Archaeologists have found ceramic fragments 17,000 years old in the Vela spila cave on Korčula. These are the oldest known ceramic objects found in Europe. The discovery was published by an international research team in collaboration with the University of Cambridge.
The team excavated a total of 36 ceramic fragments from layers dated between 15,500 and 13,000 BC. The objects are carefully shaped animal figurines made of raw clay hardened by fire. Such material processing indicates an advanced technique for that period.
Prior to this discovery, the oldest examples of European ceramics were attributed to the Czech Republic. The find on Korčula proves that the ceramic craft developed thousands of years earlier. The finding confirms the application of ceramic technology during the late Palaeolithic.
The research was conducted under the leadership of an international team of experts. The results were published in scientific publications, and the news was also reported in media such as The New York Times. The find highlights the importance of Croatian archaeological heritage in a global context.
The figurines represent the cultural expression of people who lived in this area. Their preservation has enabled precise dating and material analysis. The find closes an important chapter in the history of human innovation and technology.
