TWO COLLECTIONS AND TWO GREEK OBSESSIONS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19090/i.2020.31.197-216

Keywords:

museum exhibitions, interpretation, Miloje M. Vasić, Vinča, Miodrag Grbić, princely graves of the Central Balkans, philhellenism

Abstract

It has become a truism that museum exhibitions and interpretations are influenced by wider theoretical concepts and the author’s personal ideas. Winckelmann’s legacy is present in most of the European museums. Sometimes the concepts emphasizing Greece are perpetuated over decades, in spite of the fact that new archaeological interpretations contradict this neo-Classicist reading. Two examples will be offered to illustrate this situation. The first is the case of the Neolithic site of Vinča near Belgrade, excavated during several campaigns from 1908 to 1934 by Miloje Vasić. At the time he started researching the site, Vasić was the director of the National Museum in Belgrade and a professor of archaeology at the university. He argued that Vinča was a settlement of the Aegean colonists and an emanation of the Minoan and Mycenaean Bronze Age spirit. From 1934 on, he even identified Vinča as an Ionian colony from the sixth century B.C.E. After the First World War, Vasić ceased being the director of the museum and focused on the work at the university. At the same time, his Vinča interpretation was met with sharp criticism both in the Serbian and international archaeological communities and the site was firmly dated as Neolithic. Faced with criticism, even from the National Museum Belgrade, in 1929 Vasić established the University Archaeological Collection, where he placed material from the post-war excavations at Vinča and continued exhibiting his philhellenic interpretation. The second case to be presented is what is referred to as the princely grave from Novi Pazar, one of the most Iron Age important finds in the Central Balkans. From the middle of the twentieth century almost to the present day, a thesis concerning the Greek-Illyrian treasures has been perpetuated, although the new interpretations have clearly shown that both parts of this title are problematic.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

ALEKSANDAR PALAVESTRA, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy Department of Archaeology

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy Department of Archaeology

References

Babić, S. “ʻPrincely Graves” of the Central Balkans – a critical history of research’, European Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 5(1), 2002, 70–88.

______. “ʻTranslation Zones” or Gateway Communities Revisited: The case of Trebenište and Sindos’, Praehistory across Borders – From Aegean to Baltic Seas, Aegeum 27, 2007a, 57–61.

______. ‘Graeco-Barbarian Contacts in the Early Iron Age Central Balkans’, Balcanica XXI, 1990, 168–183.

______. ‘Greeks, Barbarians and Archaeologists – Mapping the Contact’, Ancient West and East, 6, 2007b, 73–89.

______. ‘Non-standardized Specializations: The Case of Trebenište’, in: I. Miloglav and J. Vuković (eds.), Artisans Rule: Product Standardization and Craft Specialization in Prehistoric Society, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018, 214–226.

______. Grci i drugi, Beograd: Clio, 2008.

______. Poglavarsvo i polis, starije gvozdeno doba centralnog Balkana i grčki svet, Beograd: Balkanološki institut. 2004.

Bandović, A. ‘Muzejski kurs i arheologija tokom II svetskog rata u Beogradu’, Etnoantropološki problemi, 9 (3), 2014, 625–646.

______. ‘Naučne mreže Miodraga Grbića i njihov uticaj na srpsku arheologiju’, Etnoantropološki problemi, 11 (3), 2016, 831–852.

______. Miodrag Grbić i nastanak kulturno-istorijske arheologije u Srbiji, Doktorska dis. Filozofski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu, 2019.

Chapman, W. R. ‘Arranging Ethnology: A. H. L. Pitt Rivers and the Typological Tradition’, in: G. W. Stocking jr. (ed.), Objects and Others. Essays on Museums and Material Culture,, Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1985, 15–48.

Chukalev, K. ‘Discovery of the necropolis at Trebenishte and History of the First Archaeological Investigations’, in: P. Ardjanliev, K. Chukalev, T. Cvjetićanin, M. Damyanov, V. Krstić, A. Papazovska and H Popov (eds.), 100 Years of Trebenishte, Sofia: National Archaelogical Institute with Museum Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, NI Archaeological Museum of Macedonia, National Museum in Belgade, NI Institute for protection of Monumens of Culture and Miseum – Ohrid, Sofia, 2018, 17–31.

Cvjetićanin, T. ‘Muzejska arheologija u Srbiji i mit o neutralnosti muzeja’, Etnoantropološki problemi, 13 (3), 2018, 575–594.

______. ‘Predmeti ili narativi. Arheološke postavke u Srbiji: utemeljenje muzejske arheologije’. Etnoantropološki problem, 9 (3), 2014, 575–596.

______. ‘Predmeti ili narativi. Arheološke postavke u Srbiji: doba artefakata’, Etnoantropološki problemi,10 (3), 2015, 557–593.

Đorđević, B., Radić, V. and Cvjetićanin, T. ‘Arheološka delatnost Narodnog muzeja’, Zbornik Narodnog muzeja, XVIII-1, 2005, 11–28.

Đuknić M. and Jovanović B. Ilirska kneževska nekropola u Atenici, Čačak: Narodni muzej u Čačku, 1966.

Džino, D. ‘Deconstructing “Illyrians”: Zeitgeist, changing perceptions and the identity of peoples from ancient Illyricum’, Croatian Studies Review, 5, 2008a, 43–55.

______. “ʻThe people who are Illyrians and Celts’’: Strabo and the iden¬tities of the “barbarians” from Illyricum’, Arheološki Vestnik, 59, 2008b, 415–424.

Fleming, D. The political museum, http://musingonculture-en.blogspot.com/2013/01/guest-post-political-museum-by-david.html, 2013. (Accessed July 2020)

Garašanin, M. ‘Formation et origines des Illyriens’, in: M. Garašanin (ed.), Les Illyriens et les Albanais, Belgrade: Académie Serbe des Sciences et des Arts, 1988, 81–144.

Grbić, M. ‘Miloje M. Vasić: Preistorijska Vinča I. Industrija cinabarita i kosmetika u Vinči’, Starinar, treća serija VIII/IX, 1933, 322–326.

Honour, H. Neo-calssicism. London: Penguin group, 1988.

Jackins, I. ‘Franz Boas and Exhibits: On the Limitations of the Museum Method of Anthropology’, in: G. W. Stocking jr. (ed.), Objects and Others. Essays on Museums and Material Culture, Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1985, 75–111.

Janković, M. (in preparation), ʻOd Vasićeve do Arheološke zbirke: 90 godina od osnivanja Arheološke zbirke Filozofskog fakulteta u Beogradu’, in: Arheologija, istorija i pamćenje: 90 godina Arheološke zbirke Filozofskog fakulteta u Beogradu. Beograd: Filozofski fakultet.

Jevtović, J. ʻUvod’, u: Popović, LJ. Antička grčka zbirka, Narodni muzej u Beogradu: Beograd. 1994. 8–9.

Krstić, V. ‘Trebenishte – Valley of the Kings: Excavations by Professor Nikola Vulić’, in: P. Ardjanliev, K. Chukalev, T. Cvjetićanin, M. Damyanov, V. Krstić, A. Papazovska and H Popov (eds.), 100 Years of Trebenishte, Sofia: National Archaelogical Institute with Museum Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, NI Archaeological Museum of Macedonia, National Museum in Belgade, NI Institute for protection of Monumens of Culture and Museum – Ohrid, Sofia, 2018, 33–41.

Lazić, M. Arheološka zbirka Filozofskog fakulteta u Beogradu. 85 godina u službi nauke, prosvete i kulture, Beograd: Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, 2014.

Lucas, G. Understanding the Archaeological Record, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Mano-Zisi, Đ. and Popović, Lj. Novi Pazar – Ilirsko-grčki nalaz, Beograd: Narodni muzej, 1969.

Mihailović, T. ʻMuzejska postavka protiv „jonske“ Vinče, ili o značaju Grbićeve stalne postavke u Muzeju kneza Pavla’, Glasnik Srpskog arheološkog društva, 34, 2018, 349–377.

Mihajlović, V. D. ‘Tracing Ethnicity Backwards: the Case of the “Central Balkan Tribes”’, in: C. Nicolae Popa and S. Stoddart (eds.), Fingerprinting the Iron Age. Approaches to Identity in the European Iron Age. Integrating South-Eastern Europe into the Debate. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2014, 97–107.

Mitrović, J. ʻMilan T. Mitić. 130 godina od rođenja i 100 godina od smrti zaboravljenog pionira srpske arheologije i jeromonaha SPC’, Andrićev institut. Istorijske sveske, 28, 2016, 29–31.

______. ʻNarodni muzej i arheološka baština u Srbiji tokom Prvog svetskog rata’, Zbornik Narodnog muzeja, XXII-1, 2015, 407–425.

Nikolić, D. and Vuković J. ʻOd prvih nalaza do metropole kasnog neolita; otkriće Vinče i prva istraživanja’, in: D. Nikolić (ed.), Vinča, praistorijska metropola, Beograd: Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu/ Narodni muzej u Beogradu/ Muzej grada Beograda/Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti, 39–86, 2008.

Ninković, V. ʻArheološko odeljenje Muzeja kneza Pavla’, in Muzej kneza Pavla, T. Cvjetićanin (ed), Beograd: Narodni muzej, 2009, 124–141.

Palavestra, A. ‘Landmarks of power: princely tombs in the central Balkan Iron Age’, in: D. Bailey (ed.), The Archaeology of value, essayes in prestige and processes of valuation, Oxford: BAR International Series 730, 1998, 55–69.

Palavestra, A. ‘Prehistoric Trade and a Cultural Model for Princely Tombs in the Central Balkans’, in: K. Kristiansen, J. Jensen (eds.), Europe in the First Millennium B. C., Sheffield: J. R. Collis Publications, 1994, 45–56.

______. ‘The Typological Symilarities of Early Iron Age ’Princely Burialas’ of the Balkans and Central Europe’, Balcanica XVIII–XIX, 1988, 83–88

______. ‘Vasić pre Vinče (1900–1908)’, Etnoantropološki problemi, 7 (3), 2012, 649–679.

______. Kneževski grobovi starijeg gvozdenog doba na centralnom Balkanu, Beograd: Balkanološki institut SANU, 1984.

______. Kulturni konteksti arheologije, Beograd: Filozofski fakultet, 2011.

Palavestra, A. and Babić, S. ‘The Princely Graves Landscape of the Central Balkans’, in: N. Bojović, M. Vasić (eds.), Sahranjivanje u Bronzano i gvozdeno doba (Burial Customs in the Bronze nad Iron Age), Beograd/Čačak: Narodni muzej Čačak/Arheološki institut, 2003, 203–210.

______. ‘Trebenište and the Princely Graves of the European Early Iron Age’, in: P. Ardjanliev, K. Chukalev, T. Cvjetićanin, M. Damyanov, V. Krstić, A. Papazovska and H Popov (eds.), 100 Years of Trebenishte, Sofia: National Archaelogical Institute with Museum Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, NI Archaeological Museum of Macedonia, National Museum in Belgade, NI Institute for protection of Monumens of Culture and Miseum – Ohrid, Sofia, 2018, 187–193.

Palavestra, A. and Krstić, V. The Magic of Amber, Belgrade: National Museum, 2006.

Palavestra, A. and Mihailović, T. ʻVinča: Vasićeva stratigrafska izložbena zbirka ili Grbićeva neolitska postavka?’, in: Z. Kuzmanović i M. Janković (eds.), Srpska arheologija između teorije i činjenica VI. Arheološko nasleđe, Beograd: Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, Odeljenje za arheologiju, Centar za teorijsku arheologiju, 2018: 66¬–71.

Popović, LJ. Antička grčka zbirka, Beograd: Narodni muzej u Beogradu, 1994.

Šelton, E. A. ʻMuzeji i antropologije: prakse i narativi’, u Makdonald, Š. Vodič kroz muzejske studije, Clio: Beograd, 2014. 98–122.

Vasić, M. M. Preistoriska Vinča II. Oblici grobova. Mistične oči. Igra na tabli. Datovanje Vinče, Beograd: Državna štamparija, 1936a.

______. Preistoriska Vinča I. Industrija cinabarita i kosmetika u Vinči, Beograd: Državna štamparija, 1932.

______. Preistoriska Vinča III. Plastika, Beograd: Državna štamparija, 1936b.

______. Preistoriska Vinča IV. Keramika, Beograd: Državna štamparija, 1936c.

______. ‘Colons grecs à Vinča’, Revue internationale des Études balkaniques, 1, 1934, 65–73.

Vassits, M. M. ʻDie Datierung der Vinčaschicht’, Praehistorische Zeitshrift, III, 1911, 126–132.

______. ʻDie Hauptergebnisse der praehistorischen Ausgrabung in Vinča im Jahre 1908’, Praehistorische Zeitshrift, II, 1910, 23–39.

Vranić, I. ‘The Classical and Hellenistic Economy and the “Paleo-Balkan” Hinterland. A Case Study of the Iron Age „Hellenized Settlements’, Balcanica, XLIII, 2012, 29–50.

Vujović, M. and Vuković, J. ‘Yours ever... ili ko je bila Ketrin Braun?: Istraživanja praistorijske Vinče i britanski uticaji za vreme i posle I svetskog rata’, Etnoantropolоški problemi, 11(3), 2016, 809–830.

Wheeler, M. Archaeology from the Earth, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1956.

Zimmerman, A. Anthropology and Antihumanism in Imperial Germany, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001.

Downloads

Published

12. 11. 2020.

How to Cite

PALAVESTRA, A. (2020). TWO COLLECTIONS AND TWO GREEK OBSESSIONS. ISTRAŽIVANJA, Јournal of Historical Researches, (31), 197–216. https://doi.org/10.19090/i.2020.31.197-216

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.