Vinca

Village on the right bank of the Danube , 11km from Belgrade . Vinca is one of the major prehistoric archeological sites in Europe. The settelments were found beneath an old Serb necropolis ( 10th to 13th century ), a 10 m cross- section graphically showing all the layers.

As an economic and cultural center , Vinca has lent its name to what is known as the Vincian culture. This well developed Neolithic culture, which thrived from 4500 - 3200 BC , encompassed the central Balkans and a part of the Pannonian Plain and was without match in Europe in terms of the territory it coverd , the size of its settelments , and its artistic attainments. Its anthropomorphic and zoomorphic terra-cottas testefy to a highly- developed religion . Also found here were high- quality pieces of pottery , tools , and jewlery made from shelles ,as well as evidence of primitive foundries. Some researchers belive the signs preserved on Vincian pottery actually represent the oldest example of writing .