Österreichisch-Bulgarische Ausgrabungen in Karanovo, Band IV

The Austr.-Bulgar. excavations at Karanovo which are conducted by a joint team since 1984 have the aim to produce a detailed knowledge of the stratigraphy of the Tell settlement,- to achieve, whenever appropriate, a differentiated periodiz. of the cultural sequence, and to make available a broader material basis for the acknowledgement of the cultural process by means of an adequate find documentation. In a first excavation cyclus from 1984-92 (publ. in Karanovo Vol.I, 97) it were primarily the Early Neolithic strata which were studied; at the same time a new periodiz. system which for the first time defined and introduced the phases of Karanovo II-III and III-IV was elaborated (publ. in Karanovo Vol.II, 2002).- Vol.IV to be published next assembles the results of the second excavation cyclus (1993-99). In the newly researched area (Nordsüd-Schnitt) fourteen habitation levels were distinguished, the lower ones of which could be correlated with the upper ones of the former trench (1984/92 excavation). Thus the new cyclus (1993-99) fairly extended the knowledge on the chronologically succeeding stratas which represent the Late Neolithic (Karanovo III-IV and IV) and the Early Chalcolithic (Karanovo V) period, focusing on the Karanovo IV and V periods which are of special interest since they mirror the transition from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic era. By inclusion of excavation results which concern the Karanovo II-III and the Karanovo III-IV period the newly introduced periodiz. system has gained further support.- The new results are presented within 17 main chapters concerning the methods and the process of the excavation,- the observations on stratigraphy and its bearing on the periodiz.,- the architectural remains and the structure of the settlement as whole,- as well as the different categories of small finds; the latter include pottery groups from the Karanovo II-III, III, III-IV, IV and V periods respectively, followed by studies of the clay objects (statuettes, "Kulttischen", several categories of objects of profane use), bone and antler tools, stone instruments, and the flint industries; two further chapters deal with archaeobotanical finds (the animal bones will be presented elsewhere) and a series of C14 dates (which are important by coming from the, so far, less well known Karanovo IV period). In sum about 1900 small finds and 600 flints have been catalogued, described and analyzed with regard to their stratigraphical position. The analysis of rich pottery complexes leads to a coherent picture of the ceramic development and its single stages from the Karanovo II-III until the initial phase of the Karanovo VI period (with evidence for subdivisions within the Karanovo II-III and, esp. the Karanovo V period for which a tripartite scheme is developed). The pottery and the small finds are documented on 220 plates; the stratigraphy and the architecture of the respective habitation levels are represented on 13 additional plans ("Beilagen").