UDC: 902.2(497.11)"1999/..." 903"637/638"(497.11) 903.4"637/638"(497.11) https://doi.org/10.2298/STA1767009K Original research article ALEKSANDAR KAPURAN, Institute of Archaeology Belgrade NEW CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE EARLY IRON AGE STRATIGRAPHY AT THE SITE OF HISAR IN LESKOVAC (Sector I) e-mail: a.kapuran@gmail.com Abstract – Archaeological research at the site of Hisar in Leskovac began more than a decade ago and has initiated numerous papers on the relationship between the Mediana and Brnjica cultural groups and cultures that marked the transition from the Bronze to the Early Iron Age in the Central Balkans. This paper seeks to highlight and correct some of the key mistakes which have emerged in the stratigraphic interpretation of this multi-horizon site, and in such a way contribute to the better understanding of cultural movements at the transition from the 2nd to the 1st millennium BC. Key words – Bronze Age, transition from Bronze to Iron Age, Early Iron Age, black metallurgy, Turovi} pin. T wenty two years have passed since the first archaeological excavations at the site of Hisar in Leskovac, which produced several papers concerning the stratigraphic problems regarding different topics tied to the finds of material culture from prehistoric and historic periods discovered at this multi-horizon hill fort settlement. Without any doubt, it is an important site which, owing to its position at the rim of the Leskovac valley between the courses of the Jablanica and Veternica rivers, was suitable for continued settlement from the Bronze Age until the 19th century AD, or until the end of the Ottoman domination, which is clearly reflected in its own name, Hisar. After the initial phase of excavations, initiated in 1994, a new excavation project was conducted by Dr Milorad Stoji} from the Archaeological Institute starting from 1999. After four short campaigns (from 1999 until 2005), the largest areas were excavated over se- veral months in 2006, when course of the excavations were parallel in Sectors I and III (hilltop plateau) (Fig. 1).1 Some of the finds belong to the Neolithic and Eneolithic, but the cultural stratigraphy is represented by the Late Bronze Age (Brnjica culture Br C/D Ha A1), 1 The site of Hisar was first mentioned by Miloje M. Vasi}, and the first surveys were conducted by M. Gara{anin, while the first systematic excavations in 1994 were conducted by the National Museum in Leskovac and the Archaeological Institute, with the hilltop plateau excavated on that occasion, which is dominant above present day Leskovac; Bogdanovi}, Joci} and Popovi} 1995. After that, smaller scale excavations were conducted on the eastern side of the hill, in September 1999, which took place in Sector I, in the road section on the mid point of the eastern slope. Later excavations followed in 2002, 2003 and 2005 over the area of Sector I; Stoji} 2006. The last excavations were conducted in winter, towards the end of 2007, but only over the area of Sector III, and were also small scale. The article rusults from the project: Archaeology of Serbia: Cultural identity, integrational factors, technological processes and the role of the Central Balkans in the development of Europian prehistory (No. 177020), funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. 9 Manuscript received 14th December 2016, accepted 10th May 2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) Fig. 1. Hisar site with sectors and investigated space Sl. 1. Lokalitet Hisar sa sektorima i istra`enim povr{inama Iron Age I (Ha A2–B2) and Iron Age III (6th and 5th centuries BC), Late Antiquity and Middle Age periods.2 Prior to the excavations at Hisar, there were an incomparably larger number of known Brnjica group necropoleis, contrary to the markedly low numbers of known settlements, of which only Mediana stands out, so that the existing pottery typology was primarily based upon the finds from burial contexts. Little was known about other, utilitarian pottery. The only secure analogies were offered by the publications of M. Gara{anin about Mediana,3 the unpublished PhD dissertation of M. Lazi} from 1996, and the publications of A. Bulatovi} regarding research in the Ju`na Morava river basin.4 The aim of this paper is to underline serious mistakes in the interpretation of finds from the Early Iron Age at Hisar, which were, primarily, as a result of ignoring the influence of natural and anthropogenic processes, such are erosion, the consequences of bombing during the Second World War, as well as insufficient knowledge of prehistoric metallurgy. By ignoring these 10 parameters it is inevitable that some wrong conclusions were drawn about the cultural stratigraphy of Sector I, from excavations in Trench 1/99 (1999), to 2006 (trenches I and II in Sector I) (Fig. 1). These mistakes were made by the author of this paper during the interpretation of results from the 1999 campaign,5 by ignoring the fact that statistics point to a high percentage of mixed pottery finds with characteristics of Early Brnjica and Late Belegi{ II–Gava cultures in the same contexts, or, in all 4 cultural horizons, which were clearly defined in section A–B.6 Evidence 2 Bulatovi}, Jovi} 2010, 200; Stoji} 2006; Stoji} 2009; Bulatovi} 2009; Stoji} 2011; Kapuran 2009, 94–118; Kapuran 2009a. 3 Gara{anin 1996. 4 Bulatovi} 1999/2000; Bulatovi} 2009. 5 Trench 1/99, measuring 4 x 4 m, was dug into the steep slope above the road in Sector I. Stoji} 2001, 60; Kapuran, Stoji} 2001. 6 Stoji} 2001, 60. STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) for the mixed stratigraphy is indicated not only by percentages in the given tables of diagnostic finds but, as later research would conclude, in several structures (undisturbed units and pottery finds) which were identifiable within the cultural layers in trenches I and II, of Sector I from 2006. By analysing pottery finds from trench 1/99, in his paper from 2001, A. Kapuran overlooked the fact that strata I – IV could also have emerged as a result of the intense effect of erosion processes which move from the higher points of Hisar Hill (plateau, Sector III), bearing in mind that the trench was opened on the mid point of the steepest slope on the eastern side of the site (Fig. 1).7 The almost equal quantitative relationship between the Brnjica and Belegi{ II–Gava groups, based on the statistics of bowl type 4 representation, beaker and urn types 3, 4, 5 and 6, best attest to the sedimentation being due to erosion processes.8 This oversight also became obvious in 2006, when large scale excavations were conducted in trench I (area of 25 x 8 m), II and the “Road” trench in Sector I.9 A. Bulatovi} and S. Jovi}, in the monograph “Leskovac”, present certain finds of diagnostic pottery from the cultural horizon in Sector I, as well as at Structures 3 and 14, which show that there is no clear boundary between the finds of the Ha A2/B1 and B1/B2 periods. There are even examples in isolated cases where structures with earlier finds are stratigraphically situated above structures characteristic of younger cultural horizons. The only exceptions are the closed units of dug in dwellings and shallow pits which belong to the end of the Early Iron Age.10 This research shows that one of the rare stratigraphically securely defined structures is the already mentioned Structure 14, in which, one next to another, an iron axe (a flat axe with “wings”) and a hollow cast bronze socked-axe were found, which date to the Ha B/B2, or the 9th century BC, at the earliest.11 The 2006 excavations in Sector I led to the discovery of one above-ground dwelling structure (designated as Structure 44+17/06) (Fig. 2) which is, based on pottery finds from its floor, dated to the Ha A2–B1, as previously stated by Bulatovi} and Jovi}.12 In a small depression dug into the soil bed (Structure 33/06) (Fig. 2), or a levelled house floor, pottery of the older Brnjica phase from the end of Bronze Age (Pl. II/1–4) was discovered together with Iron Age pottery from the Ha A2–B1 (Pl. II/5–9). A group of pottery was found on the southern rim of the preserved house floor (Structure 29) where, among mixed finds of Brnjica (Pl. I/1–4) and channelled pottery (Pl. I/5–12) in the 11 VIIIth excavation level, a conical bowl decorated with sloped channels typical of the 11th and 10th centuries BC, according to Bulatovi} (Fig. 2), was also found in situ.13 Such a channelled bowl, which was laying on its base, represents a terminus anti quem for the start of the settlement in Sector I. Concerning Sector III at the upper Hisar plateau, it is without doubt that an older settlement with dug-in dwellings across that area, the closed units of which contained exclusively early Brnjica pottery, which is best illustrated in Structure 11 (dug-in dwelling).14 If we analyse the stratigraphy of the Early Iron Age in Sector I, it is important to look back at one, blandly stated, controversial find, a Turovi} pin, which is described as “the oldest evidence of iron ore metallurgy” in archaeological literature.15 In a paper published in 2002, M. Stoji} stated that the Turovi} pin was discovered “at the bottom of the trench 1/99 section”, according to the statement from [}epan Turovi}, who brought this artefact to the Museum.16 In his next paper it is then stated that the same artefact comes from “a layer for which relative chronology is securely defined (or that there are no observable dug-ins from younger horizons)”, and is dated to the 13th or 12th century BC,17 but later dates the same artefacts to the 14th century BC.18 It is not reliable to treat finds brought to the Museum in the same regard as those from secure archaeological contexts, irrespective of who found and 7 Kapuran 2001, 95; Stoji} 2001, 60. Kapuran 2001, T. 1; 2; 4; 5. 9 A. Kapuran conducted field excavations at this part of the site, under the direction of Dr M. Stoji}. 10 Stoji} 2009, 176. 11 Bulatovi}, Kapuran 2013, 114–115. 12 Bulatovi}, Jovi} 2000, 200. 13 Bulatovi} 2010, Tabela 5/IIb. Structure 29 was situated within the above-ground dwelling 44+17/06 which A. Kapuran attributed to the Bronze Age, without a complete insight of the pottery material, and guided by the previously accepted statement that the oldest horizon in Sector I is represented by the Late Bronze Age. Kapuran 2009, 108–111, sl. 47. 14 Kapuran 2009, 116, Sl. 59, 60. 15 The artefact has the form of a pin (measurements h=0.645 m and r=0.021 m) made from wrought iron with a very small, almost negligible, percentage of admixtures, having an irregular biconical head with a rectangular cross-section. The body of the pin has a circular cross-section, except one segment below the head (or at the neck) which has a rectangular cross-section. 16 Stoji} 2002, 6. 17 Stoji} 2002, 235. 18 Stoji} 2011, 13–14. 8 STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) Fig. 2. Sector I, thrench 1/2006, detail with Object No. 29 and remains of the house flore Sl. 2. Sektor I, sonda 1/2006, detaq sa Objektom 29 i podnica ku}e 12 STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) brought them, especially considering that [. Turovi} volunteered at the site during the 1999 campaign.19 During 2003 and 2005, M. Stoji} focuses further archaeological excavations on the area where the pin was allegedly “discovered” (Fig. 1/Trench 2005). The results of these excavations from 2006, are represented by photos of the bases of “metallurgic” furnaces (from the end of the Bronze Age) and metal slag, and also mentions various pounders, which could have had the function of preparing the iron ore for further smelting processes.20 The very fact that the furnace bases are surrounded with metal slag is not evidence enough to confirm the installations were for ore smelting, because of the greater influence of erosion in this sector. In photos 8 and 9 in the same paper,21 in front of the “metallurgic furnaces”, at the lower levels, there are no observable pits or tailings, into which hot slag and the remains of burning would have been deposed, as an inevitable by product of ore smelting. The statement that the metallurgic furnaces had calotte shaped roofs raises further confusion,22 and we can say it is the only case of this kind of furnace from prehistory, since the only previously known form is that of an angled cylinder with an open top, which Tylecot and Pleiner illustrate with numerous publications concerning prehistoric metallurgy.23 The author of the research presents photos of iron finds, which he states were discovered on the base of a “furnace with a calotte roof”, but they are typologicaly uncertain and could belong to other, possibly younger cultures, the presence of which is attested to in Sector I (house floors from the early Byzantine period, and pits and kilns from the Middle Ages).24 We are also lacking key information about the precise location of these furnaces, their absolute heights and at least one technical drawing of the situation in which they were found. We also consider that, in order to draw any conclusions regarding prehistoric iron (black) metallurgy, a key point to consider is the physical and chemical analysis of slags. The find of “iron cake” represented in photo 5a has no defined archaeological context, and was discovered using a metal detector just below the soil bed in the area of the “Road” trench, which is some 50 m from the discovered furnaces.25 The relative chronology of these metallurgic structures, as with the entire horizon (Bronze Age 14th–13th century BC), is illustrated by the author with a fragment of painted “Mycenaean” pottery, after which he publishes the same pottery fragment as a find from the 5th century BC, or from the end of the Early Iron Age.26 13 As a result of everything stated here we can assume that the “reputation that [}epan Turovi} enjoys in the National Museum in Leskovac”, cannot be a reason to accept his statements unreservedly. The physical and chemical analysis to which the Turovi} pin was exposed, and the EDXRF method,27 also cannot represent a valid argument on its own that this is a unique case of early iron metallurgy in the Central Balkans. The analogies that Stoji} offers,28 only have similarities with the Turovi} pin in their length, but it should be taken into account that they come from clear contexts, the tumulus in Borovsko and Maravi} at Glasinac (Fig. 4/1,2),29 or the bronze hoards on the territory of Slovakia30 and Hungary.31 They are all made from bronze and mostly decorated with incisions (although there are also undecorated examples). The pins from Glasinac and Slovakia have decorated heads and circular section expansions on the neck, while the Turovi} pin has a head and an expansion of a rectangular shape. Concerning the analogies with Iglarevo,32 it can be openly stated that they do not have anything to do with the Turovi} pin, but exclusively with pins found at the necropolis in Donja Brnjica (Fig. 4/3,4). Maybe the origin of the Turovi} pin should be sought in the Ottoman period in the Central Balkans since, according to its length, material and method of smithing, it is most similar to dervish needles, with 19 From a conversation with members of the archaeological team, [. Turovi} could, in those circumstances, ascertain what kinds of finds have value for the study of the Early Iron Age. However, the greatest doubt is cast by the fact that, after the end of excavations, [. Turovi} conducted illegal excavations on his own in the same trench which was previously back-filled, in which he, according to his statement, found the needle. During 2006 another, almost identical iron pin appeared, for which the other discoverer says that it was discovered several km from Hisar; Stoji} 2006: 107, Fig. 7. 20 Stoji} 2006, 108. 21 Stoji} 2006, Figs. 8 and 9; In photo 5a, a piece of slag of semi spherical cross-section and large measurements can be observed. 22 Stoji} 2006, 107. 23 Tylecot 1987; Pleiner 2000, Fig. 33. 24 Stoji} 2006, 107, Fig. 3–5. 25 Stoji} 2006, Fig. 5a. 26 Stoji} 2009, 178: Fig. 29. 27 Stoji} 2002, 6. 28 Stoji} 2011, 14. 29 Benac i ^ovi} 1956, T. XXVII/9, 21; XXXI/2, 20; XXVIII/5. 30 Ríhovskú 1983, 6/80–85. 31 Movotna 180, T. 24/568–678; T. 24–25; T. 35/707, 714–715. 32 Quci 1998, 171/1–3. STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) 0 b 4 cm a c Fig. 3. a) Turovi} needle (drawing by M. Savkovi}); b–c) Illustrations of the dervish rituals Sl. 3. a) Turovi}eva igla (crtao M. Savkovi}); b–c) ilustracije dervi{kih rituala 1 2 3 4 Fig. 4. 1, 2) Glasinac (drawings by H. Wolfart); 3, 4) Iglarevo (photo by V. Popovi}) Sl. 4. 1, 2) Glasinac (crtala H. Volfart); 3, 4) Iglarevo (fotografije V. Popovi}) 14 STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) which members of this order pierced themselves during ritual trances (Fig. 3/b–c). The smithing technique, as a process in which almost all the oxygen is removed, which prevents corrosion (and reduces the risk of blood poisoning), favours this assumption. We can observe a similar technique on the find of an iron pin of large measurements discovered in Pazari{te, a northern suburb of the Ottoman fortified town of Svrljig.33 Finally, we can conclude that in Sector I of Hisar in Leskovac there are no structures from the older Brnjica culture of the Late Bronze Age and that there are is secure evidence regarding iron metallurgy from the 14th century BC, or prehistory in general.34 Additionally, the Turovi} needle should not be used as evidence of early iron metallurgy. On the other hand, numerous finds point to metallurgy from historical epochs, which do not diminish the importance of this multi-horizon site in the history of the Central Balkans. Translated by Mirjana Vukmanovi} Starinar is an Open Access Journal. All articles can be downloaded free of charge and used in accordance with the licence Creative Commons – Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Serbia (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/rs/). ^asopis Starinar je dostupan u re`imu otvorenog pristupa. ^lanci objavqeni u ~asopisu mogu se besplatno preuzeti sa sajta ~asopisa i koristiti u skladu sa licencom Creative Commons – Autorstvo-Nekomercijalno-Bez prerada 3.0 Srbija (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/rs/). 33 Petrovi}, Filipovi} i Milojevi} 2012, Fig. 13; S. Milojevi} included this pin, about 1 m long, in the homeland collection of Svrljig, as inventory number 1190. If it is, in any case, true that the Turovi} pin was found in Trench 1/99, we have to stress that this area was a suburb of the Ottoman fort situated in Sector III at Hisar. 34 Stoji} 2008, 80. 15 STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bogdanovi}, Joci}, Popovi} 1995 – I. Bogdanovi}, M. Joci}, P. Popovi}, Sonda`na istra`ivawa lokaliteta Hisar (Leskovac). Leskova~ki zbornik XXXV, 1995, 13–24 (I. Bogdanovi}, M. Joci}, P. Popovi}, Sonda`na istra`ivanja lokaliteta Hisar (Leskovac), Leskova~ki zbornik XXXV, 1995, 13–24). Bulatovi} 1999/2000 – A. Bulatovi}, Nalazi{ta brwi~ke kulturne grupe u Vrawsko-bujanova~koj i Pre{evskoj kotlini (Summary: Finds from the Brnjica Cultural Group in the Vranje–Bujanovac and Pre{evo basin) Glasnik srpskog arheolo{kog dru{tva 15–16, 1999/2000, 23–42 (A. Bulatovi}, Nalazi{ta brnji~ke kulturne grupe u Vranjsko–bujanova~koj i Pre{evskoj kotlini, Glasnik srpskog arheolo{kog dru{tva 15–16, 1999/2000, 23–42). during exploring campaign in 2006) Leskova~ki zbornik XLVII, 2008, 7–28 (A. Kapuran, Nalazi okresanog kamena sa lokaliteta „Hisar“ u Leskovcu, otkriveni tokom istra`iva~ke kampanje 2006. godine, Leskova~ki zbornik XLVII, 2008, 7–28). Kapuran 2009 – A. Kapuran, Arhitektura iz poznog bronzanog i starijeg gvozdenog doba u basenu Ju`ne Morave, Beograd 2009, (A. Kapuran, Late Bronze and Early Iron Age architecture in the Ju`na Morava region, Belgrade 2009; A. Kapuran, Arhitektura iz poznog bronzanog i starijeg gvozdenog doba u basenu Ju`ne Morave, Beograd 2009). Bulatovi} 2009 – A. Bulatovi}, South Morava Basin in the transitional period from the Bronze to the Iron Age (Rezime: Basen Ju`ne Morave u prelaznom periodu iz bronzanog u gvozdeno doba) Starinar LVII (2007) 2009, 57–82. Kapuran 2009a – A. Kapuran, Ostaci praistorijske arhitekture otkriveni na lokalitetu Hisar u Leskovcu (Summary: Remain of Prehistoric architecture found on site Hisar in Leskovac) Leskova~ki zbornik XLIX, 2009, 197–218 (A. Kapuran, Ostaci praistorijske arhitekture otkriveni na lokalitetu Hisar u Leskovcu, Leskova~ki zbornik XLIX, 2009, 197–218). Bulatovi}, Jovi} 2010 – A. Bulatovi}, S. Jovi}, Leskovac, Kulturna stratigrafija praistorijskih lokaliteta u leskova~koj regiji, Beograd–Leskovac 2010, (Bulatovi}, Jovi}) Leskovac Cultural stratigraphy of Prehistoric Sites in the Leskovac Region, Belgrade–Leskovac 2010 (A. Bulatovi}, S. Jovi}, Leskovac, Kulturna stratigrafija praistorijskih lokaliteta u leskova~koj regiji, Beograd– Leskovac 2010). Kapuran, Stoji}, 2001 – A. Kapuran, M. Stoji}, Keramika brwi~ke kulturne grupe sa lokaliteta Hisar – jugoisto~na padina u Leskovcu(Summary: Brnjica Cultural Grup cerramics from the Hisar-Southeast slope Site in Leskovac) Leskova~ki zbornik XLI, 2009, 95–145 (A. Kapuran, M. Stoji}, Keramika brnji~ke kulturne grupe sa lokaliteta Hisar – jugoisto~na padina u Leskovcu, Leskova~ki zbornik XLI, 2009, 95–145). Bulatovi}, Kapuran 2013 – A. Bulatovi}, A. Kapuran, Naseqe iz ranog gvozdenog doba na lokalitetu Crkvi{te u Davidovcu kod Vrawa (Summary: Early iron Age at the site Crkvi{te near Vranje) Glasnik srpskog arheolo{kog dru{tva 29, 2010, 101–124 (A. Bulatovi}, A. Kapuran, Naselje iz ranog gvozdenog doba na lokalitetu Crkvi{te u Davidovcu kod Vranja, Glasnik srpskog arheolo{kog dru{tva 29, 2010, 101–124). Petrovi}, Filipovi}, Milivojevi} 2012 – V. Petrovi}, V. Filipovi} & S. Milivojevi}, La région de Svrljig en Serbie Orijentale-Préhistorie, antiquite et Moyen Âge, Beograd 2012. Gara{anin 1996 – M. Gara{anin, Die kulturelle und chronologische Stellung der Mediana-Gruppe, in: The Yugoslav Danube basin and the neighbouring regions in the 2nd millennium B.C., (ed.) N. Tasi}, Beograd–Vr{ac 1996: 201–218. Joci}, Peri}, Stoji} 1999 – M. Joci}, S. Peri}, M. Stoji}, Keramika iz stambenog objekta sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu (Summary: House dwelling ceramics from Hisar site at Leskovac). Leskova~ki zbornik XXXIX, 1999, 27–40 (M. Joci}, S. Peri}, M. Stoji}, Keramika iz stambenog objekta sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu, Leskova~ki zbornik XXXIX, 1999, 27–40). Kapuran 2008 – A. Kapuran, Nalazi okresanog kamena sa lokaliteta „Hisar“ u Leskovcu, otkriveni tokom istra`iva~ke kampawe 2006. godine (Summary: (Antique) Lapidary artefacts of the site „Hisar“ in Leskovac discovered 16 Stoji} 2001 – M. Stoji}, Brwi~ka kulturna grupa u basenu Ju`ne Morave (Summary: Brnjica Cultural Grupe in the South Morava Basin) Leskova~ki zbornik XLI, 2001, 15–94 (M. Stoji}, Brnji~ka kulturna grupa u basenu Ju`ne Morave, Leskova~ki zbornik XLI, 2001, 15–94). Stoji} 2002 – M. Stoji}, Gvozdeni predmet u obliku igle sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu, Turovi}eva igla (Iron find in shape of the needle from Hisar site in Leskovac, Turovi}eva needle) Leskova~ki zbornik XLII, 2002, 5–10 (M. Stoji}, Gvozdeni predmet u obliku igle sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu, Turovi}eva igla, Leskova~ki zbornik XLII, 2002, 5–10). Stoji} 2002 – M. Stoji}, Najstariji nalazi gvozdenih predmeta u Srbiji, Godi{njak XXXII, 2002, 235–240. Stoji} 2003 – M. Stoji}, Basen Ju`ne Morave i P~inje u vreme razvoja brnji~ke kulturne grupe (Summary: Basin of the South Morava and the P~inja at the time of the Development of the Brnjica Culture) Pirajhme–Pyraichmes 2, 2003, 119–142. STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) Stoji} 2004 – M. Stoji}, Novi nalazi sa praistorijskih lokaliteta u okolini Leskovca (Summary: new finds from the Prehistoric sites in the surroundings of Leskovac) Starinar LIII–LIV, (2003–2004) 2004, 193–215. M. Stoji}, Novi nalazi sa praistorijskih lokaliteta u okolini Leskovca, Starinar LIII–LIV, (2003–2004) 2004, 193–215 (M. Stoji}, Novi nalazi sa praistorijskih lokaliteta u okolini Leskovca, Starinar LIII–LIV, (2003–2004) 2004, 193–215). Stoji} 2006 – M. Stoji}, Ferrours metallurgy centar of the Brnjica Cultural Grup (14th–13th Centuries BC) at the Hisar Site in Leskovac. Metalurgija – Journal of Mettalurgy – MjoM, Volum 12, 2006, 105–110. Stoji} 2008 – M. Stoji}, Regional characteristic of the Brnjica Cultural group (Rezime: Regionalne karakteristike brwi~ke kulturne grupe) Starinar LVI, (2006) 2008, 73–84. 17 Stoji} 2009 – M. Stoji}, Hisar in Leskovac at the end of the Early Iron Age, (Rezime: starije gvozdeno doba na lokalitetu Hisar u Leskovcu) Starinar LVII, (2007) 2009, 175–189. Stoji} 2011 – M. Stoji}, Odnos sredweg Podunavqa i basena Ju`ne Morave u gvozdeno doba I (pribli`no 1350–1100 godine pre n.e.) na osnovu metalnih nalaza sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu (Summary: Relations – Middle Danube Basen and the South Morava river during the Iron Age I (APP. 1350–1100 BC) basis on the metal artifact from the site Hisar, Leskovac) Leskova~ki zbornik LI, 2011, 9–30 (M. Stoji}, Odnos srednjeg Podunavlja i basena Ju`ne Morave u gvozdeno doba I (pribli`no 1350–1100 godine pre n.e.) na osnovu metalnih nalaza sa lokaliteta Hisar u Leskovcu, Leskova~ki zbornik LI, 2011, 9–30). STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) Rezime: ALEKSANDAR KAPURAN, Arheolo{ki institut, Beograd NOVI PRILOZI ZA STRATIGRAFIJU STARIJEG GVOZDENOG DOBA NA LOKALITETU HISAR U LESKOVCU (Sektor I) Kqu~ne re~i. – bronzano doba, prelazni period iz bronzanog u gvozdeno doba, starije gvozdeno doba, crna metalurgija, Turovi}eva igla. Posle vi{e od dve decenije istra`ivawa na lokalitetu Hisar u Leskovcu pokazala se potreba za revizijom nekih zakqu~aka kao i gledi{ta na kulturnu stratigrafiju ovog vi{eslojnog lokaliteta na kome je konstatovano naseqe iz poznog bronzanog doba (brwi~ka kulturna grupa Br C/D Ha A1), gvozdenog doba I (Ha A2–B2) i gvozdenog doba III (VI–V vek pre n. e.), kasne antike i sredweg veka. Ciq ovoga rada jeste da se uka`e na ozbiqne gre{ke koje su u prvom redu nastale usled prenebregavawa uticaja raznih faktora – prirodnih i antropogenih procesa, erozija, posledica bombardovawa iz II sv. rata, kao i nedovoqnog poznavawa tehnologije praistorijske metalurgije – koji su doveli do niza pogre{nih zakqu~aka o kulturnoj stratigrafiji na Sektoru I, i to po~ev{i od istra`ivawa iz 1999. godine pa do onih iz 2006. (sl. 1). Po~etni~ke gre{ke u interpretaciji rezultata iz kampawe 1999. godine na~inio je autor ovoga rada stoga {to nije obratio pa`wu na ~iwenicu da postoji visok procenat pome{anih nalaza kerami~ke produkcije sa karakteristikama i brwi~ke i Belegi{ II–Gava kulture u istim kontekstima, odnosno u sva 4 kulturna horizonta, koji su se prili~no jasno ocrtavali na profilu A–B. Analiziraju}i u svom radu iz 2001. godine kerami~ke nalaze iz sonde 1/99, A. Kapuran nije uzeo u obzir ~iwenicu da su stratumi I–IV mogli nastati i dejstvom intenzivnih erozionih procesa koji idu iz pravca vi{ih kota brda Hisar (platoa Sektora III), budu}i da se sonda nalazila na sredi{wem delu najstrmije padine sa isto~ne strane lokaliteta (sl. 1). Ova gre{ka postala je o~igledna tek 2006. godine, kada su preduzeta obimna istra`ivawa sondi I (povr{ine 25 m h 8 m) i II te sonde Put na Sektoru I. Istra`ivawa iz 2006. godine pokazala su da jedini siguran i stratigrafski definisan objekat iz starijih horizonata predstavqa Objekat 14, u kome su se, jedna pored druge, nalazile sekira od gvo`|a (tip pqosnate sekire sa krilcima) i {upqa bronzana sekira kelt, koja se datuje najranije u Ha B/B2, odnosno u 9. vek pre n. e. Istra`ivawa na Sektoru I iz 2006. godine dovela su do otkri}a nadzemnog stambenog objekta (ozna~enog kao Obj. 44+17/06) (sl. 2) koji, prema nalazima keramike na wegovoj osnovi, pripada Ha A2–B1 – kao {to su prethodno konstatovali Bulatovi} i Jovi}. U mawoj depresiji u zdravici (Objekat 33/06) (sl. 2), koja je ujedno predstavqala gaznu povr{inu u ku}i, u istom kontekstu otkrivena je keramika starije faze Brwice sa kraja bronzanog doba (T. II/1–4) i gvozdenog doba Ha A2–B1 (T. II/5–9). Na ju`nom delu poda ku}e nalazila se grupa keramike (Objekat 29) i u woj je, me|u izme{anim nalazima brwi~ke (T. I/1–4) i kanelovane 18 keramike (T. I/5–12), u VIII o. s. in situ otkrivena koni~na zdela ukra{ena kosim kanelurama karakteristi~nim za XI i X vek pre n. e. – prema Bulatovi}u (sl. 2). Kontroverzni nalaz Turovi}eve igle, kao primer „najstarije metalurgije gvo`|a”, tako|e treba kriti~ki i u realnom svetlu sagledati i pritom uzeti u obzir navedene gre{ke. U radu iz 2002. godine M. Stoji} navodi da je Turovi}eva igla otkrivena „u dnu profila sonde 1/99” – prema navodima [}epana Turovi}a, koji je ovaj predmet doneo u Muzej. Ve} u slede}em radu navodi se da isti predmet poti~e „iz sloja ~ija je relativna hronologija pouzdano utvr|ena (tj. nema vidqivih ukopavawa iz mla|ih horizonata)”, i datuje se „u XIII ili XII vek pre n. e.”, da bi u slede}em radu isti predmet bio datovan u XIV vek pre n. e. Tokom 2003. i 2005. godine, arheolo{ka istra`ivawa bila su fokusirana na prostor oko mesta gde je igla navodno „prona|ena” (sl. 1/sonda 2005). Kao rezultati tih istra`ivawa prezentovane su u radu iz 2006. godine fotografije sa osnovama „metalur{kih” pe}i (sa kraja bronzanog doba), zatim metali~ne {qake, kao i brojni rastira~i koji mogu da se koriste u fazi pripreme rude gvo`|a za daqi proces topqewa. Zabunu izaziva i tvrdwa da metalur{ke pe}i poseduju kalotu, {to je neuobi~ajen, a mo`emo re}i i jedinstven slu~aj za topioni~arske pe}i iz praistorije, budu}i da je do sada poznata jedino forma zako{enog cilindra bez kalote, {to Tylecot i Pleiner ilustruju u radovima vezanim za praistorijsku metalurgiju. Kao nalazi od gvo`|a prikazano je nekoliko predmeta koji su se tako|e nalazili na podnicama pe}i sa kalotom, ali oni tipolo{ki mogu pripadati i drugim, hronolo{ki mla|im kulturama na Sektoru I. Tako|e, ostali smo uskra}eni za kqu~ne informacije o preciznijoj ubikaciji ovih objekata, o nadmorskim visinama, za fotografije zate~ene situacije ili za neki tehni~ki crte`. Smatramo da bi za zakqu~ak da je u pitawu praistorijska metalurgija gvo`|a potrebno izvr{iti fizi~ko-hemijske analize {qaka, od kojih ina~e komad predstavqen na fotografiji 5a nema precizno definisan arheolo{ki kontekst i na|en je veoma blizu zdravice na prostoru sonde Put, oko 50 m daqe od navedenih pe}i. Mo`da poreklo Turovi}eve gvozdene igle treba tra`iti u periodu turske dominacije na centralnom Balkanu, budu}i da prema dimenzijama, materijalu i tehnici kovawa najvi{e sli~nosti pokazuje sa dervi{kim iglama kojima su se pripadnici dervi{kog reda probadali u ritualnom transu. U prilog ovoj tvrdwi mo`emo navesti nalaz gvozdene igle velikih dimenzija na|ene na prostoru opustelog naseqa Pazari{te, u severnom podgra|u turskog utvr|ewa Svrqig-grad. STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Plate I – Object No. 29: 1–4) Early Brnjica type cerramic; 5–12) Ha A2–B1 cerramic finds (drawings by M. Stoji}) Tabla I – Objekat 29: 1–4) Keramika starije faze brwi~ke grupe; 5–12) Keramika Ha A2–B1 perioda (crtala M. Stoji}) 19 STARINAR LXVII/2017 Aleksandar KAPURAN New Contributions for the Early Iron Age Stratigraphy at the Site of Hisar in Leskovac (Sector I) (9–20) 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 9 Plate II – Object No. 33: 1–4) Early Brnjica type cerramic; 5–9) Ha A2–B1 cerramic finds (drawings by M. Stoji}) Tabla II – Objekat 33: 1–4) Keramika starije faze brwi~ke grupe; 5–9) Keramika Ha A2–B1 perioda (crtala M. Stoji}) 20 STARINAR LXVII/2017