Cerje Govrlevo and Milosh Bilbija. Museum of the city of Skopje. Skopje. 2012. (original) (raw)
SKOPJE BEFORE 8 MILLENNIA, 2020
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 As never before, from the so far, unpublished material large part of the site's material culture-that provides direct insight into the daily life of the first craftsmen and agropastoralists in North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.
SKOPJE BEFORE 8 MILLENNIA 4 , 2020
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 As never before, from the so far, unpublished material large part of the site's material culture-that provides direct insight into the daily life of the first craftsmen and agropastoralists in North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.
Across the Mountain, 2021
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.
Bulletin of the Natural History Museum
In this edition we continue to publish biographies of those important persons from the Museum's rich historiography who contributed the most to the establishment of the Museum and its initial collections. Academician Jovan Žujović holds a special place in the constellation of meritorious Serbian scientists: his great knowledge, experience, broad education and driving energy strongly influenced the foundation of the Natural History Museum. He personally participated in the creation of the Museum first collections and remained a loyal friend and advisor to the Museum until the end of his life.
Petar S. Pavlović (1864-1938): Founder of the museum of the Serbian land
Bulletin of the Natural History Museum
To mark the great jubilee of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade - 125 years since its founding - members of the Editorial Board has decided to publish, in the upcoming editions of the Bulletin, biographies of those who contributed the most to the establishment of the Museum and its initial collections. In this way, we would like to thank our predecessors for their immense work and great driving energy, not just in laying the foundations but also in ensuring the continuity of the work of the Museum. At the same time, we also want to acquaint the wider scientific and professional public, as well as younger generations of naturalists, with the important persons from the Museum's rich historiography.
Gabrijel Mije i istraživanja stare srpske arhitekture, katalog izložbe, ed. D. Preradović, 2019
Gabriel Millet et l’étude de l’architecture médiévale serbe Les études de terrain réalisées par Gabriel Millet entre 1905 et 1935 sont examinées essentiellement à partir des documents d’archives conservés à Paris et à Belgrade et non publiés à ce jour. L’archéologue français avait, en effet, mené une première enquête sur les monuments serbes en 1906 et il fut l’un des premiers scientifiques à explorer le patrimoine architectural des Balkans alors que la région se trouvait encore sous le régime ottoman. Son expédition pionnière en Serbie, au Kosovo et en Macédoine produisit des effets d’une portée considérable puisque sa contribution la plus éminente à la connaissance de l’art serbe réside dans une synthèse architecturale, intitulée L’ancien art serbe. Les églises et publiée en 1919. Auparavant, Gabriel Millet avait déjà fait connaître ses travaux dans L’histoire de l’art, une somme encyclopédique conçue par André Michel, et dans une étude plus courte (L’ancien art serbe) parue, en 1917, dans un numéro particulier de la revue L’art et les artistes tout spécialement consacré à la Serbie (La Serbie glorieuse). De la même manière, l’art serbe occupait une place privilégiée dans le programme des cours dispensés par le byzantiniste français à l’École Pratique des Hautes Études et au Collège de France. Le voyage inaugural de Gabriel Millet en Serbie a été suivi de quatre autres missions scientifiques au cours desquelles il a étudié les églises et les monastères, non seulement serbes mais également byzantins, qui émaillaient le territoire de la Serbie, du Kosovo et de la Métohija, du Monténégro et de la Macédoine. Au cours des expéditions de 1924, 1927, 1934 et 1935, il a ainsi rassemblé un matériel conséquent dans l’intention de rédiger une étude de la peinture médiévale et de compléter son ouvrage initial sur l’ancienne architecture serbe. Pendant toute cette période, son épouse Sophie fut une talentueuse compagne de voyage, auteure de nombreux dessins et aquarelles reproduisant les fresques et l’architecture. De fait, entre 1906 et 1935, le couple Millet visita et étudia plus de 80 églises et monastères subsistant dans la région. Gabriel Millet n’a toutefois pas réussi à finaliser la synthèse qu’il ambitionnait de rédiger sur l’art serbe médiéval. C’est pourquoi le matériel photographique engrangé au cours de tous ces voyages et partiellement publié à ce jour demeure un outil irremplaçable pour l’étude des monuments serbes à l’époque médiévale.
Фотографије др Радивоја Симоновића. Књ. 3, Херцеговина и Црна Гора / Photographs by Dr Radivoj Simonović, Book Three, Herzegovina and Montenegro, 2022
The reconnaissance undertaken during his short stay in Drežnica enabled Simonović to organize his future mountaineering expeditions in Herzegovina with the aim of more detailed scientific research. Therefore, we can consider the year 1890 as the beginning of scientific research, carried out in order to reconnoitre the terrain and collect the material. Although his stay on this journey was initiated by his professional obligations, he sought after further mountaineering research, focusing on the mountains of Prenj and Čvrsnica. In the broadest sense, the field of Dr. Radivoje Simonović’s scientific research in Herzegovina is represented by the river Neretva, its surroundings and tributaries. The narrowly observed research area is defined by the high mountain framework of the mountains Čvrsnica, Čabulja and Prenj. The mentioned research area is located in northern Herzegovina, in the middle and upper part of Neretva river basin. With its geographical, morphological, hydrographic, biological, ethnological and anthropological characteristics, it represents a unique area of the Balkan Peninsula. The importance of the karst mountains of the Dinarides within the scientific system of Jovan Cvijić influenced the interest of the leading scientific institutions in this period to be directed towards the southern borders of the new state, placing the focus of research on the mountains of Montenegro (Durmitor) and southern Serbia (Prokletije). We recognize this influence in Simonović’s increased interest in research in Montenegro. The fact that he visited Montenegro four times in the period from 1929 to 1934 testifies to this. The goal of all four mountaineering expeditions was always the same and was aimed at exploring Durmitor Mountain. It is interesting that, in contrast to Simonović’s earlier scientific expeditions, these, in terms of composition, were true multinational and interdisciplinary research missions. Their composition testifies to the fulfilment of his idea about the need to explore mountains as a completely natural and social phenomenon.
The article deals with the hagiographical cycles of St George in the popular icon of St George and St Demetrius (NCMHA, Inv. No. 3140), found at the Church of the Virgin in Sozopol and in the icon of St George (NCMHA, Inv. No. 3919), signed by icon-painter Constantine. A comparative analysis of the iconography and the manners as well as the almost identical content of the hagiographical cycles of St George proved that both monuments had been made by the same painter, Constantine or at least by masters from the same workshop. The icon of the Virgin Kecharitomeni from Nessebar, also bearing the signature of the icon-painter and commissioned by Agalou (or Pagalou) also belongs to Constantine’s works. This donor could possibly be linked to the one, who donated some of the murals at the Church of St John the Baptist in Nessebar, partially over-painted at the onset of the seventeenth century. Judging by the analysis and the known information of the hagiographical cycles under consideration of St George at the National Church Museum of History and Archaeology (NCMHA), it could be confirmed that these have been made in the region of Nessebar dating to the last decades of the sixteenth century or to the early seventeenth century at the latest. It is unknown from where icon-painter Constantine came to Nessebar or was he a local, adhering to the noteworthy works by the icon-painters from Northern Greece, yet the painting created by his workshop renders an ingenious reading of Cretan art, which fits in the ‘classicizing’ trend in the art of the second half of the sixteenth century.