Lepenski Vir

Lepenski Vir
Displaced site under glass roof
Lepenski Vir is located in Serbia
Lepenski Vir
Shown within Serbia
LocationSerbia
Coordinates44°33′40″N 22°01′27″E / 44.56111°N 22.02417°E / 44.56111; 22.02417
TypeSettlement
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins
TypeArcheological Site of Exceptional Importance
Designated26 May 1966
Reference no.AN 45[1]
The Mesolithic
↑ Upper Paleolithic
Mesolithic cultures
Mesolithic Europe
Fosna–Hensbacka culture
Komsa culture
Maglemosian culture
Iron Gates Mesolithic
Kunda culture
Narva culture
Komornica culture
Swiderian culture
Epipaleolithic Transylvania
Mesolithic Transylvania
Tardenoisian
Schela Cladovei culture
Mesolithic Southeastern Europe

Epipalaeolithic Near East

Levantine corridor
Natufian

Caucasus

Trialetian Mesolithic

Zagros

Zarzian culture
↓ Neolithic

Lepenski Vir (Serbian Cyrillic: Лепенски Вир, "Lepena Whirlpool"), located in Serbia, is an important archaeological site of the Lepenski Vir culture (also called as Lepenski Vir-Schela Cladovei culture[2]). It includes Mesolithic Iron Gates Hunter-Gatherers period and transition to Early Neolithic Early European Farmers period of the Balkans.[2]

The latest radiocarbon and AMS data suggests that the chronology of Lepenski Vir spans between 9500/7200 and 5500 BC, divided into Early–Middle Mesolithic, Late Mesolithic, Transition and Neolithic.[2] There is some disagreement about when the settlement and culture of Lepenski Vir began, but the latest data indicates that it was between 9500 and 7200 BC. The late Lepenski Vir (6300–6000 BC) architectural phase saw the development of unique trapezoidal buildings and monumental sculpture,[3] related with the admixing of Iron Gates Hunter-Gatherers with newly arrived Early European Farmers.[4] The Lepenski Vir site consists of one large settlement with around ten satellite villages. Numerous piscine sculptures and peculiar architectural remains have been found at the site.

Archaeologist Dragoslav Srejović, who first explored the site, said that such large sculptures so early in human history, and the original architectural solutions, define Lepenski Vir as a specific and very early phase in the development of European prehistoric culture.[5] The site was notable for its outstanding level of preservation and the overall exceptional quality of its artifacts. Because the settlement was permanent and planned, with an organized societal life, architect Hristivoje Pavlović labeled Lepenski Vir as "the first city in Europe".[6]

The Đerdap national park, which includes Lepenski Vir, was established in 1974.[7] On 10 July 2020, the park's wider area was designated a UNESCO global geopark. Apart from the Iron Gates gorge, the Đerdap UNESCO Global Geopark includes parts of the Miroč and Kučaj mountain massifs, with total area of 1,330 km2 (510 sq mi), and was the first such designation in Serbia.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Информациони систем непокретних културних добара".
  2. ^ a b c Hofmanová 2017.
  3. ^ "LEPENSKI VIR – SCHELA CLADOVEI CULTURE'SCHRONOLOGY AND ITS INTERPRETATION". Rusu Aurelian, Brukenthal. Acta Musei, VI. 1, 2011. 2011.
  4. ^ Brami 2022.
  5. ^ Hristivoje Pavlović (23 August 2017), "Tajne Lepenskog Vira IV - Zapanjujuća veština obrade kamena", Politika (in Serbian)
  6. ^ Hristivoje Pavlović (20 August 2017), "Tajne Lepenskog Vira I - Prvi grad u Evropi", Politika (in Serbian), p. 20
  7. ^ Aleksandra Mijalković (18 June 2017), "O očuvanju naše prirodne baštine: najbolja zaštita u naconalnim parkovima" [On conservation of our natural heritage - national parks provide the best protection], Politika-Magazin (in Serbian), pp. 3–6
  8. ^ "UNESCO designates 15 new Geoparks in Asia, Europe, and Latin America". UNESCO. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  9. ^ Dimitrije Bukvić (19 July 2020). "Đerdap – prvi srpski geopark" [Đerdap – first Serbian geopark]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 9.