Opinions concerning the end of the Neolitic and beginning of the Eneolitik
are divided in archaeological science, especially when dealing with the Danubian
basin and the central Balkan area. In recent times, when it was established that
Vincha culture has been acquainted with copper metallurgy, the border between
the two periods was pushed back into the further past. There is no doubt that the
discovery of the oldest mine in the Balkans, Rudna Glava near Majdanpek, on the
eastern periphery of the Vincha culture, has contributed to such an opinion. In
addition to data in favour of the conclusion concerning the knowedge and use of
copper for making smaller ornamental objects at first, and then of powerful tools
which proved superior to the bone, stone or wooden ones, the finds of the Vincha
couture in Kosovo and in the Ibar basin have also contributed to it.
The fact that the minerals occurred in association with the Vincha pottery
(end of the older phase of this culture) is yet nother confirmation of the opinion
that the process of evolution of the Neolithic into the Eneolithic civilization had
been gradual, long-lasting and that it had started at the end of the Vincha-Turdas
phase, or in the so-called hillfort-phase of this culture. However, the question is
posed as to whether new knowledge about early copper metallurgy entitles us to
consider this culture Eneolithic.
Following the chronological order in this part of the book three Eneolithic
cultures can be presented: the Bubanj culture (Bubanj-Salcuta, Bubanj-SalcutaKrivodol complex), a Cernadova III variant (Cernadova III-Boleraz), a local
Baden-Kostolac manifestation which belongs to the Kostolac culture. If the threefold division of the Eneolithic to the Early, Middle and Late is accepted for these
regions as well, then to the Early Eneolithics would belong the late Vincha culture,
to the Middle Eneolithic would primarily belong the Bubanj culture with its two
developmental phases and a short-lasting penetration of the Cernavoda culture,
whereas to the Late Eneolithic should belong a variant of the Kostolac culture.
The penetration of the Bubanj culture into Kosovo and Metohija is
connected with the “Indo-European migration” at the end of the 4th millennium
B.C. The topography of the settlements of the Bubanj culture in Kosovo and
Metohija to a large extent differs from the position on which the Vincha
settlements were built. Unlike the open settlements in plains, which often
developed in horizontal stratigraphy, a new type of settlement appeared on
elevated, safe terrains. This is the reason why vertical stratigraphy of not any site
in these regions has yielded the settlements of both the Vincha and Bubanj
cultures.
The Cernavoda culture is the forerunner of the Baden culture in the
Danubian basin. The penetration of the Cernavoda III culture is likely because its
presence has been recorded in the vicinity of Smederevska Palanka, on the hillfort
Likodra and in north western Serbia as well as on some other sites.
The only site in the cultural layer of which Kostolac pottery was established
with certainty is Hisar near Sura Reka. On this site, whose important stratigraphy
was already dealt with, Kostolac ceramicware was uncovered in occupational
horizons overlying the horizons belonging to the Bubanj culture. Although the
finds of Kostolac pottery at Hisar are abundant, preliminary reports have only
brought scanty data on them.