280: Serbia: The Birthplace of Civilisation

The podcast explores the Vinča culture of Serbia, an ancient civilization that flourished from 5700 to 4200 BC. It examines the archaeological discoveries made by Miloje Vasic, including ceramics, figurines, and evidence of copper smelting, positioning the Vinča culture as potentially the first in the world to enter the Copper Age. The discussion highlights the controversial Tartaria tablets, covered in Vinča symbols, which some believe represent an early form of writing predating Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs. The hosts also delve into the theories of Marija Gimbutas, who posited that the Vinča culture was a peaceful, matriarchal society destroyed by Indo-European invaders, while noting current academic views attribute the civilization's decline to environmental degradation.