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NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN THE VILLAGE OF KLENAK, ON THE SAVA, IN RUMA MUNICIPALITY
Eight Millennia of Life
Excavations as part of protective archeological works on the route of the Ruma-Loznica highway have uncovered findings from almost all periods from the Starčevo and Vinča cultures. Houses, furnace remains, defensive trench, works of art, ritual and useful objects, necropolises, skeletons… A staggering 56,000 square meters have been explored, which is one of the largest excavations in the history of Serbian archeology. The study of the findings will take decades. Almost all the artifacts will be part of the permanent exhibition of the Homeland Museum in Ruma

The archeological site of Adžine Nјive Brajkovo 2 in the village of Klenak, on the Sava, on the southern edge of the Ruma municipality, was presented to the public at the end of May. It is a site that testifies to eight thousand years of life in this area. An area of almost incredible 56,000 square meters has been explored, which is one of the largest excavations in the history of Serbian archeology. The excavations are being carried out as part of protective archeological works on the route of the future Ruma-Loznica highway, and so far they have provided important findings, in many ways unique.
Experts from the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade, Dr. Miomir Korać (director), Dr. Miroslav Kočić, Dr. Dragan Milanović (research manager), Deputy Director of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Snežana Jejić and President of the Municipality of Ruma Aleksandra Ćirić spoke about it at the press conference.
– Findings from almost all epochs of human life in our area have been confirmed at the site itself – says Dr. Dragan Milanović. – Artifacts from the Neolithic, Copper and Iron Ages, Celtic and Roman civilizations, Slavic tribes, medieval states, all the way to the present day have been explored.
Models of beehives belonging to the Starčevo culture (flourished between 6300 and 5350 BC) are among the most interesting finds at this unique site. This indicates that Srem was one of the cradles of beekeeping 8,000 years ago!
– Remains of numerous houses from the period of the Vinča culture were found, with the remains of an oven and movable grilling racks. A huge defensive trench guarding the settlement was also detected. Extraordinary examples of works of art were found in the houses: figurines painted with mineral pigments and lamps in the shape of a human body – emphasizes Dr. Milanović.
Adžine Nјive is especially important for the physical remains of people – five Neolithic burial places, from the Vinča culture, were discovered there. It is the third site with Vinča necropolises, perhaps the greatest mystery of Serbian archeology. The second one is on the same beam, only a few kilometers away – Gomolava in Hrtkovci, a site of exceptional importance.
As Dr. Miroslav Kočić pointed out, the skeletons will be examined with the state of the art methods, and more will soon be known about the diet, health, and the way of life of those ancient people in general.
– The project does not end with the excavation itself – he adds. – One such impressive location will be the subject of research in the next few decades.

IN THE HIVE OF THE OLD CENTURY

Extensive nine-month archeological research has so far provided plenty of new data on the settlement of this area through all periods of the past, says Dr. Miomir Korać. As a society, we must do our best to preserve the rich cultural and historical heritage for new generations. According to Dr. Korać, the world is full of people who are interested in the distant past, and the site that testifies to eight millennia of human history is also very interesting as a tourist destination.
– All cultures that have alternated on this fertile Sava terrace during thousands of years of continuous life have been explored on Adžine Nјive – Dr. Dragan Milanović observes. – The remains of the settlements of the earliest farmers and stockbreeders of the Starčevo culture indicate that this stretch, which today is known to have the most fertile land in the Klenac area, also attracted people 8,000 years ago.
The Archaeological Institute notes that the findings of severed human heads from the Copper Age, ritually buried, stand out as curiosities. It is similar with the findings of the Celtic culture and the unique kiln for ceramics. An entire confirmed economic complex for processing and loading of grain stands out from the Roman period, unfortunately only the foundations were found; the ravages of time and human activity have erased any aboveground remains. Even three lead icons of the Danubian horseman found in primary contexts are significant (all other specimens are accidental finds). There are numerous finds of ancient money, tools and weapons, which also testifies to the importance of the site.
Aleksandra Ćirić, president of the Municipality of Ruma, also announced the help of the Ruman local self-government, because almost all the found artifacts will be part of the permanent exhibition of the Homeland Museum in Ruma.
– The municipality of Ruma is the only one in Serbia that has three archeological sites of exceptional importance. These are Gomolava near Hrtkovci, Basijana near Donji Petrovac and this newly discovered one, Adžine Njive Brajkovo 2, near Klenak – says Aleksandra Ćirić. – We will financially support the conservation of the discovered artifacts, in order to better present 8,000 years of history to both the Ruman public and scientific-research circles in Serbia and the world. We want to promote this site, to make it an important part of the cultural and tourist offer of our municipality.
Representatives of the ”Corridor of Serbia” point out that the archeological discovery will not slow down the works on the construction of the new highway, which crossed the ancient path of the ancestors. In cooperation with the Archaeological Institute, works on ”connecting the paths of the past and the future” and preserving the national treasure of Serbia are being carried out in a synchronized manner.

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Synergy
Explorations at the site ”Adžine Njive Brajkovo 2” are carried out in cooperation with the ”Corridor of Serbia”, the company ”Azvirt Srbija”, the Archaeological Institute from Belgrade, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Sremska Mitrovica, the Homeland Museum from Ruma and the Municipality of Ruma.

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Methods
State of the art methods of archeological research are applied at Adžine Nјive: non-invasive survey methods (developed by the Archaeological Institute in Viminacium), state-of-the-art 3D drone scanning technologies, photogrammetric documentation, digital databases… Everything excavated remains preserved and available for future research.