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Ancient DNA research in the past decade has revealed that European population structure changed dramatically in the prehistoric period (14,000–3000 years before present, YBP), reflecting the widespread introduction of Neolithic farmer and Bronze Age Steppe ancestries. However, little is known about how population structure changed from the historical period onward (3000 YBP - present). To address this, we collected whole genomes from 204 individuals from Europe and the Mediterranean, many of which are the first historical period genomes from their region (e.g. Armenia and France). We found that most regions show remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity. At least 7% of historical individuals carry ancestry uncommon in the region where they were sampled, some indicating cross-Mediterranean contacts. Despite this high level of mobility, overall population structure across western Eurasia is relatively stable through the historical period up to the present, mirroring geography. We show that, under standard population genetics models with local panmixia, the observed level of dispersal would lead to a collapse of population structure. Persistent population structure thus suggests a lower effective migration rate than indicated by the observed dispersal. We hypothesize that this phenomenon can be explained by extensive transient dispersal arising from drastically improved transportation networks and the Roman Empire’s mobilization of people for trade, labor, and military. This work highlights the utility of ancient DNA in elucidating finer scale human population dynamics in recent history.

This paper represents the first results of zooarchaeological analysis of animal remains from the fortified palace Felix Romuliana – Gamzigrad in eastern Serbia. The faunal material derives from the Late Antique (the second half of the 4th and the 5th centuries) and the Early Byzantine (the end of the 5th to the beginning of the 7th century) contexts investigated in the tower 15 of the later fortification which was built during the reign of Emperor Galerius (293–311) in the first decade of the 4th century CE. According to the results, some similarities and differences were noted between the periods in question. Namely, during both periods the most important animal was pig and the patterns of exploitation were similar. Cattle exploitation was oriented towards secondary products in both phases of the settlement, however, there is a slight decrease in cattle ratio and its size during the Early Byzantine period which could suggest the decline in the importance of this species though time. Regarding caprines, in the Late Antique period the local community mainly exploited secondary products, while in the Early Byzantine period the focus shifted to meat exploitation. Furthermore, the increase in numbers of indicated species was observed during the Early Byzantine period. The low amount of wild animal and fish remains suggests that hunting and fishing were periodically practised by the local population.

Research of the imperial palace in Sirmium started before the Second World War, while the systematic character begins with excavations of site 1a. In the last 70 Years parts of economic structures (site 31), as well as the parts of representative buildings (site 37), were researched. Of the highest importance was the exploration of the hippodrome (few sites) which further strengthened the interpretation of the buildings to the south of the hippodrome as imperial palatial complex. During the last 20 years in the NW part of Sirmium palace systematic excavations had been conducted in the course of 12 campaigns on the site 85. Architecture from different horizons has been investigated. One of the main results is the find of polygonal building which could be dated to the period of first decade of the IV century A.D. Based on the finds from the destruction layer one can assume that it was used as official building in the center of the imperial palace. Numerous fragments of imperial porphyry busts, fragments of luxurious architectural decoration, as well as large number of lead seals had been found in the destruction layer, on top of which new arrangement of structures has been built. Based on context of finds one can assume that destruction of this building had occurred in the second half of the IV century. During that period few annexes of the large building to the west had been established and the space of the previous official building has been converted into open space area. This reconstruction of the part of the palace could be dated to 8 th decade of the IV century A.D.

A recent study from Central Europe has changed our perception of the cat’s domestication history. The authors discuss how this has led to the development of an interdisciplinary project combining palaeogenetics, zooarchaeology and radiocarbon dating, with the aim of providing insight into the domestic cat’s expansion beyond the Mediterranean.

The paper presents a set of glass fragments excavated at several different locations within and outside the late Roman fortified imperial residence Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad, Serbia). This small group of eighteen fragments and mosaic glass tesserae are distinguished by their cobalt blue colour. The majority of the finds are mosaic tesserae (six pcs) and sheets of glass (five pcs), which could be related to architectural decoration (sectilia panels). Others are pieces left behind from secondary glass working (four pcs). There are also two fragments tentatively identified as window pane pieces, and only one find is a vessel sherd. The materials are dated to the 4th century. Significantly, some of the production debris and the two “window pane” fragments were found inside the destruction of a glass furnace. The analyses of the chemical glass composition of the finds confirmed that the blue colourant in all samples is cobalt, and antimony is also present at notable levels (except for one sample), likely to produce opacification of the glass. Regarding the origin of the raw glass, the data on almost all pieces suggests a Syro-Palestinian provenance, and a single sample could be related to Egyptian primary glass production. Importantly, the concentrations of the oxides added to the base glasses in order to modify the colour are positively correlated in certain samples, hinting at the makeup of the cobalt bearing ingredient and at a likely existence of particular production practices of the late Roman period.

The small northern gate or postern represents a part of the later fortification system of Felix Romuliana located between Towers 8 and 10 (fig. 1). It was excavated before1, however, researches of wider scope were performed for the first time in 2014, when two trenches examined the stratigraphy of this area2. One had the goal of investigating the structure of layers in front of the small gate entrance, while the other explored the space immediately outside the rampart for a length of 12 m (fig. 2). The surface in front of the gate represents a layer of lime mortar with occasional pieces of crushed stone immersed in it, created in the period of the building of the later fortification of Felix Romuliana. This level slopes northwards (towards the defence ditch), hence it was registered at 186.50 m ASL in front of the gate, while it measured 185.60 m ASL at the northernmost part of the trench 1. A layer of debris created during the collapse of the upper parts of tower 8 and the northern rampart covered the mortar level. During the excavations, it was impossible to determine the original level up to which this area was covered, considering the fact that large quantities of debris were removed in the 1990s. The point from which the research began is some 60 cm above the mortar level. Inside trench 1/2014, ca. 3 m from the northern rampart, a burial of an individual was discovered (G-1/14), simply buried into a layer of debris created above the mortar layer (fig. 3a). The mortar level was penetrated ca. 30 cm deep by this burial, hence, the deceased was laid in a layer of yellow clayish ground. The deceased’s body was laid on the back, oriented in west-east direction. His arms were crossed on his chest and his hands bent under the mandible. His left leg was partially bent outwards, and the right one was found broken at the diaphysis level of tibia and fibula. Judging by the context of the finding, the deceased’s body was laid into a simple burial pit, without any grave con

Докторска дисертација Aрхитектура царске палате у доба тетрархије. Felix Romuliana (Гамзиград) представља нови и свеобухватнији поглед на архитектуру касноантичке царске палате цара Галерија, недалеко од данашњег Зајечара (Србија), са свим специфичностима које карактеришу ову врсту тетрархијске архитектуре. Она има за циљ сагледавање, анализу и реконструкције остатака ансамбла Галеријеве царске палате у северном делу утврђења, ради потпунијег познавања и јаснијег тумачења овог резиденцијално-меморијалног комплекса. У раду су анализиране све тетрархијске царске палате које су грађене у новим престоницама Царства због одређених сличности и разлика које су кориштене за компарацију. Такође, анализирани су истражени остаци делова палате Д, њихови међусобни односи, али и односи палате са осталим елементима утврђеног комплекса, на основу којих су добијени нови закључци и релативна и апсолутна хронолошка датовања одређених целина. Сагледавани су и анализирани аспекти позиције утврђеног комплекса и прилаза истом, грађевински материјали, архитектонски украси, функционално-конструктивни и визуелни аспекти палате, као и живот и девастација њене изворне функције. Ова дисертација доприноси потпунијем познавању резиденцијално-меморијалног комплекса Феликс Ромулијана сажимањем резултата и анализа нових архитектонских истраживања на терену, и досада објављених стручних чланака и монографија, у мултидисциплинарном приступу који је примењен током истраживања., PhD thesis “Architecture of the Imperial Palace in the Age of Tetrarchy. Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad)” is a new and broader approach to the architecture of the late antique imperial palace of the emperor Galerius in the vicinity of city of Zajecar, Serbia, with all its specificities that characterize this type of tetrarchic architecture. The aim of the thesis is inspection, analysis and reconstruction of remains of the imperial palace ensemble of Galerius in the north part of fortification to gain a deep understanding and clear interpretation of this residential-memorial complex. The study includes an analysis of all tetrarchic imperial palaces built in new capitals of the Empire due to certain similarities and differences used for comparison. Additionally, already explored remains of the part of the palace D have been analyzed as well as their interrelationship and relation of the palace with other elements of the complex resulting in new conclusions and relative and absolute chronological dating of certain structures. Inspection and analysis cover aspects of position of the complex and access to it, construction materials, architectural decorations, functional-constructive and visual aspects of the palace and the life and devastation of its original function. This thesis provides full insight into the residential-memorial complex of Felix Romuliana since it covers results and analysis of a new architectural fieldwork and previously published scientific articles and monographs within multidisciplinary approach implemented in the research.

Arheološka rekognosciranja okoline Feliks Romulijane (Gamzigrad) i Rgotine. obavljena u saradnji sa državnim univerzitetom Floride, 2017. godine.

Doktorska disertacija Arhitektura carske palate u doba tetrarhije. Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) predstavlja novi i sveobuhvatniji pogled na arhitekturu kasnoantičke carske palate cara Galerija, nedaleko od današnjeg Zaječara (Srbija), sa svim specifičnostima koje karakterišu ovu vrstu tetrarhijske arhitekture. Ona ima za cilj sagledavanje, analizu i rekonstrukcije ostataka ansambla Galerijeve carske palate u severnom delu utvrđenja, radi potpunijeg poznavanja i jasnijeg tumačenja ovog rezidencijalno-memorijalnog kompleksa. U radu su analizirane sve tetrarhijske carske palate koje su građene u novim prestonicama Carstva zbog određenih sličnosti i razlika koje su korištene za komparaciju. Takođe, analizirani su istraženi ostaci delova palate D, njihovi međusobni odnosi, ali i odnosi palate sa ostalim elementima utvrđenog kompleksa, na osnovu kojih su dobijeni novi zaključci i relativna i apsolutna hronološka datovanja određenih celina. Sagledavani su i analizirani aspekti pozicije utvrđenog kompleksa i prilaza istom, građevinski materijali, arhitektonski ukrasi, funkcionalno-konstruktivni i vizuelni aspekti palate, kao i život i devastacija njene izvorne funkcije. Ova disertacija doprinosi potpunijem poznavanju rezidencijalno-memorijalnog kompleksa Feliks Romulijana sažimanjem rezultata i analiza novih arhitektonskih istraživanja na terenu, i dosada objavljenih stručnih članaka i monografija, u multidisciplinarnom pristupu koji je primenjen tokom istraživanja., PhD thesis “Architecture of the Imperial Palace in the Age of Tetrarchy. Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad)” is a new and broader approach to the architecture of the late antique imperial palace of the emperor Galerius in the vicinity of city of Zajecar, Serbia, with all its specificities that characterize this type of tetrarchic architecture. The aim of the thesis is inspection, analysis and reconstruction of remains of the imperial palace ensemble of Galerius in the north part of fortification to gain a deep understanding and clear interpretation of this residential-memorial complex. The study includes an analysis of all tetrarchic imperial palaces built in new capitals of the Empire due to certain similarities and differences used for comparison. Additionally, already explored remains of the part of the palace D have been analyzed as well as their interrelationship and relation of the palace with other elements of the complex resulting in new conclusions and relative and absolute chronological dating of certain structures. Inspection and analysis cover aspects of position of the complex and access to it, construction materials, architectural decorations, functional-constructive and visual aspects of the palace and the life and devastation of its original function. This thesis provides full insight into the residential-memorial complex of Felix Romuliana since it covers results and analysis of a new architectural fieldwork and previously published scientific articles and monographs within multidisciplinary approach implemented in the research.

Over the last sixty years excavations at the later Roman site of Felix Romuliana/Gamzigrad, in eastern Serbia, have brought to light numerous objects from the period of the Tetrarchy but also well-pre-served layers of the post-palatial period which have enabled researchers to identify the main charac-teristics of the site at the end of the fourth century and during the fi ft h. In this contribution we are presenting new settlement features and burial fi nds of this period. Various structures were erected within the earlier defence. Th ese did not respect the spatial organisa-tion of the previous palatial complex. A basilica was erected within the walls of an earlier audience hall, while textile workshops were established in some chambers of the palace. Th e empty space be-tween the palatial buildings, temples and baths was occupied by modest structures. Glass, metal and bone production is likely to have taken place within these buildings. During the same period elements of the fortifi cation (towers and porticoes) were adapted for the same purpose, as workshops and dwellings. Finds such as coins, fi bulae and specifi c types of combs enabled us to date the end of this phase to the end of the fourth and fi rst half of the fi ft h century. Th e end of this post-palatial period is usually seen as marked by the Hunnic incursions of the fourth decade of the fi ft h century. Th e fi nd of a grave outside Romuliana’s northern gate, dated to aft er AD 450, suggests that life continued in Romuliana in the second half of the fi ft h century.

Rimski Limes, odnosno granice nekadašnjeg Rimskog carstva, danas se prostiru na preko 7.500 km, kroz 20 zemalja koje okružuju Sredozemno more, čineći najveći i najduži spomenik kulturne baštine na svetu. Našoj zemlji pripada ako ne njen najlepši deo, onda svakako najuzbudljiviji. Arheolozi su na prostoru Gvozdenih vrata već bili prilično zaposleni u drugoj polovini XX veka, tokom izgradnje hidroelektrana Đerdap I i Đerdap II, koristeći poslednju priliku da istraže i spasu ono što je nakon nekoliko milenija preostalo od grandioznih kultura koje su se razvijale duž Dunava. U svet su tada poslate slike najstarije kamene skulpture sa Lepenskog Vira, ostataka najdužeg mosta sagrađenog u antici kod Kostola, rimskog puta usečenog u stene Đerdapske klisure, premeštanja Trajanove table... Predmeti su obogatili muzeje, saznanja o drevnim kulturama uticala su na nove generacije istraživača i nove kulturne teorije, a antičko nasleđe je, nažalost, najvećim delom potopljeno, dok su preostale fotografije i crteži jedina svedočanstva o njihovom postojanju. Međutim, kako se svet menja i savremene tehnologije ulaze u svakodnevnicu, tako i ono što je potopljeno, ustvari, nije izgubljeno. Još uvek postoji i može se zaštititi! Nakon decenija zaštitnih istraživanja, potom konzervacije onoga što je preostalo (Diana, Pontes), u mogućnosti smo da naš deo Limesa stavimo pod zaštitu UNESCO-a. Naravno, do toga se još mora dosta uraditi na zaštiti, i fizičkoj i pravnoj, ali prvi koraci su već napravljeni. Delovi Rimskog limesa u Britaniji i Germaniji su stavljeni na listu svetske kulturne baštine, a od 2012. godine Arheološki institut je učesnik u međunarodnom projektu čiji je cilj da ceo Dunavski limes bude pod zaštitom UNESCO-a. Kao nekada, pre skoro 2.000 godina, postaćemo deo Rimskog carstva, ovog puta bez upotrebe vojne sile i sa jedinim ciljem popularizacije i promocije kulturnog nasleđa. Publikacija koja je pred vama napisana je sa ciljem da pruži istorijske i arheološke podatke o rimsko, The Roman Limes, or the boundaries of the former Roman Empire, now stretching over 7,500 km through 20 countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea, making it the largest and longest monument in the world. If in our country is not the most beautiful part, then certainly it is the most exciting. Archaeologists in the area of the Iron Gates were already pretty busy in the second half of the twentieth century during the construction of Hydroelectric Power Stations Iron Gate I and Iron Gate II, using the last chance to explore and salvage what is left after several millennia of great cultures that had developed along the Danube. In the world were then sent images of the oldest stone sculptures from Lepenski Vir, of remains the longest bridge built in antiquity near nowadays Kostol, of Roman road cut into the rocks of the Iron Gates Gorge, of moving Trajan’s tablet... Items enriched the museums, knowledge about ancient cultures have influenced the new generation researchers and new cultural theories, and ancient heritage is, unfortunately, largely submerged and remaining photos and drawings are the only testimonies of their existence. However, as the world is changing and modern technology is affect daily lives, it turned that what is submerged is not lost in fact. It still exists there and, even, can be protected! After decades of rescue excavations, then conservations of what is left (Diana, Pontes), we are able to put our part of the Limes under the protection of UNESCO. Obviously, we still have to do a lot to protect sites in the meaning of physical and legal protection, but the first steps have already been made. Parts of the Roman limes in Britain and Germany have been already put on the World Heritage List, and from 2012 the Archaeological Institute has participated in an international project that aims to put the whole Danube Limes under the protection of UNESCO. As long time ago, nearly 2.000 years ago, we shall become the part of the Roman Empire, this time wi

Među fondom olovnih figurina božanstava u rimskom carstvu (Karta I), primerci iz oblasti jugoistočnog dela Donje Panonije i podunavskog dela Gornje Mezije zauzimaju posebno mesto. Izdvajaju se po specifičnim predstavama boginje Venere. U okviru grupe od 40-ak što celih, što fragmentovanih primeraka mogu se izdvojiti 5 tipova, koji se razlikuju prema stavu nage ženske figure kao i prema stilu izrade. Na osnovu toga se može zaključiti da je u ovoj oblasti postojala proizvodnja lokalnih radionica čiji proizvodi nisu bili zastupljeni u drugim delovima carstva. Takođe je uočeno da u istoj oblasti nema figurina iz drugih radionica. Ovo upućuje na pretpostavku da su olovne figurine boginje Venere rađene za potrebe lokalnih svetilišta. Moguće je da se jedno takvo svetilište nalazilo na lokalitetu 4 u Sremskoj Mitrovici, dok je lokalizacija drugog predložena u severnom delu naseobinskog dela Viminaciuma. Retki stratifikovani nalazi upućuju na mogućnost da se proizvodnja ovih figurina u oblasti izmeđ u Sirmijuma i Viminacijuma datuje u drugu polovinu III veka. Uočava se ista pojava i kod proizvodnje olovnih ikona podunavskih konjanika. Kako se tri najzastupljenija tipa figurina pojavljuju na lokalitetima gde su one najbrojnije, predložena je mogućnost da se proizvodnja odvijala u samim svetilištima., This paper deals with the occurrence of lead figurines of the goddess Venus in the area between the two cities of Sirmium and Viminacium. A classification into five types, based on stylistic and iconographic features, has been proposed. Although these types show features in common with products of other workshops in the Danubian basin, it has been observed that such products were not exchanged among the centres in the area. This paper puts forward the hypothesis that there were two centres of worship of the goddess Venus, in Sirmium and Viminacium, where these figurines could have been manufactured.

Nakon slučajnog otkrića kasnoantičkog sarkofaga, sprovedena su u Šidu zaštitna arheološka iskopavanja 1998. godine. Tom prilikom je otkrivena pravougaona podzemna građevina - kripta, u kojoj je bio smešten sarkofag. Kako su zidovi kripte u potpunosti bili devastirani, nije bilo moguće jasno razlučiti njen nekadašnji izgled. Pretpostavlja se da se ulaz u kriptu nalazio na severozapadnoj strani, nasuprot sarkofagu smeštenom kraj jugoistočnog zida. Takođe se pretpostavlja postojanje niše u jugozapadnom zidu. U šutu koji je ispunjavao prostoriju, pored fragmenata fresaka otkrivena je i jedna opeka na kojoj je neveštom rukom prikazana ljudska figura. Moguće je da je prikazivala naoružanu osobu sa šlemom na glavi i kopljem u desnoj, a štitom u levoj ruci. Sarkofag (G-1), načinjen od mermera iz istočno-alpskih rudnika, bio je bogato dekorisan. Izuzetno važnu informaciju o izgledu poznoantičkog oficira pruža nam predstava velikodostojnika na jednoj od niša frontalne strane sarkofaga. Prikazan je sa kopljem u levoj ruci, sagumom vezanim lukovičastom fibulom, oklopom sa pterigama, tunikom, mačem i bogato dekorisanim opasačem. Pretpostavlja se da je mač bio povezan remenom za opasač, dok se ušica nalazila na poleđini kanija. Kanija je ukrašena poludragim kamenom ili staklenom pastom. Celokupna predstava svedoči o identitetu visokog oficira, za čije potrebe je izrađen skupoceni sarkofag. U neposrednoj blizini kripte otkriven je slobodno ukopan grob pokojnice (G-2), koji je pored ogrlice od staklene paste i gvozdene britve, sadržavao i dve bronzane fibule otkrivene na ramenima. One su opredeljene u varijantu T fibula sa oprugom i šire datovane u IV vek. Otkriće dva groba i sepulkralne arhitekture upućuje na naseobinu koja se nalazila u neposrednoj blizini lokaliteta Beljnjača. Najverovatnije bi tu naseobinu predstavljalo imanje - vila čiji je vlasnik ili upravnik bio oficir prikazan na sarkofagu. Za sada nema jasnih indicija za preciznu lokalizaciju kasnoantičkog imanja u Šidu., After accidental discovery of the Late Roman sarcophagus in Šid there were conducted rescue archaeological excavations in 1998. On that occasion has been discovered underground rectangular structure - crypt where the sarcophagus had been placed. In the immediate vicinity has been discovered a grave of a female buried in simple burial pit. In this work we are discussing representations of soldiers on the sarcophagus, dating of the find and possibility of the villa existing in the immediate vicinity of the necropolis.