Cultures > Starcevo Culture

Starcevo Culture

Background

The Starčevo culture is a significant Neolithic archaeological culture that existed in southeastern Europe, particularly in the region of the Balkans, around 6200 to 4500 BCE. Named after the Starčevo site near the modern city of Belgrade in Serbia, this culture is notable for its early adoption of agriculture, pottery, and settled village life, marking a critical phase in the spread of farming communities across Europe.

Geographic Extent

Location:

The Starčevo culture was primarily centered in the central and western Balkans, encompassing parts of modern-day Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Romania.
Key sites include Starčevo, Lepenski Vir, and Vinca in Serbia, as well as various settlements along the Danube River and its tributaries.

Chronology

Time Period:

The culture dates from approximately 6200 BCE to 4500 BCE, making it one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in Europe.
It overlaps with and eventually transitions into the subsequent Vinča culture, which shows both continuity and development from the earlier Starčevo cultural practices.

Economic and Subsistence Practices

Agriculture:

The Starčevo culture is characterized by the early adoption of agriculture. Farming communities cultivated crops such as wheat, barley, lentils, and peas.
Evidence of domesticated animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, suggests a mixed economy combining crop cultivation with animal husbandry.

Settlement Patterns:

The people of the Starčevo culture lived in small, semi-permanent villages composed of pit houses and above-ground dwellings made of wattle and daub.
Settlements were typically located near rivers and fertile plains, which provided access to water resources and arable land.

Material Culture

Pottery:

Pottery from the Starčevo culture is distinctive and includes various shapes and sizes of vessels, often decorated with geometric patterns, incised lines, and impressed designs.
The development and use of pottery are significant as it marks advancements in storage, cooking, and daily life practices.

Tools and Artifacts:

The Starčevo people used a range of stone and bone tools, including blades, scrapers, and sickles, which were essential for farming, hunting, and domestic activities.
Artifacts such as figurines, beads, and personal ornaments indicate the presence of symbolic and possibly religious practices.

Social Structure:

While detailed information on the social structure of the Starčevo culture is limited, the existence of organized settlements and communal activities suggests some degree of social organization and cooperation.
The presence of storage pits and communal buildings in some sites indicates shared resources and collective activities.

Burial Practices:

Burials were typically within or near settlements, with grave goods such as pottery, tools, and ornaments accompanying the deceased.
The variation in grave goods suggests differences in social status or roles within the community.

Interaction and Influence

Cultural Influence:

The Starčevo culture is part of the broader Neolithic wave of farming cultures spreading across Europe from the Near East. It shares similarities with contemporary cultures such as the Körös culture in Hungary and the Criş culture in Romania.
The diffusion of farming practices, pottery styles, and settlement patterns from the Starčevo culture influenced later Neolithic cultures in the Balkans and Central Europe.

Trade and Exchange:

Evidence of trade and exchange networks includes the movement of raw materials like obsidian and flint, which were used to make tools.
The exchange of goods and ideas with neighboring cultures facilitated the spread of technological and cultural innovations.

Archaeological Significance

Key Sites:

The type site of Starčevo near Belgrade is one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding this culture. Excavations have uncovered well-preserved remains of houses, pottery, tools, and other artifacts.
Other significant sites include Lepenski Vir, which provides evidence of complex settlement structures and early religious or symbolic activities.

Research and Discoveries:

Ongoing archaeological research continues to reveal new aspects of the Starčevo culture, contributing to our understanding of early Neolithic societies in Europe.
Discoveries of settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and material culture provide valuable insights into the daily lives and innovations of these early farming communities.

In summary, the Starčevo culture represents a critical phase in the Neolithic transition in southeastern Europe. With its early adoption of agriculture, development of pottery, and establishment of settled villages, it played a significant role in the spread of farming communities across the continent. The material culture, social practices, and interactions of the Starčevo people provide essential insights into the early stages of European prehistory.