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On the Danube river, where it exits Hungry, in the middle of the Djerdap. Around the steep cliffs of Korso hills, in the iron gates gorge. Exists Lepenski Vir, one of the earliest establishments in Europe.

Vindicating a Serbian transition, the mesolithic iron gates culture, saw a neolithic transition exist In the Balkans, around 10,000 years ago. Lepenski Vir saw numerous developments beginning, and relating with the newly arrived European farmers (1).

On the left bank, Trescovăţ, a bare porphyritic (rock texture containing crystals) cliff (679 m (2,228 ft) high) rises
It may have been important as a solar observatory. (2)

Radiocarbon and AMS data suggest chronology from around 9500/7200 and between 5500 BC (3)

The site itself consisted of one large settlement, with around ten satellite villages. Where numerous well built pieces of architectural remains were found. As, well as artifacts and sculptures
Many archaeologist claim that the site, or ‘Lepena Whirlpools’, define early European architectural. And, neolithic European culture.

Seven successive settlements were discovered on the site. With remains of 136 residential and sacral buildings, dating from 7200 to 6000 BC

Completely standardized in design, but varying widely in size. The smallest of the
houses have an area of 1.5 m2 (16 sq ft) while the largest one covers 30 m2 (320 sq ft). (4)

They also had pit houses to utilize the natural and more constant temperatures of the ground

The homes; fish & human sculptures brought growth
Amoungst the sandy landscapes, houses were laid out, and built in parallel. It was beautiful.

There were settled wooden homes. Floored with sandstone, lime and homemade concrete. And, the walls were often covered with hardened limestone plaster
Sometimes they were even burnished in colour. With red and white pigments from the surrounding clay and loam. 10,000 year old style.

Most houses had a hearth, some a fish roasting spit, and that would of been centrally located for eating, socializing and relaxing
The late Lepenski Vir (6300–6000 BC) architectural phase saw the development of unique trapezoidal buildings and monumental sculpture (5)

Several of the houses also had alters. And, many had sculptures made of sandstone
Interiors of each house includes a fireplace (hearth) in the form of an elongated rectangle (6),(7).
Situated on the long axis of the floor plan, these fireplaces were built from massive rectangular stone blocks.

Fireplaces are further extended with stone blocks to create a kind of small shrine
in the back of the house
Shrines were always decorated with sculptures carved from massive round river stones and represent perhaps river gods or ancestors.

Did you know? Scientists discovered primitive lamp, the so-called “Magdalene lamp”, or a ‘rushlight’ with a wick made of moss. For when it was dark out.

Another significant feature: hallow circular depression in the ground located precisely in middle of the floor
This may represent some type of altar.

Sculptures, fireplaces, altars, tables, arranged square stones, round depressions and intriguing
triangles were all built (“concreted”) into the hardened porphyritic floors

Probably due to its proximity to the Danube river. The culture liked to combine humans and fish in there artistic creations
Once again defining early European culture. The community grew, expanded and loved.

Helping keep the settlement going. The whirlpools encouraged algae and fish
Farming communities begin to sprang up nearby. A culture known as Starcevo-Koro-Cris begin. They exchanged pottery and food with other traders and residents.

Did you know? Established in the 1970s. Derdap National Park, houses Lepenski Vir. It is about 510 square miles, or, 1330 square km. It can be visited to explore, hike, camp and bike. The park was the first designation of its kind in Serbia.

Like Çatalhöyük in Turkey (which was built around the same time). ‘Lepena whirlpool’ provides a glimpse into the neolithic. Its buildings, architecture, as well as art. Provide infrormation on the transformation from forgers, and fisherman; into the agricultural and neolithic period. Lets hear it for what some say, was one of the first settlements in Europe.

Cite: 1) Brami, Maxime (11 October 2022). “Was the Fishing Village of Lepenski Vir Built by Europe’s First Farmers?” (https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10963-022-09169-9). Journal of World Prehistory.
35 (2). Springer Science+Business Media: 109–133. doi:10.1007/s10963-022-09169-9 (https://
doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10963-022-09169-9).

2) Was Lepenski Vir an Ancient Sun or Pleiades Observatory? (https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1501/1501.01108.pdf)

3) late trap “LEPENSKI VIR – SCHELA CLADOVEI CULTURE’SCHRONOLOGY AND ITS
INTERPRETATION” (https://www.academia.edu/1558753). Rusu Aurelian, Brukenthal. Acta
Musei, VI. 1, 2011. 2011.

4) Hristivoje Pavlović (26 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira VII – Podni ukop ograđen
kamenom”, Politika (in Serbian), p. 23

5) “LEPENSKI VIR – SCHELA CLADOVEI CULTURE’SCHRONOLOGY AND ITS
INTERPRETATION” (https://www.academia.edu/1558753). Rusu Aurelian, Brukenthal. Acta
Musei, VI. 1, 2011. 2011.

6) Hristivoje Pavlović (23 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira IV – Zapanjujuća veština obrade
kamena”, Politika (in Serbian)

7) Hristivoje Pavlović (24 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira V – Različita tumačenja
enterijera”, Politika (in Serbian), p. 29

3) Hofmanová, Zuzana (2017). Palaeogenomic and Biostatistical Analysis of Ancient DNA Data
from Mesolithic and Neolithic Skeletal Remains (https://openscience.ub.uni-mainz.de/bitstream/
20.500.12030/863/1/100001355.pdf) (PDF) (PhD). Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

3) Hristivoje Pavlović (23 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira IV – Zapanjujuća veština obrade
kamena”, Politika (in Serbian)

4) Hristivoje Pavlović (24 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira V – Različita tumačenja
enterijera”, Politika (in Serbian), p. 29

5) Hristivoje Pavlović (26 August 2017), “Tajne Lepenskog Vira VII – Podni ukop ograđen
kamenom”, Politika (in Serbian), p. 23

Bibliography:

Sormaz, A. (2023). Lepenski Vir. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Lepenski_Vir/

“Upoznajte praistorijskog čoveka” [Meet the prehistoric man]. Exposerbia.rs (in Serbian). 2021.

Hirst, K. K. (2020). Lepenski Vir: Mesolithic Village in the Republic of Serbia. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/lepenski-vir-mesolithic-village-serbia-171664