A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 36. - 1994 (Nyíregyháza, 1995)

Mihael Budja: Neolithisation in Slovenia

Mihael BUDJA pretations will be explained with the help of studies dealing with the Neolithisation processes in the East Adriatic coastal zone in Dalmatia, Istria, and the Trieste Karst. In addition, results of systematic research performed in Northern Italy (BIAGI 1990., BIAGI 1991.46-54., BAGOLINI-BIAGI 1990.1-23, CHAPMAN-MÜLLER 1990.127-134, KARG-MÜLLER 1990. 373-386.) should also be taken into consideration. It seems that stratigraphic superpositions, a series of 14C dates, paleoenvironmental studies and sitecatchment analyses allow the rejection of several hypotheses about the spread of the Neolithic, and suggest processes of local diffusion, and differentiation of a full range of domestic resources and ceramics within the coastal zone (BUDJA 1994.). This means that within the coastal zone of Caput Adriae, Late Mesolithic strategies for foraging subsistence may be chronological correlated with an Early Neolithic agro- pastoralist village-based package (CHAPMAN-MÜLLER 1990.132). A similar correlation has been proposed by Biagi for the West Mediterranean in Liguria (BIAGI 1991.46-48). However, he considers that in the Trieste Karst, the Mesolithic and the Neolithic subsistence strategies bare no chronologically relationship to each other. He bases the distinction on the 14C dates, as well as on the stratigraphic superpositions of Late Mesolithic and (Early) Neolithic deposits of the Vlaska Culture in karst cave deposits (BIAGI 1991.46). Although the hypothesis that the Trieste Karst remained a hunting refuge zone until well into the late 6th millennium BC, seems to be realistic, we would like to call attention to the fact that the Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement patterns on the North Adriatic and Ligurian coastlines are strongly affected by the disappearance of a number of sites during the post-glacial sea-level rise. As we know, the North Adriatic coastline lay from between 5 and 20 metres below the present sea level (BORTOLAMI et al. 1977.139-155, VAN ANDEL TJEERD 1990.151152.). There are two such Neolithic sites in Istria, the first is at Pradisel Cape, the second at the bottom of Veruda Bay (MIHOVILIC 1993.25). Slovene experience In continuation we want to present a specific aspect of the Neolithisation, that of a regional multilineal process of Neolithisation which does not seem to depend merely on regional environmental diversity. This aspect does not contradict the directional trend in the dating of the diffusion of the Neolithic from Greece up to Caput Adriae which is discernible from the regular pattern of decreasing mean values of Early Neolithic calendar 14C dates on one hand, and from the increasing mean values of Late Mesolithic dates on the other (CHAPMAN-MÜLLER

1990.128-131, MÜLLER 1991.322-323, 354-357, BIAGI 1991.46-54). . The multilinear process of Neolithisation can be demonstrated by the Karst Dinaric region in thes south of Slovenia. Limited areas of fertile soils and water sources are general characteristics of the region. On the basis of data on the stratigraphic superposition of Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement deposits, and on settlement patterns and cultural contexts, two parallel, and, from the traditional archaeological cultural point of view, differing processes of Neolithisation can be noted in this region. Zvelebil's Availability Model or Clarke's Replacement Model can be applied to the western part of the Karst region, which is bounded by the Vipava and Pivka Basins and the Reka Valley. It should, however, be emphasised again that areas of high arable potential are very limited. The application of these models is possible because the karstal stratified settlement deposits, the Late Mesolithic and the Early Neolithic settlements are found in a superpositional relationship (LEBEN 1988.), and their settlement patterns overlap. From a cultural aspect the process of Neolithisation of the Karst can be placed into the Adriatic context, due to the fact that typological characteristics of pottery assemblages from the earliest Neolithic sites in the Karst are comparable with the Middle Neolithic ones from the Danilo Culture complex. However, there is a different explanation for the Neolithisation of the Bela krajina region in the eastern part of the Dinara region. The process here might be referred to as „an integrated Neolithic package" or „the agro-pastoralist village-based package". In spite of intensive terrain surveys and stratigraphic excavations, Mesolithic settlement records have not been documented in the Bela krajina region. The consistency of a Neolithic settlement pattern can be seen in a long-term settlement, documented with a stratified settlement deposit at Moverna vas and permanent exploitation of natural resources. It does not seem to be accidental that after both surveys and site-catchment analysis were performed, Neolithic settlements were revealed only in areas with highly productive soils. There is a series of familiar repeating rules in the presented Neolithic settlement pattern. The first is the position of settlements at the edges of areas with highly productive soils in present-day fields along rivers. The second is the size of the fields. The settlements were located only along fields of similar size, which represent major expanses of fertile soil in the region. The third rule concerns their borders. The settlements were located in such a way that their site territories did not overlap (BUDJA 1989.83-102.). Typological characteristics of Neolithic pottery assemblages show that from the cultural aspect the Neolithisation can be placed into the Pannonian Neolithic context and linked with the Middle NeolithicSopot and Lengyel Culture. Although there is only a small series of 14C dates at our disposal, they show that, the Neolithisation of the Karst Dinaric part of the south of Slovenia did not set in before the 5th millennium BC. 76 Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1994