A surprising discovery in the Belgrade Fortress in Serbia reveals the presence of camels in the region between the 15th and 17th centuries. This is the first osteological evidence of medieval camels in the Central and Western Balkans, challenging common perceptions about the local fauna of the time. Research suggests that the site was a crucial point in broad, long-distance trade and transport networks, extending far beyond its immediate borders.
Unusual fossils in excavations in Belgrade
Excavations carried out in 2014, in front of the East Gate of the Lower Town of Belgrade Fortress, brought to light animal remains that have now been analyzed. Among the 271 specimens examined, researchers identified camel bones in layers dating from the late Middle Ages, specifically between the 15th and 17th centuries. These findings are important as they indicate that the animals were not exclusive to arid environments and that their presence in the region was more significant than previously thought.
Confirmation of the species was possible thanks to the “collagen mass fingerprinting” (ZooMS) technique. This method allows accurate identification of animals, even from bone fragments or parts that would be difficult to distinguish by shape alone. Technological innovation was fundamental in unraveling this part of the fortress’s animal history.
The strategic relevance of the Belgrade Fortress
The Belgrade Fortress has always occupied a position of extreme strategic importance in southeastern Europe. Located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, it served as a vital link between several river and land routes, marking the borders between the Balkan Peninsula and the Carpathian Basin.
Historically, the site has been occupied since prehistoric times, passing through the Roman Singidunum until becoming a medieval fortification. During the Roman period, Legio IIII Flavia Felix was stationed there to control the Danube border.
In the late Middle Ages, the fortress maintained its role as the main defensive and administrative center. Its location made it a natural checkpoint for traffic crossing the Danube and the Balkans. The discovery of the camel remains fits perfectly into this scenario of intense movement across a broadly connected border landscape.
Revelations about the Roman and medieval animal economy
The study carried out compared the animal remains found in Roman layers, dating from the 1st-2nd centuries AD, with late medieval layers from the 15th-17th centuries AD. The differences between the sets reveal significant changes in the economic patterns of the region over time.
- Roman Period (1st-2nd centuries AD): Predominance of cattle, sheep and goats, with a smaller amount of pig bones and wild animals. The age profiles suggest that many animals were slaughtered young, indicating a focus on meat consumption to meet the demand of the military garrison and the local population.
- Late Medieval Period (15th-17th centuries AD): Greater diversity, including sheep, goats, cattle, horses and, surprisingly, camels. Most of these animals appeared to have survived to adulthood. This characteristic points to the use of secondary products and labor, such as milk, wool, traction or transport.
This change reflects a more complex economy oriented towards transport and long-distance trade in the medieval period, in contrast to the more local focus of the Roman era.
Camels as links in large Eurasian trade networks
The presence of camels in the Belgrade Fortress is a strong indication that the site was embedded in much wider transport and exchange networks. Camels were not typical animals of the livestock economy of the Central and Western Balkans in the Middle Ages. This fact strongly suggests that they were not created locally, but rather arrived at the fortress through long-distance movements.
Throughout medieval and early modern Eurasia, camels were highly valued as pack animals. Their ability to transport large volumes over long distances, their resistance to varying conditions, and their need for little water made them ideal for caravans that crossed empires. The presence of these animals in Belgrade may reflect the transit of traders, military supplies or administrative traffic through the region, connecting it to trade routes that stretched across large parts of the continent. This shows the integration of the fortress into a globalized economic system for the time, moving goods and people efficiently.
Broader implications for the history of the region
Although the number of camel bones is modest, their discovery offers a valuable signal. They suggest that the Belgrade Fortress was not only a military and administrative center, but also a point of contact in a system of exchange and mobility that extended far beyond local livestock farming and everyday food production.
This new perspective adds an extra dimension to the history of Belgrade Fortress. Known for its walls, gates and military role, the site now also preserves evidence of animals that moved across the Balkans as part of larger systems of trade and transport. The few camel bones cannot reconstruct an entire network, but in a fortress strategically positioned between rivers, roads and political borders, they are enough to demonstrate that medieval Belgrade was connected to a world much larger than its own walls.
