Professor Nikola Vukosavlijevic is a prehistorian and associate professor at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb (Croatia), where he also obtained his PhD. His primary research interests lie in the archaeology of Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic societies in Mediterranean Europe, with a particular focus on the Adriatic region. He specialises in the lithic technology of prehistoric hunter-gatherers and has a strong interest in the dietary and ornamental use of molluscs. He has conducted fieldwork at several prehistoric sites in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Research outline
During his Beaufort Visiting Fellowship at St John’s College, he will conduct research on the role of lithic 'exotic' objects in past societies and the mechanisms that enabled their long-distance transfer. The primary aim is to determine whether these objects resulted from direct procurement, were circulated through exchange networks, or served as indicators of social 'safety nets'. The study will focus on several Late Glacialsites - Vela Spila, Kopačina, Vlakno, and Zala caves (all located in Croatia) - where lithic industries have been extensively analysed, yet the presence of lithic 'exotic' objects remains insufficiently explained.
