Singidunum - Foundation

Foundation

Further information: Prehistoric Serbia and Gallic invasion of the Balkans

The first evidence of primitive fortification came later in the 3rd century BC, with the settlement of the Scordisci who picked the strategic hilltop at the meeting of the two rivers as the basis for their habitation. The name Singidun is first attested in 279 BC. The name has Celtic dūn(on) "enclosure, fortress" as its second element. For singi- there are several theories, the two most widely circulated being that it is a Celtic word for circle, hence "round fort", or it could be named after the Sings, a Thracian tribe that occupied the area prior to the arrival of the Scordisci.. Another possibility is that it is a composite name the first part of which (Sin-gi) means "Old prayer" ("sean gui" in Gaelic), implying that this was originally site of Celtic religious significance, in addition to becoming a fortress (dun). This would jive with the ancient Celtic burial practice remnants there.

There is only limited archaeological evidence of the city's foundational period, including some burial sites with grave goods.

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