new light on the early neolithic in albania the southern albania_ neolithic archaeological project...

5/19/2018 New Light on the Early Neolithic in Albania the Southern Albania_ Neolithic Archaeological Project (SANAP) 2006-2013

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Centre for Albanian Studies

Institute of Archaeology

PROCEEDINGS OF THEINTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

OF ALBANIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

65thAnniversary of Albanian Archaeology

(21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Botimet Albanologjike

Tiran 2014


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Copyright2014 by Centre for Albanian Studies and Institute of Archaeology.

All rights reserved. No parts of this volume may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the

Albanian Institute of Archaeology.

ISBN: 978-9928-141-28-6

Editorial board:

English translation and editing:

Nevila M

Art Design:

Gjergji I and Ana P

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ALBANIAN

ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

65thAnniversary of Albanian Archaeology (21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Professor Luan PRZHITA(Director of Institute of Archaeology),

Professor Ilir GJIPAL(Head of Department of Prehistory),

Professor Gzim HOXHA(Department of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages),

Associate Professor BelisaMUKA(Head of Department of Antiquity)


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Centre for Albanian Studies

Institute of Archaeology

PROCEEDINGS OF THEINTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

OF ALBANIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

65thAnniversary of Albanian Archaeology

(21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Botimet Albanologjike

Tiran 2014


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Copyright2014 by Centre for Albanian Studies and Institute of Archaeology.

All rights reserved. No parts of this volume may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the

Albanian Institute of Archaeology.

ISBN: 978-9928-141-28-6

Editorial board:

English translation and editing:

Nevila M

Art Design:

Gjergji I and Ana P

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ALBANIAN

ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

65thAnniversary of Albanian Archaeology (21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Professor Luan PRZHITA(Director of Institute of Archaeology),

Professor Ilir GJIPAL(Head of Department of Prehistory),

Professor Gzim HOXHA(Department of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages),

Associate Professor BelisaMUKA(Head of Department of Antiquity)


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NEW LIGHT ON THE EARLY NEOLITHIC PERIOD

IN ALBANIA: THE SOUTHERN ALBANIA NEOLITHIC

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT (SANAP), 2006-2013

Susan E. ALLEN and Ilir GJIPALI

With contributions byPanagiotis Karkanas, Armelle Gardeisen, Gal Piqus,

Rudenc Ruka, Georgia Tsartsidou and Eugen Ruzi

The Southern Albania NeolithicArchaeological Projects (SANAP) regional

reconnaissance of Early Neolithic sites in 2006 andexcavation at Vashtmi in 2010, 2011, and 2013 shedsnew light on the transition to agriculture in southernEurope. Radiocarbon dates from the site places itsearliest occupation in the mid-seventh millenniumB.C., contemporary with Early Neolithic (EN) sitesin Greece, to its south, making it one of the earliestfarming sites in Europe. Importantly, the intensivesampling and recovery methodology used duringexcavation has yielded exceptionally completeassemblages of plant and animal remains. As thefirst systematically recovered zooarchaeological andarchaeobotanical assemblages from an open-air ENsite in Albania, they provide a first glimpse into theenvironmental conditions that early farmers had tonegotiate in this former wetland setting and choicesthat people made concerning land managementand resource exploitation. Intensive sampling formicro- and macro-botanical and faunal remainsreveals a diverse economy that included cereal-based agriculture (emmer, einkorn, and barley),animal husbandry (sheep/goat, pig, cattle) and both

hunting (e.g. red and roe deer, wild pig, turtle, hare)and fishing (eel, Cyprinidae sp., etc). The application

of micromorphology to the study of the sitesstratigraphy further clarifies the sites environmentalsetting and its post-depositional history.

Introduction

In 1996, Lorenc Bejko1 highlighted theextent to which theHoxha governments tight centralcontrol of archaeological strategies created barriersto explaining the origins and processes of the

Albanian Neolithic. On the one hand, adherence toa culture-historical paradigm in pursuit of Illyrianconnections to the deep past nurtured the large-scale excavations conducted by prominent Albanianprehistorians such as Zhaneta Andrea, MuzaferKorkuti, Petrika Lera, and Frano Prendi,2 whotogether brought to light Albanias rich Neolithicheritage. On the other hand, political barriers toincorporating critical advances in archaeologicalmethod and theory that were being widely appliedelsewhere in Europe, particularly concerningchronometric dating and environmental evidence,


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rendered this materially rich dataset devoid ofthe most essential data needed for understanding

the process of neolithization and the transitionto farming. Together, these evidentiary gapshave delayed both our understanding of how theappearance of the earliest farming communities in

Albania fits with the chronology of adjacent areas,and basic characterization of the EN economy,land-use strategies, and human interaction with thesurrounding environment.

The radiocarbon dates needed to anchor thetraditional ceramic-based chronology for Albanian

prehistory are recent phenomena. Although thetechnique of radiocarbon (14C) dating was widelyapplied on prehistoric sites elsewhere in Europebeginning in the early 1950s, the first 14C date for

Albania was not reported until 1991, for the LateNeolithic levels at Maliq.3 Prior to our project,only four EN dates, from the sites of Konispol4

and Sovjan5 were available from Albania. Similarly,excavation methods employed at prehistoric siteswithin Albania did not include the systematicrecovery or analysis of plant and animal remains,despite the regular application of environmental

approaches at prehistoric sites in the wider regionunder the likes of John Evans, Grahame Clarke,Eric Higgs, Stuart Piggot, and others. Becausesystematically recovered assemblages of plantand animal remains are essential for addressingissues of great significance for the establishmentof early farming communities in Europe, such asthe relationships between subsistence behaviors,environmental change, and site setting, it has untilrecently proved impossible to do more than speculateon these issues for Albanian Neolithic sites.

In order to better contextualize the timingand nature of the transition to farming in Albaniawith that of southern Europe and the Balkans,we formed the Southern Albania Neolithic

Archaeological Project (SANAP) in 2006. Ourresearch has focused on the southeastern districtsof Kor, Pogradec and Librazhd, selected becausethe density of EN settlement in the Kora basin,together with the presence of very early ENradiocarbon dates from Sovjan of ca. 7,000 cal

BC,6point towards the Kora basin as the leadingedge of the agricultural transition in Albania. In

2006, with funding from the Packard HumanitiesInstitute, we undertook coring at six EN sites andintensive surface survey at two sites, Podgorie, andVashtmi, where we excavated in 2010, 2011 and2013 with generous support from the NationalScience Foundation.7Our field school has providedsignificant training opportunities for Albanian and

American undergraduate and graduate students,particularly concerning sampling and recoverymethodologies for environmental remains.

The primary goals of SANAP havebeen: 1) to systematically collect chronometric,economic and environmental data, particularlyplant and animal remains, with use of a spatiallyintensive sampling strategy; 2) to providetraining xopportunities for Albanian and

American undergraduate and graduate studentsin interdisciplinary archaeological methods,with particular emphasis on the sampling andrecovery of environmental remains; and 3) to testthe prediction of van Andel and Runnels8 thatearly farmers preferentially selected well-watered

alluvial locations at wetland edges for their earliestsettlements in the region, as supported by data fromthe Sperchios River valley in northern Greece.

Background: 2006 coring, survey, and

emergent chronology

In 2006, we extracted cores from five ENsites (Rajc, Xhumba, Proger, Podgorie, Vashtmi)and conducted intensive surface survey at Podgorieand Vashtmi to assess their potential for future

reinvestigation. Coring provided new evidence forthe shifting hydrological settings of Podgorie andVashtmi, as well as new materials for radiocarbondating from both sites. Although we were unableto core at Pogradec due to the emplacementof a foundation for a multi-storey structure, weconducted a small rescue operation on exposedstratigraphic profiles in order to extract materials fordating and associated ceramic sherds from the baseof the sequence below the level of excavation byLera and Gjipali in 2005. The recovered ceramics


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Tab. I. EN Radiocarbon

dates from SANAP cores

(Podgorie, Pogradec,

Vashtmi), Konispol, and

Sovjan.

NEW LIGHT ON THE EARLY NEOLITHIC PERIOD IN ALBANIA: THE SOUTHERNALBANIA NEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT (SANAP), 2006-2013

were overwhelmingly characterized by barbotinesurfaces, similar to those reported by Gjipali for

Rajc and Rrashtan.9

In total, we obtained seven new dates fromthree sites (Podgorie, Pogradec, and Vashtmi), asshown in Table 1 together with dates for Konispoland Sovjan. If we take the earliest date of 9,240

8,790 cal BC at 2 from Vashtmi core 2 (Beta-253237) out of consideration due to its significantdeviation from other reported dates, it appears thatSovjan and Vashtmi are among the first wave ofEN sites that were occupied during the first half

of the seventh millennium BC. A second wave ofsites is represented by sites such as Pogradec andPodgorie, which are not occupied until 6,000 calBC or later. The strong ceramic parallels betweenRajc and Podgorie suggest that Rajc should alsobe placed within the second wave group and that apreponderance of Barbotine ceramics is indicativeof a later EN settlement date.

In addition to its early dating, we selectedVashtmi as a key site for assessing the transition tothe EN due to three additional reasons. First, the

fact that all prehistoric material recovered in oursurvey of the site dated to the EN suggested minimaloverburden and disturbance from later periods.

Second, the site and its setting are directly relevantto our overarching research question concerning the

role of wetlands in shaping settlement preferencesfor early farmers. The site is located at the southernedge of the former Lake Maliq along the courseof the Devoll River in an area with several feedersprings, and thus is in a location predicted asfavorable in the Runnels and Van Andel model.Third, and perhaps most importantly, the locationof Vashtmi in close proximity to Kora and themain road between Kora and Pogradec highlightthe potential of development activity as a threat tothe sites long-term preservation.

Renewed excavation at Vashtmi

The site of Vashtmi, approximately 5kmnorth of Kora, was discovered by Lera in 1972and excavated by Korkuti in 1973.10 Although heexposed an area of 225m2 reported to contain notonly the remains of wattle and daub structures,but also abundant carbonized plant material andanimal bones,11 these materials were not collectedfor analysis. Thus, a key goal of our research hasbeen to supplement earlier excavation data with

environmental and chronological informationrecovered through renewed excavation at thisimportant site.


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Fig. 1. Location of areas of survey and excavation at Vashtmi,

1974, 2010, 2011, 2013. Prepared by J. Glaubius.


In our three seasons of excavation (2010,2011, 2013), we have opened and excavated 162x2m trenches to the north and south of theroad leading eastward into the modern village ofVashtmi (Fig. 1).

We established our excavation grid on thebasis of our 10x10m survey, with four 2x2m squareswith 0.5m baulks on the North and East within each10x10 m square.

Given our goal of intensive sampling for andrecovery of environmental remains, we dry-screenedall excavated material below the topsoil layer witha inch (0.06m) mesh, except for wet sediments,which were wet-sieved with the same screens. Ourspatially-intensive sampling protocol for flotationconsisted of an overall blanket sampling strategy,with the collection of sediment from each EU usinga pinch-sampling method, which averages material

across the entire EU. We used a total station torecord X, Y, and Z coordinates for the area of eachexcavation unit (EU) within the squares, as wellas the precise location of flotation, radiocarbon,micromorphological, phytolith, and pollen samples.

The stratigraphy of the site (Fig. 2) isbroadly characterized by three distinct stratigraphicunits. From top to bottom, these are Strata I, II, andIII. Stratum I consists of a dark yellowish-brown(10YR 4/4) silty clay loam modern plow zone layerthat varies between 0.34 and 0.63m in thicknessand has an abrupt contact with the underlying layer.This stratum is characterized by the occasionaloccurrence of caliche nodules and extensive rootpenetration by crop plants. Stratum II consists ofa compact 0.32 to 0.78m thick black to very darkbrown (7.5 YR 2.5/1 to 10YR 2/2) silty clay loampalaeosol with abundant stones (predominatelylimestone cobbles ranging between 0.04 and 0.11m),artifacts (predominately ceramics, chipped stone,


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Fig. 2. Representativestratigraphic sequence at

Vashtmi visible in the west

profile of I14b.

SANAP 2011Trench: I14b West Profile

Date: 8/26/11Artist: Susan AllenScale:N

Architectural Clay

Stone

Posthole

Gravel

Ceramic

Bone

Architectural

Clay

CharcoalCharcoal

Dark Patches

Teeth

Caliche

0m .5 1

I

II

III

and architectural clay), bone, and charcoal thatgrades to a more coarse texture toward its base, with

preserved pit and occasionally posthole features thatare cut into the underlying deposit.

As documented through micromorphologicalstudies,12 the upper level of Stratum II showsevidence of reworking and redeposition, whereasthe lower level preserves intact cultural deposits,particularly when these are cut into Stratum III.13Stratum III consists of a light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3)sterile silty clay alluvial substrate with occasionalsmall pieces of angular gravel and reductionzones with manganese nodules. Stratum III showspedogenic features that are consistent with a stablebut seasonally waterlogged environment14 withfrequent flooding.

Northern sector

In 2010, we focused much of our attention onrescue excavation within the footprint of a modern

house, the illegal construction of which began in2007. With permission from the landowner, we

were allowed to excavate two 2 x 2m trenches (B5pand C5m) within the foundation footprint (Fig.3).In these two squares, intact cultural deposits wereencountered at 0.5 to 0.6m below the surface andwere characterized by a black, clay loam sedimentwith many large fragments of EN pottery, somelarge bone fragments, and architectural clay withreed and wood impressions. Architecture in thenorthern sector consists of small (


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Fig. 3. Locus 3 and

surrounding postholes in

B5p during excavation.


burned bone (Beta-287584) from the pit rangebetween 5,300 and 5,780 cal BC. These dates areapproximately 1,000 years more recent than datesfrom the southern sector, suggesting a later use of

the northern part of the site.Phytolith samples15 from the pit show an

overall rarity of phytoliths from cereal cultivars.Despite this general pattern, a sample from withinan ashy patch of a large fragment of burneddaub was especially rich in cereal phytoliths. Thissample produced approximately 491,000 Hordeumsp. (barley) husk phytoliths per gram of sedimentand strongly suggests the use of barley straw as anadmixture in daub.

Micromorphology samples from Locus3 point to deposition of the pebble gravel fill byrelatively high-energy flowing water. What seemslikely is that this small-scale, ephemeral structurerepresents of some kind of short-term, seasonalactivity. After abandonment, the pit was eventuallyflooded and filled with a series of gravel depositsand architectural destruction debris.

In square C5m, just east of B5p, at a depthof 1.2m (824.090 masl), we discovered a smaller

circular pit (Locus 5) that was 0.53m deep and 0.83min diameter. The pit extended into the north profileof the square and had a flat base. The upper fill ofthe pit contained a concentration of bone, including

part of a Bos taurus(cow) skull and horn. Ceramicswere primarily those from large monochrome

vessels (red, brown, gray) produced from mediumto very coarse fabrics, typically with firing clouds.

A large flotation sample (SS38) collected fromabove a lens of sterile clay separating the upper andlower deposits of the pit included a single Triticumdicoccum (emmer wheat) grain and a small quantityof charcoal that will be identified in the next phaseof analysis.16

Phytolith samples from the pit show very lownumbers of phytoliths, a pattern that correlates withthe paucity of macrobotanical remains recoveredfrom the pit. Examples of Cyperaceae (sedge)phytoliths recovered from the interior and exterior ofthe pit suggesting the presence of a wet locality in the

vicinity.17 Phytoliths of cultivars were extremely rarein all samples and may point to a non-agriculturaluse of the pit.18The micromorphology block (VAS130) from this pit indicates the dumping of ashyadmixtures in its lowest level, with later siltation


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Fig. 4. Excavated areas

in the southern sector at

Vashtmi. Map prepared

by J. Glaubius.

deposits that are suggestive of post-abandonmentflooding as in Locus 3 in B5p.19On the whole, the

pit and its associated superstructure, indicated bythe surrounding postholes and few fragments ofarchitectural clay, seem small-scale and ephemeralin nature, likely representing a short-term activity.

Southern sector

This area was targeted for excavationbecause of both its proximity to the area previouslyexcavated by Korkuti and its high density of surfacematerials recorded during our survey in 2006. In

total, we opened 9 squares in this area of the site (Fig.4). Architectural remains in Areas H and J parallelthose found in the northern sector and consistprimarily of small pit features often associated withpostholes. An extensive trash dump was also foundin Square H13k.

In Square H13p, another pit (Locus 30)associated with six small postholes was discovered.The overlying fill contained a nearly complete profileof a large Red Monochrome jar. The upper part of

the pit contained small (2.0m in diameter) pit cutinto Stratum III. Although we had hoped initiallythat this was an in situoven or similar architecturalfeature, upon excavation it was revealed that the

stone arc lay entirely within the bone and artifact-rich fill of the midden deposit. Thus, the arc is betterunderstood as part of a dump or leveling deposit.The micromorphological sample from H13k(VAS 125) collected from Locus 16 (the oveninterior) supports this interpretation, as it showsfeatures consistent with the dumping of burnedremains.20Large fragments of corner pieces ofarchitectural clay found in this area suggest thepresence of a rectilinear wattle-and-daub structurein the vicinity at one time.



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Fig.5. Square H13p, Locus 30 and associated

postholes, from south.


Four radiocarbon dates on wood charcoalfrom the dumped fill date the deposit securely tothe mid-seventh millennium BC, contemporarywith the earliest EN sites in northern Greece. Thefour dates range fromcal BC 6,600 cal BC 6,210at the 2-sigma range. Samples were collected fromboththe interior of the red limestone arc (Locus 15,Beta-28751 and Beta 28752) and the surroundingfill, designated as Locus 17 (Beta-28579 and Beta-287580).

Within the dumped fill of Locus 15/17, werecovered an abundance of environmental data dueto our intensive screening and flotation samplingprotocol. Among the macrobotanical remains, woodcharcoal of Quercussp. (oak, or dushk) is especiallyabundant, suggesting the abundance of mixed oakforest in the region, likely as a component of riparianwoodlands. Seeds and spikelet forks of the cultivated

cereals einkorn (Triticum monococcum) and emmer (T.dicoccum) wheat, and barley, as well as lentils, have alsobeen recovered from this deposit. Phytolith samplesfrom this area show high concentrations of barleyphytoliths (mostly from barley husks).21 Together,

these materials may suggest cereal processing in thisarea of the site.

The mammal bone assemblage showsa high degree of fragmentation and splintering.Domesticates recovered include sheep (Ovisaries),goat (Capra hircus), pig (Sus), and cattle, while wildtaxa include tortoise (Lepus europaeus), badger ormarten, boar (Sus scrofa), hare, red deer (Cervuselaphus), and dog or fox (Canis familiaris or Vulpesvulpes).22 Our intensive sampling also produced


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Fig. 6. Square H13k

showing limestone arc and

surrounding midden fill.

SANAP 2011Trench: H13k Locus 16/23/24Date: 8/16/11Artist: K. Foreste and M. CrushamScale:N

0m .5 1

EU 19

EU 21

EU 23

L4

L16

L23

L24

Bot22/Top24

Architectural Clay

Stone

Posthole

Gravel

Ceramic

Bone

Limestone

Clay

abundant fish remains that include specimens ofeel, members of the Carp (Cyprinidae) family, andtrout.23 Of importance here is the adaptation ofthese different taxa to different habitats, suggestingthe exploitation of deepwater, slow-moving streamsand marshes, and fast-moving rivers and streams.

Completeness of floral and faunalassemblages

Due to our dry- or wet-screening of allexcavated deposits with a 0.06m (1/4 inch) mesh,our spatially-intensive sampling strategy for wet-sieving and flotation, our use of small mesh sizesfor the light and heavy fractions of the latter, andtargeted use of phytolith sampling, our floral andfaunal assemblages are exceptionally complete intheir representation of recoverable plant and animal

remains. The representativeness of the remains oftortoises, microfauna and avifauna are especiallyaffected by the use of blanket sampling (Fig. 7).The use of flotation produces increases of betweenone-and-a-half and six times the number ofremains of fauna in these categories as comparedwith trench-collected bone alone.Of equal importance is the complete and carefulsorting of heavy fraction and the use of a small meshsize (1mm) for heavy fraction. As shown in (Fig. 8),cranial and vertebral elements of eel and Cyprinidaeremains are almost exclusively recovered from theheavy fraction of sediment samples for flotation andwet-sieving.

Similarly, the collection of wood charcoal throughflotation rather than cherry-picking the deposit for



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Fig. 8. Representation of selected fish

remains (Cyprinidae cranial and vertebral

elements and Anguila anguila vertebral

elements).

Fig. 7. Comparison of quantities of trench-

collected and flotation-recovered faunalremains for different categories of fauna.

Chart based on data from Gardeisen and

Piqus (2013).


large fragments ensures that the relative frequencyof different taxa reflects their relative abundancein the deposit rather than taxonomic differences infragmentation. Thus far, wood from the Salix spp.genus (willows) and Quercus spp. genus (oaks) hasbeen recovered, along with fragments of Phragmitessp. (common reed) stems. Seed remains include

domesticated einkorn, barley, and lentils, as well aswild sedges and rushes.

Lithic, ceramic, and bone tool assemblages

The lithic assemblage24 is overwhelminglycharacterized by blades and bladelets producedalmost exclusively from chert and radiolarite, withmore limited use of quartzite. Forms such as crested

blades and trapezes are also noted within theassemblage.

The ceramic assemblage25 is dominatedby open forms with red and brown monochromesurfaces (RM) and medium-coarse fabrics, oftenwith fire-clouded surfaces. In addition, white-on-red and red-on-white painted, incised, barbotine,

and impressed (impresso) surface treatments arealso present in the assemblage, but in low quantity.Ruzis analysis of RM ceramics from Vashtmi andPodgorie using Laser Ablation Inductively-CoupledMass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)26 demonstratesthe use of different clays and clay recipes betweenthe two sites. Comparison with clay samples thatwe collected from around the Kora basin showsVashtmi potters use of locally available clays that


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1 B 1996.

2 A 1983; K 1982, 1983, 1983,

1995; L 1971, 1979, 1983; P 1976, 1982, 1990.3 G and P 1991:575.

4 P et al.1994.

5 T et al.2008.

6 T 2002.7 Award number BCS 0917960.

8 V A and R 1995.

9 G 1997, 1999.

10 K 1983.11 Ibid.

12 All micromorphological sampling and analysis

was undertaken by Panagiotis Karkanas, Ephorate ofSpeleology and Palaeoanthropology, Greece.

13 K 2013.

14 Ibid.

15 Phytolith analysis was undertaken byGeorgia Tsartsidou, Ephorate of Speleology and

Palaeoanthropology, Greece.

16 Analysis of plant macroremains has been

undertaken by Susan E. Allen with assistance from KassiBailey, Jean N. Berkebile, Katherine Mayhaus, Kelly Wells,

and Kathleen M. Forste in the Mediterranean Ecosystem

Dynamics and Archaeology (MEDArch) laboratory at the

University of Cincinnati.17 T 2011.

18 Ibid.

19 K 2011.

20 Ibid.21 Supra, n.15.

22 Armelle Gardeisen (CNRS, Montpellir, France)

NOTES

include the clay deposit in Stratum III. The bone tool assemblage includes several

textile and hide working tools (awls, needles, andshuttles), a bone fishhook, and rubbing or burnishingtools. Inventory and analysis of these items willcontinue as faunal materials are studied.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our renewed research at Vashtmi providesa basis for contextualizing the EN of southern

Albania within a continental narrative. Althoughwe are still continuing materials analysis, ourpreliminary results already contribute significantlyto clarifying the timing, spatial trajectory, andecological dimensions of the transition to agriculturein Albania.In addition to the Vashtmi core datesthat place it within the first wave of settlementsin the Kora basin, our excavation has produceda series of stratified calibrated radiocarbon datesthat cluster around cal 6,400 BC and confirm itschronological position along the leading edge ofagricultural settlers in southern Europe.Moreover,dates from Vashtmi and other EN sites in southern

Albania support a model of selective settlement that

defies a strictly directional pattern of expansion andmay instead have been based on a preference forwetland settings.

The temporary nature and apparent smallscale ofthe recovered structures likely points towardephemeral activities that likely included non-agricultural tasks in addition to activities relatedto plant and animal husbandry. Differences in datebetween the northern and southern sector of thesite suggest a shifting settlement pattern and thepresence of horizontal stratigraphy, perhaps related

to the shifting hydrological pattern documentedthrough micromorphology.The mixed pattern of crop-animal

husbandry from initial occupation and theexploitation of several kinds of habitats, asdocumented by the faunal remains, suggests thatthe settlers of Vashtmi were seasoned farmersalready familiar with similar landscapes. All plantand animal domesticates recovered from the siteare Near Eastern in origin and lack local wildprogenitors, and neither a Mesolithic nor a pre-

domestication Neolithic phase is represented atthe site. Despite this evidence for the settlement of

established farmers in a new location, it is importantto note that agriculture was only one part of thesubsistence economy, which also included hunting,fishing, and the gathering of wild plant resources.

Although analysis of plant and animal remains isongoing, it seems likely that the herding of sheepand goats was of greater importance than planthusbandry. Further analysis of the sites stratigraphyand recovered materials will allow us to further testand refine these hypotheses.



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K 1980

M. K, Stacioni prehistoriki Vlushs dhe

rndsia e zbulimit t tij. Zbulimet arkeologjike nSkrapar (1980):24-29.

K 1982

M. K, Raport mbi rezultatet e grmimevet vitit 1982 n Podgorie: Sectori C (1982).

Unpublished manuscript, archived in Albanian

Institute for Archaeology.

K 1983M. K 1983/a. Vendbanimi neolitik i

Kolshit, Iliria 13 (2):11-75. M. Korkuti 1983/b.

Vashtmia nj vendbanim i neolitit t hershm,

Iliria 12 (2):91-146.K 1995

M. K, Neolithikum und Chalkolithikumim

Albanien, Mainz: Verlag Phillip von Zabern.

L 1971P. L, Gjurm t reja t lashtsis n rrethin e

Kors, Monumentet 1:177-183.

L 1979

P. L, Vendbanimi prehistorik i Podgories,Almanak Kora 1979:143-153.

L 1983

P. L, Dy vendbanime prehistorike n

Podgorie, Iliria 13 (1):51-77.P et al.1994

P, K. M., E, B. M., H,

F. B. and K, M.1994. Radiocarbon andArchaeomagnetic Dates from Konispol Cave,

Albania, Antiquity 68:335-339.

P 1976

F. P, Neoliti dhe Eneoliti n Shqipri, Iliria6:21-99.

P 1972

F. P, The Prehistory of Albania. In The

Prehistory of the Balkans, the Middle East, andthe Aegean World, Tenth to Eighth Centuries,

B.C. (Cambridge Ancient History) III(1). Edited

by J. Boardman, I.E.S. Edwards, N.G.L.

Hammond, and E. Sollberger, pp. 187-231. Cambridge: Cambridge UniversityPress.

P 1990

F. P, Le Nolithique ancien en Albanie,

Germania 68(2):399-426.R 2013

E. R, Investigating Compositional Variability

conducted analysis of mammalian fauna at the Institute ofArchaeology in Tirana.

23 Gal Piqus (CNRS, Montpellir, France)conducted analysis of ichthyofauna in Kora, at the

Institute of Archaeology in Tirana, and at CNRS inMontpellir.

24 Preliminary analysis of the lithic assemblage

has been undertaken by Rudenc Ruka (Institute of

Archaeology, Tirana). Further analysis will be completedin collaboration with Georgia Kourtessi-Philippakis

(University of Athens).

25 Ilirjan Gjipali, Susan Allen and Eugen Ruzi, havecontributed to the ceramic analysis. Eugen Ruzi conducted

ceramic characterization analyses and Edlira Andoni

will complete the typological analysis of the ceramic

assemblage.26 R 2013.

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Z. A, Archaeology in Albania 1973-1983,

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B 1996L.B, Drejt nj shpjegimi t neolitit Shqiptar,

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G, P 2013A. G, and G. P SANAP, Vashtmi

Faunal Studies: Preliminary Report. Internal

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G 1999I. G, Prmbajtja dhe prkatsia kulturore

kronologjike e vendbanimit neolitik t Rajcs

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I. G, Vendbanimi neolitik i Rajcs (Rajc I),

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P. K, Micromorphological Study of

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