THE / RIVER VALLEY IN PREHISTORY Gerda Henkel Stiftung

In The Steps of James Harvey Gaul Volume 2

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory Proceedings of the International Symposium „Strymon Praehistoricus“, Kjustendil–––, 27.09–01.10.2004 Editing: Henrieta Todorova, Mark Stefanovich and Georgi Ivanov 1. Prehistoric–Europe; 2. Neolithic period–Europe; 3 Europe–Antiquities. 544 pp., 29 maps, 9 topograchical plans, 779 color photos, 81 b/w photos, 815 drawings, 58 tabl., 32 diagrams and simplified graphs, 10 reconstructions drawing of houses.

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

Sofia (2007) First published

GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG MALKASTENSTRASSE 15, D-40211 DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY TELEFON +49 (0)211 35 98 53, TELEFAX +49 (0)211 35 71 37 [email protected] WWW.GERDA-HENKEL-STIFTUNG.DE

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

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

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THE STRUMA/STRYMON RIVER VALLEY IN PREHISTORY

Proceedings of the International Symposium Strymon Praehistoricus

Kjustendil–Blagoevgrad Serres–Amphipolis (Bulgaria) () 27.09–01.10.2004

Edited by

Henrieta Todorova, Mark Stefanovich, Georgi Ivanov

Sofi a 2007 Table of Contents

Vorwort ...... vii

Die paleoklimatische Entwicklung in VII–I Jt. vor Chr. H. Todorova ...... 1 Abrupt Climate Forcing Observed at Early Neolithic Sites in South-East Europe and the Near East B. Weninger, E. Alram-Stern, E. Bauer, L. Clare, U. Danzeglocke, O. Jöris, C. Kubatzki, G. Rollefson, H. Todorova, T. van Andel ...... 7 Social Network Analysis of Neolithic Societies E. Claßen ...... 28 Promachon-Topolnica. A greek-bulgarian archaeological project Ch. Koukouli-Chryssanthaki, H. Todorova, I. Aslanis, I. Vajsov, M. Valla ...... 43 Promachon-Topolnica. A typology of painted decorations and its use as a chronological marker I. Vajsov ...... 79 Tierdarstellungen und „Stierkult“ im Neolithikum Südosteuropas und Anatoliens F. Falkenstein ...... 121 Where Do Children Belong? Neolithic burials in western Bulgaria K. Băčvarov ...... 139 Нови сведения за ранния неолит в Северозападна България Г. Ганецовски ...... 147 Die Entstehung und Gliederung der neolithischen Kulturen auf dem Zentralbalkan: Fallbeispiel Gălăbnik J. Pavúk ...... 165 Tell Gălăbnik. Architecture and Site Planning A. Bakamska ...... 177 Крайници – раннокерамично селище от басейна на река Струма С. Чохаджиев, А. Бакъмска Л. Нинов ...... 181 The Early Neolithic Site at Piperkov Čiflik, Near Kjustendil (Season 2004) V. Vandova ...... 191 Proto-Starčevo Culture and Early Neolithic in the Struma Valley M. Bogdanović ...... 201 La périodisation des sites préhistoriques dans la vallée de la Strouma moyenne L. Perničeva ...... 209 Das Frühchalkolithikum des Strymonbereichs S. Čochadžiev ...... 223 Some Observations on Zoomorphic Images from Western Bulgaria S. Terzijska–Ignatova ...... 227 Prehistoric Settlements in the Province of Kjustendil V. Genadieva ...... 239 Recent Researches at the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Eastern , Greece: an Overview P. Darcque, H. Koukouli-Chryssanthaki, D. Malamidou, R. Treuil, Z. Tsirtsoni ...... 247 Neolithic Societies: Recent Evidence from Northern Greece M. Pappa ...... 257

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Linguistische Angaben über die Namen der Flüsse Axios, Strymon, I. Duridanov † ...... 273 Prehistorical Sites in the Middle Struma River Valley Between the End of the VIIth mill. BC and the Beginning of the Ist mill. BC M. Grębska-Kulowa, I. Kulow ...... 279 Kryoneri: a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement in the Lower Strymon Valley D. Malamidou ...... 297 Absolute Chronology of the Neolithic and Eneolithic Cultures in the Valley of Struma J. Bojadžiev ...... 309 Decline of the Painted Pottery in Eastern Macedonia and North Aegean at the End of the Final Neolithic/Chalcolithic Period S. Papadopoulos ...... 317 On the Late Stages of the Krivodol-Sălcuţa Culture P. Georgieva ...... 329 The Ethno-Cultural Affiliation of the North Anatolian Early Bronze Age J. Yakar ...... 339 Dating the Donja Brnjica Culture Based on Metal Finds K. Luci ...... 347 A Late Bronze Age Cemetery in Faia Petra, East of the Middle Strymon Valley M. Valla ...... 359 The Late Bronze Age Necropolis in the Тown of Sandanski, Southwest Bulgaria S. Alexandrov, V. Petkov, G. Ivanov ...... 373 Krsto Pokrovnik Excavations at a Late Bronze Age Site in the Middle Struma River Valley, Southwest Bulgaria. Preliminary results – 2004 season M. Stefanovich, I. Kulov ...... 389 Tradition and Innovation in the Bronze Age Pottery of the Toumba. Food and drink consumption and “tableware” ceramics S. Andreou, K. Psaraki ...... 397 Bronzezeitliche Goldornate aus Süddeutschland und ihre donauländisch-balkanischen Beziehungen W. David ...... 421 The Beginning of the Iron Age in Macedonia D. Mitrevski ...... 443 Assiros Toumba. A brief history of the settlement K.A. Wardle, D. Wardle...... 451 Troy VIIB2 Revisited. The date of the transition from Bronze to Iron Age in the Northern Aegean K.A. Wardle, M. Newton, P.I. Kuniholm ...... 481 Palaeobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria Tz. Popova, E. Marinova ...... 499 Промахон-Тополница. Компаративно изследване на дивите и домашни животни от сектор Тополница Н. Илиев, Н. Спасов ...... 509 Agriculture and Use of Space at Promachon/Topolnica. Preliminary observations on the archaeobotanical material S.M. Valamoti ...... 523 Palaeoecological Evidence of the Main Postglacial Vegetation and Climate Changes in Southwestern Bulgaria from the Neolithic to Modern Times E. Božilova, S. Tonkov ...... 531

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory vi

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

Henrieta Todorova [email protected] Stratis Papadopoulos [email protected] Bernhard Weninger [email protected] Petya Georgieva [email protected] Erich Claßen [email protected] Jak Yakar [email protected] Chaido Koukouli-Chryssanthaki [email protected] Kemjal Luci [email protected] Ioanis Aslanis [email protected] Magdalene Valla [email protected] Ivan Vajsov [email protected] Stefan Alexandrov [email protected] Frank Falkanstein [email protected] Georgi Ivanov [email protected] Bačvarov [email protected] Mark Stefanovich [email protected] Georges Ganetzovski [email protected] Stelios Andreou [email protected] Juraj Pavuk [email protected] Wolfgang David [email protected] Aneta Bakamska [email protected] Dragi Mitrevski [email protected] Stefan Čochadžiev [email protected] Ken Wardle [email protected] Veselina Vandova [email protected] Diana Wardle [email protected] Liljana Perničeva [email protected] Maryanne Newton [email protected] Stoilka Terzijska–Ignatova [email protected] P.I. Kuniholm [email protected] Veneta Genadieva [email protected] Tzvetana Popova [email protected] Pascal Darcque [email protected] Nikolaj Spasov [email protected] René Treuil [email protected] Elisaveta Božilova [email protected] Zoï Tsirtsoni [email protected] Spassimir Tonkov [email protected] Maria Papa [email protected] Sultana Maria Valamoti [email protected] Malgorzata Grębska-Kulowa [email protected] Irena Nasteva [email protected] Ilija Kulow [email protected] Petar Zidarov [email protected] Dimitra Malamidou [email protected] Biserka Gaydarska [email protected] Javor Bojadžiev [email protected] Valentin Debochichki [email protected]

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria

Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova

The archeobotanics of Southwestern Bulgaria is less investigated, than the Thracian plain. Here the development of the prehistoric cultures, and mainly on the valley of Struma/Strimon, has special importance for the prehistory of the . The Struma valley is one of the roads connecting Anatolia and Northern Aegean with Balkans. The investigated settlements existed from the Neolithic Period to the Late Bronze Age. Most of them are located along the valley of Struma and the feed- ers. The attempt was made to draw general conclusions from some sites – Slatino, Vaksevo, Topolnica, Kamenska Čuka, Kovačevo, Bălgarčevo, Gălăbnik, Drenkovo-Ploshteko and compare together with the data, obtained from other research workers of the area. The hulled wheat is mainly cultivated (Triticum monococcum - einkorn, Triticum dicoccum - emmer). The wide spread of einkorn wheat is due to adaptation to different ecology environment. The emmer is presented in large amounts, followed by barley, mostly hulled (Hordeum vulgare var.vulgare), but naked occurred too – H.vulgare var. nudum. Pulses are the next group of cultivated plants grown in the area, most abundant and numerous of them were lentils and bitter vetch. The finds from chick pea from Gălăbnik are particularly interesting. Similar ones were found in the Early Neolithic settlement Orlica near the town of Kirkovo, Eastern Rhodope Mountains, and in Kapitan Dimitrievo too. This plant is almost unknown from paleobotanical data from this period. Its’ present in these settle- ments as well as in Chalcolithic layers of the Yunacite tell demonstrates that it came together with the whole Anatolian complex of cultivated plants in the territory of Bulgaria. The Neolithic settlements from Southwestern Bulgaria are rich in archaeobotanical material. The presence of these species in the investigated settlements from the territory of Bulgaria is similar with the results from other settle- ments in the Balkans.

Палеоетноботанични данни в района на Югозападна България Цветана Попова, Елена Маринова Югозападна България е един слабо изследван в палеоботанично отношение район. Тук развитието на праисторическите култури, главно по течението на р. Струма, е от особено значение за Балканската праисто- рия, тъй като р. Струма е един от пътищата, свързващ Анатолия и Северна Егея с Балканите. Изследваните селища обхващат с отделни прекъсвания периода от ранния неолит до късната бронзова епоха. В по-голяма- та си част те са разположени по долината на р. Струма и по нейните притоци. Направен е опит да се обобщят резултатите от палеоботаническите изследвания от няколко обекта: Слатино, Ваксево, Тополница, Каменска чука, Ковачево, Българчево, Гълъбник, Дренково-Площеко както и да се сравнят с данните, получени от дру- ги изследователи на обекти от района. Анализът показа, че в района са били отглеждани предимно плевестите пшеници (Triticum monococcum – еднозърнеста пшеница, Triticum dicoccum – двузърнеста пшеница). Широкото разпространение на едно- зърнестта пшеница се дължи на приспособимостта й към различните екологични условия. Двузърнесттата пшеница също е представена в големи количества, следва ечемикът, предимно плевест (Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare), но се е срещал и голозърнест – H.vulgare var. nudum. Бобовите растения са втората група отглеждани земеделска култури. Основно са се отглеждали уровът и лещата. Интерес представляват находките от нахут от Гълъбник. Подобни са открити и в раннонеолитното селище Орлица, до гр. Кирково в Източните Родопи, и в Капитан-Димитриево (Тракия). Растението бе почти непознато досега по палеоботанични данни от този период. Присъствието му в неолитните селища доказва, че то е донесено заедно с целия анатолийски арсенал от културни растения на територията на страната в рамките на неолитизационните процеси. Неолитните селища от Югозападна България са богати на археоботанични материали. Присъствие на изброените видове е констатирано и в други неолитни селища от територията на България, което е в унисон с резултатите от палеоботаническите изследвания от останалата част на Балканския полуостров.

The South-Western region of Bulgaria is one stream and the feeders of the river of Struma. of the less studied with respect to the paleobo- The river of Struma is one of the most signifi- tanic regions of Bulgaria compared with some cant rivers in Bulgaria. For is length – 290 km – other parts of the country. In the last years the measured from its sources till the state frontier archeological excavations in this area have in- with Greece it stands 4th in the country after the creased in number. Most of the studied sites rivers of Iskar, Tundja and Maritza; and as for (settlements) are located alongside the main the size of its water catching ent – of 10797 sq.

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory 500 Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova

4FSCJB *TLBS

45"3" #"-,"/ 1-"/*/" .06/5"*/4 

4PmB 43&%/"  (03"   5ISBDJBO MBOETPWFSBTM    MBOETPWFSBTM  3*-"  1MB*O ':30.   MBOETPWFSBTM  1*3*/ 3)0%01 1 – Gălăbnik 2 – Kovačevo .FTUB * 3 – Čavdar 4 – Slatina 4USVNB 5 – Vaxevo  6 – Kapitan Dimitrievo  7 – Rakitovo  8 – Kremenik 9 – Bălgarčevo 10 – Drenkovo  (SFFDF 11 – Slatino 12 – Topolnica  13 – Kamenska čuka 14 – Koprivlen 15 – Arkadikos 16 – Dikili Tash Fig. 1. Map of the considered sites. km. – it stands second after the river of Maritza. to warmer and humid conditions in the period The rivers of Struma and Mesta are included about 7200–6500 BP. In this time the temper- in the district falling under the influence of the ate decidous trees reached higher altitudes Mediterranean – a fact that is essential for the than today. According to the palaeoecological structure of the water balance. This region is investigations in Montains around 6000 distinguished for the highest rainfalls compared BP a change of the seasonality of the climate to the surrounding regions. The most often to took place, when summers became significant be found in the region are the maroon forest cooler and winters warmer (STEFANOVA/AMMAN soils and the most significant characteristics of 2003). the soil tegument here is the heavy erosion. The The vegetation in the Struma valley west- alluvium and delluvium soils alongside the river ward of the town of Simitly, in the Tundja val- beds are shallow (ГЪЛЪБОВ 1982). ley south of Belitza, Slavjanka and the East In the period about 8000 ВР according to Rhodopes is described as one with superiority climatic reconstructions based on precipitation of the Mediterranean vegetable life. Charac- of sapropel in the Mediterranean lands (DAVIS teristic species for the region are: Quecus coc- et al 2003) presumably there has been an in- cifera, Pistacia sp., dendriform and red juniper, crease in humidity in South-Eastern Europe. wild jasmine. A considerable place in the struc- The palynological data from Pirin Mts. point ture of the vegetation take the hairy oak tree

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria 501

(Quercus), Quercus frainetto, mangy horn-beam Sites Data Autors

(joke-elm), water horn-beam – ostria. Many Kovačevo early neolithic LICHARDUS 2000 south kinds of vegetation are also represented Gălăbnik early neolithic ČOCHADJIEV 1998 as: the red juniper, Pistacia sp., the wild jassem- Topolnica late neolithicTОДОРОВА/ВАЙСОВ1993 ine, the Coronilla emerus, the Artemisia campestre final early Vaxevo ČOCHADJIEV 2001 etc. (ГЪЛЪБОВ 1982 ) neolithic After L. Pernicheva (1999) the develop- final early Balgarčevo PERNICHEVA1995 ment of prehistoric cultures in south-western neolithic Drenkovo- GREBSKA-KULOVA, Bulgaria, and particularly along the Struma late neolithic Poshteko in press valley, is a key question in Balkan prehistory. Slatino early eneolithic COCHADJIEV1986 The direct territorial connection of this region STEFANOVICH Kamenska čuka late bronze age with the northern Aegeen coast, and from there et al.1998 with Anatolia, conditioned specific dynamics of development through all prehistoric periods. Tab.1. Dating of the studied sites. (PERNICHEVA 1999). After V. Nikolov today the Struma valley is considered the prime route for the Neolithization of the Balkan peninsula. (НИКОЛОВ 1999). The charred vegetal remains are found in: The studied settlements comprise the period granary of the 1st construction horizon, in a pit, Early Neolith – late Bronze Age and, in its major together with white-painted pottery. The con- part they are located alongside the main stream tents is about 150 grams. and the feeders of the Struma river (Fig. 1). In The dominant quantity is of hulled barley the recent study an attempt has been made to (Hordeum vulgare var.vugare). In the mixture summarize the results of the studied by the there have been found grains of: einkorn ( authors several sites (settlements) – Kovačevo, Triticum monococcum – 51), emmer, (Triticum di- Gălă bnik, Balgarčevo, Drenkovo-Ploshteko, Sla- coccum – 7 ), ryе (Secale cereale – 5), Triticum ae- tino, Vaxevo, Topolnica, Kamenska Čuka, as sivo/durum – 1 (ПОПОВА 2001). The presence of well as to compare the data with that of some the accompanying grains could be explained by other scholars who have studied sites in the re- the fact that they have been previously into the gion (Fig.1). grain store and subsequently they have mixed with the barley. The studied grains are sized Dating of the studied sites (settlements) under the norm and fractured – which leads us to think that the conditions in the region have Vaxevo not been suitable enough. Having in mind that The prehistoric settlement in the place „Stu- the settlement is located in a mildly hilly district dena voda“ is located on the first non-inlet with infertile soil – the only land suitable to sow ledge of the left waterside of Eleshnitza river. has been alongside the river, it is obvious that The terrain represents vast, East slopping ter- those factors have influenced the degree of de- race of 550–554 altitude. Differenciated are 3 velopment of the crops. basic strata, comprising 7 horizons (levels). The first stratum comprises the 1st and 2nd horizons Kovačevo of the Early Neolith, characterised by white- The settlement is located on one of the ter- painted ceramics (pottery). The second stratum races of Pirinska Bistritza river – at a distance comprises the 3rd and the 4th horizons belonging of 20 km to the East from the outflow of Stru- to the final period of the Early Neolith, char- ma river. It is dated from the earliest phase of acterised by brown painted ceramics as we as the European Neolith according to the explor- the 4th of the Middle Neolith. The third stratum ers making the excavations (LICHARDUS 2000). comprises 3 horizons (levels) – one from the The latest period is dated by means of 14С: Late Eneolith, one from the Post Eneolith and 6830–6760 ВР., and by means of paleomagnet- one from the Early Bronze Age (ЧОХАДЖИЕВ ism in-between: 5590–5410 BC. The analysis 2001). of the archeobotanic material done by Popova

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory 502 Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova 100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0% . . . . sylv .nudum.vulgare riticum Prunus sp Rubus sp T Vicia ervilia Cornus mas monococcum aestivo/durum Lens culinaris Pisum stivum T. Lathirus sativus Cicer arietinum Sambucus nigra riticum dicoccum.vulgare.vulgare v v T H H Panicum milliaceum Linum usitatissimum PistaciaVitis terebinthus vinifera ssp Fig. 2. The Ubiquity of the cultivated and collected plants in the considered Neolithic sites.

(1992) has shown a dominating presence of the found during a correction (rectification) of Blato einkorn – Triticum monococcum, followed by em- river in the „Gyuritza“ district. It has come into mer – Triticum dicoccum, as well as presence of being on the left river side, at a 420 m altitude. hulled and naked barley – Hordeum vulgare var. It is dated from the Early Neolith. The 1st resi- vulgare; Hordeum vulgare var.nudum; millet – dential level (horizon) is dated 6000–5700 cal. Panicum muliaceum; Lathyrus sativa. The archeo- BC. (BOJADZIEV 2000). The results have shown a botanic studies of Е. Маrinova during the later domination of the emmer in all the three stud- archeological campaigns but prove a dominant ied horizons, where the second place is taken presence of emmer – Triticum dicoccum. The by the einkorn. Barley is less as quantity. From presence of Lathyrus sativa is documented also the leguminous plants lentils (Lens culinaris), in her papers (materials) as well as of the other pea (Pisum sativum), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia ) 3 kinds of pulses – Lens culinaris, Pisum sativum, and chick-peas (Cicer arietinum) are found. The Vicia ervilia. chick-peas is found in a vessel, dated from the The recent studies of the site demonstrated Early Neolith as appointed by Е. Маrinova (MA- influence of the Mediterranean vegetation most RINOVA et al. 2002). A similar finding has been clearly manifested by the fruits of Pistacia tere- discovered also in the Early Neolith settlement binthus. Quite abundant in the settlement layers Orlitza, near the town of Kirkovo, East Rho- together with Cornus mas is the wild vine (Vi- dopes, (POPOVA, non-published) as well as also tis vinifera ssp. sylvestris). All the last mentioned in the village of Kapitan Dimitrievo (МАRINOVA three species belong to the collected in the settle- 2001). The chick pea is a Mediterranean plant men wilde plants. Another abundant fruit-stons of which our country is its Nordest frontier of in the archaeobotanical record are this of plums spreading. Its presence in those settlements as (Prunus sp.). Some of them have more rough sur- also in the Chalcolith strata of the tell Junatz- face and, supposedly pertain to Prunus spinosa, ite comes to prove that it has come together whereas some others with smooth rounded sur- with the whole Anatolian complex of cultivated face maybe pertain to Prunus cerasifera (MARINO- plants in the territory of the country. VA 2001). This show a wide use of the wild plant resources in the surrounding of the site. Balgarčevo The settlement is located to the north of the Gălăbnik gorge and it is dated from the Early Ne- The settlement is located in the South-East- olith. It comprises two construction horizons. ern part of the Radomir kettle and it has been The settlement is located on a middle river ter-

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria 503

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0% cer lnus A Pinus A Fagus Buxus Betula uercus Populus Fraxinus Q Carpinus Pinaceae Castanea Rosaceae Juniperus Crataegus Cornus mas

Fig. 3. Distribution of the mineralized wood of the Neolithic in Gălăbnik (after GROZEVA, not published). race on the right bank of the Struma near 10 cum dicoccum and, in great quantities, Lathyrus km north-west of Blagoevgrad. The archeo- sativus. Interesting finding is the millet in be- botanical study reveals availability of Triticum ing (Panicum milliaceum), which appears to be a monococcum and Triticum dicoccum. In one of the comparatively rare finding in the Neolith Age examined dwellings storage of hulled wheats in our lands. has been found which was not in treshed state. The grains of the found cereals are bigger than Slatino average size which is evidence of favorable con- The settlement is located at the foot of West- ditions of development. As for the leguminous ern mountain, at about 380 m altitude, in the biggest quantity found in this dwelling is of the neighbourhood of the outflow of the Stru- peas. Together with it in the samples are present ma river. Here Early Chalcolithic period is dat- Lens culinaris and Vicia ervilia. The location of ed (ČOHADZIEV 1986), and it comprises 5 build- the site close to the Struma-river has been favo- ing horizons. The data achieved by С14 show: rable for growing leguminous crops. The weed 4650–4500 cal.ВС. The archeobotanical mate- flora is presented by Gallium sp., Verbena offici- rials substantiate presence of: Triticum monococ- nalis, Ajuga chamaepitys. The last two sorts are cum and Triticum dicoccum, as well as of hulled indicators of chalky soils. and naked barley, bitter vetch, lentil. (POPOVA 1995). The data of Marinova show a dominant Drenkovo-Ploshteko participation of emmer, as well as the presence The settlement is located in proximity of the of various leguminous plants. In storages of town of Blagoevgrad. From topographic point Triticum dicoccum different kinds of weeds have of view its location is of importance both for been found: Bromus sp, Asperula arvensis, Poly- the connections North-South and East-West in gonum convolvulus, Centaurea sp. Most of those the valey of the Struma river. The late-Neo- weed sorts speak for the availability of winter lith levels have been studied archeobotanically. sowings (MARINOVA et al. 2002). In the material The material originates from the floor areas there is also another kind of storages of seeds of two dwellings. There have been found chaff of Chenopodium sp. That could be considered from the sort of Triticum monococcum and Triti- as likely food in periods of crisis. The seeds of

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory 504 Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova

Alnus sp. cf. Carpinus Cornus sp. Corylus avellana Fraxinus Pinus nigra/sylvestris Pomoideae Prunus sp. Rosaceae Quercus f.c. Ulmus sp. Indet. Kovacevo I (Early Neolithic)

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

Chenopodium sp. are abounding in proteins and of the studied by us sites the hulled wheat prevail. fats so gruels could be made from some of the Comparatively well are presented the both spe- sorts (СТОЯНОВ/КИТАНOВ 1960). cies of barley as well. It makes impression that the barley or the einkorn wheat prevail in the settle- Kamenska Čuka ments with higher altitude or by infavorable soil This site is located nearby the town of Blago- conditions – as Kremenik (CAKALOVA /SARBINSKA evgrad. The site consists of a settlement and a 1986), Vaxevo, Rakitovo (ЧАКАЛОВА/БОЖИЛОВА mound occupying a commanding height (eleva- 2002), Kapitan Dimitrievo (MAРИНОВА 1999). The tion 404 m above sea levels). Geologically, the naked wheats (Triticum aestivum/durum s.l.) appear basin is composed of low- lying alluvium sur- sporadically, which comes to show that during rounded by colluvial slopes and older metamor- this period they still haven’t succeeded to take phic hills (STEFANOVICH/BANKOFF 1999). The site over. The ubiquity of leguminous crops and their is dated Late Bronze Age. The achreobotanical variety (5 species) is of special interest. In the most results show the presence of a number of cereals of the settlements they are found in great quan- and legumes, where in the first place has been tities as storages. The availance of this diversity the einkorn. Besides it in the sown fields also is in connection with evasion of any risks for the naked barley, millet, lentil, bitter vetch have crops, as some have greater power of endurance been sown (POPOVA 1998). in drought and poor soils (Lathyrus sativus и Vicia ervilia), when the pea needs higher humidity. On Discussion that basis a conclusion could be drawn that they The results of the studied settlements are gen- have had a big importance as sources of proteins eralized and compared with other archeobotani- for the Neolithic man. Most of the settlements are cal materials of the same period and of adjoining located in the by-mountain regions, near to water regions in Table 2. The ubiquity of finding the sources. The findings of chik pea among the legu- sorts of cultural and wild growing plants is pre- men are of a special interest, as it has been known sented in Fig. 2. There it could be seen that in all to be found till recently only in the Southern parts

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria 505

Quercus

Pinus silvestris

Abies

Juniperus

Ulmus

Fraxinus

Rosa sp. A

Pinus sylvestris Fraxinus

Pinaceae Prunus

Abies Acer

Juniperus Populus

Quercus Cr.monogina

Corylus Pomoideae

Carpinus Cornus mas

B Fagus Alnus

Fig. 5. Charred wood in the Late Bronze Age Kamenska čuka (A) and Koprivlen (B). of the Balkan peninsula, namely Dimini and Ot- partly Pistacia terebinthus which have been ob- zaki (KROLL 1981). Тhis kind of legume comes to jects of collection. The situation is different with our lands in the Near Eastern crop assеmblage, the seeds of wild grasses and legumes that are still it does not succeed to take an equal place to- found in appreciable numbers in some Early gether with the other legumen. Neolithic sites. Various wild plants could have In the diet of neolithic man particular role been collected for human consumption. A good have played also the wild plants. In the stud- example in that respect is the available supply of ied settlements are often to be met a number Chenopodium sp. that appears in the Eneolithic of remains of fruits: of Cornus mas, Sambucus Slatino. The mere presence of manz others in nigra, Vitis sylvestris, Rubus sp., Prunus sp. and archaeological deposits is not yet proof of their

The Struma/Strymon River Valley in Prehistory 506 Tzvetana Popova, Elena Marinova

Cultivated plants Wild plants

Sites Data Rubus sp. Rubus sp. Prunus sp. Prunus Vicia ervilia Vicia Cornus mas Cornus Lens culinaris Lens Pisum stivum Pisum Cicer arietinum Cicer Lathirus sativus Lathirus Sambucus nigra T.aestivo/durum Triticum dicoccum Triticum H.vulgare v.nudum H.vulgare H.vulgare v.vulgare H.vulgare Pistacia terebinthus Pistacia Panicum milliaceum Panicum Linum usitatissimum Vitis vinifera ssp. sylv. ssp. vinifera Vitis Triticum monococcum Triticum 1. Gălăbnik early neolith xxx xxx x x x x x x 2. Kovačevo early neolith xx xxx x x x x x x x xx x x x x x 3. Čavdar early neolith x x x x x 4. Slatina early neolith xx xx x x x x xx x x x xx x 5. Vaxevo early neolith x x xxx 6. Kap. Dimitrievo early neolith xxx x x x x x x xxx x x x xx x x x xx x 7. Rakitovo early neolith x x x xxx x x 8. Kremenik early/midle neolith xx xx x x x 9. Balgarčevo final early neolith x xx x x x xxx 10. Drenkovo late neolith xxx x x x x xxx x x x 11. Slatino early eneolithic x x x x x x 12. Kamenska čuka late bronze age xxx x xx x x x x x 13. Koprivlen late bronze age x x x x x

Tab. 2. Cultivated and collected plants in the considered sites (with Bold own studies in Struma valley). use as such. The may have been brought to the appears in the Neolith but it takes the second settlement unintentionally (VAN ZEIST 1988). place with the exception for the settlements of The findings of the einkorn are numerous Vaxevo and Rakitovo. It is obvious that the dif- in the territory of Bulgaria.(HOPF 1973; REN- ferent kinds of the barley plant have entered FREW 1973, POPOVA 1995). On the Balkan penin- through Asia Minor and Greece to the territory sula it presents in the Neolith in the territory of of Bulgaria. Greece – Franchti, Achileon, Sitagri ІІ (HANSEN New data from Northeren Greece (VALAMOTI 1991; VA N ZEIST 1980; KROLL 1981); Jugoslavia 2004) from the neolithic levels of Dikili Tash and – Starčevo, Оbre І; Аnzabegovo І–ІІ (RENFREW Arkadikos show concurrent type of data with 1979). The evidence of early einkorn cultiva- those of Sredna and Gorna Struma. In these tion in Cajönü, SE Turkey (7500–6500 BP.) (VA N settlements prevailance of hulled wheat and a ZEIST 1972; 1988) prove the close contacts be- rich spectrum of legumen has been also estab- tween Anatolia, the Greek territories and the lished. The predominant leguminous crops are Balkans as a whole, where einkorn was of great the drought-resistant Lathyrus sativus and Vicia importance especially during the early stages of ervilia. The spectrum of the wild-growing fruits Neolithic period. is presented by Malus/Pyrus/Sorbus, most likely The wide areal of the emmer could be ex- preserved as dried fruits. plained with its ability to give crops in differ- As the here presented data shows the ar- ent ecological conditions. By relatively not vast cheobotanically studied sites in the valey of lands the sowings have decisive importance in the Struma river belong mainly to the Neolithic keeping the crops. Its ears do not fall apart, its period. That is connected predominantly with stems are extremely robust and for that reason the significance of the region in clarifying the they are used for roofs and to strengthen walls. problems of the Neolithisation in our lands. It is drought-resistant and could be cultivated in From this region only one settlement of the different soils on account of its developed root Eneolithic period and one of the Bronze Age system. The emmer wheat grains recovered have been studied archaeobotanically untill from the basal levels of Cayönü. Its findings now. It comes to show that the further work in are numerous. The barley in its both varieties the region should be directed also in the study

In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2 Palaeoethnobotanical Data in South-Western Region of Bulgaria 507 of those later periods. This would contribute to silient wood which is extremely suitable for weav- following the overall picture of the ancient agri- ing the walls of dwellings. The riverside forests culture in the process of its development in the are presented by Alnus, Ulmus, Fraxinus, and the pre-history in the valey of the Struma river. sub-Mediterranean flora by Pinus nigra. Oak wood has been found also in Kamenska Mineralized, nonchared and charred wood čuka (Fig. 5.). In a smaller quantity fragments of: The presence of wood in the archeological Abies sp., Juniperus sp. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, sites usually is connected with its usage in differ- Ulmus sp., Fraxinus sp. Rosa sp. have been found. ent activities: construction, instruments of pro- It is possible that they have been collected in a duction, fuel, etc. Almost always it has been col- more remote places as well as in the higher place lected in the vicinity, thanks to which the wood of the mountains (POPOVA 1988). provides precise information about the flora in Oak wood has been found also in the village of the studied region. Such studies are extremely Vaxevo The oak is widespead kind of wood and important in the low-lying lands of our coun- its role in the archeological context could be ex- try, in particular the valey of the Struma river, plained with some of its qualities. The oak wood where there are none preserved sediments suit- is very robust, the oak could be found in easy of able for polen analysis. access places and used for fuel it comes fast to high The settlement Topolnitza is dated Early temperature, which is an advantage for house- Neolith. The not-charred wood is from the ІІ holds horizon of dwelling no. 2. It is highly mineral- ized. After the run analysis the presence of oak Conclusions and wood of Rosaceae family has been proved. 3 The neolithic settlements in South-Western fragments of conifer trees, Gymnospermae and 2 Bulgaria are rich in archaeobotanical mate- of Pinus sp. have been determined. The mate- rial. The wide spread of Triticum monococcum rial contained in addition a wooden awl, which is based on its ability aclimate to different eco- has been done by oak wood and a wooden nail, logical circumstances. Due to its well developed originating of wood – representing a kind of root system Triticum monococcum grows well on Rosaceae. infertile mountain soil,as well as in very damp The noncharred wood in the Gălăbnik (Fig. soils. In investigated settlements Triticum dicoc- 3.) settlement has been studied by Groseva. 21 cum is represented by a large quantity. Barley species of wood have been found, total 126 frag- takes second place among the cereals in the ments. The most numerous are the oak frag- studied samples. Additional to the cereals wide ments – 26, followed by the Rosaceae – 14 and spectrum of pulses was used. We conclude that those of the ashl-tree – 15 and the pine trees the represantation of this species in investigated – 13. It has been determined that the ashl-tree settlements from territory of Bulgaria is com- has been used for the longitudinal beams, and parable to results from other settlements in the the wood of the conifer trees, the sycamore and Balkan peninsula. the Rosaceae – for objects of the evryday life. It is The wood presented in the settlement lay- confirmed by the finding in Topolnitza, where ers witnesses of the oak forests prevalance and the nail is also done from Rosaceae wood. of the use made of diverse ecological niches in In the neolithic settlement of Kovačevo (Fig. the near proximity. In the riverside valleys the 4), together with the oak tree (Quercus) that pre- woods collected have been of elm-tree (Ulmus), vails, widely spread is the cornel-tree (Cornus alder-tree (Alnus glutinosa/incana), ashl-tree and mas) as well. A possible explanation of its large plums. The data of use of black pine-tree (Pinus) scale presence but could be its usage as construc- show that it has been even more widely spread tion material. The cornel tree has robust and re- in the past as nowadays.

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In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul, volume 2