The vast Pannonian Plain, encompassing parts of Romania, Hungary, and Serbia, was once considered a relative hinterland during the Bronze Age. However, recent satellite imagery has unveiled over 100 distinct enclosures in present-day Serbia, shedding light on a sophisticated network of settlements dating back over 3,600 years.
In a study published in PLOS ONE, archaeologists utilized satellite imagery to identify these previously hidden structures, forming a 150-kilometer belt along the Tisza River. The enclosures, protected by walls and ditches, were part of a network engaged in continentwide bronze trade during the Bronze Age.
Many of these structures were flattened over time due to agricultural activities, making them invisible from the ground. The research team, led by archaeologist Barry Molloy from University College Dublin, conducted ground investigations, discovering pottery fragments, stones for grinding grain, and animal bones at the sites.
The enclosures, dating between 1550 B.C.E. and 1200 B.C.E., are believed to have housed small settlements, each accommodating extended families. The purpose of the defensive earthworks remains unclear, but evidence suggests cooperation rather than conflict among the inhabitants.
The Bronze Age settlements were part of a larger trade network, contributing to a flourishing of continental trade and connectivity. The findings challenge previous perceptions of the Pannonian Plain as a backwater and provide valuable insights into the late Bronze Age in the Balkans.
While questions about the exact nature of the settlements persist, the discovery has opened up new avenues for archaeological research, connecting dots that were previously overlooked in understanding Bronze Age Europe.
The enclosures were eventually abandoned and deliberately dismantled around 1200 B.C.E., adding a mysterious layer to their history and echoing societal collapses seen in other regions during the same period.
As further research unfolds, the enigmatic Bronze Age megastructures in Serbia continue to contribute to a richer understanding of ancient European civilizations.