My OperaMACEDONIA IN PRE-HISTORY
Saturday, May 2, 2009 5:41:23 AM
The roots of mankind's existence in Macedonia are deeply related to Macedonia's geographical traits - climate, relief and biological resources. These factors (apart from the most important factor - mankind) will be the determining factors for the moment when a cultural community will spring here, how long it will last and to what extend shall it develop its culture. Maybe that is the reason for the rare and modest reminiscence from the Paleolith (ancient Stone Age) discovered on the region of the Republic of Macedonia mainly in the form of stone tools.
Neolith Epoch
Unlike the Paleolith, the Neolith is present with a large number of sites on the region of the Republic of Macedonia and is rich with findings.Above all, the Neolith was the age of agriculture and cattle breeding. Extremely important were the three elements: Sun, Water and Earth. At the time, Macedonia was the land of small valleys, mountains with rivers, streams, lakes and swamps. In other words, an ideal habitat for the Neolithic man.
The ruins indicate that the Neolithic man built permanent settlements on the region of the Republic of Macedonia usually in the fields, valleys, and plateaus, near sources of water or streams suitable for agriculture and cattle breeding. The settlements used to have up to 10 houses, with a fair distance between them, erected on mild inclinations or slopes turned towards the South to protect them better from natural disasters.
The tools used by the Neolithic man were made from stone and bone, while minerals with glass were used for blades.
Ceramic bowls were indoor objects. They were mainly used for cooking purposes and for storing food and water. They were decorated with ornaments made from clay or fingerprints or fingernail prints by means of which they created uneven surfaces. They were also coloured with lively colours from mineral origin. At the time, mankind was inclined towards the female principle; thus the main divinity was Mother Earth. Her figure was presented as a standing figure, made from stone or clay, about 10 cm tall with emphasized bosom and stomach stressing the fact that women give life to waters, Sun, plants, animals, even to man. Related to religion were the animal statuettes (usually animals that were part of the property) and the 3 or 4-legged sacrificial altars decorated with all sorts of ornaments.
These objects were placed in front of the fireplace located in the centre of the house where all the religious rituals took place.
Bronze cultural objects "Krivi Dol", Stip, Iron Age.
Ceramic objects from the Bregalnica region, Iron Age.
Metal Epoch
"Stone Age people discovered the metal. They learnt how to process it and to use it, and as a result, cultural development took place"
That was the beginning of a new epoch - the Metal Epoch that started with the period of copper (eneolith), bronz (halcolith) and ended with the period of iron (halshtad).
The settlements acquired a new image in that period. They were located in the river valleys and on important roads. They were built on strategically important and accessible inclinations.
Biconed one or two-handle ceramic pots and lamps were produced. The ceramic pots were not decorated with lively colors but with ornaments on the clay or by means of contrast on glossed and mat surfaces. In Iron time the pots were formed on the pottery unit and they were given regular forms. Most prominent objects were jugs, vases and cups. From the period of copper and bronz, several bronze axes and stone molds of such tools were found on the region of the Republic of Macedonia.
Jewelry became prominent in the period of iron, mainly related to religious beliefs. It was used as amulets for protection of evil spirits because people believed that these charms took them closer to the gods.
In this epoch the female principle faded away on account of the male principle. The supreme divinity became the heavenly Father-Creator that created the World by planting the seeds in the secondary Mother-Earth. These novelties can be found in the funeral rites: instead of returning the dead into Mother Earth, they delivered them to the Fire to free their souls from their bodies easier. They identified them with the smoke that had risen up into the sacred cosmic zones located in the heavenly spheres.
However, towards the end of this epoch, in the Iron period, the deceased were yet again returned to the Earth. Big tombs were created. They used to fill the tombs with everyday objects owned by the deceased; for example the warriors were buried with a couple of lances and the women with jewelry.
Bronze pendant "Suva Reka", Gevgelia, Iron Age
Fragment from a cult ceramic object, "Veluska Tumba", Bitola, Neolith
