Les principaux problèmes de la préhistoire du Sud-Est Européen

Abstract

The fundemental problems of the prehistory of South-Eastern Europe are connected also to the Apenine Peninsula and can be summarized as follows : In the early neolithic period two big groups of civilizations are to be considered: The first, of the monochrome and painted ceramics (Starčevo, Criş, Karanovo, Proto-Sesklo, Sesklo, late phase of Dimini) is connected to the Near East; the second, of a more rough nature,«impresso»,in Italy is connected to the Adriatic world and to the groups of Körös (Hungary). The late neolithic is represented by the balcano-anatolian complex to which belong the groups of Vinca, Larissa, early Dimini (Tsangli) with its monochrome ceramic. The problem is to elucidate if the expansion of these groups took place
by a slow migration of primitive farmers of the South East or by a transmission of elements of civilization. The transitional period between the neolithic and metal age is the first indoeuropization that took place in the framework of many successive movements of steppe groups towards the South East of Europe. The problem is to discern these different movements and study the symbiosis of the indigenous
populations and the new-comers. The bronze age of South-Eastern Europe is characterized by a strong Mycenian impact (group of Dubovac-Žuto Brdo). During the transitional period between the bronze age and the iron age the peoples of the interior of the Balkans played an important role in the Aegean migration which has begun to be discerned now, e.g. the groups ofMediana on the Morava who took part in the destruction of habitations in Macedonia (Vardaroftsa, Vardina); the groups of Babadağ in Dobrudja and of Pšeničeno in Thrace who participated in the destruction of Troy Vllb 2. During the iron age a spiritual koine is traced in South Eastern Europe especially in votiv objects of illyrian or balkan provenance in the Greek sanctuaries, or burial grounds, e.g. in Vergina. Commercial relations of the tribal aristocracy of the early-balkan peoples and the Greek world are particularly close from the Vlth cent. B.C. (Trebenište, Novi Pazar), and this is the most important problem of this period to study. For the later periods up to the Roman conquest the study of the continuity of the autochtonous civilizations is important as well as the hellenization process in the regions close to Greece.