The Archaeological Site of Vlaho in Pelagonia and the Research Results from the First Half of 2023

PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS INTERREGIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES ПРЕДИСТОРИЈА НА БАЛКАНОТ РЕГИОНАЛНА СОРАБОТКА И ОБРАЗОВНИ ПРАКТИКИ Издавач: ЦЕНТАР ЗА ИСТРАЖУВАЊЕ НА ПРЕДИСТОРИЈАТА ПРЕДИСТОРИЈА НА БАЛКАНОТ РЕГИОНАЛНА СОРАБОТКА И ОБРАЗОВНИ ПРАКТИКИ Уредници: Љубо Фиданоски Гоце Наумов Лекторирање на англиски: Андриана Драговиќ Техничко уредување: Бранислав Галиќ Фотографија на корица: Раул Сотерас Печат: Магнаскен – Скопје 2023 Тираж: 200 Publisher: CENTER FOR PREHISTORIC RESEARCH PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS INTERREGIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES Editors: Ljubo Fidanoski Goce Naumov Proofreading: Andriana Dragović Layout: Branislav Galić Cover photo: Raül Soteras Print: Magnasken – Skopje 2023 Pressrun: 200 © Сите права се задржани. Ниту еден дел од оваа книга не смее да се препечатува или репродуцира во никаква форма, ниту со електронски, механички или други начини, сега или понатаму во иднината познати, вклучувајќи фотокопирање или снимање, ниту во никаков систем за чување податоци, без пишана дозвола од авторот и издавачот. © All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form orby any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known of hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing form from the author and publisher. Изданието е поддржано од Министерството за култура на Република Северна Македонија This publication is supported by The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of North Macedonia Центар за истражување на предисторијата Center for Prehistoric Research CONTENTS FOREWORD..................................................................................................................................................................................5 Ljubo Fidanoski THE COMPLEX PREHISTORY OF THE BALKAN NEOLITHIC 1: HOMO PRIMORDIALIS ......................................7 Edlira Andoni ТHE ЕARLY NEOLITHIC SITE IN POGRADEC ..............................................................................................................45 Amalia Sabanov, Ferran Antolín, Goce Naumov, Raül Soteras WHAT IS HIDDEN IN THE DUNG? A CASE STUDY OF AN ARCHAEOBOTANICAL SAMPLE FROM BUILDING 2 AT THE NEOLITHIC SITE OF VRBJANSKA ČUKA ....................................................................61 Goce Naumov, Jasmina Gulevska, Aleksandar Mitkoski, Marcin Przybiła, Viktorija Mačkovska, Nikola Hristovski, Hristijan Talevski, Ferran Antolín, Amalia Sabanov, Irka Hajdas, Aneta Fidanoska THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA AND THE RESEARCH RESULTS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF 2023 ............................................................................79 Kristina Penezić, Ivana Živaljević, Anđelka Putica, Viktorija Uzelac MAGAREĆI MLIN – THE OLD AND THE NEW IN THE RESEARCH OF THE NEOLITHIC..................................105 Damjan Donev COCEV KAMEN: A BUILDING IN THE ROCK .............................................................................................................121 Atanas Kipro MATT-PAINTED POTTERY FROM OHRID: REGIONAL CONNECTIONS IN THE LATE BRONZE AGE (Transitional Period) ....................................................143 UDK 902.2:903.4(497.774/.775)”634” Goce Naumov Гоце Наумов Center for Prehistoric Research Центар за истражување на предисторијата Jasmina Gulevska Јасмина Гулевска Institute and Museum – Bitola Завод и музеј - Битола Aleksandar Mitkoski Александар Миткоски Institute and Museum – Prilep Завод и музеј - Прилеп Marcin Przybiła Марчин Пшибила Pryncipat – Krakow Принципат - Краков Viktorija Mačkovska Викторија Мачковска Evora University Универзитет во Евора Nikola Hristovski Никола Христовски Independent researcher Независен истражувач Hristijan Talevski Христијан Талевски Institute for Old Slavic Culture Институт за старословенска култура Ferran Antolín Феран Антолин German Archaeological Institute Германски археолошки институт Amalia Sabanov Амалиа Сабанов Belgrade University Универзитет во Белград Irka Hajdas Ирка Хајдас ETH Zurich University ЕТХ Универзитет во Цирих Aneta Fidanoska Анета Фиданоска Archaeological Museum of North Macedonia Археолошки музеј на Северна Македонија THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA AND THE RESEARCH RESULTS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF 2023 АРХЕОЛОШКИОТ ЛОКАЛИТЕТ ВЛАХО ВО ПЕЛАГОНИЈА И РЕЗУЛТАТИ ОД ИСТРАЖУВАЊАТА ВО ПРВАТА ПОЛОВИНА НА 2023 ГОДИНА ABSTRACT There were two fieldwork seasons at the archeological site of Vlaho in 2023 and this paper encompases those performed in May and June, but also the ongoing radiocarbon, archaeobotanical and archeozoological analysis. The excavation was performed in the Trench 5 i.e. area continuously explored since 2021 and provided entirely new insight into the architecture of this Early Neolithic settlement. There are ten buildings and two ditches recorded in this season, as well as a number of structures and channels related to them. Besides excavations, fieldwork in first the half of 2023 also considered geophysical scanning of the unsurveyed parts of Vlaho, but also on two more Chalcolithic sites in its vicinity. Along with the fieldwork research, the documentation of finds was also performed, while the radiocarbon, archaeobotanical and archeozoological analysis were done afterwards i.e. after the 79 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS provision of samples from the excavation. They furthermore contribute to the early dating of Vlaho around 6400 calBC and emphasize the variety of domesticated plants and animals present in different stages of this Early Neolithic settlement. Keywords: Pelagonia, Neolithic, excavation, geophysical survey, laboratory analyses, architecture АПСТРАКТ Во 2023 година имаше две археолошки кампањи на локалитетот Влахо и овој труд ги опфаќа оние извршени во мај и јуни, но и тековната радиојаглеродна, археоботаничка и археозоолошка анализа. Ископувањето беше изведено во Сонда 5, односно просторот континуирано истражуван од 2021 година и даде целосно нов увид во архитектурата на оваа ранонеолитска населба. При овие истражувања регистрирани се десет градби и два рова, како и голем број структури и канали поврзани со нив. Покрај ископувањата, теренската работа во првата половина на 2023 година вклучи и геофизичкото скенирање на неистражените делови на Влахо, но и на уште две халколитни локалитети во неговата близина. Паралелно со теренското истражување беше извршено и документирање на наодите, а потоа беше направена радиокарбонска, археоботаничка и археозоолошка анализа, односно после обезбедувањето примероци од ископувањето. Тие дополнително придонесуваат за раното датирање на Влахо околу 6400 г.п.н.е. и ја нагласуваат разновидноста на доместицираните растенија и животни присутни во различни фази на оваа ранонеолитска населба. Клучни зборови: Пелагонија, неолит, ископувања, геофизички истражувања, лабораториски анализи, архитектура The multidisciplinary research of the Vlaho site has been initiated in 2020 and is continuously being carried out in order to obtain more thorough data on the Neolithic settlement located 1.4 km southeast of the village of Živojno in Pelagonia (Fig. 1). These studies consider excavation of several test and contextual trenches positioned in different parts of the site, as well as the geophysical, geoarchaeological, archaeobotanical, archeozoological and radiocarbon analyses (Наумов и др. 2021; Наумов и др. 2022; Naumov et al. 2023; Sabanov et al. 2023). The research results demonstrate that this settlement was active between 6400 and 6000 BC and was surrounded by ditches in several different events. Its inhabitants lived in buildings made of unfired, semi-fired and fired clay, they made pottery, figurines, house models, altars, stone tools, grinding stones, weights and sling shots, and herded and consumed cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, as well as wheat, barley, peas, lentils, etc. In that direction, research was performed in the first half of 2023, given that in the second half of the year rescue excavations were carried out at the damaged parts of the site (Наумов и Насух 2023). Besides the excavations, geomagnetic scanning and radiocarbon analyzes were done, while the studies of the organic remains of plants and animals are ongoing. The excavations were performed within the 80 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Fig. 1 81 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS Fig. 2 Trench 5 in May and June 2023, which was expanded to 15x10 meters in this campaign (Fig. 2). The trench consisted of six quadrants (I2-I4; J2-J4), placed according to the established square grid in the southern periphery of the site, which made it possible to investigate this part of the Neolithic settlement and its final stages. Such an approach in 2023 provided a thorough insight into the chronology, architecture and material culture of the settlement before it was abandoned. The main direction of the field research at the Vlaho site in the first half of 2023 was to expand the trench in order to obtain more information about the recorded buildings and ditch in 2022, and thus a more detailed knowledge about the architecture, material culture, diet and the activities in the last stages of this Neolithic settlement (Fig. 3). In addition to the previous studies, a lot of new data was also obtained during this archaeological campaign, especially regarding the variety of Neolithic buildings and ditches. Their presence was recorded in several layers, so it points to the complexity and dynamism in the execution of these architectural units. Therefore, the review of this year’s research will be more focused on the individual constructions and their features, especially in the domain of the uppermost layers. They will be presented separately in categories (buildings, structures and ditches), and then processed in a stratigraphic context, thus an attempt will be made to clarify their temporal and spatial relationship. ARCHITECTURE In the course of field research at the Vlaho site in 2023, the remains of 10 buildings, 3 structures, 2 pits and 2 ditches with multiple phases were documented (Fig. 4a). They further confirm the potency and variety of architectural elements used by the inhabitants of this Neolithic settlement, as well as certain building features unusual for the Macedonian Neolithic. In that direction, all architectural units and their relationship with construction technologies in the Balkans and the Near East will be elaborated separately. 82 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Fig. 3 Building 17 The remains of this building were detected with the opening of the quadrants, i.e. immediately after the recent plowed layer. In fact, elements of this building were ascertained in 2022, when the remains of several post holes were observed on the remains of Building 12, which is why it was named Building 13. The evidenced remains of Building 17 cannot be related with certainty to be part of Building 13, so they are recorded as two separate buildings. Building 17 is composed of several constituent elements documented in quadrant I-3 (Fig. 4b). It regards the posts, plaster from the floor and daub from the wall for which there is a possibility that they are from one building, considering that they are included in one unit. Namely, the seven post holes (SU 59) are dug into semi-fired daub from the leveled walls of an older building and form a corner of a structure that continues in the northern cross section of the archaeological trench. Within this space, remains of clay plaster were discovered, which is mostly used for the floors of Neolithic buildings Fig. 4 83 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS (SU 76), while in the northern cross section, just above the floor, there is a layer of yellowish daub (SU 77) common for the buildings of the Vlaho site. This building, or perhaps a smaller structure, is cut in the eastern part by the ditch (SU 57), which will be discussed below. Thus, only a small part of Building 17 was recorded i.e. its southwestern corner, while its northern part remains to be further investigated with the future expansion of the trench. Building 18 This object represents a relatively new feature in the Macedonian Neolithic, considering its shape and architectural characteristics. It is a shallowly dug oval elongated building of which several post holes, a floor and a fired wall have been recorded (Fig. 4b). The contours of Building 18 were observed right after the clearing of the recent plowed layer in quadrant I-4, which after excavation confirmed an elliptical shape in the northwest-southeast direction. The oval dug outline i.e. the walls (SU 69 and 79) expand in the northwestern part, so that the second half of this building enters the northern cross section and will be further investigated by expanding the trench. It can be noted that the dug area is very shallow (about 20 cm), which indicates that the walls were made of daub, but without supporting pillars and posts. In the northern part of the discovered building, the remains of a burned daub (SU 43 and 53) were found that had fallen into the building’s outline, which indicates that they were part of it (Fig. 5). It is interesting to point out that these are the only remains of fired daub among buildings registered this year, which confirms that this practice was rare in Vlaho compared to that of Neolithic tells in the Pelagonian plain. Fig. 5 84 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Considering that no foundations of posts were found in line with the walls, nor their imprints on the plaster, it can be assumed that during the construction of this building, mudbrick was used as a technical novelty, not very common in the Macedonian Neolithic. Unfortunately, the fallen walls of the fired daub were too damaged to reveal the outlines of daub bricks. It can also be pointed out that elements of fire were not detected within this building, so the burning of its walls was controlled. Also, the remains of an unfired plaster wall (SU 61 and 64) were discovered within its space, so this burning was not uniform. All pieces of daub lay on a floor level made of whitish clay plaster (SU 63 and 124), which confirms that it is a building that may even belong to the pit houses type, common for the Early Neolithic Balkans (Китаноски и др. 1980; Bonga 2020; Greenfield et al. 2014). A layer of loose soil (SU 55) was also registered between the floor and the pieces of daub, which represents a natural deposit of accumulated dust and decomposed organic material after the abandonment of this building. It is important to point out that in the investigated part of Building 18 there are six smaller posts (SU 70) and one pillar (SU 65), which clearly indicates that they probably enabled better statics of the roof. In any case, this object deserves more attention and its full research in the future, considering that it is connected with the earliest forms of Neolithic architecture in Europe ascertained in several localities south of Pelagonia (Kotsakis 2018; Karamitrou-Mentessidi et al. 2013). Building 19 This building is positioned below Building 17 in quadrant I-3 whose posts are actually dug into the collapsed and leveled daub walls of Building 19 (Fig. 4b). It is placed on the same level as Building 12 studied in 2022, but the insight on the north cross section of the ditch SU 31 demonstrates that it is separated from it, i.e. it was founded after the digging of this ditch that cut Building 12. Probably during the leveling of Building 19, the fallen wall of Building 12 was used as a substruction, which is why it looks as if these buildings are part of one object. However, this practice of leveling the already fallen walls of older houses and using them as a base for the floor is a common occurrence in the Neolithic of the Balkans, and especially on the tells in Pelagonia, so this context of Vlaho is not surprising (Симоска и Санев 1975; Симоска и Кузман 1990; Naumov et al. 2021). Unfortunately, due to intensive plowing, the elements of Building 19, as well as Building 17, have been largely damaged so that only a few remains of the floor, posts and wall have been preserved. The floor is composed of several pieces of thin whitish plaster (SU 74) layered on the fallen daub, into which six posts (SU 75) are dug. A layer with a deposit of soil created by the decomposition of organic remains and accumulated dust (SU 73) is right above them. As in most buildings in Vlaho also in the Building 19, the walls are made of semi fired yellowish daub (SU 48 and 58), but the thin layer of daub (SU 42, 44, 45 and 49) should be emphasized which is placed on top of the overlaid fragmented daub in the substruction. This substructure, as well as the leveling of the floor and later of the daub for the foundation of Building 17, were performed above the ditch SU 31, which confirms that Vlaho was inhabited even after its formation. In that sense, the stable and compact leveling of Building 19 was a good basis for the establishment of Building 17. 85 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS At this moment it is difficult to say what the function of these buildings was, considering their specific position onto ditch SU 31, but also because of their damage from the younger and smaller ditch SU 57. It is interesting that on the south side of ditch SU 31 there is also a foundation of a building on it (Building 25, which will be discussed below), so it can be considered that this was a common practice of Vlaho and the filled space of the ditches was still used for the construction of buildings. Building 20 In the northeast corner of quadrant I-4, a small part of the remains of what tentatively represents Building 20 was discovered. Given that these remains were discovered in a smaller area, it is not possible to determine the size of this building, but there are some parts documented that indicate the existence of a building (Fig. 5). Building 20 consists of a floor made of whitish plaster (SU 82), in which a post is embedded (SU 68) and covered with a layer of sooth (SU 67). Next to this concentration of sooth, a small part of a wall (SU 66) was discovered, which may be a part of a structure within the framework of this building, and on which the wall of unfired daub (SU 60) fell. It represents one of the buildings that are positioned highest in the stratigraphy of the site, that is, one of the last phases of living in the Neolithic settlement, which is why it was largely damaged by plowing. With the eventual further expansion of the trench to the east and north, it would be possible to discover other parts of Building 20 and see how it relates to other buildings from these final stages of the settlement. Building 21 South of Building 20 and Building 18, in the border area between quadrants I-4 and J-4, a rectangular dug space was discovered, which is also a novelty in the Macedonian Neolithic (Fig. 4b). It is not related to a pit or a canal because this architectural unit has the constituent elements of an object or structure, and therefore named as Building 21. As in the case of Building 18, it is a smaller object dug into a level used for walking (SU 139), which contains several floors, structure, posts, etc. In the uppermost area, that actually indicates the contours of this building, there is a sooth level (SU 86), below which there is a floor composed of whitish plaster (SU 90). Remains of a smaller clay bin (SU 91) were also discovered on this floor, unfortunately was completely dismembered during later construction activities (Fig. 5). After documenting and removing this floor and structure, a layer with a deposit of organic remains (SU 105) was discovered, actually deposited on top of an older floor level (SU 99). A massive post (SU 100) was dug into it and probably held the roof structure. As one went deeper into this structure, a new layer with a deposit (SU 109) was discovered, under which an older floor was present (SU 108) with seven posts dug into it (SU 110), as well as an almost completely preserved but fragmented vessel discovered on its surface (SU 115). The recorded contexts in Building 21 indicate that this building, although smaller in its dimensions, was intensively used and confirms its constant repairing, but also the presence of as many as three 86 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA levels of floors. As in the case of Building 18, this one also has no posts that held the base of the walls, nor were there any remnants of daub that would eventually fall inside the building after its collapse. However, the presence of posts in the floors themselves indicates that this building had some kind of roof and possibly walls that were not made of daub. The remains of a bin and an almost completely preserved vessel give the possibility that some domestic activities were carried out in it, which points to the function of this object as a workshop or smaller building. Building 22 Below the SU 139 level, in which Building 21 was excavated, there are remains of Building 22, recorded primarily in quadrant J-4 (Fig. 4b). Because the goal in this phase of the research was to preserve Building 21 as an uncommon feature in the Macedonian prehistoric archaeology, only a part of Building 22 was discovered. Given that the space SU 139 was used for walking and which is partly composed of remains of semi fired daub, it can be considered that it was established from the fallen and leveled walls of Building 22. It is very likely that the semi fired daub SU 87 and 92 are part of the same walls because they overlap with the outline of a rectangular building. A layer of deposit (SU 135) formed by decomposed organic material from posts was discovered beneath. Some of them were found at the very southeast corner of Building 22, which indicates that they could be a part of the common building for the Pelagonian Neolithic i.e. with walls of daub plastered around wooden posts. The posts are dug into a floor of compacted yellowish mortar (SU 101) which is different from the previously mentioned features of the tell architecture in Pelagonia. It is interesting that this floor is interrupted or cut and next to it there is a row of grinding stones discovered in 2022, which during this campaign was found to actually continue in two rows to the south and to the north (SU 33 and 123). The question is whether they are dug in or are part of Building 22 because they are placed parallel to the eastern wall of this building. It remains unclear whether they are there in some relation with trench SU 31 or SU 93, or whether they have an independent function. It is interesting that next to this row of grinding stones and round pebbles in the southern part there is a concentration of posts (SU 126), as well as a layer of fired daub between them (SU 127), including sooth and ash on the east (SU 149). This verifies the complexity of Building 22 and the possible interventions that could have been made in it. It is definitely necessary to remove Building 21 in the future in order to continue recording the remaining parts of Building 22, which would determine its relationship with the fascinating structure of a double row of stones. Building 23 This object is positioned in the southwest corner of the archaeological trench and occupies almost the entire quadrant J-2 (Fig. 4b). As in the case of Building 22, Building 23 contains similar elements that are common for the tell settlements in the Pelagonian plain. The contours of the preserved floor 87 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS indicate a building with a rectangular base which continues beyond the western and southern cross sections of the trench, so that it has larger dimensions (Fig. 6). The floor (SU 88) is composed of a compact semi fired plaster, similar to that of Building 22. On the eastern and northern edges of the floor, nine dug posts/pillars (SU 121 and 131) were recorded on which the walls of semi fired daub were modeled, and whose remains were discovered in smaller numbers (SU 118). In several places of the floor, larger areas with sooth were discovered, especially in the western half (SU 97), which indicates certain domestic activities or burning in this part of the building. This is also confirmed by the circular clay bin (SU 104) most likely intended for storing or grinding grain. Fig. 6 In addition to that is the concentration of grinding stones and round stones in the southwest corner of the quadrant (SU 136), which point to the processing of resources and food preparation in this part of Building 23 (Fig. 7). It considers a larger amount of grinding stones of different types (standard and with perforation in the middle), as well as stones that, due to their shape, were probably intended to be modeled in grinding stones. However, these objects were not placed in this area at once in such a large number, but on the contrary, they were deposited on several occasions, which also confirms the restoration of the floor in several stages, present between some rows of stones. Such a concentration of several grinding stones in one place and in several architectural phases is present at the sites of Veluška Tumba and Vrbjanska Čuka, where almost identical contexts were discovered (Naumov 2022; Naumov et al 2018). If the constituent elements of Building 23 are regarded, it can be proposed that this unit contains the usual features of Neolithic architecture in Pelagonia and beyond. In this way, this building departs from the previously described objects discovered at Vlaho (as in the case with Building 22) and further emphasizes the variety of architectural techniques applied in this Neolithic settlement. Regarding Building 23, the 88 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Fig. 7 presence of a dug in rectangular space in its northern half was evidenced, that has a southwest-northeast direction (SU 106). This phenomenon was not investigated due to lack of time and remains to be excavated in the next archaeological season, which will determine whether it is part of a structure from the last Neolithic phases, a grave or simply a leveling of several materials used for the floor of Building 23. Building 24 The group of non-standard objects, i.e. structures, includes one tentatively named Building 24 because its character and function cannot be determined with certainty. It is a unit that has been recorded between Building 23 and Building 25 and partly contains architectural elements, but also has atypical features (Fig. 4b). Its eastern wall was dug almost at the very border with the Ditch SU 93 and the rampart of Building 12 (SU 94), the western wall borders the floor of Building 23, the southern wall enters the rampart of Building 25 (SU 96), while the northern one has a massive pillar. This pillar to- 89 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS gether with most of the posts discovered in various places of the building (SU 120) indicate that they had a bearing character, probably of what would have been a roof. No remains of the fallen roof and walls are present, although a deposit of dark soil (SU 103) may be the result of decomposed organic remains associated with the posts and possible straw from the roof. Apart from this context, several layers of deposited material were discovered in Building 24, such as compacted soil (SU 116) and sooth (SU 114), disposed on the yellowish plaster floor (SU 141). Several posts (SU 144) were also dug into the floor and along with those evidenced in the deep layer of sooth could be part of some supporting structure or a lighter roof. The presence of smaller and larger stones in its interior (SU 128 and 160) is particularly interesting (Fig. 7). They are placed in three levels diagonally across the building in a northwest-southeast direction, but their role remains unclear. In any case, Building 24 to a certain extent has a similar character and position to Building 21. The future comparison of these objects with similar ones in the Balkans and Near East, could provide some explanations for their possible function given the relatively small dimensions they have. Building 25 As in the case of Building 19, the remains of Building 25 are positioned above the Ditch SU 93, i.e. SU 31. The building is established on its southern part i.e. in quadrant J-3 and continues in the area beyond the southern cross section (Fig. 4b), although it is cut by the digging of a channel (SU 102). Parts of semi fired clay (SU 95) were discovered from this building, which were probably flattened together with those from Building 22 during the leveling of a later object on top of it (from which the posts SU 122 were dug). In the western part, the Building 25 is cut by Building 24, which indicates its younger age and that was also erected after the construction of Ditch SU 93. In the test trench that aimed to make an insight into the stratigraphy of this ditch, it can be noticed that after the thick layer of daub from the wall of Building 25 (SU 95), there are several layers of sherds (SU 163) and what is most likely a sunken floor (SU 169) of this building which may have functioned as a pit dwelling. In the final stages of the settlement, the wall of Building 25 was leveled (for which there are also visible traces) and, as in the example of Building 19, it was joined with those of the adjacent buildings in order to create a foundation for the next phase of living, i.e. for a new construction. Building 26 The last recorded object in this year’s spring time research is Building 26, of which a small part of the southwest corner was discovered in quadrant I-2 (Fig. 4b). It also has the features of the houses common for the Neolithic tells in Pelagonia. It consists of dug channels for walls (SU 147 and 152) in which there are posts (SU 151 and 153). There is tightly compacted greenish clay and plaster (SU 158) onto the walls, and on top of them a layer with a large amount of sooth (SU 142), which indicates a major fire in and around Building 26. It is important to note that no remains of semi fired or fired daub associated with this building were registered, so it remains to be defined whether they were removed before the formation of the later structures. Since most of this structure is located behind the northern cross section of the trench, it remains to be explored in a future archaeological campaign. 90 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA The review of buildings found in spring of 2023 in Vlaho can be completed with this unit, which also indicate the richness and variety of architectural techniques applied in the last stages of the Neolithic settlement, while its stratigraphical disposition will be elaborated in the concluding part of this paper. The area between Building 23 and Building 26 should also be pointed out here in which no other buildings were registered, except for the remains of fragmented plaster (SU 129 and 138), sooth (SU 130 and 140) and posts discovered in 2022 and 2023 (SU 134). They definitely indicate the remains of architectural features, but which, at least at this stage of the research, cannot be connected with the outlines of any objects, nor with those already recorded. With the expansion of the trench, data may also be obtained for this part of the settlement, which also certainly abounds with many buildings, if the quantity of objects ascertained in this trench are considered, but also in the test trenches from 2021 and 2022. In regard to the architectural features, the ditches should be highlighted as they present a constructional action with a specific function within the settlement. Ditch D One of the characteristic features of the Vlaho site are the massive semicircular ditches that are spread throughout the entire settlement in a concentric sequence. As result of geophysical scanning, 13 such ditches were registered and recorded according to the Latin alphabet (Наумов и др. 2021). Therefore, the archaeological trench in Vlaho is opened in an area where one of these ditches can be recorded and explored, in this case named as Ditch D. Its position is in the central part of the trench, that is, within quadrants I-3 and J-3, and has a width of 2.25 m (Fig. 4b). It surprises with its complexity, which further confirms the settlement dynamics of the Neolithic population that lived in this place. Ditch D is not the result of only one collective activity, because digging such a trench requires the involvement of a large part of the community, but several interventions were recorded during the period of its usage or filling. Namely, during the time when this unit was used as a ditch, there were four modifications on it, while after that, buildings from the last Neolithic phases in this settlement were established above it (Fig. 8). Building 19 and Building 25 were placed on top of this ditch, with Building 19 being cut after its use by a smaller ditch (SU 57), which, although narrower than Ditch D, Fig. 8 91 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS follows its direction. After the stratigraphic units related with the digging and leveling of Buildings 19 and 25, several more interventions in the ditch follow. As this ditch was surveyed in 2022 and 2023, its sections are numbered as SU 31 (northern half) and SU 93 (southern half). Cross sections were made in both of them in order to record the stratigraphy above and inside, but also to define the width of this ditch, which in the central part is 2.25 meters. Therefore, the test trench was also made in the southern part, where the contents present inside and above the ditch were provided. Right below the remains of the daub from Building 25 (SU 95), there are buried pieces of semi fired daub (SU163) from the substruction for this building. Beneath them is the Ditch D (SU 93), in which a smaller pit (SU 57) was found on the eastern side. The younger phase of this ditch (SU 168), cuts the concentration of stones (SU 160), actually related to that of Building 24 (SU 128) and indicates an older substruction before this building was established. This phase of the ditch is dug into the remains of semi fired daub (SU 159), which may belong to some structure positioned under the Building 22. Right beneath these features there is another phase of the ditch (SU 167) in which there are no other features, except in the eastern part under the daub SU 159 where a concentration of sooth (SU 162) is evidenced. Most likely this unit is related with a hearth dug into compact soil (perhaps a deposit, walking level or sterile soil - SU 161). To the west of it there is a larger area of dark sooty soil (SU 166), which is disposed until a concentration of sandy soil with small pieces of fired daub (SU 165). SU 166 can also represent the fourth i.e. the first phase of the Ditch D as it remains unclear whether there are other layers below it due to the excavation of the test trench reaching this depth. It is planned to continue the excavation of this trench in the next archaeological campaign and to record whether the trench is deeper or if there are older architectural layers under these stratigraphic units. Considering the phases of the Ditch D and the contexts above it, they are also visible in the northern cross section that was made with its excavation and the definition of the stratigraphy of Building 17 and Building 19. Namely, in this cross section, apart from the evident layering of the objects on it and the digging of the smaller ditch SU 57 between Building 17 and Building 18, the four phases of this massive ditch can be observed. They are clearly visible and stand out due to the various nuances of soil that was naturally deposited in it or was deliberately filled due to the use of the space above the Ditch D. This confirms the intensive use of this ditch, but also the suitability of this place for the later establishment of buildings in the final stages of the Neolithic settlement. Other ditches and channels Apart from the Ditch D, which belongs to the group of massive semicircular enclosures throughout the Neolithic settlement, Ditch SU 57 was also mentioned as it represents the last such intervention within the architectural space. Nevertheless, there are few other digs, for which it is currently not possible to confirm whether they are smaller ditches, because they are next to the cross sections of the archaeological trench. The channel next to the eastern cross section and those around Building 22 should be asserted, consisting of several layers of sooth and ash (Fig. 4b). As for the one near the eastern cross section, it may be part of a smaller ditch into which sooth, ash and construction ma- 92 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA terials were continuously dumped (SU 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85) or it is a building with several stages of reconstruction and burning of the floor because this set of layers ends almost at the same level where the Building 21 ends. This cannot be defined at this moment as these layers occupy a small part of the current archaeological trench and are parallel to the eastern cross section, so in order to determine its character it is necessary to expand the area of research. At the end of the southern and eastern walls of Building 22, there are two digs, SU 102 i.e. SU 111 in the older phase of the southern part and SU 113 in the eastern part. It remains unclear whether these are the channels that defined the dimensions of Building 22 and functioned as a walking surface, or whether they are part of some kind of ditches that cannot be seen at this moment because they spread in the direction of the cross sections. It is interesting to note here that SU 113 is placed in the same line as the unit of layers SU 81 - 85, but there is a small part of compacted soil between them which was a space for movement around Building 21. Whether an older phase under this set of layers and SU 113 was part of a channel or ditch remains to be determined after the expansion of the trench. In the context of the ditches, another one should be highlighted and recorded during the geophysical scanning and which was expected to be evidenced in the trench. It regards one of the double rectangular ditches that also cover the entire settlement and that changes its direction from east to west in the area belonging to the northern half of the trench. However, despite the detailed and careful excavation of all recorded layers, no elements from this ditch were discovered. Perhaps the geomagnetic signals point to an area north of the trench, which is why the ditch could not be detected, or perhaps it is much deeper than the layers excavated in 2023, belonging to the last stages of the Neolithic settlement. In any case, by expanding the trench and excavating the earlier layers of the settlement, the presence of these rectangular ditches and their stratigraphic relationship will be determined. GEOPHYSICAL SCANNING This year’s research at the Vlaho site, also included geomagnetic prospection in the parts that were not previously scanned. Most of the Neolithic settlement has been scanned, so that only the northern peripheral part of the site remained to be completed, as the eastern part where the large semi-circular ditch was detected has already been completely destroyed by the digging of coal mining bulldozers (Наумов и Насух 2023). This endangered state of the site was an additional reason to completely scan the remaining preserved and unfortunately damaged parts. The scanning was also performed at two other potentially endangered prehistoric sites, Golako and Leščica, both at only 200-300 meters from Vlaho, and the results from their research will be included in another paper (Fig. 9). As it was scheduled after the geomagnetic survey in 2022, Vlaho was to be scanned this year as well. Nevertheless, due to the damage and destruction of some areas of the site, unfortunately this could not be done in its eastern part, while the northern periphery was scanned in areas that were not damaged. The damage to the northern periphery of the site with several wide roads made by the bulldozers makes it impossible to fully scan and connect all areas of Vlaho. However, the scanning 93 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS Fig. 9 of the parts that were not damaged provided new data and contributed in the knowledge about the complex character of this site. The geophysical scanning was performed in an area of 250x150 meters in the northern part of the site, which made it possible to perceive entities separate from those recorded during last year’s scanning. Namely, several ditches were also detected in this area, but they are not connected to the unit of the dozen semi-circular and rectangular ditches in the Neolithic settlement (Fig. 10). The set of three deep but shorter ditches in the northwestern part are of particular interest. They do not surround any space and were dug next to each other as if to separate this northwestern part from the rest of the site. North of them there is an area where the burials were discovered, but the scanning did not display any signals, except for a few rectangular anomalies in the northwest-southeast direction, which may represent buried graves. In front of this set of three ditches, there is a larger one and its function is also not clear. To the southeast of it, signals related to buildings were detected, one of which has a rectangular shape and particularly large dimensions. It should be noted here that a test trench was made near this part in 2021 where sherds of Bronze Age pottery were discovered (Наумов и др. 2021). Such fragments, along with those from the Neolithic, were discovered all over the surface in this part of the site, so the possibility for remains of a small Bronze Age settlement or another type of settlement or farm should not be disregarded. To the east of this unit, there are elements of the massive ditch, ascertained 94 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Fig. 10 also in 2022 and undoubtedly continued towards the northern part of the site, with turning to the west in this area (Наумов и др. 2022). Unfortunately, these features related to the massive ditch and the remains of buildings are unclear due to the surface damage done by bulldozers. It remains in the future to excavate this area and with the application of multidisciplinary archeology to record the contents that are present there. LABORATORY ANALYSES In addition to fieldwork research at Vlaho, the laboratory analyzes of the organic remains in the detected stratigraphic units were also performed during 2023. They are a part of the multidisciplinary research applied in the study of this Neolithic settlement. Archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and radiocarbon analyzes provide knowledge on the exact chronology of the establishment and temporal occupation of the settlement, also on the diet and economy of its inhabitants, and the natural environment that surrounded it. The current knowledge from these analyzes largely complements the data obtained during the field excavations, but also provides completely new perspectives for this significant site. In that direction, this year’s research additionally emphasized the special importance that Vlaho has in the process of Neolithization, but also in the domain of Macedonian archaeology. 95 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS Several radiocarbon analyzes have been made so far for Vlaho, which provided the main chronological framework of the Neolithic settlement. They indicate the site occupation in the period between 6400 and 6000 BC, which also makes it one of the earliest Neolithic sites in Europe (Naumov et al. 2023). However, in spite of these important data, even more precise dating of the site is necessary, which would provide modeling of the existing dates and chronological sequence for the Neolithic settlement. For this purpose, two animal bones from the earlier layers were selected this year, with the intention of comparing their chronological relationship with the samples that have been analyzed so far i.e. the cereal grains. The samples that were selected for this year’s dating belong to sheep and cattle i.e. pig, discovered in SU 14, in 2021 i.e. the sooth layer of Building 2. It is also one of the oldest buildings in the settlement, which was especially important to date. There is another building under it, so it is expected that in the future even older or at least synchronous dates will be obtained for the earliest layers of this site. The samples were taken for radiocarbon analysis at the ETH University in Zurich, where some of the previous analyses were performed (Naumov et al. 2023). It is interesting that the results related to the study of these samples largely coincide with those that were previously the subject of analysis (Fig. 11). Namely, sample ETH 132740 has a date with a laboratory age of 7486 BP and a standard deviation of +/- 26 years. Calibration of this date indicates the period between 6434 and 6334 calBC, which corresponds to the earliest dates at this site and confirms the presence of domesticated sheep in Pelagonia as late as the 64th century BC. Sample ETH 132741 is closely related with the previous one and gives almost identical results. Namely, its laboratory age is approximately 7479 BP with a standard deviation of +/- 26 years. After the calibration of this date, a possible period between 6421 and 6331 calBC was obtained, which is almost the same as that of the sheep sample. This demonstrates that the cattle, that is, pigs, were incorporated into the economic life of the first Pelagonian farmers in almost identical time. In regard to the appearance of domesticated species in Pelagonia, it is necessary to point out the latest knowledge obtained from the archaeobotanical analyzes performed on the organic remains from Fig. 11 96 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA Vlaho, Vrbjanska Čuka and Veluška Tumba (Antolín et al. 2020; Antolín et al. 2021; Sabanov et al. 2022; Sabanov et al. 2023). Namely, at the very beginning of the Neolithic, five species of cereals and their multiple variations, two types of leguminous plants, as well as potentially two oil crops were consumed in this valley. Considering this large number of crop species, but also smaller diversity than in Southwest Asia, Greece and Bulgaria, it was proposed that farmers in this region adapted their crop agricultural practices according to enviromental conditions but cultural preferences could have also influenced these processes (Fig. 12). The chronological determination of some of these Pelagonian crops should be particularly highlighted, such as the peas and lentils, which are currently the oldest directly dated remains of these species in Europe, and not less important is a grain of barley characterized as one of the earliest crop remains on this continent (Sabanov et al. 2023). Fig. 12 It should be emphasized as well that the dated barley was discovered in the Building 3, which is younger than Building 2, where the remains of bones of sheep and cattle i.e. pig, were discovered. Given that the se animal samples are earlier than those of barley, it can be expected that future dating of agricultural plants from this building could indicate even older cultivation in Pelagonia. This does not mean that in other parts of the Balkans there are no synchronous or earlier plant remains, but they have yet to be discovered and dated. In any case, current knowledge places Pelagonia in the Neolithization map as one of the earliest attractive regions for the incorporation of agriculture in the Neolithic Europe. CONCLUSION The fieldwork and laboratory research of the Vlaho site and its architecture, material culture and organic remains further confirm the already established knowledge about its specific character and the particular importance it has in the early processes of Neolithization in the Balkans. It can be 97 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS correspondingly seen in terms of buildings, pottery and cereals discovered and studied during 2023. Considering the chronology of the site the new dates from animal bones furthermore indicate the 6400 CalBC as the approximate period of establishing the Neolithic settlement. This dating is closely related with the one from the group of sites in Central and Western Macedonia in Greece where the revision of the chronology indicates 6500 calBC as approximately earliest date of Neolithization in this region (Reingruber et al. 2023). This also places Vlaho among the earliest Neolithic settlements established in Europe, particularly if domesticated plants are considered (Sabanov et al. 2023). As for the architecture in Vlaho, the presence of dug in buildings in this Neolithic settlement during the excavations was unexpected, although only few are also known in other Neolithic settlements in Pelagonia. They have different shapes and sizes, from small rectangular ones to oval shaped and medium sized. Such types of buildings have also been discovered approximately fifty kilometers south of Vlaho, in the site of Mavropigi in Central Macedonia in Greece. These objects have more amorphous shapes, but indicate their fairly early presence in Europe. Even more the pottery of Mavropigi and Vlaho have specific similarities, especially the impresso pottery, which contain different and numerous variants of decoration (Reingruber et al. 2023). This was especially evident during the rescue excavations in the eastern outskirts of Vlaho, when many sherds of impresso pottery were discovered (Наумов и Насух 2023). In terms of architecture, it should not be disregarded that the appearance of smaller dug in structures (pit dwellings) is particularly common among Early Neolithic sites in Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia, such as Paliambela, Revenia, Mavropigi, Pešterica, Blagotin and Poljanica (Kotsakis 2018; Maniatis and Adaktylou 2014; Karamitrou-Mentessidi et al. 2013; Greenfield et al. 2014; Китаноски и др. 1980; Тодорова 1993). Hence, the presence of this type of buildings in Vlaho should not be surprising, although their presence in other Еarly Neolithic sites in Pelagonia has not been confirmed, except in the case of Pešterica and an atypical object unearthed in Vrbjanska Čuka (Китаноски и др. 1980; Naumov et al. 2018). Of course, this does not mean that only dug in buildings are present in Vlaho as the buildings with semi fired and fired daub walls, placed in a rectangular outline were also discovered. In some of them, food preparation structures are also present, so it can be confirmed that this Neolithic settlement also contains the buildings common in Pelagonia, but in a much smaller number than they are present in Vrbjanska Čuka, Veluška Tumba, Optičari, Topolčani, etc. (Китаноски 1977; Kitanoski 1989; Симоска и Санев 1975; Симоска и Кузман 1990). In terms of the architectural stratigraphy it is worth to assert that the buildings detected in 2023 belong to different layers. Some are part of synchronic events, but the majority can be set in five different layers in an approximate depth of 0, 50 m (Fig. 13). The latest would be the dug in features right under the ploughed layer, such as Building 24 and smaller ditches SU 57 and 111. The last settlement structures made of semi fired daub in this part of the settlement are Building 17 and Building 25, but damaged by the agricultural activities performed on the surface of this site. In this layer also the Building 20 can be considered and particularly the wall of a construction as a part of it. Beneath this architectural layer there are four structures, but some cut previously by the Ditch D. These constructions are detected throughout entire trench and continue beyond its cross sections and they are made of semi fired daub 98 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA or have dug in layout (pit-dwellings), such as the Building 18, Building 19, Building 21 and Building 23. Also the channel SU 81 is present in this layer, but its relationship with these constructions cannot be determined. The earliest recorded architecture in 2023 research is related with Building 22 and Building 26 merely constructed with unfired and semi fired daub. In this level also the channel SU 113 is present which has been cut by the later one i.e. SU 111. Surely, with the future excavation of the Trench 5 there are more buildings to be expected beneath these architectural layers, particularly if the height of cultural stratigraphy from test trenches and geoarchaeological coring is regarded i.e. 1, 36 and 2, 40 m (Наумов и др. 2021; Наумов и др. 2022). In these layers of the 2021 test trench several buildings were detected, with some established onto the solid sandstone bedrock. Fig. 13 From the provided overview of the architectural stratigraphy in the Trench 5 it can be concluded that there is a dense disposition of buildings in each layer and that there is no preference to particular technology. The semi fired daub was employed almost in all detected phases, while the dug in buildings were present in the later levels, but missing in the earliest detected in 2023 (which does not mean that they do not exist in the lower unexcavated layers). The presence of fired daub is scarce and only evident in the Building 18, but distinctly different in terms of burning when compared to the one used among the tells in the flatland parts of Pelagonia (Naumov et al. 2018). The future daub analysis will provide more information on these different technological features and whether they are related to the control of the fire or with the type of clay used for constructing walls. Regarding the architecture, ditches can also be included, which represent a constructive action that has a specific function related to the settlement. The geophysical scanning of Vlaho confirmed the existence of a dozen such ditches. Although it is currently difficult to address the specific function of the ditches, their continued research indicates the spatial and stratigraphic character they may have had in relation to the settlement. In that direction, during this year’s excavation of Trench 5, the Ditch D has been also investigated, which had four phases and buildings placed on it after its filling. If the data from the rescue research of the two peripheral ditches (K and L) in September and October 99 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS 2023 are also considered, then it can be noted that they have a different stratigraphic relationship and diverse filling after their primary function (Наумов и Насух 2023). There are buildings onto Ditch D, and so far no remains of thrown fired daub have been discovered in it. Such smaller pieces were discovered in the Ditch K, while in Ditch L they are much larger, and actually the ditch was covered in a certain part by a single layer of pieces of daub, stone and grinding stones. This confirms the different treatment of these ditches, and in addition to the information from the excavations, additional radiocarbon analyzes of the remains inside will point to possible chronological differences, especially if the different stratigraphic belonging is considered. This kind of treatment of the ditches during their filling, but also after that, is also present in other sites where these architectural elements have been registered. The construction of buildings after the filling of the ditch was also recorded in the Early Neolithic settlement near Govrlevo, while the deposition of fired daub in them was also evidenced at the sites in Bulgaria (Fidanoski 2015; Bacvarov et al. 2016). This confirms that there are specific activities associated with the filling of the ditches, which allows further study of the social or symbolic elements behind this treatment of the ditches. Their filling during several events also indicates the possible long-term use of these massive constructions within the settlement, which were of particular importance for the community, considering the great effort and labor was invested in the creation of the ditches. The complexity of the Vlaho ditch system was confirmed by this year’s scanning of the remaining parts of the site, where it can be seen that their performance and most likely their purpose is not unified. This further points to the special character that this site has and, in some way, sets it apart from many others investigated so far in Pelagonia and beyond. In addition to that, the dating of the remains of cereals, pulses, sheep and cattle, i.e. pigs, highlights them as one of the earliest domesticated forms in Europe. This emphasizes the necessity for a thorough research and for a protection of this site from possible damage, which unfortunately was recently done in the northern and eastern parts of Vlaho (Наумов и Насух 2023). Considering the scientific capacities of this Neolithic settlement, much can be expected from the future research, both in terms of fieldwork, finds studies and the laboratory analyses. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors would like to thank the residents of Živojno for their unselfish support of this research and especially to Boris Kirkovski, Sašo Gilevski, Vlado Taškovski and Oliver Veljanovski, who participated in the fieldwork, as well as to Emilia Trajkovska and Simon Mirčeski from Bitola who were also involved in this year’s excavation and documentation. Research at the Vlaho site is supported by the Foundation for the Study and Protection of Tells and the German Archaeological Institute. 100 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VLAHO IN PELAGONIA ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1. Map of Pelagonia with indicated position of Vlaho. Fig. 2. View from West towards the Vlaho site (photo: Hristijan Talevski). Fig. 3. Trench 5 – view from Southwest (photo: Goce Naumov). Fig. 4. Ortophotographic model of Trench 5 (a) with indication of recorded features in 2023 (b) (photo: Hristijan Talevski; editing: Goce Naumov). Fig. 5. Plan with the position of the Building 18 and Building 21 along with the channels SU 81, 111 and 113 (drawing: Aleksandar Mitkoski; editing: Goce Naumov). Fig. 6. Plan with the position of the Building 23 and Building 24 (drawing: Aleksandar Mitkoski; editing: Goce Naumov). Fig. 7. Concentration of grinding stones and cobbles in the Building 23 (photo: Goce Naumov). Fig. 8. North cross section of the Ditch D (photo: Goce Naumov). Fig. 9. Map with the results from the geophysical survey of Vlaho, Golako and Leščica (illustration: Marcin Przybila). Fig. 10. Map with the results from the geophysical survey of Vlaho (illustration: Marcin Przybila). Fig. 11. Calibrated C14 dates of animal bones from SU 14 in Building 2 (illustration: Irka Hajdas). Fig. 12. Bar plot representing numbers of grain/seed remains/L sediment from Vlaho, Vrbjanska Čuka and Veluška Tumba (illustration: Amalia Sabanov). Fig. 13. Stratigraphic disposition of buildings and ditches in Trench 5 (illustration: Goce Naumov). 101 PREHISTORY IN THE BALKANS BIBLIOGRAPHY Antolín, F; Sabanov, A.; Naumov, G. and Soteras, R. 2020. Crop choice, gathered plants and household activities during the beginnings of farming in Pelagonia valley (North Macedonia). Antiquity 94 (376): 1-8. Antolín. F.; Dimitrijević, V.; Naumov, G.; Sabanov, A; and Soteras, R. Prilep, North Macedonia. House taskscapes in the Early Neolithic of the Pelagonia Valley: micro-refuse analyses. First results of the Campaign 2019. e-DAI-F 2021-2:1-15. Bacvarov, K.; Todorova, N.; Katsarov, G.; Petrova, V. and McSweeny, K. 2016 The dead and the nested pots: An Early Neolithic ditch burial at Nova Nadezhda, Bulgarian Thrace. In Bacvarov, K. and Gleser, R. (Eds.), Southeast Europe and Anatolia inprehistory. Essays in honor of Vasil Nikolov on his 65th anniversary, Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischenarchäologie, Band 2: 149–158.. 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