Serbian–Slovak Bilateral Project: Research of Cultural Contacts along the Danube Corridor

Within the framework of international scientific cooperation, Dr Vojislav Filipović, on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology, is implementing a bilateral project between Serbia and Slovakia focused on the study of cultural contacts, communication routes, and long-distance trade from prehistory to the 12th century AD.

The project focuses on the analysis of key communication corridors, primarily the Danube region, as well as the Danube/Tisza – Morava – Vardar (Axios) route, which represented major axes for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Central Europe and the Balkans. Special attention is given to prehistoric periods (Copper Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age), when natural routes played a crucial role in shaping the intensity of cultural contacts and exchange.

Within historical periods (1st–12th centuries AD), the research is directed toward understanding dynamic processes during the Roman period, the Migration period, Slavic colonisation, the Avar Khaganate, and the period of Slavic–Hungarian symbiosis. The project will particularly examine the impact of migrations and interactions on local communities, as well as the role of the studied regions as zones of innovation, production, and cultural transmission.

The results of the project will contribute to a better understanding of social, economic, and cultural processes in Central and Southeastern Europe, with a particular emphasis on the role of the Balkans as a key intermediary region in long-term historical developments.