Vatin culture
Encyclopedia
The Vatin culture is a name of an prehistoric Bronze Age
culture, which was named after village Vatin
in Serbia
. The culture had Indo-European
roots and was culturally connected with Mycenaean Greece
. The Vatin culture is dated into middle Bronze Age and it is generally divided into three phases: Pančevo
-Omoljica
, Vatin
-Vršac
, and Belegiš
-Ilandža
. It flourished from 16th to 13th century BC.
People of the Vatin culture inhabited entire territory of Vojvodina
(Banat
, Bačka
, Syrmia
) and many surrounding areas (including Slavonia
, Oltenia
, Bosnia and Central Serbia
). Its core area was in Serbia
n-Vojvodinian
Podunavlje
. The remains of this culture were discovered in the beginning of the 20th century near the village of Vatin
(Banat
region, Vojvodina
province, Serbia
). Real importance of this culture was, however, enlightened only in the end of the 20th century, when locality Feudvar near village Mošorin
was investigated.
and had already developed social differentiation of population. The culture also developed large central settlements, which were surrounded by smaller settlements and farms. Large settlements were economical and social centers, as well as seats of tribal leaders. These fortified centers had a defensive character and larger number of them existed in a wider area. The thick network of large fortified settlements represented example of collective defense of a wide space.
Main occupation of inhabitants of Vatin culture was agriculture and animal husbandry and it is assumed that they also produced beer. In many of the settlements, remains of children's toys were discovered. Tools, weapons and jewelry were mainly purchased by trade, but some larger settlements also had their own workshops that produced bronzed objects. One foundry of bronzed objects was discovered in Feudvar, and according to the researchers, it was probably used several hundreds of years. There are indications that people of the Vatin culture also had basic mathematical knowledge.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
culture, which was named after village Vatin
Vatin
Vatin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vršac municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 239 people .-Name:...
in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. The culture had Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
roots and was culturally connected with Mycenaean Greece
Mycenaean Greece
Mycenaean Greece was a cultural period of Bronze Age Greece taking its name from the archaeological site of Mycenae in northeastern Argolis, in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. Athens, Pylos, Thebes, and Tiryns are also important Mycenaean sites...
. The Vatin culture is dated into middle Bronze Age and it is generally divided into three phases: Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
-Omoljica
Omoljica
Omoljica is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village population is 6,518 people .-References:...
, Vatin
Vatin
Vatin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vršac municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 239 people .-Name:...
-Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
, and Belegiš
Belegiš
Belegiš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Stara Pazova municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,116 people .-History:...
-Ilandža
Ilandža
Ilandža is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Alibunar municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population is 1,727 .-Name:...
. It flourished from 16th to 13th century BC.
People of the Vatin culture inhabited entire territory of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
(Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
, Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
, Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
) and many surrounding areas (including Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, Oltenia
Oltenia
Oltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....
, Bosnia and Central Serbia
Central Serbia
Central Serbia , also referred to as Serbia proper , was the region of Serbia from 1945 to 2009. It included central parts of Serbia outside of the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. The region of Central Serbia was not an administrative division of Serbia as such; it was under the...
). Its core area was in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n-Vojvodinian
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
Podunavlje
Podunavlje
Podunavlje is the name of the Danube river basin parts located in Serbia and Croatia .-History:...
. The remains of this culture were discovered in the beginning of the 20th century near the village of Vatin
Vatin
Vatin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vršac municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 239 people .-Name:...
(Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
region, Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
province, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
). Real importance of this culture was, however, enlightened only in the end of the 20th century, when locality Feudvar near village Mošorin
Mošorin
Mošorin is a village in Serbia. It is located in the Titel municipality, South Bačka District. Mošorin is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in the south-eastern part of Bačka, known as Šajkaška. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 2,763 people...
was investigated.
Characteristics
Vatin culture was highly influenced by Mycenaean GreeceMycenaean Greece
Mycenaean Greece was a cultural period of Bronze Age Greece taking its name from the archaeological site of Mycenae in northeastern Argolis, in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. Athens, Pylos, Thebes, and Tiryns are also important Mycenaean sites...
and had already developed social differentiation of population. The culture also developed large central settlements, which were surrounded by smaller settlements and farms. Large settlements were economical and social centers, as well as seats of tribal leaders. These fortified centers had a defensive character and larger number of them existed in a wider area. The thick network of large fortified settlements represented example of collective defense of a wide space.
Main occupation of inhabitants of Vatin culture was agriculture and animal husbandry and it is assumed that they also produced beer. In many of the settlements, remains of children's toys were discovered. Tools, weapons and jewelry were mainly purchased by trade, but some larger settlements also had their own workshops that produced bronzed objects. One foundry of bronzed objects was discovered in Feudvar, and according to the researchers, it was probably used several hundreds of years. There are indications that people of the Vatin culture also had basic mathematical knowledge.
Localities
Localities of the Vatin culture are:- VatinVatinVatin is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vršac municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 239 people .-Name:...
- PančevoPancevoPančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
- OmoljicaOmoljicaOmoljica is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Pančevo municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village population is 6,518 people .-References:...
- Popov Salaš
- BelegišBelegišBelegiš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Stara Pazova municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,116 people .-History:...
- VinčaVincaVinca is a genus of six species in the family Apocynaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. The English name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus .-Description:Vinca plants are subshrubs or herbaceous, and have slender trailing stems 1–2 m long...
- VinkovciVinkovciVinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
- SotinSotinSotin is a village in eastern Croatia, located a few kilometers southeast of Vukovar by the Danube. It is administratively part of the city of Vukovar, and its population is 969...
- SarvašSarvašSarvaš is a village in eastern Slavonia, Croatia, located east of Osijek. It has a population of 1,539 . It is administratively located within the area of the city of Osijek....
- LovasLovasLovas is a village and seat of municipality in the Vukovar-Srijem county of eastern Croatia, located on the slopes of Fruška Gora, a few kilometers south of the main road connecting Vukovar with Ilok. Lovas has a population of 1,167 , and its municipality also includes the smaller village of...
- VukovarVukovarVukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...
- Feudvar near MošorinMošorinMošorin is a village in Serbia. It is located in the Titel municipality, South Bačka District. Mošorin is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in the south-eastern part of Bačka, known as Šajkaška. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 2,763 people...
- Novigrad na Savi
- LudošLudosLudoş is a commune located in Sibiu County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Gusu and Ludoş....
- VršacVršacVršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
- Židovar - Gomolava
- LjuljaciLjuljaciLjuljaci is a village located in the Knić municipality in the Šumadija District, Serbia. According to the 2002 census there was 369 people inhabiting the village, in 1991 the number was 475....
- DobračaDobračaDobrača is a village in the municipality of Stragari, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 493 people....
Further reading
- Dr Predrag Medović, Praistorija na tlu Vojvodine, Novi Sad, 2001.
- Dr M. Grbić, Preistorisko doba Vojvodine, Zbornik "Vojvodina", knjiga I, PROMETEJ, Novi Sad, 2008.
External links
- Vatin čeka arheologe - Vatin waits for archaeologists (in Serbian)
- Bronzano doba - Bronze Age (in Croatian)
- Dragoslav Srejović, Kad smo bili kulturno središte sveta, Beograd, 2001. - When we were cultural center of the World (in Serbian)
- Praistorija na tlu Srbije - Prehistory on Serbian soil (in Serbian)
- Praistorija na tlu Srbije - Prehistory on Serbian soil (in Serbian)
- Kulture bronzanog doba u Vojvodini - Bronze Age cultures in Vojvodina (In Serbian)