In the northeastern region of Serbia, located near the Tamiš River, lies a newfound marvel—a sprawling Late Neolithic settlement, its secrets unveiled by the efforts of the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence team. Located near Jarkovac village in Vojvodina, the remnants of this ancient civilisation are spread across an impressive expanse of 11 to 13 hectares, encircled by four to six imposing ditches.

"This discovery is of outstanding importance, as hardly any larger Late Neolithic settlements are known in the Serbian Banat region," says team leader Professor Dr Martin Furholt from the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology at Kiel University.

According to the official press release, the team mapped the settlement's boundaries in March, shedding light on its vast reach and intricate layout. But the revelations didn't stop there. Through systematic surface surveys of the surrounding landscape, a trove of artefacts emerged, hinting at the prevalence of life within the Vinca culture, flourishing between 5400 and 4400 BCE, with traces of the Banat culture interwoven throughout—a rarity in the annals of Serbian archaeology.

"A settlement of this size is spectacular. The geophysical data also gives us a clear idea of the site's structure 7000 years ago. Only a few settlements with material from the Banat culture are known from what is now Serbia," says ROOTS doctoral student and co-team leader Fynn Wilkes

Venturing beyond borders, the team's quest for knowledge led them to Hungary, delving into the mysteries of Late Neolithic circular features, known as "rondels," attributed to the Lengyel culture. Armed with a blend of geophysical prowess and field surveys, they deciphered the temporal nuances of these ancient sites, unravelling their stories with newfound clarity. Archaeologists unearthed a settlement once deemed Late Neolithic, revealing itself as a relic of the Late Copper Age and Early Bronze Age Vučedol culture. 

(With inputs from the official press release)