Radiocarbon dating of Sopot culture sites (Late Neolithic) in Eastern Croatia

Abstract

The results of radiocarbon dating of several Late Neolithic archaeological sites in Slavonia, eastern Croatia, are presented. According to the archaeological findings, the sites belong to the Sopot culture. Stages I-B, II-A, II-B, and III were identified at the eponym site Sopot near Vinkovci, stages I-B and II at the site Dubovo-Košno near Županja, while findings for other investigated sites (Herrmann's Vineyard near Osijek, Mandek's Vineyard from Otok, Privlaka near Vinkovci, and Slavča near Nova Gradiška) were placed to phases II and III. 14C results place the I-B stage to the period 5480-5070 cal BC, stage U-A to 5030-4770 cal BC, stage II-B to 4800-4250 cal BC, and phase III to 4340-3790 cal BC. These dates were compared to those obtained for other Late Neolithic cultures in the Pannonian Valley. The results confirmed the Protolengyel character of Sopot culture.