Late_Neolithic Macedonia_(region)

linguistic zones in macedonia @ end of 3rd millennium bce, according georgiev, map 2 introduction indo-european languages

the late neolithic period (c. 4500 3500 bce) represented both excavated , unexcavated sites throughout region (though should noted in eastern macedonia levels of period still called middle neolithic according terminology used in balkans). rapid changes in pottery styles, , discovery of fragments of pottery showing trade quite distant regions, indicate society, economy , technology changing rapidly. among important of these changes start of copper working, convincingly demonstrated renfrew have been learnt cultural groups of bulgaria , roumania north. principal excavated settlements of period include makryialos , paliambela near western shore of thermaic gulf, thermi south of thessaloniki , sitagroi , dikili tas in drama plain. of these sites densely occupied , formed large mounds (known local inhabitants of region today toumbas ). others less densely occupied , spread as kilometer (makryialos). both types found @ same time in same districts , presumed differences in social organisation reflected these differences in settlement organisation. communities concerned protect different kinds of defensive arrangements: ditches @ makryialos , concentric walls @ paliambela. best preserved buildings discovered @ dikili tas, long timber-framed structures had been organised in rows , had been decorated bulls skulls fastened outside of walls , plastered on clay.

remarkable evidence cult activity has been found @ promachonas-topolnica, straddles greek bulgarian border north of serres. here deep pit appeared have been roofed make subterranean room; in successive layers of debris including large numbers of figurines, bulls skulls, , pottery, including several rare , unusual shapes.

the farming economy of period continued practices established @ beginning of neolithic, although sheep , goats less dominant among animals had been, , cultivation of vines (vitis vinifera) attested.

only few burials have been discovered whole of neolithic period in northern greece , no clear pattern can deduced. grave offerings, however, seem have been limited.