Archaeological Guide of Kosovo

Tjerrtorja-Prishtina
The Neolithic site of ‘Tjerrtorja’
was identified accidentally in the 50’s of the
last century, when the factory was started
to be built, known as the cotton and textile
production plant ‘Tjerrtorja’. The Neolithic
site was named based on the discovery place. The archaeological site is
situated at Prishtina’s suburban neighborhood known as ‘Kalabria’. The
settlement traces of Neolithic data were recorded at this site and the rich
and abundant recovered archaeological material composed of terracotta
figurines, human shaped statues and baked clay anthropomorphic artifacts,
and other finds discovered at this Pristina location, do clearly present
two marvelous Neolithic/Vinca features; the artistic and symbolic
prehistoric achievements. In regard, the gorgeous sculptured terracotta
figurines discovered in this Pristina area, came to light as results of several
rescue excavations carried in the second part of the 20th century;
(in 1951, 1955-56 and 1962). Amid several discovered marvelous artifacts,
the most impressive one is the so called ‘Goddess on Throne’, which
according to the eminent British archaeologist, Professor
Renfrew, belong to the distinctive group of
Kosovar Vinca Culture, of the ‘Pristina Style’; due
to figured and artistic distinguished features.
The terracotta figurines of this archaeological
site are distinguished with particular features
41
42
43
Fig. 41. ‘Goddess on throne’ (Kosovo Museum).
Fig. 42. Baked pottery, decorated with motifs of muffled
snake, discovered in Tjerrtorja/Predionica. End of the sixthbeginning
of the fifth millennium BC. (Kosovo Museum).
Fig. 43. The location map of the Neolithic site of ‘Tjerrtorja/
Predionica’ Kalabria (Emshir), municipality of Pristina,
26 Archaeological Guide of Kosovo