This volume presents the finds from an Early Bronze Age necropolis in the Južna Morava Basin in the heart of the Balkans holding exclusively incinerated deceased. A total of 21 deceased were registered in the same number of graves, distributed in three segments. The remains of the deceased, along with grave goods, were covered by a small circular stone construction (c. 1 m) and then with a bigger circular stone structure between 1.5 and 3 m. The grave goods comprised fragmented or completely preserved vessels of which ember containers were the most specific. Besides a traditional archaeological approach to the topic, such as studies of necropolis architecture, burial rites, grave goods, and absolute dates, the book contains two analytical reports which approach the topic from a multidisciplinary perpspective. The first one (Filipović, Filatova) analyses the remains of wood from the pyre and the second one (Gajić et al.) deals with the physical-chemical composition of pottery from the necropolis.

AUTHOR
Aleksandar Bulatović is a full-time professor at the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade, Serbia. His main scholarly interests focus on cultural transmission between Central Balkan communities during the Copper and the Bronze Ages, ritual and spiritual life of prehistoric and early historic population in the Central Balkans, and determining a chronology of the Metal Ages.

REVIEW
‘The material from the cemetery at Ranutovac is new, and important in forming links to other sites in Serbia and Macedonia. Chronologically and culturally it confirms relationships within southern Serbia hitherto broadly assumed without proof.’ Professor H. Arthur Bankoff, CUNY