Fidanoski Ljubo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

papers by Fidanoski Ljubo

HOMO PRIMORDIALIS, 2023

Discovering the past of a particular community/culture/civilization, in itself, requires discover... more Discovering the past of a particular community/culture/civilization, in itself, requires discovering ‘what was/happened’ before its past. In that context, the emergence of the Neolithic in the Balkans and its cultural-historical consequences are of particular importance to us. In order to get, at least, some of the answers it is necessary to discover the prehistory of the Neolithic – which means discovering the past and the origin of this culture. Hence, a good knowledge of the Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic (Mesolithic) is of particular importance – in space and time. In spite of the great knowledge gained from the many interdisciplinary analyzes in archaeology – for the mentioned periods, we still cannot get satisfactory answers to the fundamental questions. After all, this should not surprise us much considering that modern archaeology has almost completely detached from anthropology. For these reasons in the first part of the paper I will try to include modern approaches in anthropology (ontological perspectivism), which can contribute a lot to our understanding of the events before the Neolithic and the emergence of the Neolithic. What’s more in the papers that will follow I will try to show that the chronological cultural-historical classification (Palaeolithic, Neolithic, etc.) is non-objective and is a product of our contemporary and therefore subjective approach in the explorations. In the paper below, I will present a fictitious model of a community (which in archaeology and anthropology is known as hunter-gatherer community) ‘from the inside’ – as its active participant/member/observer of the processes.

NEOLITHIC IN MACEDONIA, 2021

One of the earliest documented approaches for differentiation of beautiful from unattractive is c... more One of the earliest documented approaches for differentiation of beautiful from unattractive is confirmed in Ancient Egypt and Greece, and more or less it is based on mixture of mathematical (geometrical) methods and concepts, and practical knowledge sourced from various craft skills (the ‘techne’ itself). In that sense one can consider the Egyptian canon about human body representation, ‘the Canon’ of Polycleitus also about human representation, and most probably written on the basis of Pythagorean mathematical precepts in proportion. In art history, generally, these are (historically) earliest examples/cornerstone points for studies about theory of beauty, ‘the Divine Beauty’, harmony, etc. However, it should be stressed that in these examples historically documented approaches and written sources are attested. Efforts for treatment of subjects associated with beautiful and harmonious in prehistoric and illiterate cultures are relatively rare. The authors who researched these topics are, generally, involved within archaeological and ethnological material culture, i.e. they explore specific aspects of cultural anthropology. Without verification of written sources or other conventional (traditional) data the study of human’s affinity to invent and create beautiful object is a hard task. Yet, in the abundant material culture of prehistoric communities thorough the world there is evidence which can testify about early human’s high intellect, but also about his creations which trigger questions relevant and actual even today. In the paper below some insights about mental processes and achievements of Neolithic communities in North Macedonia (and also at wider geographic area of Southeast Europe, and even Anatolia) are elaborated. In other words, to the reader the originality and universality of some geometrical aspects (especially proportionality) in creation of large number of ceramic objects from the Neolithic period (between 6,000 and 5,500 BC) will be presented. Based on the archaeological material clear proto-mathematical/proto-geometrical ideas realized on vast number of ceramic artefacts used in Neolithic everyday life are illustrated, ideas which probably are founded on primordial aspiration for fulfilment of visual harmony, balance and beauty – exactly in the way Vitruvius and other ancient philosophers, mathematicians, craftsmen, artists, and other authorities understands.

Relatively Absolute: Relative and Absolute Chronologies in the Neolithic of Southeast Europe, 2023

The image of the Macedonian Neolithic as an important part of the Anatolian and South-east Europe... more The image of the Macedonian Neolithic as an important part of the Anatolian and South-east European cultural bridge, in recent times, was significantly diminished due to various factors. Unfortunately, that was inevitable mostly for many reasons, of which the most important were/are: the deficiency of extensive explorations, the absence of international collaborations within the past research, the insufficient level of interdisciplinary studies, the partial publications of material, etc. However, in the last 20 years there were some archaeological and interdisciplinary explorations on few Neolithic sites in North Macedonia, such as in Cerje-Govrlevo, Vrbjanska Čuka and Veluška Tumba. In this study new radiocarbon dates from Cerje-Govrlevo shall be presented, thus enriching the Neolithic chronology and most importantly challenging our ideas and conclusions about the first farming communities in North Macedonia.

Antiquity, 2022

North Macedonia is a crucial region for understanding the spread of agriculture into the Mediterr... more North Macedonia is a crucial region for understanding the spread of agriculture into the Mediterranean and Central Europe. To date, however, the area has been subject to relatively limited archaeological research. Here, the authors present use-wear and archaeobotanical analyses on material from two Neolithic sites, Govrelevo and Vrbjanska Čuka, to investigate practices that were previously unstudied in this part of the Balkans, such as sowing, cultivation and harvesting techniques. The results suggest the presence of permanent crop fields located in wetlands, with autumn and spring sowing, and harvesting using curved sickles. The study illuminates early agricultural practices in North Macedonia and adds to our knowledge of the spread of the Neolithic package across Europe.

is a crucial region for understanding the spread of agriculture into the Mediterranean and Centra... more is a crucial region for understanding the spread of agriculture into the Mediterranean and Central Europe. To date, however, the area has been subject to relatively limited archaeological research. Here, the authors present use-wear and archaeobotanical analyses on material from two Neolithic sites, Govrelevo and Vrbjanska Cǔka, to investigate practices that were previously unstudied in this part of the Balkans, such as sowing, cultivation and harvesting techniques. The results suggest the presence of permanent crop fields located in wetlands, with autumn and spring sowing, and harvesting using curved sickles. The study illuminates early agricultural practices in North Macedonia and adds to our knowledge of the spread of the Neolithic package across Europe.

Documenta Praehistorica, 2021

The paper provides a detailed overview of new radiocarbon dates, stable isotopes, and anthropolog... more The paper provides a detailed overview of new radiocarbon dates, stable isotopes, and anthropological information obtained on prehistoric human remains (mostly Neolithic) from the Balkans and southwestern Carpathian Basin. It covers a large chronological sequence from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age (9746–2628 cal BC), which encompasses different archaeological cultures. In total 76 radiocarbon dates deriving from 27 sites were obtained, coupled with new isotopic (n=34) and anthropological (n=33) data. The results filled the gaps in some of the older interpretations, but also produced new insights regarding chronology, health, and diet, leaving a strong baseline for all future research into Neolithic lifestyles.

Anthropozoologica, 2021

Across the Mountain, 2021

Early Neolithic in North Macedonia and Bulgaria: Geographical and Cultural Relations, 2021

One of the key topics of European prehistory – the Neolithization of the Balkans is still subject... more One of the key topics of European prehistory – the Neolithization of the Balkans is still subject to a variety of explorations, polemics, ideas and hypotheses. Bearing in mind the geographical position of this territory in Southeastern Europe and wider in the immediate vicinity of the hotspot of the large (both Aceramic and Ceramic) Neolithic cultures and sites of the Eastern Mediterranean, in the second half and especially towards the end of the 7th millennium cal BC, a large number of Neolithic sites has been documented. The earliest Neolithic sites in Europe were discovered in Greece, which are characterized by a particularly authentic material culture, and later a number of EN sites were discovered in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, and a smaller number in Albania. Considering the rich material culture some sites from North Macedonia and Bulgaria are of special interest, which apart from the visible differences, are distinguished by great similarities in some categories of artefacts, in different micro-regions within the two countries. Hence, the paper focuses on discovering the causes of similarities in certain artefacts in communities that, although living in the same period of time, practice almost the same lifestyle, but are somewhat characterized by a relatively different material culture.

Anthropozoologica, 2021

The study of ornaments made of marine shells has remarkable importance for understanding prehisto... more The study of ornaments made of marine shells has remarkable importance for understanding prehistoric societies. They tell us about fashion, aesthetic and cultural affinities of the individuals and social groups, as well as ancient networks of communication and exchange. The number of marine shell items known from the Neolithic period of North Macedonia is relatively low. Albeit few, they vary in ornament type, with beads, bangles and pendants represented, and the kind of shell used as raw material, as they are made of shells of bivalves, gastropods, and scaphopods. Of special importance is a find of 157 shell beads, presumably from a single string, discovered in 1958 in an anthropomorphic vessel at the site of Vršnik in Ovče pole. It was the recognition of this find, and the fact that it was originally poorly described, and later almost completely forgotten, that initiated this study. The majority of beads are tubular and made of shells of two mollusks with very different shell morphology (bivalves and scaphopods), yet they are strikingly similar in size, shape, and color. In addition, the collection included white stone tubular beads, a single shell discoid bead, and three perforated snails. This find, as well as others from the region of North Macedonia, enhance our understanding of marine shell items distribution in continental Europe in the Neolithic period. Also, it adds to the visibility of scaphopod items share in exchange networks, which might be underestimated because of the difficulties in their recognition.

The emergence of askoi and askoid vessels in the Balkan Neolithic, most probably should be associ... more The emergence of askoi and askoid vessels in the Balkan Neolithic, most probably should be associated with everyday needs of these early communities. Askoi are asymmetrical vessels with various sizes, excentrical neck and five handles, while askoid vessels have asymmetrical shapes, short neck and one handle (or without handle). They belong to the coarse pottery group due of their surface treatment, firing procedures and decoration techniques, and probably for their function. Also, it is probable that they were used for transport practices having in mind their anatomical form. These shapes are rare in the ceramic collections in all phases of the Balkan Neolithic, so far they are documented at about 20 sites in Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Serbia. Regionally, these vessels are abundant in the Macedonian Neolithic (predominately in the EN and MN), especially in Skopje region and Pelagonia plain. The genesis of this very specific form could not be precisely traced, given their scarcity in the pottery collections (except at the sites from Skopje region: Tumba-Madžari, Cerje-Govrlevo and Slatina-Zelenikovo). The abundance of askoi in North Macedonia is detected at nine sites. It should be stressed that in the above mentioned sites in Skopje region their distribution within the collections is about 10–15% of the entire pottery material. Also, at these sites a possible standardization of technological and formal procedures could be attested. Although in smaller quantities, askoi are found in Pelagonia, while at other sites from the broader Balkan area they are present in very small numbers (mainly in: Topolnica, Greece, Balgarčevo, Bulgaria, Rudnik, Kosovo, Matejski Brod, Serbia, etc.). It should be stressed that this can be biased data, given their scarcity in the literature, which is most probably a result of their unfamiliar shape in the record, the lack of complete specimens, etc.

The Neolithic, as one of the more affluent Prehistoric periods in the Republic of Macedonia, was ... more The Neolithic, as one of the more affluent Prehistoric periods in the Republic of Macedonia, was studied in many occasions in the past period, thus, great deal of insights, interpretations and theories were made. However, there is space for new considerations about this important period of human history, especially, bearing in mind the new, unfortunately, still modest explorations. The state and level of research of Macedonian Neolithic are questions which demand special analysis, whose results should be considered in all of the future studies. Thanks to the work of many domestic and foreign experts, Macedonian Neolithic is well known by almost all aspects. But, on the basis of the new explorations, especially in the neighborhood of Republic of Macedonia, a new space for thinking, and with that more dilemmas emerge in different spheres of the reconstruction of Neolithic is set. In that context particularly the questions about periodization and chronology of Macedonian Neolithic, the quality and quantity of absolute dates, the (in)consistency in the interpretation of large collections ceramic objects (pottery, figurines, house models, etc.), the (in)sufficient knowledge about architectural elements in large number of sites, etc., are more than needed. Therefore, the reconsideration of the conditions within Macedonian Neolithic, the need of right questions about the Neolithic cultures, and everything that they represent, as well as the new methods of research, from time to time, are more than necessary.

SKOPJE BEFORE 8 MILLENNIA, 2020

The fourth volume of the edition Skopje Before 8 Millennia_4: Craftsmen and Agropastoralists of C... more The fourth volume of the edition Skopje Before 8 Millennia_4: Craftsmen and Agropastoralists of Cerje-Govrlevo includes several important topics related to prehistoric economy, crafts, exchange, and many other aspects of the ancient communities based on the material culture of this interesting Neolithic site. The edition includes many interpretations on various topics related to the mentioned aspects, in which stands out: the review of animal husbandry and hunting in the Macedonian Neolithic; tools and objects made of stone, bone, antler, shell and tooth of Cerje-Govrlevo, as well as a particularly important, almost unexplored topic of a group of rare and very interesting objects with unclear use-labrets. In Cerje-Govrlevo, based on a variety of objects made of different raw materials and in different ways, it is best shown the mixture between the ancient traditions of the early (Palaeolithic and Mesolithic) cultures and the later achievements of the Mediterranean (pre) Neolithic communities. As never before, from the so far, unpublished material large part of the site's material culture-that provides direct insight into the daily life of the first craftsmen and agropastoralists in North Macedonia and broader-the importance of this edition is exceptional.

Eurasian Prehistory vol. 15 (1–2): 163–212., 2019

Neolithisation of the Republic of North Macedonia is one of the most important issues related to ... more Neolithisation of the Republic of North Macedonia is one of the most important issues related to the beginning of the Neolithic on this territory, but also to the wider area of the Balkans, especially its central parts. Unfortunately, although this topic has been opened decades ago to date, there is still no new knowledge about it. Therefore, the paper below is a retrospective of the data thus far on this extremely important process(es) concerning early agricultural communities in the Republic of North Macedonia. For that reason there will probably be only one more attempt to select the more important elements of the story of the earliest Neolithic societies in this part of the Balkans.

Crossing the Boundary Between Profane and Sacral in the Material Culture of Cerje-Govrlevo

Fidanoski Lj. 2019. Crossing the Boundary Between Profane and Sacral in the Material Culture of C... more Fidanoski Lj. 2019. Crossing the Boundary Between Profane and Sacral in the Material Culture of Cerje-Govrlevo. In Fidanoski Lj. (ed.) Skopje Before 8 Millennia_3: Among Deities and Men of Cerje-Govrlevo. Museum of the city of Skopje. Skopje: 141-178.

Фиданоски Љ. 2019. Археолошки истражувања на неолитската населба Церје - Говрлево во 2008 и 2009 година. Macedoniae acta archaeologica 21: 55-70. .

Fidanoski Lj and Tomaž A. 2018. Forms, Dimensions and Proportions. In Fidanoski Lj. (ed.) Skopje Before 8 Millennia_2: The First Potters from Cerje-Govrlevo. Museum of the city of Skopje. Skopje: 115-156., 2018

Fidanoski Lj. 2018. Creation of a Vessel. In Fidanoski Lj. (ed.) Skopje Before 8 Millennia_2: The First Potters from Cerje-Govrlevo. , 2018

HOMO PRIMORDIALIS, 2023

NEOLITHIC IN MACEDONIA, 2021

Relatively Absolute: Relative and Absolute Chronologies in the Neolithic of Southeast Europe, 2023

Antiquity, 2022

Documenta Praehistorica, 2021

Anthropozoologica, 2021

Across the Mountain, 2021

Early Neolithic in North Macedonia and Bulgaria: Geographical and Cultural Relations, 2021

Anthropozoologica, 2021

SKOPJE BEFORE 8 MILLENNIA, 2020

Eurasian Prehistory vol. 15 (1–2): 163–212., 2019

Crossing the Boundary Between Profane and Sacral in the Material Culture of Cerje-Govrlevo

Fidanoski Lj. 2018. Creation of a Vessel. In Fidanoski Lj. (ed.) Skopje Before 8 Millennia_2: The First Potters from Cerje-Govrlevo. , 2018

This publication is an outcome of the international conference ‘Prehistory in the Balkans’ which ... more This publication is an outcome of the international conference ‘Prehistory in the Balkans’ which was a final component of the Common Cultural Heritage project between the Center for Prehistoric Research, Institute of Archaeology in Tirana and the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. This event was the 8th edition of the already traditional archaeological conference that the Center for Prehistoric Research has been organizing since 2015. The ‘Prehistory in the Balkans’ conference was scheduled in three days (November 25th-27th - 2022) in the city of Ohrid where both students and specialists presented their knowledge on the cultural heritage from Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia. It considered a series of presentations of students that were involved in the project which presented their research as well as their experiences during the summer workshops and visits of different sites and institutions in the Balkans. This set was followed up with the presentations by the leading experts in the Balkan prehistory. Archaeologists from various institutions in Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia exposed their current research regarding the regional prehistoric perspectives, networks, and other aspects of social and economic processes in the Balkans from the Paleolithic until Iron Age. Consequently, this publication, titled as ‘Prehistory in the Balkans: interregional research and educational practices’, summarizes some of the ideas and discussions proposed in this conference, but also emphasizes the current fieldwork and theoretical research in the prehistoric Balkans, such as the transitional period from the Paleolithic into the Neolithic, recent excavations at Pogradec (Lake Ohrid), Magareći Mlin (Vojvodina), Vlaho (Pelagonia) and Cocev Kamen (Kratovo), as well as the archaeobotanic and pottery analyses. We believe this edited book will be a constructive resource for both specialists and students devoted in the research of prehistory and hopefully will inspire new ideas, as well as future academic networks.

NEOLITHIC IN MACEDONIA, 2021

2022 © Сите права се задржани. Ниту еден дел од оваа книга не смее да се препечатува или репродуц... more 2022 © Сите права се задржани. Ниту еден дел од оваа книга не смее да се препечатува или репродуцира во никаква форма, ниту со електронски, механички или други начини, сега или понатаму во иднината познати, вклучувајќи фотокопирање или снимање, ниту во никаков систем за чување податоци, без пишана дозвола од авторот и издавачот. Изданието е поддржано од Министерството за култура на Република Македонија во рамките на проектот: "Неолитска конференција: Неолитот во Македонија".

Across the Mountain, 2021

In the absence of written sources, much less witnesses or participants in the events of the ancie... more In the absence of written sources, much less witnesses or participants in the events of the ancient past, interpretations of ancient known and unknown civilizations are, to say the least, incomplete and often inconsistent. Archaeology since the first archaeologist (Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus, 620–539 BC) to the present day is in search for all the answers of the people whose descendants we are. The various scientific and even unscientific approaches in the studies of ancient humans have enabled us to enrich the image of early humans. Changing approaches and creating new ways of interpreting the ancient past is another step towards discovering human history. Today, as direct witnesses of technological development, we can attest that the interdisciplinarity in archaeology, often referred to as archaeometry, not only increases our knowledge of the past, but also allows us to discover even the most incredible details – in just one piece – a single piece of soil. This edition contains three papers with three different ways of interpreting the ancient past in completely different places, sites and cultures. In a way, it can be thought that these attempts to reconstruct the ancient past may be used as an adjunct to scientific interpretations in archaeology. Therefore, it can be argued that changing perspectives on ancient remnants of ancient civilizations may be more than necessary, especially given the ‘fatigue’ of conventional archaeological thought – burdened by increasingly rapid data collection and interpretation. In this context, I hope that, at the very least, our attempts at possible interpretations of ancient people will provide other ways of looking at the phenomenal cultures of our past.

A s i n t h e p r e v i o u s v o l u me s , t h e s a me a b u n d a n c e o f t h e me s i s t ... more A s i n t h e p r e v i o u s v o l u me s , t h e s a me a b u n d a n c e o f t h e me s i s t r a n sf e r r e d i n t h e l a t e s t e d i t i o n o f Ne o l i t h i c i n Ma c e d o n i a p u b l i c a t i o n t h a t b r i n g s t o g e t h e r s o me o f t h e p a p e r s p r e s e n t e d i n 2 0 1 7 . T h e r e f o r e t h e s u b t i t l e o f t h i s e d i t e d b o o k i s c h a l l e n g e s f o r n e w d i s c o v e r i e s a s t h e r e a r e ma n y n e w g a t e s o p e n i n o r d e r t o a p p r e h e n d b e t t e r t h e a g r ic u l t u r a l s o c i e t i e s t h a t i n h a b i t e d t h e B a l k a n s i n t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e 7 t h mi l l e n n i u m B C. Mo s t o f t h e p a p e r s d e a l wi t h n e w a p p r o a c h i n t h e s t u d y o f Ne o l i t h i c c o mmu n i t i e s , t h e i r s e t t l e me n t s , p r o d u c t s , i d e a s a n d e n v i r o n me n t , wh i l e o t h e r s r e c o n s i d e r t h e k n o wl e d g e o n a r c h a e o l o g ic a l s i t e s a n d n o t i o n o f c u l t u r e i n p r e h i s t o r y . T h e t e n p a p e r s d e a l wi t h d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f t h e Ne o l i t h i c i n Ma c e d o n i a a n d p r o v i d e t h o r o u g h i n s i g h t i n t o v a r i o u s c a t h e g o r i e s o f s o c i a l , e c o n o mi c a n d s y mb o l i c p r oc e s s e s a mo n g f i r s t f a r me r s . I t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t s u c h s o c i e t i e s i n h a b i te d d i v e r s e e n v i r o n me n t s a n d a d j u s t e d t h e i r mo d e s o f l i v i n g a c c o r d i n g t o r e s o u r c e s a n d l a n d s c a p e s wh e r e t h e y d we l l e d . T h e r e s u l t s o f r es e a r c h p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s e p a p e r s a s s e r t t h e c u l t u r a l a b u n d a n c e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l c o mmu n i t i e s a n d t h e b r o a d p e r s p e c t i v e s f o r t h e i r u n d e rs t a n d i n g .

SKOPJE BEFORE 8 MILLENNIA 4 , 2020

Skopje Before 8 Millennia_3: Among Deities and Men of Cerje-Govrlevo. Fidanoski Lj. (ed.). Authors: A. Tomaž, G. Naumov, N. Čausidis and E. Aleksiev. Museum of the city of Skopje. Skopje. 2019. (Macedonian and English edition), 2019

Skopje Before 8 Millennia_2: The First Potters from Cerje-Govrlevo. Fidanoski Lj. (ed.). Authors: A. Tomaž, Lj. Fidanoski, J. Vuković and G. Naumov. Museum of the city of Skopje. Skopje. 2018. (Macedonian and English edition), 2018

MACEDONIAE ACTA ARCHAEOLOGICA 21, 2019

The issue of Macedoniae acta archaeologica includes scientific results from the archaeological ex... more The issue of Macedoniae acta archaeologica includes scientific results from the
archaeological excavations in the Republic of Macedonia that were presented
at the XXI Meeting of the Macedonian Archaeological Scientific Association,
held in Strumica in 2010.

World Neolithic Congress 2024, 4-8 November 2024. Abstracts, 2024

Over the last couple of decades, extensive archaeozoological and aDNA studies have securely place... more Over the last couple of decades, extensive archaeozoological and aDNA studies have securely placed the origin of animal domestication in the Near East. From this area, humans and domesticated animals (sheep, goat, cattle and pig) gradually spread to the Aegean, the Balkans, and ultimately to the rest of Europe. Thus, the farming groups dispersing into the interior of the Balkans in the late 7th millennium cal BC were the first to introduce Mediterranean livestock beyond its natural climatic range. Due to its particular location, between the Mediterranean Greece and the Central Balkans, and given its distinct forms of Early Neolithic material culture, North Macedonia represents one of the key areas relevant for the understanding of the spread of farming. Nevertheless, due to the uneven level of research and publication, this process is still far from understood. In particular, the studies of animal bones from the Early Neolithic sites in the region have been few and far between. In this paper, we present new radiocarbon dates on animal bones and new results of the analysis of faunal assemblages from several Early Neolithic sites (Vrbjanska Čuka, Govrlevo, Mogila-Školska Tumba, Tumba-Optičari) in North Macedonia, an area which had previously been insufficiently studied from an archaeozoological perspective. We consider the taxonomic composition, mortality profiles, taphonomic traces and contextual provenance of faunal remains, in order to infer about animal husbandry practices amongst the First Temperate Neolithic communities in the Sub-Mediterranean zone, and identify potential spatial and temporal variations.