Ancient DNA studies have revealed how human migrations from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age transformed the social and genetic structure of European societies. Present-day Croatia lies at the heart ...of ancient migration routes through Europe, yet our knowledge about social and genetic processes here remains sparse. To shed light on these questions, we report new whole-genome data for 28 individuals dated to between ~ 4700 BCE-400 CE from two sites in present-day eastern Croatia. In the Middle Neolithic we evidence first cousin mating practices and strong genetic continuity from the Early Neolithic. In the Middle Bronze Age community that we studied, we find multiple closely related males suggesting a patrilocal social organisation. We also find in that community an unexpected genetic ancestry profile distinct from individuals found at contemporaneous sites in the region, due to the addition of hunter-gatherer-related ancestry. These findings support archaeological evidence for contacts with communities further north in the Carpathian Basin. Finally, an individual dated to Roman times exhibits an ancestry profile that is broadly present in the region today, adding an important data point to the substantial shift in ancestry that occurred in the region between the Bronze Age and today.
Many anthropological studies have examined the functional implications of enamel thickness in human dental crowns. Despite limitations, Enamel thickness (ET) values are still used to infer taxonomic ...attribution in the genus Homo, and to identify mechanisms of functional adaptation against macrowear. However, only a few studies have tried to describe the possible relationship between ET and dental wear patterns in permanent lower first molars (M1) aiming to observe whether an adaptive response to the environmental and cultural context is detectable. The present work aims to investigate a possible signal of ET adaptive response in M1 (wear stage 3; Molnar, 1971) belonging to individuals who lived between the Neolithic (early 6th millennium BCE) and the Bronze Age (second half of the 2nd millennium BCE) in Croatia to identify any signal of change in dental tissue proportions based on archaeologically documented shifts in population structure and subsistence strategies. In order to do so, we explored 3D Average Enamel Thickness (AET) of the entire crown and wear pattern distribution among individuals and across chronological groups. We then described a new method called “Enamel Thickness per Masticatory Phases” (ETMP) involving the creation of virtual sections cutting enamel and coronal dentine in three parts based on masticatory phases, and explored the distribution of 3D AET accordingly. Finally, we performed geometric morphometric analysis on dental crown to ascertain possible morphological differences between Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Bronze Age groups. Results show that Bronze Age individuals differ from previous groups due to 1) higher values of ET in both the entire crown and specifically in the buccal area, 2) to an extensive wear pattern localized on the buccal side, and 3) to the distal extension of the hypoconid together with an extended mesio-distal shape of the crown. These patterns may represent an adaptive response of dental tissue to varying functional demands (e.g. archaeologically documented dietary shift). The study of ETMP therefore offers a more nuanced method, in addition to morphology and macrowear analysis, to document biocultural processes of change over time in archaeological populations through dental tissues.
•New virtual method for the computation of 3D dental enamel thickness in humans is tested on Croatian individuals.•Bronze Age individuals show the highest values of enamel thickness in both the dental crown and Buccal masticatory phase.•Dental wear in Buccal masticatory phase discriminates Bronze Age individuals from individuals belonging to earlier groups.•Dental crown shape morphology varies measurably across Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Bronze Age individuals of Croatia.
In this paper we present three prehistoric cases (two previously reported and one recently discovered) of trepanation from Croatia: Rudine, Bezdanjača and Jagodnjak, all dated to the Bronze Age. By ...using a detailed macroscopic analysis as well as radiographic imaging (x-ray and CT scanning) of the skulls, we provide a new assessment and interpretation for this type of surgical intervention during the Bronze Age. The first case was that of an adult male from the Rudine site dated to the Early Bronze Age; the second trepanation was recorded on an adult female from the Bezdanjača Cave, dated to the Middle/Late Bronze Age; the third case was observed on a juvenile cranium from the Jagodnjak site, dated to the Middle Bronze Age. All three cases exhibit several similarities: (i) all are located on the right side of the frontal bone; (ii) all three are of similar dimension/shape; (iii) in all cases all three layers of calvarium were breached; and (iv) similar techniques for the trepanation procedure were used in all cases. These three crania represent the oldest cases of intentional medical interventions in the territory of modern-day Croatia, while the Jagodnjak individual is the youngest person thus far discovered with this kind of treatment in the region.
During archeological excavations in the Lower Cerovačka Cave (Mt. Velebit, Croatia), the test trench penetrated to a depth of 1.8 m. An undisturbed sequence of sediments was exposed. Considering that ...caves represent highly efficient sediment traps it was possible to recognize changes in the depositional mechanisms during the Pleistocene–Holocene period. Using the multiproxy approach, the mineralogical, petrographic, and biostratigraphic characterization of the cave sediments was performed. Facies analysis revealed several stages in the development of the clastic filling of cave channels. Allochthonous origin of the sediment was assumed. Sedimentation took place under various conditions from pronounced cold and dry climate during Pleistocene stages in the base of the profile, to humid periods with anthropogenic influence during the Holocene at the very top of the profile. Although traditionally these sediments were believed to be of a Pleistocene age, here for the first time a stratigraphic calibration of the profile has been performed based on luminescence dating of detrital cave sediments and radiometric dating of speleothems.
This paper presents new archaeobotanical data from the Lower Cerovačka Cave located in Dalmatia, Croatia. At the site a high density of carbonized plant remains was recovered, indicating the remnants ...of a burnt crop store dating to the Late Bronze Age. Overall, the assemblage is dominated by lentil (Lens culinaris) and free-threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum), and to a lesser extent, emmer (Triticum dicoccum), einkorn (Triticum monococcum), spelt (Triticum spelta) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum). In general, the large botanical collection from Lower Cerovačka Cave fits with what is already known about Bronze Age agriculture in Croatia, yet the unique nature of this site brings to the fore questions around storage practices and the use of caves in prehistory.
This paper presents the use of the data obtained by terrestrial topographic survey in analysis and assessment of archaeological potential of lowland areas. The analysis is based on investigation of ...relief features of the site Kurilovec-Belinščica, which is located in the lowland area of Turopolje region. By comparison with the data acquired from terrestrial topographic survey carried out prior to archaeological excavations in the south part of the city of Osijek, it is presented how the obtained results can contribute to analysis and interpretation of the results of archaeological excavations. Based on the conclusions of the study, new guidelines are suggested for documenting archaeological sites which can expand the methodological approach of acquiring data before conducting archaeological excavations.
The rise and fall of the Roman Empire was a socio-political process with enormous ramifications for human history. The Middle Danube was a crucial frontier and a crossroads for population and ...cultural movement. Here, we present genome-wide data from 136 Balkan individuals dated to the 1st millennium CE. Despite extensive militarization and cultural influence, we find little ancestry contribution from peoples of Italic descent. However, we trace a large-scale influx of people of Anatolian ancestry during the Imperial period. Between ∼250 and 550 CE, we detect migrants with ancestry from Central/Northern Europe and the Steppe, confirming that “barbarian” migrations were propelled by ethnically diverse confederations. Following the end of Roman control, we detect the large-scale arrival of individuals who were genetically similar to modern Eastern European Slavic-speaking populations, who contributed 30%–60% of the ancestry of Balkan people, representing one of the largest permanent demographic changes anywhere in Europe during the Migration Period.
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•A frontier region of ancient Rome was as cosmopolitan as the imperial center•Genetic proof that migrants identified as Goths were ethnically diverse confederations•Slavic-speaking migrants account for 30%–60% of the ancestry of Balkan peoples today•A model for integrating archaeology with genetics
Genome-wide data from 146 ancient Balkan individuals dating to the 1st millennium CE, together with detailed archaeological information, reveals internal migratory patterns during the Roman Empire and documents the demographic impact of Early Medieval Slavic migrations that significantly contributed to the present-day Balkan gene pool.
This paper presents new archaeobotanical data from the Lower Cerovačka Cave located in Dalmatia, Croatia. At the site a high density of carbonized plant remains was recovered, indicating the remnants ...of a burnt crop store dating to the Late Bronze Age. Overall, the assemblage is dominated by lentil (Lens culinaris) and free-threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum), and to a lesser extent, emmer (Triticum dicoccum), einkorn (Triticum monococcum), spelt (Triticum spelta) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum). In general, the large botanical collection from Lower Cerovačka Cave fits with what is already known about Bronze Age agriculture in Croatia, yet the unique nature of this site brings to the fore questions around storage practices and the use of caves in prehistory.
Zaštitno arheološko istraživanje u Donjoj Cerovačkoj špilji provela je tvrtka Kaducej d. o. o., od ožujka do svibnja 2019. godine, kao preduvjet izvođenju radova na uređenju šetnice i rekonstrukciji ...sustava rasvjete. Istraživanjem su utvrđene tri faze ljudskog korištenja ulaznog dijela špilje: moderna faza, od otkrića špilje do danas, faza povremenog boravka tijekom srednjeg vijeka, te arheološki najznačajnija faza - korištenja špilje tijekom kasnoga brončanog doba. Iskopavanjem je prikupljeno 3,5 tona ulomaka keramičkih posuda te 287 brončanih, koštanih, jantarnih, keramičkih i kamenih predmeta iz razdoblja kasnog brončanog doba. U pokusnoj sondi na dubini od 1,2 metra otkriveni su i istraženi koštani ostaci špiljskog medvjeda. Arheološkim istraživanjem nadopunjena su saznanja prijašnjih istraživanja te je potvrđeno da Donja špilja predstavlja značajno arheološko i paleontološko nalazište.
U nepune dvije godine koliko traju speleološka istraživanja u početnom dijelu kanjona Korane i platoima iznad samog kanjona, istraženo je i topografski snimljeno od strane SK Ursus spelaeus 27 ...speleoloških objekata. Do ovih istraživanja bilo je poznato ili topografski snimljeno njih 6.
Gotovo je sigurno da speleološki potencijal ovog dijela NP Plitvička jezera nije potrošen te da će istraživanja u narednom periodu vjerojatno rezultirati otkrivanjem još (trenutno) nepoznatih krških fenomena.
Do sada istraženi speleološki objekti ovog dijela Parka, svojim geološkim,geomorfološkim, biospeleološkim, arheološkim i ostalim značajkama kvalitativno i kvantitativno uvelike doprinose sveukupnoj prirodnoj i kulturnoj baštini jedne od najpoznatijih svjetskih krških destinacija.
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