The truth against Serbian lies and propaganda
The connection of Serbs with ancient civilizations such as Lepenski Vir, the Vinča culture, the Illyrians, the Thracians, or the Dacians is a frequently discussed topic, particularly in the context of modern nationalist narratives. However, scientific research clearly shows that these cultures, predating the 7th century, have no connection to the later arriving Slavic groups, including the Serbs.
Key Points:
1. Lepenski Vir (ca. 9500–6000 BC)
• Lepenski Vir, one of the oldest known settlements in Europe, is located in present-day Serbia. However, this Mesolithic culture is neither ethnically Slavic nor connected to the Serbs.
• This culture existed thousands of years before the arrival of the Slavs in the Balkans and has no genetic or cultural connection to the later Slavic peoples.
2. Vinča Culture (ca. 5700–4500 BC)
• The Vinča culture is a Neolithic civilization known for its script-like symbols, considered one of the earliest examples of written-like symbols in Europe.
• Archaeologists regard this culture as part of the ancient Balkan or “Old European” civilizations, which existed long before the Slavic migrations.
3. Illyrians and the Question of Autochthony
• The Illyrians were an Indo-European people who inhabited large parts of the western Balkans. Albanians are today considered the direct descendants of the Illyrians, based on linguistic, cultural, and genetic evidence.
• There is no credible scientific evidence linking the Serbs to the Illyrians. The Illyrians were native to the Balkans long before the Slavic migrations of the 6th and 7th centuries.
4. Thracians and Dacians
• The Thracians were an ancient Indo-European people who lived in the eastern Balkans, including parts of present-day Bulgaria, Romania, and northern Greece. Their influence extended into regions that are now Serbia, but there is no evidence of a direct connection between the Serbs and the Thracians.
• The Dacians, another ancient Indo-European group, inhabited the area corresponding to modern-day Romania and parts of Serbia. Like the Thracians, their presence predates the arrival of the Slavs, and there is no evidence to support claims that the Serbs are their descendants.
• Both the Thracians and Dacians are related to the Illyrians , and none of these groups have any direct genetic, cultural, or linguistic ties to the Serbs.
5. Serbian Arrival in the Balkans (After the 7th Century)
• Serbs and other South Slavic groups arrived in the Balkans as part of the large Slavic migrations during the 6th and 7th centuries.
• These migrations occurred millennia after the aforementioned civilizations, and there is no evidence of continuity between these ancient cultures and the arriving Slavs.
6. Modern Attempts to Claim Ancient Symbols
• In modern times, there are nationalist movements attempting to claim symbols and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations (such as the Illyrians, Thracians, Dacians, or the Vinča culture) as “Serbian.” These claims, however, are not supported by academic research.
• Such attempts are often seen as politically motivated and lack a solid scientific basis.
Conclusion:
No globally recognized university or academic institution associates the Serbs with ancient civilizations such as Lepenski Vir, the Vinča culture, the Illyrians, the Thracians, or the Dacians. These cultures existed long before the arrival of the Slavs in the Balkans and have no ethnic or cultural connection to the Serbs. Instead, scientific evidence supports the view that Albanians are the descendants of the Illyrians, while the Serbs arrived in the Balkans as part of the Slavic migrations in the 7th century. Similarly, the Thracians and Dacians are considered distinct ancient populations with no historical or cultural ties to the Serbs. Any attempts to portray ancient symbols or civilizations as “Serbian” are historically and scientifically unfounded.