Paulje, mound XI (mound K): new absolute dates and provenience of the earliest amber finds in Serbia

Abstract

This paper presents three new absolute dates for the central grave of mound XI (K) at the Paulje necropolis in the lower Drina valley. Also, we present the results of FTIR spectroscopy for the amber finds from the 4 mounds in the necropolis, including mound XI (K). In general the results confirm the earlier assumed chronology of the site - the 14C AMS dates fit the timeframe – the central grave fits ideally the previous timeframe for the Brezjak culture, i.e. the 15th and 14th century BC, and all of the amber samples are definitely of Baltic origin. These two facts clearly suggest that the amber finds from the lower Drina could mark one of the earliest appearances of Baltic amber in the Central Balkans.