Content:
For over a decade, coring and augering at numerous prehistoric (Mesolithic to Bronze Age) sites in the central Balkan area have provided insightful information on site size, formation processes, paleo-topography, and small- or large-scale prehistoric earthworks. Samples taken from off-site cores have been used for landscape reconstruction, while samples originating from sites have provided valuable information on environmental proxies (e.g. by analysing biomarkers originating both from archaeological layers and different soils and sediments). Neolithic tell-site Vinča - Belo Brdo has been one of the numerous playgrounds for the application and development of coring techniques. In this presentation, a short history of development of augering methodology will be presented, from first baby steps over a decade ago, to full-scale field campaigns focused on specific research questions. Several other examples from Neolithic, Eneolithic, Bronze Age or multi-layered sites will be presented, focusing on a wide application of hand augering and quick, cheap, and reliable results that were obtained by applying this method.
Keywords:
Coring, Augering, Balkan Prehistory, Vinča - Belo Brdo