Pločnik Vinča Settlement
Pločnik Archaeological Site · Vinča Pločnik
Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic·Vinča·🇷🇸 Toplica District, Prokuplje, Serbia
About
About Pločnik Vinča Settlement
Vinča culture settlement at Pločnik (c. 5500–4700 BCE) on Toplica River terrace, renowned for earliest copper metallurgy (c. 5000 BCE), pit houses and Vinča figurines. Estimated 120 ha village with copper slag and thermal installations.
Why it mattersEarliest evidence of copper metallurgy in Europe (c. 5000 BCE), Vinča type-site for metallurgy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Independent invention of copper metallurgy
- 02120 ha size estimate
Theories
- 01Earliest copper smelting centre in Old Europe
- 02Vinča proto-urban agglomeration
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 5500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic
- Culture
- Vinča
- Purpose
- Farming village and early metallurgy centre
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 19th–20th century
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 5500 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Pločnik Vinča Settlement
19th century / 1960s
Antiquarian notice and modern systematic excavation of Pločnik Vinča Settlement
2000s
Conservation and publication of final reports for Pločnik Vinča Settlement
On the ground
Structures & features
43.2106° N · 21.3645° E · 285 m · 3 mapped features
Copper Smelting Workshop
industrialThermal installation with copper slag and malachite near river terrace
43.2108° N · 21.3646° EPit House 3
houseWattle-and-daub pit house 4×5 m with hearth and Vinča figurines
43.2105° N · 21.3645° EVinča Figurine Scatter
findspotConcentration of anthropomorphic figurines near central area
43.2108° N · 21.3643° E