Archaeology in the Žitava valley I

The early Neolithic site of Vráble (5250-4950 cal BCE) is among the largest LBK settlement agglomerations in Central Europe, and exceptional within the southwest Slovakian area. Geophysical surveys revealed more than 300 houses, grouped into three contemporary neighbourhoods, one of which is delineated by a complex ditched enclosure system. This enclosure is associated with a large number of human remains, which reveal new patterns of burial and deposition practices. This volume presents the first part of the results of an international research project that was started in 2012 and aims to explore the social implications of settlement concentration in the context of early farming communities, on the background of subsistence patterns and landscape use.This is the first volume of "Archaeology in the Žitava valley", and it presents the finds, features and data uncovered and synthesised from our archaeological, pedological, geophysical, archaeobotanical, anthropological, zoo-archaeological and stable isotope studies on the site of Vráble "Veľké Lehemby" and "Fárske" in southwest Slovakia. These data are used to reconstruct the social and economic patterns and social processes, highlighting a growing tension between incentives of cooperation and sharing vs. monopolisation of resources and individual interests, driving the 300-year history of this site until its total abandonment. While the history of Vráble is unique, it holds clues for a better understanding of the overall, central European phenomenon of large, enclosed settlements of the later LBK, their association with rituals and violence involving human bodies, and the end of the LBK social world.Contents:1. Research at the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleIvan Cheben, Martin Furholt2. Scientific analyses at Vráble2.1 Large scale magnetic prospections at Vráble "Veľké Lehemby" and "Fárske"Knut Rassmann, Kay Winkelmann, Wolfgang Rabbel, Martin Furholt2.2 Extending archaeological documentation from 2D to 3D: The benefits of geophysical on-site measurements in excavationsNatalie Pickartz, Erica Corradini, Raphael Kahn, Diana Panning, Knut Rassmann, Nils Müller-Scheeßel, Martin Furholt, Dennis Wilken, Tina Wunderlich, Wolfgang Rabbel2.3 Geoarchaeology at Neolithic Vráble, Slovakia - New insights into early environmental impact from soils and sedimentsStefan Dreibrodt, Hans-Rudolf Bork3. Settlement features and human burials3.1. Built structures at the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleIvan Cheben, Martin Furholt, Nils Müller-Scheeßel3.2. The burials and human remains from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleNils Müller-Scheeßel, Zuzana Hukeľová4. Chronology4.1. Typochronology of the pottery from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleIvan Cheben, Alena Bistakova, Martin Furholt, Bastian Wolthoff, Wiebke Mainusch, Nils Müller-Scheeßel4.2 Radiocarbon dating at the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleJohn Meadows5. Material Culture, plants and animal data5.1 The pottery and ornamentic styles from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleIvan, Cheben, Alena Bistakova5.2 Stone tools from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleMichael Cheben, Nils Müller-Scheeßel5.3 Bone tools from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleRebekka Eckelmann5.4 Animal bones from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleUlrich Schmölcke, Rebekka Eckelmann5.5 Archaeobotanical remains from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleDragana Filipović, Helmut Kroll, Wiebke Kirleis5.6 Anthracological remains from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleTim Schroedter5.7 Snail Shells from the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleFrank Schlütz5.8 Stable isotopic perspectives of animal and human diet at the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleRosalind E. Gillis, Cheryl A. Makarewicz6. Synthesis: Demography, economy and social organisation at the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of Vráble6.1 Demography of the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of Vráble and the Žitava valleyJohannes Müller, Maria Wunderlich, Ivan Cheben, Alena Bistakova, Nils Müller-Scheeßel, Martin Furholt6.2 Subsistence economy of the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleMartin Furholt, Dragana Filipović, Ulrich Schmölcke, Rebekka Eckelmann6.3 A political economy of the LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of VrábleMaria Wunderlich, Martin Furholt, Johannes Müller, Ivan Cheben, Alena Bistakova, Nils Müller-Scheeßel