The beginning of the Neolithic in the central Balkans: Knowns and unknowns

Since 2020 a wealth of new data has been generated on the beginning of the Neolithic in the central Balkans. The picture that has emerged is broadly consistent with the Wave of Advance model, with the first farmers arriving in the region around 6250 BC and expanding gradually towards the north. In this paper, an updated review of the evidence and interpretations is presented, and potentially problematic or ambiguous aspects of the current interpretations of the Neolithic expansion in the Balkans are identified. Alternative hypotheses and means of their testing are also discussed. Po letu 2020 je na voljo mnogo novih podatkov o začetku neolitika na osrednjem Balkanu. Nova podoba je na splošno skladna z modelom vala napredovanja, pri čemer so prvi kmetje prispeli v regijo okoli leta 6250 pr. n. št. in se postopoma širili proti severu. V prispevku predstavljamo posodobljen pregled dokazov in interpretacij in potencialno vprašljivih ali dvoumnih vidikov sedanjih interpretacij neolitske ekspanzije na Balkanu. Obravnavane so tudi alternativne hipoteze in načini njihovega preverjanja.