Settlement Sites Research Articles

Genetic structure of the population of wild-growing vines of the Utrish Nature Reserve.

Grapes are one of the most common agricultural crops in the world. Currently, the analysis of genotypes directly at the DNA level is considered to be the most accurate method for studying the plant gene pool. The study of wild vines and ancient varieties in various regions of viticulture is an important direction of research in this field. The purpose of this work was to study the population of wild grapes growing on the territory of the Utrish Nature Reserve on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Region. The territory of the reserve is of interest as it is a site of ancient settlements, and the environmental conditions are suitable for the growth of wild grapes. During the survey of the territory, 24 samples of wild grapes were found, which were described according to the main morphological characteristics and analyzed by the molecular genetic method. The found vines were genotyped using 15 DNA markers, including nine commonly used for DNA fingerprinting (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VrZAG62, VrZAG79) and VVIb23, which allows determining hermaphrodite and dioecious vines. Statistical processing of microsatellite loci polymorphism data was carried out using the GenAlEx 6.5 program. The genetic relationships of the studied vines were evaluated using the PAST 2.17c program. The samples were found to be morphologically and genetically polymorphic. The number of alleles identified in the sample varied from 5 to 18 and averaged 8 alleles per locus. Statistical processing of DNA analysis data made it possible to identify two genetically different populations among the wild discovered vines. An assessment of genetic similarity of the found vines with some local varieties of geographically close viticulture regions, rootstocks and representatives of Vitis sylvestris from other territories was made. One of the populations found in the Utrish Nature Reserve is close to a number of V. sylvestris genotypes, the DNA profiles of which are presented in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue.

Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka lagoon in the western Gulf of Riga

Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka palaeolagoon in the western Gulf of Riga are reconstructed using multiproxy analyses by combining litho‐, biostratigraphical and chronological data with remote sensing and geophysical data. The results show the development of the Ģipka basin from the Ancylus Lake/Initial Litorina Sea coastal zone (before c. 9.1 cal. ka BP) to coastal fen (c. 9.1 to 8.4 cal. ka BP) and gradual development of the Litorina Sea lagoon (c. 8.4 to 4.8 cal. ka BP) and its transition to a freshwater coastal lake (c. 4.8 to 4.6 cal. ka BP), fen (c. 4.6 to 4.2 cal. ka BP), and river floodplain (since c. 4.2 cal. ka BP). The highest shorelines of the Ancylus Lake and Litorina Sea were mapped at an elevation of 12–11 and 9 m a.s.l., respectively. A new relative shore level (RSL) curve for the western Gulf of Riga was constructed based on RSL data from the Ģipka area and from nearby Ruhnu Island studied earlier. The reconstruction shows that the beginning of the last marine transgression in the western Gulf of Riga started at c. 8.4 cal. ka BP, and concurred with the 1.9 m RSL rise event recorded from the North Sea basin. Diatom analysis results indicate the existence of the Ģipka lagoon between c. 7.7 and 4.8 cal. ka BP, with the highest salinity c. 6.1 cal. ka BP. During the existence of the brackish lagoon, settlement sites of the Neolithic hunter–gatherer groups existed on the shores of the lagoon in the period c. 6.0 to 5.0 cal. ka BP.

Absence of evidence or evidence of absence? The microarchaeology of an ‘empty’ square enclosure of the Late Iron Age La Tène Culture

Archaeological features without macro-finds (i.e. finds visible with the naked eye) represent a common phenomenon that poses considerable methodological problems in interpretation. To tackle these problems, we present an approach based on integrating micro-archaeological methods and macro-observations to help elucidate ‘invisible’ activities or at least to exclude certain others. Specifically, we combine micromorphological and micro-debris analyses with the scarce macro-finds and their fragmentation degree to clarify whether the lack of evidence for certain activities really reflects their absence or merely bad preservation conditions. This study focuses on a Late Iron Age ‘empty’ enclosure excavated in the settlement site of Haselbach, Lower Austria. ‘Empty’ square enclosures of the La Tène Culture have been controversially interpreted as either sanctuaries, domestic buildings or burial enclosures, although these interpretations were rarely supported by any material evidence. Using a multi-proxy approach enables us to reconstruct the formation processes of the Haselbach feature as well as to rule out a range of activities, although a clear definition of its primary function was not reached. Based on our case study, we propose a research protocol that can be applied to research on similar ‘empty’ features in order to better validate their functional interpretations.

Soil and spatial analyses in the assessment of the focal point of the extinct medieval royal burgh of Roxburgh

The ‘lost’ royal burgh of Roxburgh in the Scottish borders is arguably one of the most important archaeological settlement sites in Scotland of the medieval period. Although short-lived, being occupied as an urban centre for just around 300 years, in its heyday, it was a royal residence, jurisdictional and administrative seat, and regional focus of economic activity and international trade. Presently however, very little surviving above-ground trace remains of this once dynamic settlement. With a Scheduled Monument status (No. 4284), activity on-site is now restricted to prevent damage to the below-ground archaeology. This study explores the locale(s) of Roxburgh’s main thoroughfare in the Friars’ Haugh area during its occupation through the spatial analysis of soil data coupled with historical records and findings from past research studies. The aim of the study is two-fold; (1) to determine the viability in the investigation of archaeological landscapes of standard, relatively non-invasive low-cost analytical techniques applied in the study, as permissible on sites with Scheduled Monument status, (2) in synergy with previous geophysical, and geoarchaeological studies carried out on the site, provide new evidence and/or corroborate the existing knowledge base in advancing the discourse on the history and development of Roxburgh. The study area encompasses the putative location of the main street as identified in a previous study by GSB Prospection and Wessex Archaeology. Suites of soil markers (phosphorus concentration, magnetic susceptibility, organic carbon content, and soil pH), were used to demarcate zones of high to low activity through quantitative changes in the concentration and/or value of these markers. Potable optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) analysis was used to investigate depositional history that revealed a progressive accumulation of materials of proximal origins, however, evidence of mixing of sediments is discernible. The spatial distribution of soil markers across the site shows two zones of substantial enhancement, revealing potentially a second thoroughfare on the west of the site (site B), in addition to the main thoroughfare on site A which overlaps with the site identified in previous studies.

Exploring Affordances: Late Neolithic and Bronze Age Settlement Locations and Human-Environment Engagements in Southeast Norway

With the concept of affordance at its core and a method developed to assess settlement site locations using GIS, this paper aims to provide an improved and more nuanced understanding of the placement of longhouse settlements in the landscape during the Late Neolithic (LN) and Bronze Age (BA), and address what these locations can tell us about past human–environment relationships. While the results align with many of the criteria outlined in previous research on site locations, the study also reveals some temporal and spatial differences within the study area of southeast Norway, suggested to reflect specific relations and local affordances visible through the composition of site location variables. The results strongly indicate that the region’s woodlands heavily influenced LN/BA people and that the many different affordances of the forest likely were fundamental constituents of their life. The developed method and the results of the analysis also indicate the existence of some meaningful distances between where people situated their houses and certain variables, albeit varying slightly over time.

Stone hammer-axes in the context of the Early Bronze Age features in Moravia

Finds of stone hammer-axes are relatively uncommon in the context of the Early Bronze Age, not just in Moravia. They are more frequently encountered in the funeral environment while their occurrence in settlement contexts can be described as exceptional. The two newly presented boat-shaped doubleedged hammer-axes originate from both a settlement site (Držovice, ‘Díly odvrahoviční’) and a grave (Olomouc-Slavonín, ‘Horní lán’) of the Únětice culture in central Moravia. What had been a common and significant male attribute in graves of the Corded Ware culture (and partially in the EpiCorded complex) became a rarity during the Early Bronze Age. This was especially in the milieu of the Únětice culture, as the stone industry gradually gave way to the metal industry. Finding analogies to the custom of depositing a stone hammer axe in settlement pits or graves as an offering is not uncommon in Moravia, Bohemia and the neighbouring regions. This is usually the heritage of the Corded Ware culture and it remains speculative whether these were clearly secondarily used objects (archaics) or contemporary imitations of earlier models. Both of the recently found hammer-axes differ from those of the Corded Ware culture, raising questions about Únětice’s own production, as local materials (siltstone, sandstone) were used in their making. The archaeological assemblage from the Držovice settlement is dated to the earlier period and the inhumation grave from Olomouc-Slavonín to the classical period of the Únětice culture. The practical function and the symbolic role of these artefacts are not yet precisely understood. Their finds are not abundant, but they come from diverse archaeological contexts, ranging from common settlement pits to modestly equipped graves and even rich male burials.

Ecological and evolutionary aspects of the nesting life of black-headed gulls <i>Larus ridibundus</i>) as a colonial breeding species

This article analyzes the ecological and evolutionary aspects of the nesting life of the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), which leads a synanthropic lifestyle and forms colonies during the breeding season. The number of individuals belonging to this species began to increase rapidly at the end of the 19th century, which is a manifestation of one of the criteria for biological progress. This direction of evolution is associated with an increase in the level of adaptability of descendants in comparison with their ancestors. The progressive nature of the development of the species affects the stages of the annual life cycle, which includes the pre-breeding and nesting periods. During the pre-nesting period, birds arrive in the nesting area and select a site for the colonial settlement. Arrival dates are determined by temperature, the state of aquatic ecosystems and the physiological characteristics of birds. The nesting period includes the construction of a nest in a certain part of the territory on which the colony is being built. The process of colony formation occurs in stages: single nests, microcolonies, biological center. After the formation of the biological center, nests are built on the periphery. The formation of this part of the colony according to the same stages as the biological center. The biological center deals with the birds that arrive first on the territory of the colony. This area within the colony differs from the periphery in early terms of formation and high density of nests. In the formed colony, the biological center and periphery are distinguished. The colony as a supraorganismal structure is built under the influence of environmental factors that provide a sufficient level of adaptability of this group of individuals to the environment. The obtained materials will make it possible to study monospecific and polyspecific colonies as groups of individuals that exist on the basis of the manifestation of biocoenotic relationships.

The reproduction of informal settlements in Santiago: Housing policy, cycles of repopulation and the ‘politics of poverty’ as a regime of government

This article analyses the persistence of informal settlements in the city of Santiago, Chile, between 1990 and 2018, a period of democratic governments characterised by falling poverty rates and – paradoxically – state efforts to reduce informality by increasing the provision of housing for low-income groups. Based on a qualitative study that includes document analysis and interviews with poor urban residents and governmental actors, I describe one mechanism of informal housing reproduction: the cyclical repopulation of informal urbanisations, that is, the intertwined processes of relocation of informal residents and the reoccupation of settlement sites by new families. In contrast to dichotomous understandings of informality that explain informal housing as produced by residents’ poverty, the article shows that repopulation cycles respond to a regime of government structured around what I call a ‘politics of poverty’, a framework that labels informal settlements as ‘spatial concentrations of poverty’, therefore creating spatial zones of intervention. While this helps the state to target informal settlements as subjects of poverty policies, residents mobilise the policy’s categories to legitimate informal practices.

DIGITAL HERITAGE AND PRESERVATION: AERIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND LIDAR APPLIED TO THE MAPPING OF KAPAYUWANAN, INDIGENOUS PAIWAN SETTLEMENTS, TAIWAN

Abstract. This paper discusses the application of UAV and Terrestrial photogrammetry and LiDAR for mapping Taiwanese indigenous Settlements. The relics of Taiwanese indigenous settlements with thousands history are widely distributed in deep forestry mountains with inconvenient transportation. Kapayuwanan is the original place of paiwan indigenous people. Firstly, UAV photogrammetry is applied for mapping supayuan settlement of 8 hectares and those stone houses invisible under dense forest are drawn by in-site investigation. Then UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR are used to document the larger area of Kapayuwanan of 36 hectares and terrestrial Lidar for the area of 1.2 hectares sorted out. It can not only obtain the accurate topography, landscape with architecture but also reveal the hidden settlements, such as roads, stone slab houses, irrigation landscape under the dense forest. Accuracy mapping is fundamental for future preservation planning and virtual conservation.Shaping the future is from revealing the Past. That is crucial to document, understand, and preserve the precious cultural heritage. Documenting with immediacy, high resolution, high manoeuvrability become possible because of the rapid developments of digital technologies in the recent two decades. It’s astonishing, in the case of Taiwanese indigenous archaeological settlements sites, UAV photogrammetry and Lidar can successfully reveal the relics of stone slab houses in such a sever site – steep slopes, dense forestry with plantation in biodiversity. The reveal of settlements with reclaimed landscape verifies oral transmission of indigenous people as well . Digital technologies support the contention of archaeology, anthropology, heritage preservation, and cultural landscape, indispensable for revealing the past and shaping the future.

Recent Archaeological Survey of Gidan Boji Settlement Site at Kwatarkwashi, Zamfara State, North-Western Nigeria

This paper presents a report and the findings of an archaeological survey carried out at Gidan Boji, an ancient settlement site in the Kwatarkwashi area in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria. The Kwatarkwashi area is one of the early centres of human occupation in Hausaland. The paper identified new sites of ancient human settlements in the Kwatarkwashi area that have not been described by previous studies. However, the most impressive of these newly identified sites in terms of size and structure is the Gidan Boji, which is the focus of this paper. The survey yields a wealth of archaeological finds including traces of homesteads, granary foundations, different types of defensive systems, grinding stones and pottery. Above all, the existence of defensive walls and several cave shelters suggests a fairly developed system of defense. This further confirms the existence of a settled society which a fairly well-developed material culture at a particular time in the past. For a clearer picture of the history, peopling and settlement pattern of Gidan Boji to be understood, the paper call for more attention towards systematic documentation of the entire sites and excavation around the Kwatarkwashi inselbergs. With more funds and collaborations, thorough archaeological investigation can be activated to study different aspects of the cultural history of the area as a similitude to the Nok Culture archaeological project.

Ancient river fishing utensils in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula: the Miño river basin between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD

This paper presents a brief overview of fishing in Galicia during Antiquity on the basis of fishing equipment—in particular hooks and weights—recovered from several sites of indigenous origin (castros or hill forts) and newly-established Roman settlements around the basin of the Miño river. Although the topic has often passed unnoticed by archaeological research and suffers from a distinct lack of literature to guide future efforts, the more or less recent publication of papers dealing with this topic in depth has facilitated the study of the Galician record, which is supported by literary and iconographic sources as well as ethnographic documents. The latter have proved relevant in this context, as the world of fishing tends to hold on to traditions. The author sets out to establish a correlation between the remains of fishing implements found and the possible fishing gear they would have been attached to.

Hunte 4: Re-validation of a Bell Beaker domestic site in the Dümmer region in northwestern Germany

Abstract One of the few areas of the central North European Plain with settlement structures of the Single Grave groups (SG) as well as the Bell Beaker (BB) phenomenon is the Dümmer region in northwestern Germany. This region is characterised by extensive wetlands on the southern border of the Northern Lowland and has been subject of several research projects on Mesolithic and Neolithic sites since the last century. Archaeological prospections in the 1940s led to the detection of a domestic site of the BB groups at the Hunte 4 site. In 2020, new research was carried out at this site, which, through the integration of archaeology, geophysics and palynology, identified a Late SG and BB site and reconstructed the surrounding landscape. In contrast to the Hunte 1 settlement with building structures 2.5 km to the south, which also shows SG and BB activities, the results of the investigations at Hunte 4 point to a temporary use of the site. Consequently, a settlement system can be reconstructed in the region of the Dümmer for the second half of the third millennium and at the beginning of the second millennium BCE, which consisted of at least one permanent settlement and at the minimum one temporarily used sites – several more could be presumed but have to yet be localised. At the same time, the Dümmer region marks the southern border of a settlement system in the central Northern European Plain which is characterised by less domestic site, less permanent settlement sites and buildings structures. This contrasts with the increasing number of known settlement sites in the surrounding regions of the central Northern European Plain and suggests a higher translocality of individuals and groups in this area.

Good neighbors? Does aggregation of nests in an Arctic-breeding shorebird influence daily survival rates?

Our current understanding of the factors that influence where birds nest is incomplete, yet such information is important for accurate demographic assessments. To address questions related to spatial distributions of shorebird nests and to evaluate factors that may affect nest distribution in these species, during 2017 and 2019, we studied a small population of semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla breeding in the Central Canadian Arctic, near the Karrak Lake Research Station, in Nunavut. The spatial distribution of semipalmated sandpiper nests at this site suggested loose aggregation, with median nearest neighbor distances of 73.8 m and 92.0 m in 2017 and 2019, respectively, while no nests were detected on mainland areas in the vicinity. Evidence for the influence of nesting distribution on the daily survival rate of nests, however, was mixed. Neither nearest neighbor distance nor local nest density had a significant effect on daily nest survival in 2017, but in 2019, the best approximating model included an effect of local nest density, which indicated that nests in areas of high density had reduced survival rates. Contrary to other studies assessing settlement and nest site selection in semipalmated sandpipers, the spatial distribution of nests in this population demonstrates aggregation in an otherwise territorial species, but suggests that aggregated nesting can impose a cost on nest survival under certain conditions.

Discovered Funeral Content in the Graves and Cemeteries of Tell Hanas

The funeral contents discovered in the ancient graves and cemeteries are considered an important source of the archaeological finds in different ages and one of the information sources that shows the ancient religious beliefs concerning the death and the life after death. Their importance lies in the detailed information they provide about the ancient beliefs related to death and the life after death and also the information about the ancient Iraqi populations and the level of the religious, cultural, economic and political development and progress. These contents also help to identify the types of vessels and tools they used in their daily life and explaining the purpose of their presence inside those graves. The research focused on the funeral contents that were discovered in the graves and cemeteries of Tell Hanas to be the subject of this research as they are the most important archaeological finds in Makhul area as the research topic because these finds are the most important ones discovered in Makhul area. The current research is limited to the funeral contents found in Tell Hanas graves and cemeteries, which is one of the most essential sites in Makhul that belong to the middle Assyrian age (1500-911) B.C as this site is characterized with numerous graves and cemeteries with numerous funeral contents. Also, the importance of this age lies in that it is an essential site of settlement in the middle Assyrian age which is characterized with the several of its four lower layers. After that, it was abandoned for a long time and then it was resettled in the Parthian era (138 B.C – 226 AD). The migration and historical abandonment of this location for a long time and for certain reason, some of which might be political, or may be this location was afflicted with a plague that made the people avoid residing in it. Moreover, the research involved a brief discussion about the importance of the funeral contents and the purpose behind their presence inside the graves of Tell Hanas site and the excavations in it. It also involved a detailed explanation of the funeral contents that were discovered in this site depending on the results of the archaeological excavation and their sketches.

The role of acoustics within the sensory landscape of coral larval settlement

Recruitment of coral larvae on reefs is crucial for individual survival and ecosystem integrity alike. Coral larvae can detect and respond to a wide range of biotic and abiotic cues, including acoustic cues, to locate suitable sites for settlement and metamorphosis. However, the acoustic ecology of coral larvae, including how they perceive auditory cues, remains poorly understood. In this mini-review we consider both ex situ physiology and behavior, and in situ ecological and behavioral studies, to first provide an updated overview of the abiotic and biotic cues used by coral larvae to guide settlement. We then explore in detail the use of acoustic cues and the current literature on behavioral responses to acoustic stimuli. Finally, we discuss gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms by which coral larvae detect acoustic cues, highlighting a novel application of technology to explore these sensory capabilities. We also address how larval phonotaxis, i.e., the ability to orient to a sound cue, can be applied to coral reef conservation. Current research suggests that acoustic cues are likely used at small spatial scales, and that coral larvae may have directional acoustic sensitivity enabling phonotactic behavior. Recruitment of coral larvae on reefs is significantly influenced by habitat-specific soundscape variation and likely affected by anthropogenic disturbance. We propose a novel application of the remote sensing technology, micro-scanning laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV), to quantify the micromechanical responses of putative acoustically sensitive epidermal microstructures. We then highlight the potential for incorporation of acoustic enrichment techniques in coral reef conservation and restoration interventions.

Corded Ware Culture Plant Gathering at the Narva-Jõesuu IIB Settlement and Burial Site in Estonia

ABSTRACT Plant use of the Corded Ware Culture (2800–2000 cal BC) communities in Estonia and more broadly in the eastern Baltic area has not been systematically studied using archaeobotanical methods. This article presents the first archaeobotanical study from a Stone Age context in Estonia, and discusses plant use at the Corded Ware Culture settlement and burial site of Narva-Jõesuu IIB in the north-eastern part of the country. Analysis revealed the first occurrence of water chestnut (Trapa natans) from a Stone Age context in Estonia and numerous common hazel (Corylus avellana) nutshells. Otherwise, the plant material preserved in the sandy soils of Narva-Jõesuu IIB consisted of charred remains of conifers and heathland species, as well as plants from scrubs or forest edges. The plant species that were found reflect the mosaic nature of the environment surrounding the site. Only wild plants were gathered and used at Narva-Jõesuu IIB; no domesticated plants or signs of plant cultivation were identified.

Spatial Morphology Evolution of Rural Settlements in the Lower Yellow River Plain: The Case of Menggang Town in Changyuan City, China

This study investigated the spatial pattern evolution of the rural settlement system in the town of Menggang, China, based on settlement patches extracted from remote sensing data for four time points between 1990 and 2018. Five typical villages were selected to study their spatial textures from point to surface. The reasons for the evolution of the rural settlements were examined as well. The results indicated that the number of settlement patches in Menggang decreased, the area of a single patch expanded, and the scale of the rural settlements continued to expand. Settlements were distributed randomly, but an agglomeration trend began to appear. The plain terrain had little restriction on settlement site selection. Cofferdams and embankments were the limiting factors for settlement expansion, which led to the compact development of the settlements. Economic development, population growth, and family miniaturization were positive factors for the expansion of the rural settlements. In the typical villages, cluster settlements and cluster settlements with a banded tendency had higher spatial utilization efficiency. Several high-density building centers were formed in the settlements, and the trend of residential buildings was mainly northeast–southwest. The plain terrain had little effect on the orientation of buildings, single-building areas, or the public spaces of the settlements. Traditional culture and traffic routes affected the orientation of the main buildings of folk houses. This study has theoretical and reference value for the structure optimization and sustainable development of rural settlements in the lower Yellow River plain.

A miscellany of the Jordanów culture chipped stone industry from Bohemia

The article primarily presents two small-sized finds from the group of the little-known chipped stone industry of the Proto-Eneolithic Jordanów culture in Bohemia. These chipped stone artefacts from Central Bohemia reflect human behaviour in settlement and mortuary contexts. The first find, a knife made of Baiersdorf tabular chert, was found at a settlement site from the upper phase of the Jordanów culture that had been reutilised as a splintered piece. This is typical of the Proto-Eneolithic and Early Eneolithic periods (e.g. the Funnel Beaker Culture). The second find was a blade of an earlier – perhaps from the Paleolithic period – which had been retrieved and retouched during the Eneolithic age and deposited in a grave dating from the upper phase of the Jordanów culture. The authors also draw attention to other constituent-related issues, such as the advent of flat retouched and longer blades during the Proto-Eneolithic period. The informative potential of the chipped stone industry for monitoring cultural and chronological issues has not yet been fully exploited. This also includes technological and typological changes and the differences between the Lengyel and Jordanów cultures.

PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN ARCHEOLOGY ACCORDING TO VERIN NAVER BURIAL GROUND AND THE SHENGAVIT SETTLEMENT

Abstract. Photogrammetry is a non-destructive, three-dimensional modeling technique that has been widely adopted in archaeology. Archaeological monuments are particularly vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic activities, such as destruction, weathering, and erosion. Therefore, precise fixation and documentation of the monument are essential for preserving cultural layers for future generations. Digital technologies, especially photogrammetry, enable us to obtain better results for the photogrammetric survey. In recent years, this method has been employed in the excavation sites of Shengavit settlement and Verin Naver tombs, demonstrating its effectiveness in archaeological research. To obtain a better view of the stratigraphy of the site, the data was merged with archival drawings of previously collected information. This integration of data has allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the site's history and evolution.

Isotope and trace element compositions of silver-bearing ores in the Balkans as possible metal sources in antiquity

Ore deposits in the Balkan Peninsula were intensively mined for silver and other metals in the Roman and medieval periods. Coinage mainly issued by tribal groups between the early 5th and the end of the 3rd century BCE provides indirect evidence that silver extraction predates the Roman conquest of the region. However, identification of centers of past metal production and reconstruction of large-scale silver fluxes can only be achieved using a comprehensive geochemical database of potential ores. Here, we present high-precision Pb–Ag–S isotope data and trace element systematics for 128 ore samples from 36 mineralizations from the Balkans as well as one semi-reacted ore from a settlement site (=archaeological sample) and one andesite analyzed as a whole-rock and as a K-feldspar separate. Each ore site was selected for its geological characteristics and documented or assumed historical and/or archaeological significance.The reported data reconstruct the formation of ore bodies from large pre-existing Pb stocks derived from upper crustal sources, modified by tectonic and metasomatic processes, and eventually remobilized by magmatic activity. Lead isotope maps establish distinct isotopic domains which are linked to geological characteristics and enable an enhanced assessment of potential metal sources in provenance studies. Silver isotopes underscore the importance of hypogene ores of hydrothermal origin comprising galena or sulfosalt minerals as the main silver carrier phases and they can circumscribe ore deposits to those actually used as bullion sources of ancient coinage. We show that the Ag isotope signatures and the silver content of the argentiferous galena-rich ores in the Kopaonik and Zletovo districts (Serbia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia), combined with field evidence for historical metal production and geographical considerations, make them the most likely sources of silver which could have been used for coinage issued by mints in the interior of the Balkans.