Swastika-shaped pendants, gold, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found in so called Illyrian "princely grave in Novi Pazar, south-western Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.
In princely grave in Novi Pazar was buried one person, most likely female, a member of local tribal aristocracy. She was buried along with rich grave offerings, consisting of numerous luxurious items locally produced and imported from distant areas, such as ancient Greece, southern Italy and eastern Mediterranean.
Princely graves are typical burials of Iron age Balkan cultures, buried under massive artificial mounds made of ground and stones. In those graves were buried members of local tribal aristocracy, who were accompanied to the afterlife by rich grave goods. Items laid in their graves reflect their wealth, gathered by trade and cultural connections with ancient world along the Mediterranean.
***This picture depicts an archaeological artifact. It is posted only for educational purposes, promoting historical and cultural heritage. Not related to or promoting any political or ideological option***
“Mramorac” type gold belt decorated with swastika motifs and geometrical ornaments, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found in so called Illyrian "princely grave in Novi Pazar, south-western Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.
Mramorac type belts, named after first such artifacts found in Mramorac village, are mostly found in the basin of the Velika Morava river and middle Danube region in Serbia. These items are products of local workshops, made by imitating models from the Ancient Greece region.
Their length is usually between 1 and 1.2 meters. Most common ornament on them is swastika, together with other geometrical and floral ornaments, such as hourglass and palmette, made in repoussage technique. In most cases they were excavated in pairs, in Tribalian and Illyrian “Princely graves” buried under artificial mounds.
Mramorac belts were used by local tribal aristocracy, as luxurious items, and symbols of social status and prestige. They were mostly made of silver, with several known pieces made of gold.
In princely grave in Novi Pazar was buried one person, most likely female, a member of local tribal aristocracy. She was buried along with rich grave offerings, consisting of numerous luxurious items locally produced and imported from distant areas, such as ancient Greece, southern Italy and eastern Mediterranean.
Princely graves are typical burials of Iron age Balkan cultures, buried under massive artificial mounds made of ground and stones. In those graves were buried members of local tribal aristocracy, who were accompanied to the afterlife by rich grave goods. Items laid in their graves reflect their wealth, gathered by trade and cultural connections with ancient world along the Mediterranean.
***This picture depicts an archaeological artifact. It is posted only for educational purposes, promoting historical and cultural heritage. Not related to or promoting any political or ideological option***
Gold pectoral with geometrical ornaments, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found in so called Illyrian "princely grave in Novi Pazar, south-western Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.
In princely grave in Novi Pazar was buried one person, most likely female, a member of local tribal aristocracy. She was buried along with rich grave offerings, consisting of numerous luxurious items locally produced and imported from distant areas, such as ancient Greece, southern Italy and eastern Mediterranean.
Princely graves are typical burials of Iron age Balkan cultures, buried under massive artificial mounds made of ground and stones. In those graves were buried members of local tribal aristocracy, who were accompanied to the afterlife by rich grave goods. Items laid in their graves reflect their wealth, gathered by trade and cultural connections with ancient world along the Mediterranean
Helmet of Illyrian-Greco type, bronze, 5th century BC, found in Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade
Gold applicas, pectorals and pendants, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found inside so called Illyrian "princely graves" in Novi Pazar, south-western Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.
Princely graves are typical examples of Iron age Balkan cultures. They are buried under massive artificial mounds and are famous for valuable grave goods - amazing pieces of golden and silver jewelry made in local workshops, and imported objects such as amber items, fine pottery and multicolored glass from Baltic region, southern Italy, ancient Greece and eastern Mediterranean
Gold bead decorated with granulation technique, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found in so called Illyrian "princely grave in Novi Pazar, south-western Serbia.
Collection of National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade.
In princely grave in Novi Pazar was buried one person, most likely female, a member of local tribal aristocracy. She was buried along with rich grave offerings, consisting of numerous luxurious items locally produced and imported from distant areas, such as ancient Greece, southern Italy and eastern Mediterranean.
Archaeologists have found many gold objects in her grave such as famous “Mramorac” belts, earrings, rings, pectorals and pendants, locally made, bud under strong Greek influence.
Besides that, this prehistoric noblewoman was buried with more than a 1000 items made of Baltic amber – figurines and various forms of jewelry produced in southern Italy, and numerous luxurious objects originating from Ancient Greece, such as typical Greek painted pottery, bronze vessels and other items, as well as several pieces of jewelry made of glass beads.
Princely graves are typical burials of Iron age Balkan cultures, buried under massive artificial mounds made of ground and stones. In those graves were buried members of local tribal aristocracy, who were accompanied to the afterlife by rich grave goods. Items laid in their graves reflect their wealth, gathered by trade and cultural connections with ancient world along the Mediterranean
Necklaces composed of amber beads of different shape and size, Iron age period, 6th-5th century BC, found in one of “princely graves” in Atenica, vicinity of Čačak, western Serbia.
Collection of Museum in Čačak.
Amber from Iron age burials in western Serbia originates from the Baltic region in northern Europe. It was reaching Balkans region via trade routes along the Danube from Central Europe and from Italy via trading relations with communities on the Adriatic coast.
Two massive burial mounds made of stones and dirt were found in Atenica, containing graves of man and woman, members of local Tribalian or Illyrian aristocracy. They were buried with rich grave goods, gold, silver, glass and amber jewelry, metal and ceramic vessels, boxes with lids made of bone and horse equipment, which testify about rich material culture of Balkan tribes. Native local creations are enriched with imported objects from southern Italy, ancient Greece, Black sea region and Pontic steppes north of the Black sea in present-day Ukraine and Russia.
In a grave of a man archaeologists have found pieces of ancient weaponry, swords, spears, arrowheads and shields. Also, there were remains of a cart drag by horses, on which body of this man was carried to the burial stake and burnt.
Imports from Ionic Greek colonies from the Black sea came via trade routes along the Danube river, while items made by Scythians, such as distinctive three-lobed arrowheads were acquired by direct contacts with these nomadic people.
Princely graves are typical burials of Iron age Balkan cultures, buried under massive artificial mounds made of ground and stones. In those graves were buried members of local tribal aristocracy, who were accompanied to the afterlife by rich grave goods. Items laid in their graves reflect their wealth, gathered by trade and cultural connections with ancient world along the Mediterranean
