The UMMAA is pleased to present Dr. Gazmend Elezi, postdoctoral scholar at Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, UCLA, who will speak on Friday, October 21, 12-1 p.m., as part of the online UMMAA Brown Bag Lecture Series.

This talk recounts the story of the Late Neolithic Kamnik (5000-4500 BCE), one of the most intriguing Neolithic sites in the region. Although it has been part of the research landscape since the late 1960s and is considered a type site for the Neolithic periodization, Kamnik has not received appropriate attention and recognition. The character of this small mountainous settlement remains unclear, although its association with pottery production is often highlighted. Its archaeological record is unique, despite the limited extension of the site and its location away from fertile plains, river valleys, or lakes. Colorful ceramic assemblages, peculiar/ritual objects, and distinct architectural features characterize its uniqueness. In addition, the presence of exotic objects and raw materials, such as imported ceramic vessels, obsidian, natural asphalt, spondylus gaederopus, and graphite acquired from distant areas on the Aegean and Adriatic shores, indicates both the extension and nature of the interregional contacts and the role of Kamnik as a potential crossroad community.

Zoom Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93550588643

The Museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series is free and open to the public.