Geofizička istraživanja donjeg dela praistorijskog rudnika Prljuša – Mali Šturac

Geofizičko ispitivanje donjeg dela lokaliteta Prljuša, koji je prekriven debelom naslagom sipara dospelog iz gornjih delova nalazišta, izvedeno je 2012. i 2016. godine. Na osnovu istraživanja metodom sopstvenog potencijala 2012. godine dobijene su izražene anomalijske zone koje ukazuju na prisustvo rudonosnih mineralizacija ispod površine terena. Te indikacije, pored ostalih geoloških tumačenja, najverovatnije ukazuju i na prisustvo ostataka praistorijskih rudarskih radova. Dobijene geofizičke anomalije sopstvenog potencijala su prostorno zaokružene, analizirane i tamo gde je njihov intenzitet bio najizraženiji formirane su lokacije za naredno istraživanje. Na mestima većih anomalijskih zona su 2016. godine izvedena istraživanja metodama refrakcione seizmike na 15 profila i vertikalnog električnog sondiranja na 31 tački. Ovakav metodološki pristup je izabran jer metoda sopstvenog potencijala ne daje dubinu do uzročnika anomalija nego samo njegovu projekciju na površinu terena. Metodom refrakcione seizmike moguće je definisati geološku građu ispod površine terena, tj. odvajanje siparskog nanosa od čvršće podloge i dubine do čvrste stene, kao i detektovanje mogućeg prisustva više različitih slojeva siparskog materijala. Metodom vertikalnog električnog sondiranja definisana je debljina nanosa i određena dubina do čvrste podloge

Pingе 2 at Mali Šturac: archaeological and geophysical investigation of ancient mining

Pinge 2 is located on the north-eastern border of the zone of copper mineralization and prehistoric mining works as well at the Prljuša site at Mali Šturc, the lowest peak of Rudnik mountain in central Serbia. In its immediate neighborhood, there is a mine shaft which has been excavated since 2014 and dated, according to pottery finds in the Early Eneolithic Bubanj-Hum I culture. The exploration of Pinge 2 was undertaken to determine whether it is the trace of prehistoric or later mining from the Roman or Medieval Age. Pinga 2 is a funnel-shaped surface depression, 18 meters long and 14 meters wide. The research was started with a small trench (3x2m) in the central part of the pinga. Only one layer of humus mixed with large stones was detected in the trench. The excavation was suspended at a depth of 1.8 m and followed by geophysical measuring. Geoelectric scanning in the central part of Pinge 2 revealed a thick layer, almost 10 m deep, composed of large stone material. This layer leans on a border rock almost vertically descending to the bottom. Another archaeological excavation was undertaken on the eastern border of the Pinge 2. The excavation revealed the steep rock representing the edge of the pinge. Along the top of this rock a narrow eleven meters long track carved in the rock was discovered, connecting two entrances into mining shafts. The waste stone material from these shafts was thrown into the central part of the pinge infilling it and probably covering earlier mining works. During excavations archaeological material was not found , but the appearance of mining works and the absence of malachite in surrounding rock indicate that the works certainly do not originate from the time of the Early Eneolithic as the neighbouring mine at Mala Šturca

Praistorijski rudnik bakra na Malom Šturcu: istraživanja 2010–2012. godine

Istraživanja praistorijskog rudnika bakra na lokalitetu Prljuša (Mali Šturac, Rudnik) su obnovljena 2010. godine. Geofizička ispitivanja i arheološka prospekcija samog lokaliteta potvrdila su ranije pretpostavke da je na ovom mestu eksploatacija bakra bila intezivna i obavljana u dužem periodu tokom praistorije. Do sada je na terenu konstatovano preko 20 potencijalnih okana i veoma veliki broj kamenih rudarskih batova (preko 600 komada). Geofizičkim ispitivanjima do sada je detektovano više rudarskih kanala i jedna prostrana podzemna galerija u gornjem delu lokaliteta. Postoji naznaka da se ispod debelih naslaga sipara u donjem delu padine kriju najstariji rudarski radovi na Prljuši. Zato su obavljena geofizička merenja u tom delu lokaliteta koja su ukazala na potencijalna rudarska okna

Prljuša – Mali Šturac, Eneolithic copper mine in Central Balkans

The Eneolithic copper mine at Prljuša, just below the mountain peak Mali Šturac on Mt. Rudnik was discovered in 1980 and subsequently investigated to a smaller extent from 1981 to 1987. In 2010 the investigations at Prljuša were reactivated with the aim of defining how much and how long the mine had been exploited during prehistory. Pilot geophysical studies were followed by more extensive explorations in 2011 and 2012 (selfpotential, electrical scanning and seismic profiling). The explorations covered a surface of 14 400 m2. These investigations identified underground channels in the middle part of the site connected with the earlier discovered entrance platforms named Shaft 4 and Shaft 6. The investigation with self-potential method detected numerous ore occurrences and potential prehistoric mining works in the lower part of the site. Survey of the locality led to the discovery of 15 more mining shafts spread in the upper part of the site. After having obtained satisfactory results by geophysical investigations and field survey, archaeological excavation was undertook in the zone of the Shaft 4 and the Shaft 6 in the middle part of the site, and in front of one mining shaft at the very top of the slope where is situated the site Prljuša. Excavation revealed open cast mine in zone of the Shaft 4 and 6 with several shallow vertical channels. A lot of grooved mining hammerstones were found in layers of debris that covered this mining zone. Investigation of the shaft at the top of the slope resulted with the discovery of broad mining channel covered with collapsed ceiling. In this shaft were discovered a certain number of mining hammerstones and pottery of Eneolithic Bubanj-Hum Ia culture. Detailed surveying of the site resulted in discovery of around 1000 mining stone tools just on the surface. Except the hammerstones, which are the most numerous, few stone tools of different type have been found at the site Prljuša. One fragmented whetstone as well as few axes and anvils for crashing ore make an interesting segment of stone tool assemblage from Mali Šturac. Considerable amount of semi-finished objects without traces of use as well as tools made of rock originated from this locality confirmed that stone tools were often made on the mining site. According to the great number of mining tools on the very surface of the site it is supposed that their number may be much bigger (at least 2000 in the layers of debris) what indicates the extensive mining activity at this site. Finding of Early Eneolithic pottery put this site in the group of the earliest copper mines in central Balkans whose exploitation could start even earlier, during the Vinča culture.In: Radivojević, M., Rehren, T., Hortopan, D., Bajenaru, R. (eds.), Book of abstracts of 4th Balkan Early Metallurgy Symposium, 10th-12th May 2015, Targu Jiu, Romania (pp. 13 – 14)

Water supply system at Krševica (4th century BC)

Archaeological investigations of an urban settlement dated between the beginning of the 4th and first decades of the 3rd century BC have been conducted at the site Kale in Krševica since the year 2001. Below the acropolis and close to the Krševica river segment of the complex with water supply system, which could provide water for few thousand inhabitants has been discovered. The system consists of basin for water filtering and structure with barrel vault as reservoir. The chronological framework for this intricate and unique complex is possible to establish only after detailed analyses and further investigations (only around 6% of the entire site has been investigated so far). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 177020: Archaeology of Serbia: Cultural identity, integrational factors, technological processes and role of Central Balkan in evolution of European prehistory

Eneolithic mine Prljuša: Mali Šturac archaeological and geophysical investigations

The Eneolithic copper mine at Mali Šturac was discovered in 1980 and subsequently investigated to a smaller extent from 1981 to 1987. In 2010 the investigations at Prljuša were reactivated with the aim of defining how much and how long the mine had been exploited during prehistory. Pilot geophysical studies were followed by more extensive explorations in 2011. They focused on a zone related to Shafts 4 and 6, discovered in 1987. The geophysical explorations have comprised the methods of selfpotential - SP, electrical scanning - ES and seismic profiling with one geophone - SGRP. The explorations covered a surface of 400 m² including five sections, each 50 m long, with 2 m intervals between them. These investigations identified underground channels in Shaft 4 and Shaft 6. Three meters below Shaft 4, a large underground gallery was found and in the continuation of the entrance of Shaft 6, a 10 m long horizontal channel was detected. Northwards from Shaft 4 and Shaft 6, at a distance of 6-8 m, at least six mining shafts were detected. However, they are not visible on the surface because their entrances are filled with loose material. The investigations carried out in 2011 proved that geophysical investigations are an efficient method for studying old mining works and, therefore, it has been decided to continue with this type of exploration. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 177020: Archaeology of Serbia: cultural identity, integration factors, technological processes and the role of the Central Balkans in the development of European prehistory i br. 177023: Cultural changes and population movements in the early prehistory of the Central Balkans