Predrag Radović

Finds of Pleistocene rhinoceros are rare in Serbia, and only one species (the woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis Blumenbach, 1799) has been reported so far. The current paper presents the dental material of an extinct so-called Hundsheim rhinoceros, Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis Toula, 1902 from Bogovina Cave (Eastern Serbia). Both the morphological and metric characteristics of the teeth are consistent with the attribution to S. hundsheimensis. Unfortunately, the rhinoceros material originated from an uncertain geological context, so there is no firm basis for dating. However, a potential association with a caballoid horse tooth could hint at an age of 600 ka or less for the assemblage, which would indicate a relatively late date for the Hundsheim rhinoceros from Bogovina Cave.

The Central Balkans represents a significant geographical gap in the human fossil record of Eurasia. Here we present two new human fossils from Pešturina Cave, Serbia: a partial atlas vertebra (C1) and a fragment of radial diaphysis. The atlas (Pes-1) derives from the lower portion of Layer 2 and conforms to modern human morphology. This layer is characterized by Gravettian industry despite uncertainties caused by bioturbation and difficulties in separating Layers 2 and 3. The radial fragment (Pes-2) was recovered from the contact zone between Layers 3 and 4, both of which represent Mousterian industries, and is tentatively assessed as Neanderthal based on morphology. With the recent publication of a Neanderthal molar (Pes-3) from the same site, Pešturina currently stands as the only Neanderthal fossil-bearing site in Serbia. These additional finds make Pešturina Cave the only site in the Central Balkans which preserves both modern human and Neanderthal remains with associated lithic industries and highlights the importance of Pešturina in the current discourse on hominin dispersals and migrations in the Balkans.

The cercopithecid fossil record of the Balkan Peninsula extends from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene, but to date no fossils of non-human primates have been identified in Serbia. Here we report the identification of two primate teeth from Ridjake, a rich paleontological site in western Serbia. NHMBEO 042501 is an upper third molar with heavy occlusal wear and taphonomic weathering. NHMBEO 042502 is a well-preserved lower third molar with only minor damage to the cusps and root apices. We performed an analysis of non-metric traits and made bivariate comparisons of crown linear measurements in order to assess the taxonomic affinity of the molars. Both show typical papionin occlusal patterns and relatively large overall sizes. In combination with the early Villafranchian (MN16) age of the site, we attribute both Ridjake primate fossils to cf. Paradolichopithecus sp. This represents the first identification of a non-human primate in Serbia, and the first identification of any primate in the Neogene period of Serbia. Along with recent hominin discoveries, the Ridjake fossils contribute to the growing primate fossil record in Serbia, and indicate the need for increased research into fossil primates in the country.

Neanderthals were the only human group in Europe throughout the Late Pleistocene until the arrival of modern humans, and while their presence has been confirmed in the surrounding regions, no Neanderthal fossils are known to date from the Central Balkans. Systematic excavations of Pešturina Cave (Serbia) resulted in the discovery of a permanent right M1 (Pes-3). The specimen was recovered from stratigraphic Layer 4b with an estimated age of 102.4 ± 3.2 ka, associated with Mousterian artifacts. The exceptional state of preservation and minimal wear of the molar enabled a detailed description and comparative analysis of the inner and outer dental structure, including non-metric dental traits and morphometric features of the crown, roots, and dental tissues. The results of this study strongly support the identification of Pes-3 as Neanderthal. Non-metric traits of the occlusal surface of the crown, enamel-dentine junction, and roots are consistent with Neanderthal morphology. The crown shows morphometric features typical for Neanderthal M1, such as a buccolingually skewed crown shape, internally compressed cusps, and a relatively large hypocone. The specimen also shows Neanderthal-like dental tissue proportions, characterized by relatively thin enamel and large coronal dentine and coronal pulp volumes. The discovery of the Pes-3 molar therefore confirms the presence of Neanderthals in the territory of Serbia and the Central Balkans at the end of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5c.

The hominin mandible BH-1 from the Middle Pleistocene cave of Mala Balanica suggested the possibility that human populations in this part of the continent were not subject to the process of Neanderthali-zation observed in the west. We review the paleoanthropological evidence from the Central Balkans in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean geographic entity. The current hominin fossil record of the early Middle Pleistocene in the region suggests that Europe was inhabited by two different populations: a population in the west of the continent with derived Neanderthal morphology; and a more variable population in the east characterized by a combination of plesiomorphous and synapomorphous traits. We suggest that e in order to continue using the nomenclature of Homo heidelbergensis e the current hypodigm needs to be revised to include only the specimens from the latter group.

There was a fauna of baleen whales (Cetacea: Mysticeti) in the Central Paratethys, a Miocene water body which covered the area of present-day Central Europe. Most of the fossil baleen whales from the Central Paratethys have been found in strata assigned to the regional Badenian age and comprise endemic forms, known only from this region. Here a new description is provided for a fragmentary skeleton of a whale found in Belgrade, Serbia, and its age context and biological aspects are discussed. This specimen, consisting of a fragmentary horizontal ramus of the mandible and eight caudal vertebrae, is tentatively identified as ?Parietobalaena sp., a globally known Miocene taxon, with related forms having been recorded earlier from the Eastern Paratethys. An early Sarmatian age (i.e., about 12.7-12.4 Ma) is proposed for the specimen. Based on epiphyseal fusion of caudal vertebrae, the specimen's age is identified as a subadult, with a body length of around 2.5 m and an estimated adult body length around 3-3.5 m, which is extremely small for baleen whales. This find represents one of the latest records of baleen whales in the Central Paratethys and one of the latest published records of Parietobalaena-like taxa in the world.

The  paper  presents  the  first  detailed  description  and  the  first  analysis  of  the  fossil  colobine  monkey  Mesopithecus  housed  in  the  collections  of  the  Natural  History Museum in Belgrade, Serbia. The material is described using the standard methodology  and  analyzed  in  a  comparative  context  of  specimens  from  the  published literature (n=45), by using bivariate and multivariate statistical methods (principal  component  analysis).  We  determined  several  species:  M.  pentelicus, M. delsoni, M. cf.  pentelicus, M. cf.  delsoni.  The  associated  fauna  suggests  MN11  to  MN12 (Turolian) age, and a relatively open landscape – bushy or sparsely wooded savannah. However, further research into the associated collection will allow us to discuss biostratigraphic and paleoecological characteristics in more detail.

tA fragmented human calotte was discovered during the early 1950snear Baˇcki Petrovac (Serbia), in association with Palaeolithic stonetools. After its initial publication, the fossil specimen remainedlargely unknown outside of the Serbian academe and no detailedcomparative study has ever been carried out. Since the whereaboutsof the fossil itself are currently unknown, and given its potentialsignificance for the Pleistocene human evolution, we re-examinethe data published byˇZivanovi´c (1966, 1975). Using the originalmeasurements, mostly taken on the frontal bone, and a wide com-parative sample of 68 fossil specimens, the fossil was compared andanalyzed by statistical multivariate methods. We also conducted avisual examination of the morphology based on the available pho-tographic material. Our analysis reveals phenetic similarity withMiddle Pleistocene archaic Homo from Africa and anatomicallymodern Homo sapiens. However, the absence of primitive cranialtraits in Baˇcki Petrovac indicates a clear modern Homo sapiens des-ignation. Although lost at the moment, there is a chance for there-discovery of the fossil in the years to come. This would give usan opportunity to acquire absolute dates and to study the specimenin a more detailed manner.

Pešturina cave is located in Southern Serbia on a tributary of the Nišava River, in the vicinity of Sićevo Gorge (43°10′ N, 21°54′ E). Together with Mala and Velika Balanica, the deposits cover the last 500 ka of likely continuous human occupation in the region. We obtained a series of dates by combined ESR and 14C methods that constrain the three distinct archaeological layers between 108 ka and 29 ka. From the top to bottom of the sequence layers 2, 3 and 4 represent Pleistocene accumulations with Gravettian, Denticulate Mousterian, and Charentian Mousterian, respectively. Radiocarbon dates on faunal bones show that materials have been mixed between lithostratigraphic layers. 14C dates of faunal bones with cut marks provide two secure ranges during which human occupation occurred: between 33-29 ka cal BP, associated with the Gravettian, and 45-43 ka cal BP, associated with Mousterian; layer 4 was dated to between app. 83 and 108 ka by ESR. Hominin remains are distributed unevenly through the layers: A maxillary P3 crown of a juvenile individual was excavated from the layer 2; however, its attribution to the Pleistocene is not confirmed as the layer had some Holocene intrusions. In addition, the layer 2 also produced a fragment of a human cervical vertebra. All other hominin fossil material comes from layer 4: a shaft fragment of a juvenile human radius, an adult femoral head, and a maxillary M1 of an adult individual. We compare the morphology of these specimens to the published data on Neanderthals and modern humans of comparable geological age. The maxillary premolar is consistent with modern human morphology while the maxillary molar is consistent with Neanderthals. In addition, we note the robusticity of all postcranial remains. The addition of this material to our understanding of Neanderthal presence in the region is important. Further excavations as well as aDNA analyses (currently underway) will shed more light on the relationship of this material to adjoining regions which are increasingly recognized as key to our understanding of migrations in Europe.

A fragmented human calotte was discovered during the early 1950s near Bački Petrovac (Serbia), in association with Palaeolithic stone tools. After its initial publication, the fossil specimen remained largely unknown outside of the Serbian academe and no detailed comparative study has ever been carried out. Since the whereabouts of the fossil itself are currently unknown, and given its potential significance for the Pleistocene human evolution, we re-examine the data published by Živanović (1966, 1975). Using the original measurements, mostly taken on the frontal bone, and a wide comparative sample of 68 fossil specimens, the fossil was compared and analyzed by statistical multivariate methods. We also conducted a visual examination of the morphology based on the available photographic material. Our analysis reveals phenetic similarity with Middle Pleistocene archaic Homo from Africa and anatomically modern Homo sapiens. However, the absence of primitive cranial traits in Bački Petrovac indicates a clear modern Homo sapiens designation. Although lost at the moment, there is a chance for the re-discovery of the fossil in the years to come. This would give us an opportunity to acquire absolute dates and to study the specimen in a more detailed manner.