New Geoarchaeological Evidence for Long‐Distance Chert Procurement in the Neolithic Western Balkans: The Gorjani Assemblage (Croatia)

This study presents a preliminary provenance investigation of chert artifacts from the Neolithic site of Gorjani in Slavonia (eastern Croatia), aiming to assess the existence of long‐distance procurement or exchange networks in the western Balkans. The site's lithic assemblage, which predominantly consisted of cherts, was analyzed through macroscopic classification and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) for high‐precision geochemical fingerprinting. The results reveal five visually and compositionally distinct chert groups, several of which display macroscopic and geochemical correspondences with chert source locations in northern Bosnia. These matches suggest that part of the Gorjani assemblage was produced from raw materials transported over distances exceeding 100 km, demonstrating the integration of Slavonian communities into broader regional interaction networks. The findings provide new geoarcheological evidence of long‐distance chert movement in the Neolithic western Balkans and highlight the role of Bosnian sources as major suppliers of high‐quality stone tools. Beyond its regional implications, the study underscores the effectiveness of combining macroscopic and geochemical approaches in tracing prehistoric resource territories. The results contribute to a growing understanding of Neolithic connectivity, mobility, and the organization of material exchange across southeastern Europe.