Archaeological Traces of the Mongol Invasion on the Territory of Serbia

Abstract

During the Mongolian invasion of 1241-1242, parts of the territory of present-day Republic of Serbia have suffered its consequences in different ways. The worst situation was in the region north of the Sava and Danube rivers (Banat, Backa and Srem), which were part of medieval Hungary at the time. These regions were stricken by Mongols already in the spring of 1241. As for the central parts of Serbia, the Mongolian army passed through it while returning back from the Adriatic coast. The details of Mongol actions and manoeuvres are not well known from the written sources. This lack of information is possible to reconstruct partially through archaeological indicators from the regions which were affected by the invasion. The most reliable evidence comes from coin hoards and combustion and destruction layers, as well as other evidence showing that life has completely stopped in some settlements. Apart from the settlements, churches were also researched, and it was confirmed that they were abandoned, as well as burying practice in the surrounding graveyards. The aim of this research is to present an overview of available archaeological information about both the devastations and their consequences of the Mongol invasion. This can be seen in some changes in material culture, evidence of depopulation of certain regions, or colonisation of new population within provisions brought by Hungarian king in order to start the renewal of the country.