Balkan prehistory : exclusion, incorporation and identity /

It was once widely believed that ancient Mesopotamia was the "cradle of civilization." But excavations elsewhere in the world have altered that view as too parochial; several other regions developed complex technologies and habitation schemes to rival those of the Tigris and Euphrates valley. For no other place has archaeological research evolved more rapidly and with such profound results than for the Balkans. In this dense survey of Balkan prehistory (6500-2500 BCE), Bailey synthesizes recent scholarship (much of it Balkan in origin), commencing with the development of village life, specialized tools, and respect for the decorative arts, and ending on the eve of the migrations that eventually led to the precursors of the historical Balkan peoples. Social history is emphasized, based on the perceived connections between physical structures and the cohesion of those who lived within. One wonders, however, if Bailey's conclusions, based heavily on evidence from the Danube valley and the littoral of the Black Sea, would continue to be supported by excavations in the areas bordering the Adriatic. Specialists will find this a useful handbook and guide to the archaeological literature of parts of the Balkan region. E. N. Borza; emeritus, Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus