Prehistory. Catalogue of the National Archaeological Museum, vol. XXIX

The collection of artifacts from the Prehistoric period currently exhibited in the Prehistory Hall of the National Archaeological Museum, is among the most numerous and varied collections in Bulgaria, and indeed the entire Balkan Peninsula. The artifacts on display represent the evolution of humanity across almost 1.6 million years. The collection shows not only evolution of technology and skills expressed in the improvement of tools and weapons, but also the evolution of the aesthetic and cultural values, and spiritual believes of our predecessors. Unique anthropomorphic figurines and vessels, a stamp with undeciphered symbols (perhaps the earliest known form of writing), exotic goods, evidence of long-distance trade such as a nephrite axe from the Alpine region, bracelets made from the Aegean Spondylus shell, a silver earring or pendant from Crete, and cups from the region of Troy are just some of the amazing finds on view.

Prehistory is a term used by archaeologists to describe the period that began with the use of the first tools by representatives of the Homo species, and ended with the invention of writing systems and the beginning of “written history”. Scholars subdivide it into several main periods, based on the predominant tool-making techniques. The following chronology is generally accepted for Bulgaria:

Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age):

Lower: 1.6/1.5 million - 250,000 years before present

Middle: 250,000 - 45,000 years before present

Upper: 45,000 - 10,000 years before present

Neolithic (New Stone Age):

Early: 6,200 - 5,400 BC

Late: 5,400 - 4,900 BC

Chalcolithic (Copper Age, Eneolithic):

Early: 4,900 - 4,500 BC

Late: 4,500 - 3,800 BC

Bronze Age:

Early: 3,200 - 2,000 BC

Middle: 2,000 - 1,600 BC

Late: 1,600 - 1,000 BC

***

Можете да намерите също и:

Праистория. Каталог на Националния археологически музей, том XXIX