Prehistory and Antique History of Kosova

Abstract

The territory of Kosova has offered considerable archeological material, which, combined with the facts of written ancient sources, makes it possible to conclude that its first known inhabitants were the Illyrians. (Herod Historiae IV 49), consequently the Dardanians, created by the interlacement of Indo-European Neolithic substrate and Eneolithic adstrate. The complete formation of Dardanians took place during the Iron Age (1200-400), when the Dardanians created their compact territory and named their country Dardania. Kosova constituted the central territory of Dardania, which stretched out on the area between the rivers Vardar, Drini, Morava and Timok.1 Preurban Dardanian development of the VI-IV centuries gave rise to the creation of the Dardanian state and along with it also to the Dardanian identity, which was maintained until the Byzantine period.