Butmir culture

The Butmir culture was a major Neolithic culture in central Bosnia, developed along the shores of the river Bosna, spanning from Sarajevo to Zavidovići. It was discovered in 1893, at the site located in Butmir, in the vicinity of Ilidža, which gave its name to entire cultural group of the late Neolithic in central Bosnia, the Butmir culture. It is characterized by its unique elaborately decorated pottery and anthropomorphic Figurines, and is one of the best researched European cultures from 5100 to 4500 BC.[1][2] It was part of the larger Danube civilization. Largest Butmir site is in Visoko basin, in Okolište.

Butmir culture
Geographical rangeCentral Bosnia
PeriodNeolithic Europe
Datesc. 5100 BC – c. 4500 BC
Major sitesOkolište, Butmir (Ilidža), Obre II (Kakanj), Nebo (Travnik)
Preceded byCardium pottery, Kakanj culture
Followed byVučedol culture

History

The Butmir culture was discovered in 1893, when Austro-Hungarian authorities began construction on the agricultural college of the University of Sarajevo. Various traces of human settlement were found dating to the Neolithic period. Digs were begun immediately, and lasted until 1896.

The finds caused interest among archaeologists worldwide. They were largely responsible for the International Congress of Archaeology and Anthropology being held in Sarajevo in August 1894. The most impressive finds were the unique ceramics, which are now found in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The culture disappeared during the Bronze Age.

Settlements
Members of Congress inspecting the Excavations at Butmir, 16 August 1894. Bottom: Flint and other objects found at Butmir.

Main Butmir culture sites are: Butmir (Sarajevo), Kraljevine (Novi Šeher), Obre II (Kakanj), Nebo (Travnik), Crkvina (Turbe), Okolište, (Visoko), Brdo (Kiseljak)

According to radiocarbon analysis, life in these settlements existed between 5100 and 4500 BCE.

  • Butmir I, 5100 – 4900 BCE
  • Butmir II, 4850 – 4750 BCE (settlement in Butmir, results from 1979),
  • Butmir III, to 4500. BCE (Gimbutas, 1974, 16) (results from 2002).[3]

The Butmir culture was the home for several large settlements, among them was the site of Okolište in Bosnia dating to 5200–4500 BC. with population estimates between 1,000–3,000 people. The settlement was largest in the early phase (5200 BC) with an area of 7.5 hectare, from there it gradually declined to reach the size of 1.2 hectare in 4500 BC. The site likely consisted of parallel rows of houses that ranged in size from four to ten meters in length. The site also likely had a series of ditches surrounding it with a single entrance.[4][5][6]

The site of Okolište would likely have been an egalitarian society with no evidence of social stratification. Most animal remains found in Okolište belong to cattle, while a fair amount belonged to sheep, goats, and pigs. The diet of the Okoliste people consisted mainly of cattle, emmer, einkorn, and lentils. Although there was an importance of agriculture and animal husbandry, wild game was still hunted as a source of food.

Butmir is oldest Neolithic site in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[7] It was discovered by Austro-Hungarian authorities during the construction of school in district of Ilidža. First field work was conducted between 1893. and 1896. Works were done by Vjenceslav Radimski and Franjo Fiala. This discovery was monumental, and sparked an international meeting of archaeologists and anthropologists in August 1894 in Sarajevo. Houses that were uncovered were in forms of dugouts (or semi-dugouts) and some above ground buildings. The largest number of dugouts was discovered in Butmir itself (90).[8]

Location in Kraljevine in Novi Šeher were explored in 1906–1908, but the results have not been fully published. Excavations unveiled large number of carved stone axes, which indicates a large workshop center but there is almost no Neolithic architecture.

Obre near Kakanj were researched in 1963 to 1965, 1967 to 1968, and in 1970 when lage systematic excavations were done in two close locations: Obre I (Raskršće) and Obre II (Gornje polje). Obre I belonged to Starcevo culture and Kakanj culture group, while Obre II completely belonged to Butmir culture.

Main supplement of this neolithic economy were agriculture and animal husbandry. Hunting was of less importance, but also part of daily life.[7] Pottery produced by these people shows they possessed fine workmanship. Decorations are unique to Butmir culture, and have many geometric motifs.

Pottery
Butmir culture and their geographical environment.

Dishes

In the Butmir II phase, the diversity increased significantly. Conical bowls were a standard form of this phase, but there is emergence of conical bowls with a slightly curved upper part. This phase is also represented by oval, semi-lapid and biconical bowl shapes with less curved and shorter cylindrical necks, vases with legs and shallow coarse bowls with a wavy-shaped rims. A special group is pear-shaped vases with a small opening.

The vast majority of ceramic products were simple, intended for storing food supplies, for holding water and for cooking. Only a small number are ceramics that represent a work of art. In terms of surface treatment and decoration of fine ceramic vessels, they can be divided into three groups:

  1. Ceramics with dark gray or black gloss finish
  2. Style with geometric motifs
  3. Style with decorative motifs

Plastics
A typical Butmir vase

At Butmir sites 72 human figures made of baked clay were found. They are made in such way so that one can easily identify some racial features. There are 3 main groups of found figures that showed racial characteristics of Negroid, Armenoid and European races. They are mainly female figures. Animal figures are very rare.[9]

See also

References
  1. kons.gov.ba (25 March 2012). "prehistoric settlement in Butmir". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  2. "Butmir Culture". Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  3. "Komisija za očuvanje nacionalnih spomenika". old.kons.gov.ba. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. The Socio-Political Development of the Late Neolithic Settlement of Okoliste/Bosnia-Hercegowina: Devolution by Transhumance?. Nils Müller-Scheeßel, Robert Hofmann, Johannes Müller, Knut Rassmann. 2009.
  5. Butmir culture. Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  6. Müller, Johannes; Rassmann, Knut; Videiko, Mykhailo (22 January 2016). Trypillia Mega-Sites and European Prehistory: 4100–3400 BCE. ISBN 9781317247920.
  7. "Butmirska kultura". ssst.edu.ba. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. Batović, Šime (1969). Alojz Benac:Studije o kamenom i bakarnom dobu u sjeverozapadnom Balkanu. Arheološki muzej.
  9. "Butmir Culture". h.etf.unsa.ba. Retrieved 3 October 2019.

Sources
  • H. Rudolf, Landscapes and Human Development: The Contribution of European Archaeology. 2010. 182–190.
  • W. Radymský / M. Hoernes, Die neolithische Station von Butmir bei Sarajevo in Bosnien. Ausgrabungen im Jahre 1893 (Wien 1895).
  • F. Fiala / M. Hoernes, Die neolithische Station von Butmir bei Sarajevo in Bosnien. Ausgrabungen in den Jahren 1894–1896. II. Teil (Schlussband) (Wien 1898).
  • A. Benac, Obre II – Neolitsko naselje butmirske grupe na Gornjem polju. Glasnik 26, 1971, 5–300.
  • M. Gimbutas, Chronology of Obre I an Obre II. Wiss. Mitt. Bosnisch-Herzegowin. Landesmus. 4, 1974, 15–35.
  • S. Peric, Butmirska kultura. Geneza i razvoj. Butmir culture. Origin and development. Posebna Izdanja Arheoloski Institut (Beograd 1995).
  • Z. Kujundžić-Vejzagić / J. Müller / K. Rassmann / T. Schüler, Okolište – Grabung und Geomagnetik eines zentralbosnischen Tells aus der ersten Hälfte des 5. vorchristlichen Jahrtausends. In: B. Hänsel (Hrsg.), Parerga Praehistorica: Jubiläumsschrift zur Prähistorischen Archäologie. 15 Jahre UPA. Universitätsforsch. Prähist. Arch. 100 (Bonn 2004) 69–81.


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