Natural characteristics of the northern Stig arеa and its strategic importance during the prehistory and early history

Oblast severnog Stiga predstavlja prostranu i plodnu ravnicu, faktički južni završetak Panonskog basena, omeđenu Požarevačkom (Sopotskom) gredom na zapadu, blagim pobrđem Velikog brda na istoku i brdom Gorica kod Rama – zapadnim obroncima Homoljskih planina, dok su na severu granica reka Dunav i njegovi rukavci između brojnih rečnih ada i jednog velikog ostrva. Glavni vodeni tok celog Stiga, izostavimo li Dunav, predstavlja reka Mlava, koja je ujedno i zaslužna za izgled današnjeg reljefa. Isto tako, treba pomenuti da je Stig jedno od najplodnijih oblasti ovoga dela Balkana, te da je u njegovom pridunavskom delu zemljište najplodnije.1 Upravo se na tom mestu, na lesnoj terasi, tzv. Klepečkoj gredi,2 nalazi lokalitet Nad Klepečkom (apsolutne kote od 80 do 85 m nadmorske visine), dok se u njegovom podnožju, u nekad zabarenom delu Stiga, nalazi lokalitet Rit, na nadmorskoj visini od oko 70 m (karta 1).3 Toponimom Rit, među meštanima okolnih sela, nazivaju se močvarne njive između Mlave i Malog i Velikog Čaira,4 a prema svedočenju žitelja, ova lokacija je sve do sredine XX veka bila konstantno plavljena, mada se na osnovu rezultata istraživanja 2005–2015. godine čini da su postojali periodi kada je i ovaj predeo bio pogodan za korišćenje, posebno krajem eneolita i početkom bronzanog doba.5The area of northern Stig represents a vast and arable plain, which is in fact the southern fringe of the Carpathian Basin, bounded by Požarevac (Sopot) terrace to the west, hilly area of Veliko Brdo to the east and Gorica Hill near Ram, which in fact represents western slopes of Homolje Mountains, to the east. The northern border of the area of Stig is marked by the Danube River and its armlets which flow between numerous isles and one large island. The main watercourse of the entire area of Stig, save for the Danube, is Mlava River, which also dictated the landscape in the area. Also, it should be highlighted that the area of Stig represents one of the most arable areas in this part of the Balkans, and the soil gravitating towards the Danube is the most fertile.1 In that exact spot, on a loess terrace called Klepečka,2 the site of Nad Klepečkom is located (altitude between 80 and 85 m), and the site of Rit is located in its foothill (altitude of 70 m), in previously marshy part of the area of Stig (Map 1).3 According to the locals, the toponym Rit is utilized for swampy and marshy fields between Mlava River and Mali and Veliki Čair,4 and according to the testimonies of the locals, the location was constantly flooded up to the mid-20th century. Based on the excavations conducted between 2005 and 2015, it seems that during certain periods the area was suitable for settling, especially during the Late Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age