Beyond the burial

For the first time, intact prehistoric burials have been discovered in the mountainous region of central Bosnia, fundamentally transforming our understanding of Late Bronze and Iron Age communities (1200200 BC) in the Balkans. While numerous settlements have long indicated dense occupation, burial practices in this region remained unknown. Previous knowledge relied only on scattered and disturbed finds, offering no reliable information about the individuals, funerary rituals, or social organization of these communities. The recent excavation of the Kopilo cemetery changes this picture substantially. The site reveals complex inhumation practices at a time when cremation dominated much of Europe. This unexpected choice raises important questions about cultural identity and the regions role in broader interactions between Central Europe and the Mediterranean during a pivotal period of social transformation. The cemetery contains multiple burials, evidence of deliberate manipulation of human remains, distinctive grave architecture, and a rich array of metal objects. These features suggest intricate social structures, possible family groupings, and far-reaching communication networks. Together, they provide an unprecedented opportunity to explore how prehistoric communities in the Balkans treated their dead and expressed social belonging. This project applies an innovative multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct past lives in detail. Anthropological and genetic analyses will determine age, sex, health status, and biological relationships among the buried individuals. Isotope analyses of strontium, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen will reveal patterns of mobility and diet, shedding light on whether these people were local or connected to distant regions. Chemical analyses of metal artefacts will trace exchange networks, while residue analyses of ceramic vessels may uncover substances used in burial rituals. Radiocarbon dating will establish a precise chronological framework. By integrating these datasets with archaeological evidence, the project will produce a comprehensive reconstruction of funerary practices and social organization. As the first systematically documented Bronze and Iron Age burial ground in this part of Balkans, the Kopilo cemetery represents a major breakthrough. The project will generate a substantial body of new primary data, significantly advancing knowledge of prehistoric social interaction, mobility, and cultural connections in Southeast Europe. Bringing together expertise in Balkan archaeology, anthropology, archaeometallurgy, radiocarbon dating, isotope analysis, and genetics, the research team is uniquely positioned to deliver high-impact results. The findings will not only illuminate local lifeways but also contribute to broader debates on cultural transformation and connectivity in prehistoric Europe