Flesh and bone: Unraveling the story of animal exploitation in the territory of present-day Serbia during Late Antiquity – an archaeozoological overview

Previous archaeozoological research indicates that in the area of present-day Serbia during Late Antiquity (4th to the beginning of the 7th century AD), animal exploitation strategies and nutritional practices were primarily focused on the breeding of domestic animals, with hunting and fishing playing a secondary role. Alongside a few remains of species that were kept as pets, the predominant economically significant species – cattle, caprines, and pigs – are frequently found at archaeological sites. Biometric data reveals changes in the size of animals through time, indicating that animal husbandry experienced transformations. The degeneration of animal breeds can be attributed to general poverty and frequent conflicts in the region between “barbarian forces” and Eastern Roman Empire during the period in question. Other factors influencing the development of animal husbandry include population density, settlement size and duration, which dictated the demand for meat and the need for working animals based on agricultural practices. Unlike domestic animals, remains of the game are rare and primarily consist of frequently hunted species. While fishing was practiced by the inhabitants of the Late Antique settlements, fish remains are scarce, likely due to the manual collection of archaeofaunal remains. Despite the limited extent of archaeozoological research on the Late Antique settlements, the findings offer valuable insights into the methods of animal exploitation and indicate the presence of regional variations, particularly between Vojvodina and the territory south of the Sava and Danube rivers. This paper aims to provide insight into animal exploitation strategies in different settlement types by bringing together archaeozoological data. The comparisons of the relative distributions of their remains, their body part profiles, age and sex data, pathological changes, butchery marks between different archaeological sites, and site types will be used to explore plausible diachronic and contextual differences in animal exploitation strategies

Прелиминарни резултати анализе фауналних остатака са локалитета Св. Варвара на Рељиној градини код Новог Пазара (археолошка кампања 2022. године)

Током археолошких истраживања спроведених 2022. године на локалитету Св. Варвара на Рељиној градини у селу Лукоцрево код Новог Пазара, истражен је западни део манастирског комплекса: делови обзиђа, просторија и новооткривени бунар. Од покретногархеолошког материјала откривена је како кухињска, тако и трпезнагрнчарија, ситни метални налази, антрополошки остаци и животињске кости. На основу писаних извора и археолошких налаза констатовано једа се ради о налазишту са више културних хоризоната, од којих старији припадају средњовековном периоду, а млађи 16. и 17. веку. Фаунални остаци потичу из оба периода и карактерише их јако из ражена фрагментација (цели и скоро цели примерци чине 19% узорка), која је углавном последица људских активности попут ломљења костију у сврху експлоатације коштане сржи и касапљења животињских трупала. Највећи број примерака потиче изслоја и целина датованих у период 16. и 17.века, док је најмање животињских остатака откривено у целинама са измешаним материјалом из периода средњег и новог века. Археозоолошка анализа показала је да су у фауналном скупу овог локалитета најбројнији остаци сисара, а да се поред њих јављају и птице, рибе и водоземци. Међу остацима сисара, најзаступљеније су домаће врсте, пре свега, овце/козе, говеда и свиње. Класи птица припадају кости кокоши и пар примерака одређених до породице фазанки, док се од риба срећу сом, шаран и јегуља. Посебан депозит представља бунар у коме су откривени готово цели скелети говечета и два јазавца, као и остаци жаба и свраке. Прелиминарни резултати указују на то да су говече и домаћа перад били нешто значајнији током периода 16. и 17. века, да се остаци дивљачи јављају искључиво у средњовековним хоризонтима, док су рибе откривене само у млађој фази. Иако је фаунални узорак скроман (и иако добијене резултате треба прихватити са резервом), значајан је због тога што пружа увид у начине експлоатације животиња и представља одличну базу за будућа истраживања која ће допунити слику о улози животиња у економији манастирског комплекса Св. Варвара током средњеги новог века

Economy of the settlements in Southwestern Banat trough 11th to mid-13th centuries : an archaeozoological approach

Предмет истраживања докторске дисертације јесте економија насеља на територији југозападног Баната, датованих у период од 11. до средине 13. века. Реконструкција економских специфичности вршена је на основу података добијених анализом фауне из насеља на локалитетима Град и Виногради – Дупљаја, Јаруга – Уљма, Циглана на делиблатском путу – Долово, и Најева циглана – Панчево.Циљ истраживања била је реконструкција стратегија експлоатације домаћих животиња, лова и риболова, као и провера постојања сличности/разлика између насеља на основу археозоолошког материјала. Будући да је реч о различитим типовима насеља (три рурална и једно утврђено), испитано је и да ли су тип и претпостављени статус насеља могли да утичу на економске праксе становника.Резултати су показали да постоје сличности, али и разлике у начину експлоатације домаћих животиња, лова и риболова. У свим насељима уочен је велики значај домаћих врста, с тим што се у већини руралних насеља може издвојити говече као доминантна врста, док је у фауналној збирци јединог утврђења забележен и висок удео свиња. Заступљеност скелетних елемената и трагова процесуирања тела упућује на узгој стоке унутар насеља, што је потврђено и присуством костију феталних јединки на налазиштима у Дупљаји и Долову. Подаци о старости, заступљености скелетних елемената и варијабилности мера посткранијалног скелета, указују на то да се снабдевање насеља додатним количинама меса може претпоставити једино у случају утврђеног насеља у Дупљаји. Када је реч о лову и риболову, утврђење у Дупљаји се у великој мери разликује од руралних насеља, будући да је удео дивљачи и риба у овој фауналној збирци већи. Оваква ситуација вероватно је повезана и са статусом овог насеља, за које се претпоставља да је било административни центар шире области.The research subject of this thesis is the economy of settlements in the territory of southwestern Banat, dated through 11th to mid-13th century. Reconstruction of economic strategies was based on the data obtained from the analysis of faunal material from the Medieval sites Grad and Vinogradi – Dupljaja, Jaruga – Uljma, Ciglana na deliblatskom putu – Dolovo, and Najeva ciglana – Pančevo.The aim of research was to reconstruct the strategies of domestic animal exploitation, hunting and fishing, as well as to confirm the existence of similarities/differences between settlements based on faunal material. Dealing with different types of settlements (three rural and one fortification), one of the issues concerned whether the type and assumed settlement status could have affected the economic strategies of the inhabitants.The results have shown both similar and different practices in exploitation of domestic animals, hunting and fishing. Predominance of domestic species has been noticed in all settlements. Cattle remains were dominant in the majority of sites, while pig was also among the most numerous species in the fortification. Distribution of skeletal elements and body processing marks indicate the breeding of livestock within the settlements, which is also confirmed by the presence of fetal remains at the Dupljaja and Dolovo sites. Mortality data, distribution of skeletal elements and variability of measurements of the postcranial skeleton, suggest that the supply with additional quantities of meat can be assumed only in the case of fortress in Dupljaja. Regarding hunting and fishing, the Dupljaja fortification differs greatly from rural settlements, since the share of game and fish in this faunal assemblage is somewhat higher. This situation is probably related to the status of this settlement, which might have been the administrative center of the wider area

Economy of the settlements in Southwestern Banat trough 11th to mid-13th centuries : an archaeozoological approach

Предмет истраживања докторске дисертације јесте економија насеља на територији југозападног Баната, датованих у период од 11. до средине 13. века. Реконструкција економских специфичности вршена је на основу података добијених анализом фауне из насеља на локалитетима Град и Виногради – Дупљаја, Јаруга – Уљма, Циглана на делиблатском путу – Долово, и Најева циглана – Панчево. Циљ истраживања била је реконструкција стратегија експлоатације домаћих животиња, лова и риболова, као и провера постојања сличности/разлика између насеља на основу археозоолошког материјала. Будући да је реч о различитим типовима насеља (три рурална и једно утврђено), испитано је и да ли су тип и претпостављени статус насеља могли да утичу на економске праксе становника. Резултати су показали да постоје сличности, али и разлике у начину експлоатације домаћих животиња, лова и риболова. У свим насељима уочен је велики значај домаћих врста, с тим што се у већини руралних насеља може издвојити говече као доминантна врста, док је у фауналној збирци јединог утврђења забележен и висок удео свиња. Заступљеност скелетних елемената и трагова процесуирања тела упућује на узгој стоке унутар насеља, што је потврђено и присуством костију феталних јединки на налазиштима у Дупљаји и Долову. Подаци о старости, заступљености скелетних елемената и варијабилности мера посткранијалног скелета, указују на то да се снабдевање насеља додатним количинама меса може претпоставити једино у случају утврђеног насеља у Дупљаји. Када је реч о лову и риболову, утврђење у Дупљаји се у великој мери разликује од руралних насеља, будући да је удео дивљачи и риба у овој фауналној збирци већи. Оваква ситуација вероватно је повезана и са статусом овог насеља, за које се претпоставља да је било административни центар шире области.The research subject of this thesis is the economy of settlements in the territory of southwestern Banat, dated through 11th to mid-13th century. Reconstruction of economic strategies was based on the data obtained from the analysis of faunal material from the Medieval sites Grad and Vinogradi – Dupljaja, Jaruga – Uljma, Ciglana na deliblatskom putu – Dolovo, and Najeva ciglana – Pančevo. The aim of research was to reconstruct the strategies of domestic animal exploitation, hunting and fishing, as well as to confirm the existence of similarities/differences between settlements based on faunal material. Dealing with different types of settlements (three rural and one fortification), one of the issues concerned whether the type and assumed settlement status could have affected the economic strategies of the inhabitants. The results have shown both similar and different practices in exploitation of domestic animals, hunting and fishing. Predominance of domestic species has been noticed in all settlements. Cattle remains were dominant in the majority of sites, while pig was also among the most numerous species in the fortification. Distribution of skeletal elements and body processing marks indicate the breeding of livestock within the settlements, which is also confirmed by the presence of fetal remains at the Dupljaja and Dolovo sites. Mortality data, distribution of skeletal elements and variability of measurements of the postcranial skeleton, suggest that the supply with additional quantities of meat can be assumed only in the case of fortress in Dupljaja. Regarding hunting and fishing, the Dupljaja fortification differs greatly from rural settlements, since the share of game and fish in this faunal assemblage is somewhat higher. This situation is probably related to the status of this settlement, which might have been the administrative center of the wider area

The Late Antique dietary habits in Western Serbia: a case study of the Čačak – Dvorište Gimnazije site

The analysed faunal material was collected during the rescue archaeological campaigns conducted between 2014 and 2018 by the National Museum Čačak at the Dvorište Gimnazije site in Čačak (Western Serbia). The Late Antique building remains, constructed in the 3rd–4th century, preserved at the foundation level were discovered at the site. After its destruction, building was reused during the late 4th and the 5th century but in a more primitive manner. Remains of a few pits, hearths, and probably primitive dwellings belong to this horizon. The 3rd horizon at this site dates to the Late Medieval period (the 15th and the first half of the 16th century), and it is represented by a Christian necropolis dug into the Roman building. Faunal material is more abundant in the Late Antique period than in the Late Medieval context. The remains of mammals form the majority of the faunal sample. Domestic species are more frequent within the assemblage and include cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, horses, dogs, and cats. Furthermore, wild species are represented by wild boar, red deer, roe deer, fox, and hare. The most common are the remains of cattle, followed by pigs and caprines. Among wild mammals, the most numerous remains belong to wild boar and red deer. The greater importance of domestic mammals is expected for the Late Antique and Medieval archaeological sites in Serbia. In addition, the bird remains were confirmed as well. Among them, the remains of chicken were the most numerous. Since this is a newly discovered site, additional archaeological excavations in the vicinity are needed to create a broader picture of this site and its role within the currently unnamed ancient settlement that lasted throughout the centuries by the Western Morava River. Moreover, new zooarchaeological research will enable a better understanding of human–animal relationships of the inhabitants of this settlement in the past

An Insight into Dietary Habits of St. Barbara Monastery (Southwestern Serbia) During the Early Modern Period: A Zooarchaeological Perspective

Since the late 14th century, throughout the Modern period, the Ottoman conquest of Serbia led to the devastation and desecration of churches and monasteries, looting of their assets, and the conversion of some sacred Christian sites into mosques. Despite this, the Serbian Orthodox Church persisted and even expanded during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. While some monasteries fell into disrepair, others prospered, such as the St. Barbara Monastery, located on Reljina Gradina near Novi Pazar (Southwestern Serbia). Based on written sources, the monastery was built during the 16th century, which was proved by archaeological excavations. It was burned down at the end of the 17th century. The excavations have also confirmed an older Medieval necropolis beneath the monastery buildings. The monastery consists of the church, east and west blocks of buildings, and a surrounding wall. It also includes a well, refectory, and kitchen. During the excavations in 2022 and 2023, a small surface in the western part within and outside of the churchyard was excavated. Archaeological material of the 16th and 17th centuries was not abundant, consisting mostly of kitchen and tableware, and less numerous small finds and faunal remains. This paper aims to present faunal analysis results from St. Barbara Monastery, and reveal the dietary habits and characteristics of everyday life of monastery inhabitants from a zooarchaeological perspective. The analysis suggests that domestic animal meat and fish were predominantly consumed. Caprine remains were the most abundant, as the most significant source for exploitation of primary and secondary products. Albeit small, the faunal assemblage from a few contexts of St. Barbara uncovered by now is significant since it is the only known Modern period monastery faunal collection from the territory of Serbia

Lost and Found: Animal Management Throughout the Roman and the Late Antique Periods Within the Settlement(s) Under the Modern City of Čačak (Western Serbia)

Even though archaeozoology of the Roman and the Late Antique periods is a young discipline that has gained momentum in Serbia in recent decades, there is still modest information originating from the area of Western Serbia. So far, the data from the archaeological site Jerinin grad – Brangović has been published (Kukić, Mladenović 2014). However, in the last two years, analyses of archaeofaunal material from the area of present-day Čačak, which includes three sites/locations – Courtyard of the Gymnasium, Courtyard of the National Museum, and Courtyard of the Church of the Ascension of the Holy Virgin – dating back to the Roman and Late Antique periods, have gotten underway. This paper aims to provide an insight into animal management within the same landscape at three different locations through time by comparing taxa ratios, body part profiles, age and sex data, pathological changes, as well as butchery mark patterns between various sites/locations to reveal plausible diachronic and contextual differences in the strategies of animal exploitation

Tehnologija proizvodnje 3d štampanih modela na različitim materijalima korišćenjem procesa fuzionog taloženja materijala

The joining of thermoplastic and textile materials is gaining more and more importance today. New combinations of materials and new structures that change fashion trends are obtained. The paper presents the technology of joining thermoplastic materials with different fabrics. For example, the realization of a button on textiles and the description of 3D printing were taken. This pioneering venture describes the technology, fabric model-making process, and materials melting bond analysis. Unfortunately, available thermoplastic materials have many limitations regarding durability, aging, and service life according to the defined requirements. The idea of this paper is the application of 3D printing in the fashion industry as an emerging topic for discussion. The experimental part of this investigation will provide a new guideline for designers of PLA/ABS printing elements on textile substrates and possibility for application in modern textile design.Spajanje termoplastičnih i tekstilnih materijala danas dobija sve veći značaj. Dobijaju se nove kombinacije materijala i nove strukture koje menjaju modne trendove. U radu je prikazana tehnologija spajanja termoplastičnih materijala sa različitim tkaninama. Na primer, uzeta je realizacija dugmeta na tekstilu i opis 3D štampe. Ovaj pionirski poduhvat opisuje tehnologiju, proces izrade modela tkanine i analizu veze topljenja materijala. Nažalost, dostupni termoplastični materijali imaju mnoga ograničenja u pogledu izdržljivosti, starenja i veka trajanja prema definisanim zahtevima. Ideja ovog rada je primena 3D štampe u modnoj industriji kao tema za diskusiju u nastajanju. Eksperimentalni deo ovog istraživanja će dati novu smernicu za dizajnere PLA/ABS štampanih elemenata na tekstilnim podlogama i mogućnost primene u modernom dizajnu tekstil

Management and supply of wild beasts for Roman amphitheatre games: archaeozoological and genetic evidence from Viminacium

Wild beast spectacles (venationes) in Roman amphitheatres required a complex network of organization – from wildlife capturing and transport to their maintenance, displays in the arena, and processing their corpses after death. Numerous depictions in ancient texts and iconography are related to venationes and they give some insight into the supply and management of wildlife used in amphitheatre games. However, these are considered to be highly exaggerated, and they are usually not concerned with the vast majority of provincial amphitheatres, but only to spectacles held in just a few urban centres (e.g. Rome). Archaeozoological data from areas of several Roman provincial amphitheatres have given additional insights into the usage of wild beasts in arena shows throughout the Empire. One of the largest amphitheatre faunal collections originates from the military amphitheatre of Viminacium – the post of the 7th Claudia Legion, and capital of the province of Moesia Superior. Previous studies on wildlife remains from Viminacium amphitheatre indicated the usage of locally available beasts (brown bears, wild boars and red deer), as well as exotics (big cats). This paper will discuss the supply and management of those beasts through the combination of archaeozoological and genetic evidence. More precisely it will examine their origin via genetic evidence, as well as the way of their use in the arena by examination of skeletal trauma.4th ICAZ Roman Period Working Group Meeting, 9–12th April, Belgrade, Serbi

Structural and thermal properties of PDMS/Triton/laser-induced graphene composites

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has recently been proposed as a viable option for fabricating various types of flexible electronic devices due to its excellent mechanical stability and electrical properties. During laser induction of graphene on polymers, the high temperature generated with the laser breaks C-O, C=O, and N-C bonds in polymers, leading to the recombination of C and N atoms. Additionally, the rapid release of carbonaceous and nitric gases results in the formation of 3D porous structures. This approach offers a one-step, chemical-free synthesis method for producing porous graphene on polymer surfaces. Moreover, it is a fast and cost-effective technique that is ideal for flexible electronics and energy storage devices. In this study, graphene was formed on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/Triton substrate with varying concentrations of Triton (1-30 wt.%) using CO2 laser irradiation. The effects of Triton content on the structural, thermal, and surface characteristics of PDMS/Triton and PDMS/Triton/graphene materials were investigated. The prepared PDMS/Triton/graphene materials were thoroughly examined using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and water contact angle analysis. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of graphene in the material. The thermal and surface properties of the proposed materials can be easily adjusted by manipulating the Triton concentration. The hydrophilicity of the prepared PDMS/Triton materials increased compared to pure PDMS, which is hydrophobic. It was found that the success of LIG formation depends on Triton content, increasing with higher concentration of Triton in the PDMS matrix. The presented results aim to address the existing challenges associated with stretchable polymers suitable for flexible electronic device applications