On the other hand, he considered that every item carries its own story, in other words there are no two Neolithic items of the same type - they are all different, but following some unified manners of manufacturing. For him the Neolithic was everything but a primitive society. he considered that if ever there was heaven on earth, then it could only happen during the Neolithic. According to him, the Neolithic man did not use more than he produced, he did not hunt and did not sow more than he needed for satisfying his basic needs, he did not chop more wood than he needed.

In order to explain some theories, many times Milo entered the field of etymology, searching the ancient words for the basic notions

24


25

. , , -

. , , . - , . , , . - - , , . , , , . - , : -, .

, : . , . , : , . , , . , , , , , , , , , .

- . , - . , - - . , , . - , : , - . ;

in different groups of languages, for example: mother, grandmother, father, child, house, fire, stove, bread, water. Often stepping outside the archaeological frame of thought, he was surprised by the reservedness of the contemporary human mind, illustrating it with the following example: how can it be that in a Renaissance picture the egg is represented as a symbol of continuity of life, when actually the egg itself is the meaning of the picture. According to him, the ratio between the egg white and the yolk in the egg is the same as the ratio of the geological layers in the Earths globe and in the core.

Regarding the archaeological methods, Milo also had authentic opinions. For example, he often used to say that today we cannot interpret some finds correctly, although we are convinced in their characteristics. During the archaeological research he used to leave a completely researched unit in the field until the moment of documenting its entire surrounding, and only than continue with the next layer. he was always patient, waiting for the right moment to gather the artefacts, always only after grasping the entire context. In his opinion, it was necessary to completely comprehend the archaeological situations in the field, to reach the conclusions, and only then to search the literature for possible analogies. In other words, he considered that we need not look in the material the things perceived from literature, but vice versa, to compare the literature and the existent information only against the available material. For him the statistical calculations of the archaeological material were indispensable, but they also Demonstrate the less important things, and conceal the essence.

to us, his younger colleagues, he always used to say: have at least three arguments before saying anything. For every open problem he asked his colleagues on their opinion, without imposing his own views. Only afterwards a debate on the problem followed, because according to him: the truth is only one, there are no several variants to it. he repeatedly checked the answers to the seemingly solved questions, from all the possible aspects which he himself posed. For him, the interdisciplinarity in archaeology was the basis of uncovering the truth on the ancient man, i.e. the answer to the scientific problems can be correct only if verified through anthropology, zooarchaeology, paleobotany, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, etc.

In the end, we have to mention one of his greatest virtues - his openness with the colleagues. Milo did not think that the material he uncovered belonged to him exclusively; on the contrary, for him the

26


27

, 1983-1985 . , . , , - , . , . , . , - , . , , -, . , . , . , . - . . , , .

, 2010 -, , (. 15). 22. 04. 2010 , . , , -, .

material was for all who want to see it and feel it. With profession-al caution, he unselfishly allowed every guest to feel the artefacts in his hand, to feel their energy. he always had time and willingness to present and, anew, retell his views on the finds to all the people who asked him for it. he assisted the preparation of several graduation pa-pers presented at the Department of Archaeology and Art history at the Faculty of Philosophy in skopje related to the Govrlevo material, such as: Neolithic Ornaments, Painted Ornaments on Neolithic vessels in the skopje Region by G. Naumov; Coarse Pottery from Cerje Gov-rlevo, Vessels for Everyday use from the Research 1983-1985 by Lj. Fidanoski and the house in the Neolithic, the Neolithic in the skopje Region by Igor tolevski. In this manner Milo, apart from his personal influence on a number of archaeologist, such as: N. ausidis, V. Lili, L. Jovanova, is one of the first archaeologists in Macedonia who has managed to create a team made up of young archaeologists, specialized in particular areas of archaeology. he assisted the formation of several archaeologists, including the author of this text, on Neolithic ceramic vessels, A. Fidanoska on zooarchaeology, G. Naumov on Neolithic ce-ramic plastic, I. tolevski on Neolithic architecture, A. stevanoska on bone tools and documentation and A. spirova on pottery conservation. For this group of professionals, the initiation and penetration into the sphere of archaeological science, as well as the exploration of the se-crets of the trade, are inseparably connected to Milo, both as a person and as an archeologist.

unfortunately, Milo did not live to see the last year of research of Govrlevo, 2010 (Fig. 15). his untimely death on 22. 04. 2010 prevented him from completing the second trench and finalizing the story of the site. his physical absence in the field was undisputable reality, but for the research team it was still as if he was right there.

28


29

, . 1978. . Macedoniae acta archaeologica 4. : 127-135.

, . 1985. : . .

, . 1996. . , II. . : 364.

, . 1996. . , II. . : 367.

, . 1996. . , II. . : 380.

, . 1999. . Macedonia acta archaeologica 15 (1996-1997). : 9-14.

, . 2000. . , .

, . 2006a. . . .

, . 2006. . Exploring Macedonia. ya-hoo Adventures.

, . 2008. 2004. XX , 3-6.12 2008, .

, . 2009. . 1 -. , . : 16-17.

, . 2009. . 1 -. - , . : 369.

, . 2011. , (7000-5000 . ..). 1949-2011. . : 31-33.

, . , . 1987. , , 1979 1980. Macedoniae acta archaeologica 7/8 (1981-1982). : 205-220.

MILO BILBIJAS BIBLIOGRAphy

30


31

, . , . 1988. I : - 1981 . Macedonia acta archaeologica 9 (1983-1984). : 31-41.

, . 1984. . IX (1982). : 38-48.

Bilbija, M. 1986. Cerje, neolitsko naselje. Arheoloki pregled 26 (1985). Ljubljana: 35-36.

Bilbija, . 2001. Man, bread and pottery. 8 Neolithic seminar. 8-11 November, Oddelek za arheologijo Filozofske fakultete univerze v Ljubljani. Ljubljana.

Bilbija, M. 2004. kult kruha u neolitiku Makedonije. Meunarodno ar-heoloko savjetovanje kultovi i vjerovanja kroz povijesna razdoblja 23-27 studenoga 2004, sveuilite u Zagrebu, Meunarodni istraivaki centar za arheologiju. Brijuni - Medulin.

Bilbija, M. 2007. Neolitsko naselje Govrlevo. International symposium the Problems of Neolithic and Development of Early Neolithic Cultures in the Balkans Area 14-17 November 2007, Museum of East Bosnia. tuzla.

Bilbija, . Gutin, . toma, . and kavur, B. 2007. The Neolithisa-tion of the Carpathian basin - the view from below (The Mesolithic and Mace-donian perspective): the Carpathian basin and its role in the Neolithisation of the Balkan peninsula, sibiu, hermannstadt, 18-20 May 2007. Muzeul national Brukenthal. 18 May 2007, sibiu.

32


33

: - -

, , w . , , . , ( 1987; 1999, 13). , - - , .

- . 1975 , , ( 1984, 39). 1981 , , (Bilbija 1986, 35). - 1982 , : - -, - (Bilbija 1986, 35). 1982 1985 , 1455, 5 4 4 , I ( 2011, 54) (. 16 17). - , , .

, - . , 0,15 . , , . .

vodno: ALONG ThE TRACkS OF MILO BILBIJA - history of Archaeological Research -

After coming to Macedonia, the road took Milo into the bosom of Vodno, and he spent his entire professional life on this mountain and its immediate vicinity. In the end of the 1970ies, in the eastern branches of Vodno, he, together with I. Mikuli researched the medieval castle Markovi uli, and later in the canyon Matka he researched Mihajlova Petera, where he discovered traces of a Palaeolithic man ( 1987; 1999, 13). In the period between these two campaigns his interest was occupied by the two Neolithic settlements, slatina - Zelenikovo and Cerje - Govrlevo, the latter being the one to which Milo dedicated his entire life.

the Cerje - Govrlevo site was accidentally discovered by Z. Georiev in 1975, when during a well excavation, in the profile he noticed Neolithic artefacts (Georgiev and Bilbija 1984, 39). In 1981, he together with Milo Bilbija performed a field survey of the terrain, whereupon they determine the boundaries and the characteristics of the site (Bilbija 1986, 35). the following 1982, Milo Bilbija, within the project systematic Archaeological Research of the Neolithic and the Metal Age Cultures in the skopje Valley, began the archaeological research of the site (Bilbija 1986, 35). In the period from 1982 to 1985, 5 Latin numerated squares with dimensions 4 4 m were open in plot 1455, whose space was given a working title trench I ( 2011a, 54) (Figs. 16 and 17). this research gave the preliminary image of the site - its stratigraphy, features, as well as its temporal and spatial frame.

the research methodology of the site in this period is in accordance with the existent rulebooks on archaeological research, thus applying the chronologic-stratigraphic research method. the physical removal of the soil was performed after the complete documenting of the cultural layers and the occurrences, with excavations deep up to 0.15 m. All registered occurrences in the field are carefully documented in the field journals, and the technical documentation contains photos and architectural drawings of the bases of the squares and the profiles, as

34


35

1982 , , . , , , , .

1983 , . (. 1), (. 18). , , III, - . (Gimbutas 1976, 29).

1984 , , , (. 19 20. , (. 2) , : 4,5 , 4,5 , 4,7 4 . , () II, .

, 1985 , I (. 3). , , , 7,6 , 6 (. 21 22). I, . , I 3 .

, : I - I, II-IV - II-V, V - I/II, VI - I, . (Bilbija 1986, 36). ,

well as details from the characteristic units. During the research several spot heights for the precise determination of the occurrences in the space under research.

the archaeological research of 1982 may be characterised as familiarization with the site, whereupon it was established that is represents a Neolithic settlement with cultural manifestations from the Chalcolithic, the Bronze and the Iron Age. Namely, under the humus layer and in the first, most shallow cultural layers the presence of ceramic material from all of the abovementioned periods was noticed which, most probably, was owing to the penetration from latter prehistoric periods and the contemporary agricultural activities in the Neolithic settlement horizons.

In the following 1983 remnants of destroyed orange hued house pis and a small area of a house floor were discovered. Research has verified that these were remnants of a Neolithic house (no. 1), probably with a square or slightly trapeze basis (Fig. 18). According to the uncovered movable material in its ruins and the surroundings, this settlement horizon belongs to the latter phase of the Middle Neolithic in Macedonia, i.e. in the Amzabegovo III phase, according to the chronology of . Gimbutas (1976, 29).

the best research campaign within this project was carried out in 1984, during which, among other numerous findings, one of the best preserved Neolithic houses in Macedonia was discovered (Figs. 19 and 20). Namely, the discovery referred to a house (no. 2) with irregular, slightly trapeze basis with dimensions: southern wall 4.5 m, western wall 4.5 m, northern wall 4.7 m and eastern wall 4 m. the discovered movable material in it and the corresponding layers confirmed one more (earlier) Middle Neolithic settlement horizon corresponding to Amzabegovo II, according to the abovementioned chronology.

In the course of the last research campaign, i.e. in 1985, the remnant of another house (no. 3) were discovered in trench I. unfortunately, this house was only partially preserved due to strong destruction, and according to the discovered remnants, its basis was most probably rectangular, whereat the western and the eastern walls were at least 7.6 m long, and the northern and the southern were more than 6 m (Figs. 21 and 22). this settlement horizon was determined as Early Neolithic and corresponds to the Early Neolithic phase Amzabegovo I, under the chronology used above. With this research the squares of trench I were completely exhausted of cultural layers and at a depth of approximately 3 m the subsoil was documented.

36


37

, , , . , , , , - .

, 1982 , . . , - , - . : . , . , . , . . . - : . , . , . . , .

2000 , - , , - 1452 6 - 4 4 , II (. 23 24). 8 12 , 2004 ( VII VIII 1,5 4 ) 9,5 13 . 2000-2002, 2004 2008-2010 ( 2011, 54; 2010, 64). 2003 , (), . , ( 2004).

2000 2002 . 2004 () . , , . , . , , , . , ()

During the research of the settlement, Milo Bilbija foresaw six continued horizons of living: Govrlevo I would chronologically correspond to Amzabegovo-Vrnik I, the horizons Govrlevo II-IV would correspond to middle-Neolithic phases from the Amzabegovo-Vrnik II-V culture, the horizon Govrlevo V corresponds to the Vina-tordo I/II culture, and Govrlevo VI to the Bubanj-hum I culture, according to the chronology by M. Garaanin (Bilbija 1986, 36). Nevertheless, with the completion of the research it was realized that, in this space, the settlement has three successive horizons of living, one from the Early and two from the Middle Neolithic. In the most upper layers, though without clear archaeological context, the presence of Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age material has been documented.

Within the research during this period, except in 1982, when it was headed by academician M. Garaanin, and Milo Bilbija was co-head of the project, in the following campaigns Milo Bilbija was head of research, and later N. ausidis, Z. Georgiev, V. Lili, L. Jovanova and E. taleska took active participation as expert associates. For the conservation activities and the documentation, few employees from the Museum of the City of skopje were hired: N. kekenovski, M. Pandileska, F. Zafirovska and t. kuzmanovski, while workers from the village Govrlevo were hired for the manual labour.

During 2000, within the project systematic Archaeological Research of the Neolithic settlement Govrlevo, under the guidance of Milo Bilbija and in organization of the Museum of the City of skopje, 6 Latin-enumerated squares with dimensions 4 4 m were opened in the neighbouring plot 1452, and the research area was called trench II (Figs. 23 and 24). the dimensions of the trench upon opening were 8 12 m, and with the widening from 2004, with dimensions 1.5 4 m (squares VII and VIII) on its eastern side and the weather effects, it enlarged to approximately 9.5 13 m. this research was carried out in the period 2000-2002, 2004 and 2008-2010 ( 2011a, 54; 2010, 64). In 2003 the cooperation between the Museum of the City of skopje and the Primorska university in kopar (slovenia) was made official, and the project became a partnership between the two institutions. the monograph edition Govrlevo Shall Not Die was published within this project, a large study on the ethnological characteristics of the present-day village of Govrlevo ( 2004).

the campaigns from 2000 until 2002 applied the methodology of stratigraphic archaeological research. In 2004 it was improved

38


39

. , , , , , . , , . 2008 , , , ( , ), . , , . , , , . , . ( 2004 ), . , (2004, 2008-2010 ) , .

- , 2000 , - - , . , . . , , .

2001 2002 , (. 25). - (. 1), (. 26). - . , III, . (Gimbutas 1976, 29). , (. 27).

through the implementation of stratigraphic units (loci) for every occurrence in the field. Mechanically, in the field itself, it was carried out by means of regular scraping of the working areas, thereby clearly registering all changes and occurrences in the trench area. During the research attention was paid in terms of their mutual relation, as well as their vertical and horizontal stratigraphic order. the photographing was carried out with a digital camera, while the technical drawings of the situations, i.e. the plans, the bases and the profiles were computer processed and digitalized. Every occurrence in the field has its own number of stratigraphic unit, as well as a separate list in the basic form (journal) of the research. Correspondingly, for every stratigraphic unit the list is filled in with a description of the occurrence, its stretch and contents, the photos and technical drawings made for it, as well as with the field inventory. In the end, the stratigraphic unit was inserted in the basic plan of the trench, in order to obtain a clearer image of its spatial stretch. the research from 2008 onwards included one more element from the contemporary methodology of documenting, a total station, with which all archaeological contexts are immediately placed in absolute geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude and altitude), which contributes for greater precision when placing the site in its geographic surrounding and its absolute positioning. thus, all structures immediately have drawn plans and are placed in the overall site plan, i.e. in its second and third dimension. In parallel with the digital photography the so-called photo-sketches were made, which with the aid of the total station can also be precisely placed on the site plan. Apart from these novelties, orthophotography also found its application in the digital documenting. the new methodological approaches were used to perform a control of the older research (until 2004), whereupon certain deviations in the stratigraphy were detected. therefore, in all subsequent research (2004, 2008-2010) comparison was made between the occurrences documented in the different spaces, i.e. in both trenches.

the new archaeological research of Cerje - Govrlevo, from 2000, besides its main goal of verifying the stratigraphic image and the features of the site, even in the beginning promised to yield new and quite significant finds. thus, it was in this research campaign that the well-known male figure called Adam was discovered. With this find Milo once more received a confirmation for the true direction he followed since long ago. Correspondingly, he concentrated on the stratigraphic image and the archaeological occurrences of this new area

40


41

2004 . , , , . , . , , , (. 2) (. 28). , II, . , , , (. 3) (. 29). , 4 , (. 30 31).

, 2008 , , . . 3 , (. 32).

2009 . . 3, (. 33). , 5,5 5,5 , I, . , , (. 34). , (), .

2010 , , . , (. 3) , - (. 35). -

of the site, researching its most shallow layers under the plough land.the archaeological research on the site in 2001 and 2002 was a

continuation of the research on its features and the previous finds (Fig. 25). Within this research the remnants of a Middle Neolithic house (no. 1) were discovered, probably with a square or rectangular form (Fig. 26). Its basis and dimensions have not been established due to the heavy destruction. According to the stratigraphy and the movable material inside it and the corresponding layers it was established that this was a house from the late Middle Neolithic phase corresponding to Amzabegovo III, under the chronology of M. Gimbutas (1976, 29). With this research, in the northern profile of the trench a Metal Age intrusion in the form of a massive Iron Age grave pit was discovered (Fig. 27)

During 2004 the research on the site continued with contemporary methodology and new structure of researchers. Namely, in this research campaign the Macedonian team, consisting of archaeology students, and the expert team from slovenia worked intensively on studying the site by using new approaches in their work. the results of this cooperation are visible in the more precise recording of the occurrences in the field, above all, through the uncovering of great number of pits in the layers and the more efficient labelling of the archaeological contexts. this research, in the south profile, also revealed a small part, i.e. the northern edge of a Middle Neolithic house (no. 2) (Fig. 28). stratigraphically, this house is a bit older and belongs to the early phase of the Middle Neolithic, in other words to Amzabegovo II, according to the abovementioned chronology. Researching the space of this trench, a part of a house floor was discovered in the deeper layers, for which, on the basis of stratigraphy, it was presumed that it belonged to a house (no. 3) which is of earlier date compared to the previous two (Fig. 29). In its immediate vicinity a utilitarian area was discovered, made up of a complex with 4 hearths, provisionally called workshop (Figs. 30 and 31).

After a break of several years, in 2008 the research on the site continued with the same intensity, and with the aid of the total station its quality reached a higher level. the focus of the research in this year was placed on the area around house no. 3 and the defining of its boundaries, while its actual research was left for the next research campaign (Fig. 32).

the next research campaign, the one in 2009, is one of the most successful in the history of studying the site. the research in this year

42


43

. , I, . () -, 0,4 , , , 4,5 .

, 2004 . - . 2001 2003 , , , . , , (. 36). , : ( ), . (), . ( ), . ( ), . (), . (), . - ( ), . (), . , . , . , . (), : . , . - . . : . ( ), . ( ), . () . ( ), . (- ) . ( ). , : . () . () . : . ( ), . (), . () . (-) - (CNRs).

. 10 15 , 1982, 1984, 1985, 2000 2002 , 45 . 2001 , 90 . ,

concentrated on house no. 3, i.e. its features and the inventory (Fig. 33). thus, the completely researched house has a square basis and dimensions 5.5 5.5 m, and according to the movable material inside it, it was established that it belongs to the Early Neolithic correspondent to the Amzabegovo I phase, according to the chronology used so far. After documentation, the remnants of the house were removed, and immediately below them a human burial site was discovered (Fig. 34). During this research campaign, after the redone documenting (digitizing), the hearths complex was also removed.

During 2010, the finalization of the remaining layers completed the research of the second trench in Govrlevo. Especially prominent in the research from this last year is the discovery of several pits and a relatively deep ditch, situated under the earliest house (no. 3) and the complex of hearths, stretching in the west-southeast direction (Fig. 35). By exhausting the earliest layers of the site the entire stratigraphy of this space was determined. Namely, in this trench a much more complex stratigraphic image was registered, compared to the one from trench I, both from geological, as well as cultural aspect. In this context, a large descent of the natural terrain (subsoil) was notices in the direction northwest-southeast, whereat in the north-west corner of the trench the subsoil was found at a depth of 0.4 m, while in the south-east corner of the trench due to the descent of the terrain, but also due to numerous Neolithic layers the subsoil was established at a depth of 4.5 m.

the research of the second trench in the abovementioned period was headed by Milo Bilbija, and from 2004 it was co-headed by prof. Mitja Gutin, PhD. In the period between 2001 and 2003, and onwards, Milo managed to create a team of archaeology students, who were actively involved in all research campaigns of the terrain, as well as in the cabinet processing of the material. Within the abovementioned partnership project, the Macedonian and the slovenian team worked in parallel on the same site in the research, thus exchanging the experiences gained (Fig. 36). In this research, the expert associates of the Macedonian team included: the author of this text (ceramic vessels), A. Fidanoska (zooarchaeology), G. Naumov (ceramic plastic), A. stevanoska (bone tools and documentation), I. tolevski (architecture), A. spirova (conservation), N. hadi-Nikolov (bone tools), M. Mitovski (paleometallurgy), R. Mladenovska, C. Vukovska, V. ali, s. Nedelkovski (photographer), as well as the architects: V. tanevski, M. Anicin-Pejoska and A. eerova. the slovenian team was composed of: B. kavur (stone artefacts), A. toma (ceramic vessels and plastic), Z. hincak (zooarchaeology), M. Zorko (stone artefacts), . Ogorelec

44


45

.

- . , , , . , . , (. 37). , , , , - .

. - , , . , , , , , .

(photo-documentation and geodetic measurements) and M. utari (art history). Moreover, expert associates from other disciplines took active participation in the process: E. stojkovska (biology) and G. Mladenovski (geology) from the Museum of Natural history of Macedonia. Part of the processing of the findings saw the participation of: I. sidera (bone tools), L. Gourishon (zooarchaeology), F. Marinval (paleobotany) and s. Cusso (geomorphology) from the National Centre for scientific Research - France (CNRs).

the general characteristics of all research of the site up to the present are the short-lasting autumnal campaigns in a relatively small space owing to the limited finances. some of the research activities have lasted only 10 to 15 days, such as those in 1982, 1984, 1985, 2000 and 2002, the usual duration of the remaining research campaigns being around 45 days. the research campaign from 2001, lasting about 90 days, is an exception. still, despite the modest volume of the research, a large quantity of movable and unmovable findings was uncovered which yielded new data on the skopje and the Macedonian Neolithic in general.

the research so far of Cerje - Govrlevo may be characterised as one of the most professional in Macedonia. this, above all, is owing to the high scientific level set by Milo Bilbija, as well as his archaeological luck, confirmed by the large number of finds and their precise archaeological context. Moreover, the application of new research methods, paired with the introduction of interdisciplinary research speaks enough of the level achieved. though a large part of the cabinet processing has not been completed, the gathered material was carefully deposited in the Museum of the City of skopje (Fig. 37). Accordingly, samples of different origin from most of the archaeological units have been gathered from all site research so far, and farther on can be used for paleobotanic, pollen and paleoclimatic analyses, as well as for the various physical and chemical methods for absolute dating.

up to the present a large quantity of the movable archaeological material has been gathered from the research of the site. Again, owing to the professionalism of Milo Bilbija, after its documenting the movable material was gathered from the field, packed and transported to the depots of the Museum of the City of skopje. Within the regular museum duties and for other scientific purposes, the movable material was cleaned, conserved, ready to be restored when needed, photographed and described, and in the end was stored duly.

46


47

- , . , - , . , 6 , 4 , , 1 ( 2010, 66-67). , - , - , , . - 14 , (, )1, - ( 2010, 70; 2011, 32) (. 38, 38 38). 1 5893-5728 .... (- ), 2 5814-5714 .... ( ), - 3 5714-5228 .... ( ).2

, (Bilbija 1986; - 2009, 61). , . 3 II, 2009 , , , , (. 39).

1 Leibniz-Labor fr Alterbestimmung und Isotopenforschung Christian-Al-brechts-Universitt, Kiel.2 .

DISCOVERIES

the archaeological research of Cerje - Govrlevo has significantly contributed to the enriching the scientific information on the history of Macedonia, for the purpose of disclosing the civilizational and cultural development of these areas in the distant past. Bringing new light to the general image of the Neolithic in the Balkans, the large quantity of movable and unmovable findings from Cerje - Govrlevo and their characteristics additionally enrich and determine the Macedonian Neolithic. Namely, the remnants of 6 houses in total have been discovered on the site so far, a complex made out of 4 hearths, several pits, a trench and a huge number of movable finds made out of various materials. ( 2010, 66-67). From the abovementioned finds and the stratigraphic data on the site, it may be said that the first settling into the site took place in the Early Neolithic, that it intensively developed throughout the Middle Neolithic, and the presence of people was noticed in the Late Neolithic, the Chalcolithic, the Bronze and the Iron Age as well. A part of the chronological image of the site was confirmed by the obtained 14 dating from the Leibniz Laboratory for Radiometric Dating and stable Isotope Research, within the Christian-Albrechts university (kiel, Germany)1 ( 2010, 70; 2011, 32) (Figs. 38a, 38b and 38c). sample 1 corresponds to the Early Neolithic and belongs to the time interval 5893-5728 BC (calibrated value), sample 2 corresponds to the Middle Neolithic belonging to the interval 5814-5714 BC (calibrated value), while sample 3 corresponds to the end of the Middle Neolithic and belongs to the interval 5714-5228 BC (calibrated value).2

the Neolithic houses from the site are characterised with square, rectangular and trapezoid base with different dimensions (Bilbija 1986; 2009a, 61). the foundation of the floor was always made of well tamped clay, covered with several layers of moist clay. Exception

1 Leibniz-Labor fr Alterbestimmung und Isotopenforschung Christian-Albrechts-Universitt, Kiel.2 The samples originated of carbonized organic material are gathered from different cultural layers.

48


49

, , . , , . , .. , . ( 2 I 3 II) , .. , .

, , , . 2 I, 1984 (. 40). - (. 41). , , , . - 0,9 0,95 0,6 , 0,8 0,6 . , , .

II 2004 , - 4 , (- 2011, 57) (. 42). , - (. 43). (. 1) 0,3 0,5 , . , , 0,6 (. 2), , . - , , - . , , , . - (. 44). , , , - . -, , ,

from this rule was made in house 3 from trench II, discovered in 2009, whose floor foundation was made of tamped clay, on top of which semi-circular logs were placed, covered with multiple layers of clay (Fig. 39). the construction of the walls consisted of wooden beams placed in the corners, sometimes complemented with a beam in the central part of the house, and planks daubed in several layers of moist clay. the roof construction, though not preserved in any of the houses, was probably of the gable type. unfortunately, due to the multilayered character of the site, i.e. the secondary destructions of the layers and the occurrences, half of the houses have been very poorly preserved. Only in two houses (house 2 from trench I and house 3 from trench II) the base, i.e. the floor and the inside inventory have been completely preserved.

Inside the houses, without exception, there was a callote hearth, sometimes accompanied by clay grain grinder, as it was the case in house no. 2 from trench I, discovered in 1984 (Fig. 40). the hearths discovered in the houses were built in the typically Neolithic manner - a foundation of several layers of stones daubed in clay (Fig. 41). Most often they had a square base, or a rectangular one, and were arched in the upper part, which led to them being called callote hearths. the abovementioned hearth is 0.9 0.95 0.6 m in dimensions, and the preserved part of the grinder found next to it measures 0.8 0.6 m. Frequently, several stone grinders and ceramic vessels were found in the immediate vicinity of the hearths, together with other utilitarian items, probably characterising this area of the house as the place for performing the basic household activities.

Especially interesting is the complex of hearths uncovered in trench II in 2004, consisting of an open fireplace rounded with stones and 4 stoves with different dimensions, forms and manner of construction ( 2011a, 57) (Fig. 42). this complex is situated in an open space and is in no relation with any of the houses, and was therefore determined as workshop (Fig. 43). the first and smallest hearth (no. 1) is ellipsoid in form, measuring 0.3 0.5 m, with a foundation of several layers of stones and completely rounded with slightly larger stones. In the same line, next to it, another hearth (no. 2) was discovered measuring 0.6 m in the front, constructed in the same manner, but without a clear form due to its poor preservation, owing to the penetration of a later date pit. the third hearth was discovered immediately above the second, using its foundation, and has the same manner of construction. these three hearths are build on the edge of a clay layer, and under

50


51

. , 0,8 0,8 , 0,4 .

, (. 45). , , . , ( ), . , , ( 2010, 444) (. 46). , .

II, 2010 . , , 3 , - 10 , 1 1,5 2 (. 47). .

- . - -, , , , ( 2011, 32). , , , , , .

- , -. , - . - , , , - , . - , , ( 2009). - -, . , . -

them, along their entire western side a large excavation was uncovered, with irregular square form, widened in the manner of double arch. A fourth hearth was found on the western side of the excavation (Fig. 44). Contrary to the other three hearths, this one was not build on the clay layer, but was directly dug into it, thus forming the square form of the excavation. It is an example of the typical Neolithic type of callote hearth, with the only difference being that it was constructed on the bottom of the excavation, with its western, northern and eastern sides being used as natural support for the clay layers of the callote. this hearth is square in form, with dimensions 0.8 0.8 m, and preserved up to a height of 0.4 m.

A large number of pits with different purpose, form and dimension were uncovered on the site (Fig. 45). Among the archaeologists, the pits usually do not represent a first choice, since they often destroy other archaeological occurrences, but nevertheless they sometimes offer other important data. Correspondingly, a large part of the pits in Govrlevo are, nominally said, empty (with a small quantity of finds), but nonetheless few have an abundance of material indicative of some phase or period. such case is a Iron Age pit in which, most probably, nine individuals were ritually buried ( 2010, 444) (Fig. 46). though unexpected, precisely this archaeological situation speaks best of the site in the Iron Age period in Macedonia.

the exhaustion of the cultural layers in trench II, in 2010 uncovered another very rare Neolithic occurrence. Namely, under the earliest layers of the site, under house 3 and the complex of hearths, a ditch was discovered extending in the west-southeast direction with a length of approximately 10 m, an average depth of around 1 m and width from 1.5 to 2 m (Fig. 47). Its origin and purpose remain unclear.

the core of the Museum of the City of skopjes prehistoric collection is the movable material from Cerje - Govrlevo. the site collection gathered from the research thus far contains artefacts made of ceramics, stone, animal bones, teeth, horn and shell ( 2011, 32). According to the quantity of the movable finds, the fragments of ceramic vessels are dominant, followed by almost the same quantity of animal bones, and significantly smaller in number are the artefacts made of stone, animal bones, teeth, horn and shell.

the dominant group of movable archaeological material are the fragments from ceramic vessels, with completely preserved samples being very rare. A part of the ceramic vessels collected from the houses

52


53

, , , , , , , , - . , : , , , . - , ( 2011) (. 48-50). , , , - - (. 51-55). , , . - : , , - , , , -, , . , , .

- , , . , : ( ), , , (Bilbija 1986; 2011; 1984; 2009; Naumov 2008; Nau-mov 2009; 2011). - , . , - . , , - , , . , , , (. 61 62). , , . - ,

is well-preserved, while the remaining part of this group is fragmented and does not allow greater restoration activities. Within the group, samples from all Neolithic phases have been discovered on the site as yet, with samples from other later prehistoric periods being found as well, though having in mind the features of the site, the Neolithic ceramic vessels are predominant. In terms of the technology of manufacturing, the vessels were formed, painted and fired according to the standard Neolithic techniques ( 2009a). Cerje - Govrlevo offers samples with different treatment of the surface and different colours, as well as with uneven temperature of firing. the pottery from the site is characterised by large presence of chaff in the clay, and rarely with presence of silicates. the research has uncovered vessels with polished, well, slightly smoothed and rough surface, in nuances of red, yellow, orange, brown, gray and black colour, as well as many-coloured samples. the forms of the vessels are known from the Macedonian Neolithic, and include: plates, pot-like vessels, bowls, askoi and cups. Especially prominent is the large presence of askoi through the Neolithic phases of the site, probably indicating some kind of a centre for production of these vessels ( 2011b) (Figs. 48-50. Also, the presence of pot-like vessels with high neck and of cups with biconical profile from the Early and the Middle Neolithic needs to be underlined, an occurrence characteristic for the Veluina-Porodin culture (Figs. 51-55). According to the forms of the vessels, plates and the pot-like vessels are dominant, with few samples of bowls and askoi, the cups being the rarest. the decoration of the ceramic vessels from Cerje - Govrlevo occupies a special place, and is carried out by means of all known Neolithic techniques, such as: painting with dark and light colour on red and orange foundation, with nuances of black, brown and red, i.e. nuances of white, grey-white and yellow-white, barbotine, impression, application of clay mass and incision. In fact, the present chronology of the site, besides the stratigraphy, was also done with the aid of the ceramic vessels.

the ceramic plastic from Cerje - Govrlevo is significantly less present when compared to the vessels, but with its authentic features it greatly surpasses the well-known Neolithic samples not only from Macedonia, but also from beyond the Balkans. Correspondingly, within the research made thus far, various ceramic artefacts with exceptional value have been found, such as: anthropomorphic house models (in literature known as sacrificial altars of the Great Mother

54


55

, - (. 56). , - - , . , , - . , , , , (. 57). , , . - , , - , (. 58). , . , - , . - , (. 59). , , , . -, , - (. 60 60). , - .

, : , , , , (- 2009) (. 63-68). , . , . , , . :

type), anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, cult tables, sacrificial altars and seals (Bilbija 1986; 2011; 1984; 2009; Naumov 2008; Naumov 2009; 2011). As in all ceramic vessels, the artefacts from this group were made in the same or similar manners, whereat, here there is also a dominant presence of chaff in the clay. Most often, their surface is slightly smoothed or rough, and well smoothed or polished samples can rarely be evidenced. Contrary to the vessels, the colours of the ceramic plastic are a bit limited, ranging from light red, yellow-orange, to grey and brown nuances. From the aspect of manufacturing and forms, the site has yielded various items, with different stylization, most often only hinting the representation (Figs. 61 and 62). therefore, the nature and the significance of the uncovered samples are yet to be researched, a process Milo performed daily. One of the most specific discoveries from the Cerje - Govrlevo research is the already well-known figurine Adam, a male torso with broken off head, arms and shins, standing opposite all known Neolithic representations of the human body from the entire southeast Europe (Fig. 56). this figurine has entered the annals of European Neolithic due to several reasons, mostly because of its unexpected realistic approach - the placement and the workmanship of the torso, due to which is moves the boundaries of the usual Neolithic image present in the general prehistoric context. Not entering any deeper analysis, it can be unreservedly established that Adam constitutes a unique sample from the European Neolithic with such atypical features. the anthropomorphic head, resembling a man, or an ape, made as a protome to some kind of ritual vessel is also a unique sample of ceramic plastic (Fig. 57). this rendition captivates with the plastic workmanship of the face and its expression which is hard to determine even today, but also with the red surface polished to high gloss. the anthropomorphic house model, The Great Mother also separates itself from the remaining well-known Neolithic artefacts from Macedonia according to the manner of representation (Fig. 58). Personifying fertility through a hybrid representation of a pregnant woman and a house, this find is unique in Macedonian Neolithic. Precisely this artefact reflects the spirituality of the Neolithic man, but at the same time represents an incontestable confirmation of his perceptions about the essential things in life, among which fertility naturally occupies the most important position. Another find from this group needs to be underlined, as it confirms, once again, the great importance and the position of the woman in the Cerje -

56


57

, ( ).

- , . , : , , , , , , . (. 69-76). , : ; , : , ; , , , : , ( 2009). , , : , .

- . : , , , , ; (), , , , , , , , , . , , , ( 2009).

, , (. 77-79). , , , , ( 2009). , : , , . , , . , (. 80).

, - , , . ,

Govrlevo Neolithic community, the anthropomorphic figurine Eve (Fig. 59). Although seemingly having schematic rendition of a typically Neolithic female figurine, this finding has noticeable red colouring on the back side of the body - the Palaeolithic colour used for various sacral items and objects. We finish this selection with another special item, the seal from Cerje - Govrlevo (Figs. 60a and 60b). According to Milo, the ideogram actually reflects the image which the Neolithic Govrlevo man had about his surrounding - the outlines of mountains Vodno and karadica and their branches.

A small number of other ceramic items from the profane and the sacral life of the Govrlevo Neolithic man were found on the site, such as: weights, spools, whorls, discoid plates, buns and labrets ( 2009b) (Figs. 63-68). Apart from these, other pottery with various forms and workmanship were found, the purpose of which still remains unknown. In this group of finds particularly interesting are the so-called buns, slightly fired ceramic dough with organic temper and roughish surface. According to the shape, Milo symbolically called them buns, considering them to be proof of the Neolithic cult towards the bread. It was his opinion that: their appearance in the Neolithic is not accidental because man perceived himself exactly through the bread, because for the first time in history of mankind the bread could be made by a farmer (and the beginning of farming was precisely in the Neolithic).

the collection of stone artefacts gathered from the research of Cerje - Govrlevo is exceptionally rich, especially in terms of the raw material with different origin and hardness. the following materials were found on-site: opalite, quartzite, chalcedony, jadeite, nephrite, rutile, marbles and flints. Depending on the characteristics of the material, the Neolithic Govrlevo craftsman produced stone tools and other items for different purposes (Figs. 69-76). the material is predominantly composed of tools made of chipped stone, such as blades and scrapers, tools made of larger pieces of stone, such as grinders, pestles and whetstones, and finally, the frequently encountered group of polished stone tools, such as axes, chisels and adzes ( 2009b). Besides these stone items, other artefacts with various purposes were discovered in Govrlevo, such as: whorls, discoid plates and labrets.

the past research of Cerje - Govrlevo has uncovered a large number of animal bones in various archaeological contexts. According to the zooarchaeological analyses carried out in so far on the site, the domestic

58


59

, , (. 81). .

animals were dominant and included: sheep, goat, cattle, pig and rarely dog, while the wild animals were represented by: wild cattle (aurochs), red deer, roe deer, wild boar, and seldom: beaver, fox, wolf, pelican, bear, etc. having this in mind, it may be concluded that stockbreeding was the leading agricultural activity, opposite hunting, which was also confirmed in other Neolithic sites in Macedonia ( 2009).

the Neolithic inhabitants of Govrlevo, besides using the animals for food, often used their bones and horns in the production of various tools (Figs 77-79). In that context, after using the meat, the bones were cleaned and formed, usually following their natural shape, and were afterwards boiled at a certain temperature in order to obtain greater firmness ( 2009b). Bone tools occupy a special place in the collection of movable material, and most frequently include: awls, needles, spatulas and burnishers. the rarest finds in this group are the artefacts made of sea and river shells, which are most often perforated in the central part, most probably for pinning up thread. Particularly interesting finds from the site are the bracelets made of sea shells, as well as the amulets made of animal teeth (Fig. 80).

the briefly presented immovable and movable finds from Cerje - Govrlevo are only a small part of the discoveries made on the site, carefully researched, documented and analysed by Milo and his collaborators and followers. During his professional life, he was with them almost daily, turning them in his hands, looking at them, observing and admiring them and generously sharing his thoughts on them with the admirers of the past (Fig. 81). For him they were embodiment of lifes values and the ideal of man.

60


61

: - - -

, , , , , , . , . , . , , , . , .3 , , , .

3 .

notes: NEOLIThIC GOVRLEVO- pERCEpTIONS ON CERJE - GOVRLEVO -

During the professional life of an archaeologist several aspects of the profession intertwine, including, in the first place, the archaeological research and the keeping of field documentation, followed by the system of cabinet research, such as material processing, evaluation of the uncovered finds and finding their analogous occurrences described in literature. they contain different elements which are decisive for the final conclusions on the topic, and can sometimes even change the course of history. Milo understood very well these essential processes in archaeology and therefore approached his work with great attention and utmost precaution in every research. On the other hand, regarding the finds and their consideration, his mind moved in almost all spheres of human perception, many times using unconventional approaches in the archaeological research. Wishing to demonstrate certain aspects of the professional and personal relation Milo had towards the issues related to Neolithic Govrlevo, below I present part of his published and unpublished thoughts on Govrlevo which were available to me.3 unfortunately, most of them are undated and lack the purpose for which they were written, some of them are unfinished, and therefore I apologise in advance if the text that follows seems discontinued at times.

3 The translation of the interviews from the Yugoslavian media has been done into Macedonian by the author.

62


63

, ,

( , 1985 .)

, .

1981 . . . , ( 4500 ....). , , , .

3200 .... . , , .

, , , .

, . , , . .

, , , .

, - : , ? - .

Published texts, media features, interviews

Neolithic houses from Zelenikovo and Govrlevo(text for the exhibition invitation, 1985)

With the exhibition Neolithic houses from Zelenikovo and Govrlevo the Museum of the City of skopje wishes to present, before the wider cultural and scientific audience, a part of the results achieved within the scientific research project systematic Archaeological Research of the Neolithic and the Metal Age Cultures in the skopje Area.

In 1981 we began the research of the slatina site near the village of Zelenikovo and Cerje in the vicinity of the village of Govrlevo. With the aid of these archaeological excavations we have established that these sites actually represent remnants of larger settlements, established here in the period of the Early Neolithic (around 4500 BC). Later rebuild, these settlements developed in the Middle Neolithic as well, and towards the end of this period, in the Late Neolithic the life in them vanished completely.

the reasons for this dying out were the new ethnical conglomerations which somewhere around 3200 BC penetrated and inhabited these areas. these newly settled peoples knew the technology of obtaining and processing metals, first copper, and later bronze.

through this thousand-year long period of existence, these settlements saw the construction of many houses, differing both in their size and shape, as well as in the manner of building.

the houses presented in this exhibition are of one type only, periodically belonging to the Middle Neolithic. these houses, together with the finds discovered in them, are being presented for the first time before the wider audience. the house inventory is primarily represented by ceramic vessels with various types and forms used daily or vessels with purpose related to the spiritual life of the Neolithic man.

Various tools made of stone and bones were found, used by the Neolithic man in order to satisfy his needs and ideas, which often were not only utilitarian in character.

these and many other moments from the activities of the Neolithic man have been incorporated in this exhibition with the wish to make this great-great fellow citizen of ours a closer interlocutor in our contemplations on the answers to the questions which concern us even

64


65

, , (Man, bread, pottery)(, 8 , , 2001 .)

, , .

, , . , , - , - . , - , - .

, , , - , - , , 21- .

(kult kruha u neolitiku Makedonije)

(, - , 2004)

, , , - , - , .

, , , , .

- .

- , .

, - . , , - , -

today: who are we, where are we from and where are we going? - a riddle which also preoccupied men in those times as well.

Man, Bread, pottery (Abstract, 8 Neolithic seminar, Ljubljana, 2001)

he created man out of earth, and man eating bread born by mother earth, elevated her making pottery out of her.

On this occasion I want to present the data that we have established through a Neolithic research process in the skopje Valley, putting a particular accent on pottery which, besides agriculture, is one of the key determinants of that period. Pottery, as an innovation of the Neolithic man - that actually was induced by agriculture, is not only a product of utilitarian goods through dictated physical and chemical processes, but is also a process which attempts resuscitation of substance - as bread materialized life through the first substantial comprehension of agriculture, through wheat and flour. this conclusion, which at first sight might be taken as a mistake of the Neolithic man, can be noticed through a great number of artefacts we have documented, and finally enthroned by the millennium archaeological discovery of Adam from Govrlevo, which clearly tells the truth about him - the Neolithic man, and about the man of the XXI century.

The Cult of the Bread in Macedonian Neolithic

(Abstract, International Archaeological Counselling Cults and Beliefs through the Ages, Pula, 2004)

Pottery, agriculture, grains and bread, as key features of the Neolithic period, may well be studied on the Neolithic sites in Macedonia, especially the Neolithic settlements Govrlevo and Zelenikovo in the skopje Valley.

On the basis of the frequent presence of the bread, modelled in pottery, as well as of the callote hearths and the kneading trough, which are indispensible in the organization of the house interior, one can observe the rise of the cult of the bread in the Neolithic.

the pragmatism of the Neolithic man is proportionate to his spiritual grasping through cults and beliefs.

this notion is based on the multitudinousness of archaeological

66


67

. - , , ... , .

( , , 2006 .)

,

- . 2000- , - . 2002-, - , , 10- . , - . , -, . , . , - .

- , . , . , , - .

- Neolitsko naselje Govrlevo(,

, , 2007 .)

, , , , , , .

, , .

artefacts from the Neolithic settlements in Macedonia, which can doubtlessly be connected to the cult of the bread.

the bread is an archetype and a paradigm; it is a primordial cell owing to which we survive. In the period of the Neolithic, it is unequivocally an existential matter, but also a medium of cult and ritual in which one can recognize the relation between the realization and the spiritual improvement. the origin of its metaphoricalness is in the Neolithic, and it can be traced in all subsequent periods, all the way toour daily bread.

Adam of Macedonia(text for the White Night invitation, skopje, 2006)

Dear Visitor,

Before you is an artefact of incalculable value - a ceramic sculpture of a male torso more than six thousand years old. It was discovered in 2000, during the archaeological research of the Neolithic settlement Govrlevo. Already in 2002, at the International Archaeological Congress in Croatia, prominent international experts recognized the sculpture as one of the 10 most significant archaeological finds in the world. this is the first human figure in the world represented in such an explicitly realistic and artistic form from such an early period. though the sculpture is small in dimensions, it nevertheless constitutes a monumental work of art, previously unrecorded in the annals of Neolithic art. the sculptural inventiveness is so strongly suggestive, that the present-day viewer easily recognizes the six millennia old message. therefore, the sculpture occupies an anthological position in the treasury of world art.

Its symbolical modelling refers to the essence of man himself, which is his spirituality. All these elements resulted in the name Adam, corresponding to the biblical name of the first man created by God. taking into consideration these far-reaching particularities that carry more than a worldwide importance, it is out great honour to present to you this millennium find.

68


69

, , - .

, , -, , , , - , - - .

( , 1982 .)

a- , , . , , , au , , .

a, , 5000 3000 . a 3 . , , . .

, , , , . , , . , . , , , , ..

Neolithic Settlement Govrlevo(Abstract, International symposium the Problems of the

Neolithic and the Development of Early Neolithic Cultures in the Balkan Area, tuzla, 2007)

Govrlevo, from an archaeological point of view, is a prehistoric settlement established in the Early Neolithic, which developed intensively in the Middle Neolithic, when it reached its peak, and gradually died out in the Late Neolithic, through stagnation and surge of Metal Age expansion.

the basic structure of the settlement is made of above-ground, square houses, most often built in wattle and daub technique.

the interior of the houses is usually composed of two rooms with a hearth, as well as a sacrificial altar-grinder with kneading trough, together with a callote hearth for bread.

the abundance of ceramic vessels, in different shapes, dimensions, facture, colours and decorations, as well as stone and bone tools, utilitarian artefacts, and the presence of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic plastic rounds off the inheritance of the mentally-psychological habitus of this Neolithic settlements prehistoric inhabitants.

Cultural Mosaic (contribution for Radio skopje, probably in 1982)

In the organisation of the Museum of the City of skopje the field archaeological research of the prehistoric site Cerje, situated in the vicinity of the village of Govrlevo, skopje Area, was completed in the first half of October. Although the research, due to lack of funds, was limited both in space and time, the results achieved are of great significance for archaeology and represent a new source of gathering information for studying prehistory not only in the skopje Valley and in Macedonia, but also in the Balkans, and beyond.

the research has shown that this is a large prehistorical site, i.e. a settlement from the Neolithic period, which existed from 5000 until around 3000 years BC. this two-thousand years span is represented by about 3 metres high layers witnessing the existence of the prehistoric man. these rich cultural layers yielded thousands of fragments made of ceramics, bones and stone, items which were at disposal of the Neolithic man. At present they are in the process of further expert processing and studying.

70


71

, .

, , . , . , . , 300 , , 500 . , - , , ( ) . , -, , .

, , , , ? , , ...

( )( . . , , 10 1982 .)

, , ...

... , . , . , , . , .

In the present stage of research we can with certainty say that we have discovered the oldest so far known human culture in the skopje area, belonging to the phase of the earliest Neol

Ljubo Fidanoski - Cerje-Govrlevo and Miloš Bilbija

Documents

Transcript of Ljubo Fidanoski - Cerje-Govrlevo and Miloš Bilbija