Gradište

Serbia, Serbia

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Gradište refers to various archaeological sites across Serbia, most notably fortified prehistoric and early medieval settlements like the Early Iron Age hillfort near Preševo in southern Serbia, featuring stone walls and Brnjica culture artifacts from around 1500-900 BC. Other prominent examples include the multi-layered site near Kikinda with Neolithic through early medieval remains enclosed by ramparts and ditches, and locations near Kriva Palanka or Donji Dubič showing late antique-Byzantine castles controlling ancient roads from the 8th-12th centuries. These "Gradište" (meaning "ruins" or "old town") hilltop complexes highlight Serbia's continuous occupation from Bronze Age through Slavic eras, often with defensive trenches, pottery, and sacred features preserved as cultural heritage.