RIMSKE KERAMIČARSKE I STAKLARSKE RADIONICE. PROIZVODNJA I TRGOVINA NA JADRANSKOM PROSTORU. ZBORNI... more RIMSKE KERAMIČARSKE I STAKLARSKE RADIONICE. PROIZVODNJA I TRGOVINA NA JADRANSKOM PROSTORU. ZBORNIK III. MEĐUNARODNOG ARHEOLOŠKOG KOLOKVIJA CRIKVENICA, 4. - 5. STUDENOGA 2014. OFFICINE PER LA PRODUZIONE DI CERAMICA E VETRO IN EPOCA ROMANA. PRODUZIONE E COMMERCIO NELLA REGIONE ADRIATICA ATTI DEL III COLLOQUIO ARCHEOLOGICO INTERNAZIONALE CRIKVENICA (CROAZIA), 4 - 5 NOVEMBRE 2014
Zbornik Instituta za arheologiju/ Serta Instituti Archaeologici Volume 2, 2014
Rimske keramičarske i staklarske radionice. Proizvodnja i trgovina na jadranskom prostoru Tema k... more Rimske keramičarske i staklarske radionice. Proizvodnja i trgovina na jadranskom prostoru Tema kolokvija: Eksperimentalna arheologija / Roman Pottery and Glass Manufactures. Production and Trade in the Adriatic region Colloquium Theme: Experimental archaeology
The decade of research concentrating on the area of Eastern Slavonia revealed an abundance of lar... more The decade of research concentrating on the area of Eastern Slavonia revealed an abundance of large and complex Middle and Late Neolithic sites. It changed profoundly how we perceive Middle and Late Neolithic settlements, including space, size and organization. The vast majority of these sites were detected through aerial reconnaissance and satellite image analysis. The observation of the sites was followed by intensive field surveys, which confirmed their attribution to the Middle and Late Neolithic period by surface finds. On those confirmed sites in the vicinity of Đakovo, Croatia, a magnetic survey was conducted on five sites, and the results confirmed the presence of large-scale Middle and Late Neolithic settlements with complex spatial organization and enclosure(s). The most complex remains so far are the sites Gorjani, Kremenjača and Topole, which we present in this paper, where one or two settlements remain covering an area of 70 hectares which is currently in the process of formal protection as a cultural landscape by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. The special focus of this paper is the application of remote sensing in the detection, archaeological confirmation and protection of the site of Gorjani Topole.
Rezultati istraživanja u Lovasu (zapadni Srijem)-Otkriće ranolatenskoga biritualnog groblja Resea... more Rezultati istraživanja u Lovasu (zapadni Srijem)-Otkriće ranolatenskoga biritualnog groblja Research results for Lovas (Western Syrmia)-Discovery of an Early La Tène biritual cemetery
The Roman archaeological site of Podšilo is located in southern part of the Lopar Peninsula (Lopa... more The Roman archaeological site of Podšilo is located in southern part of the Lopar Peninsula (Lopar Municipality, island of Rab, County of Primorje and Gorski Kotar). It is situated in a bay, encompassing the entire coastal area (between the bays of Dubec and Sahare) as well as a part of the immediate hinterland towards the south-west, all the way to the next antiquity site called “Beli Grad”. Since 2007 the Institute of Archaeology has conducted field survey of the territory of this site within the project “Northern Croatian Coastland within the Context of the Classical Antiquity Defense System”, led by Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, PhD. At the Podšilo site a partly preserved Roman kiln was identified. Since its architectural elements are directly endangered, from 27th April until 17th May 2009 the Zagreb Institute of Archaeology conducted archaeological rescue excavations. The Roman kiln lays in the north-eastern peripheral part of the Podšilo Bay (opposite Goli Otok) and it seems that an elevated earthen hill was chosen for its position above the sea. But the fact that this hill is elevated compared to the surrounding landscape is a consequence of the disappearance of the surrounding soil due to erosion. Above the earthen cover its bow was visible, and it was not possible to identify whether it belonged to the bottom parts of the architecture or to the kiln’s roofing. In the last survey of this structure, conducted near the end of the year 2008, a devastation of the bow was stated, which in fact set off the kiln’s rescue excavation at the very beginning of the year 2009. After the preparatory stage of the site’s arrangement and documenting the existing status of the finds, the humus part SU 001 (only 0.5 m thick) was removed. The first surface stratigraphic data enabled an immediate identification of the important spatial determinant for the location of the Lopar Roman kiln. The Romans decided to locate it on the hilly elevation (which was out of reach of sea), and the kiln’s entire structure – apart from the entrance part of the firing channel and its final coverings – was sunken into the ground. The method of burying the kiln is most evident from the height differences of sterile soil, and thus between the entrance to the kiln and its gable. At the entrance to the baking chamber the sterile soil ranged from ▼273 m above sea level to ▼3.57 m above sea level. At the gable part of the kiln it is ▼5.20 m above sea level. In addition to choosing a hilly elevation for burying the kiln, its constructors used another natural characteristic of the terrain: the presence of schist rocks, SU 013. Although schist is not as firm as other rock types, in this region it is an extraordinarily valuable construction element, used for kiln foundations and for reinforcement of its construction elements on a tremor flysch terrain. The kiln was buried in line with the ramp system: from the lowest point at the entrance into the praefurnium towards the highest point at the end of the kiln i.e. the gable wall. The Lopari Roman kiln was built as a standard Roman kiln type with a rectangular chamber, type II b (according to Cuomo di Caprio). The kiln consists of two basic parts: the firing channel – praefurnium (SU 021) and a combustion chamber (SU 087). The firing channel is 0.70 m / 0.80 m wide. The praefurnium floor (SU 048 and SU 079) is ▼3.370 m above sea level. The firing channel walls were built of tiles and arch vaulted. No visible remains of the vault were preserved. The larger part of the channel was sunken (praefurnium SU 022 buried in sterile soil), with the exception of the entrance part. The preserved remains suggest that the firing channel length is 2.20 m. The firing channel leads to the baking chamber and its smoke channel, SU 028. The baking chamber is of a rectangular shape 3.00 m x 2.90 m. Only the bottom layers of the chamber’s walls, SU 020, were preserved. Within the chamber there is a smoke channel SU 028, which had an arch vault with three opposite pairs of pilasters (diagonal compartments) followed by bows. As the fill of the kiln’s chamber was emptied, numerous contemporary materials were found pointing to a recent attempt at devastating this archaeological site. It was identified that the layers of almost the entire fill are upside-down. At the point where the firing channel turned to the chamber’s smoke channel, beneath the flooring of this preserved kiln, an extraordinarily thick layer of collapsed material, SU 080, was found, consisting of construction ceramic fragments. The collapsed layer is part of an earlier kiln that used to be at the same spot. Thus our assumption was confirmed that the remains of the Lopari kiln are not an isolated antiquity find at this site, but part of a pottery workshop belonging to a nearby Roman villa rustica. According to the first analyses, the Lopar kiln can be dated approximately in the first two centuries BC. Parallel with the archaeological digs, field survey was conducted of the wider area near the Podšilo site, and of the Lopar area. Thanks to information provided by the local population, numerous antiquity sites were identified, which testify to a very intensive life in the Lopar area during Roman antiquity.
Donji Miholjac is often mentioned in the context of the site of mansio Maurianis, in accordance w... more Donji Miholjac is often mentioned in the context of the site of mansio Maurianis, in accordance with Itinerarium Burdigalense. Several sites from the Roman period were ascertained on the territory of Donji Miholjac Municipality. This paper presents sites from the Roman period known from the literature, as well as two new sites as a result of a field survey in Rakitovica area, south of Donji Miholjac. Two sites from the Roman period which are dated by the finds to the second half of the second century and the third century were discovered at elevated positions of the meandering river of Karašica.
By combining several methods that include the use of predictive modeling in GIS, remote interpret... more By combining several methods that include the use of predictive modeling in GIS, remote interpretation and field survey, several settlement structures from the late Neolithic of circular and oval layout and one rectangular layout belonging to the late Middle Ages were discovered south of Bračevci at the Bašćina site. This is one of the first known and successful uses of modeling in Croatia in the discovery of Late Neolithic circular fortified settlements. The newly discovered settlements were observed in the context of the hitherto known network of late Neolithic settlements in eastern Croatia. Remote sensing was followed by an intensive field survey. Numerous fragments of ceramic vessels, fragments of ceramic whorls and weights, as well as complete pieces and fragments of knapped and polished lithic objects were found during the survey. The position and concentration of the findings were recorded, and diagnostic fragments were collected, some of which are presented in this paper. Fragments of pottery belong to the late Neolithic period. Among the non-diagnostic fragments, fragments of coarse and fine pottery were found. Among the finds of fine pottery, black polished high-gloss surface treatment dominates. Two fragments of Neolithic pottery with traces of painting have also been recorded
Rezultati istraživanja nalazišta Batina-Sredno 2013. godine The results of the investigations at ... more Rezultati istraživanja nalazišta Batina-Sredno 2013. godine The results of the investigations at Batina-Sredno in 2013 21 21 Field survey and archaeological supervision of the reconstruction of State Road D212, Kneževi Vinogradi-Zmajevac Terenski pregled i arheološki nadzor na rekonstrukciji državne ceste D212, Kneževi Vinogradi-Zmajevac
Analizom digitaliziranog snimka ciklickog snimanja Državne geodetske uprave doslo se do novih pod... more Analizom digitaliziranog snimka ciklickog snimanja Državne geodetske uprave doslo se do novih podataka o spomenickom kompleksu koji se nalazi na istocnoj strani otoka Krka. Poluotok Sokol i prevlaka Bosar su na položaju koji kontrolira pomorski put između Senja, kao izlazne tocke kopnenog puta koji preko Senja ide u unutrasnjost prema Lici i dalje, te Osora koji je u povijesti važna tocka u pomorskom prometu prema sjeveru i jugu. Analizom su otkriveni potpuno novi objekti, primjerice isprekidani suhozid, a neki su naslucivani primjerice prethistorijska gradina ili suhozidni objekt na zapadnoj obali Male Luke. Također su objekti, o kojima se raspravljalo u literaturi, na primjer kula na istocnoj obali Male Luke, dobili konkretne obrise. U ovom slucaju je potvrđena kasnija faza objekta jer njegovi zidovi preklapaju niz zidova ranije antike. Pokazano je da utvrđenje Korintija zahtjeva novu izmjeru ili eventualnu rektifikaciju zracnih snimaka.
Many sites of the Neolithic Sopot culture (about 5,000 BC) have been identified in Slavonia (east... more Many sites of the Neolithic Sopot culture (about 5,000 BC) have been identified in Slavonia (eastern Croatia) over the last 30 years. A high density of these sites is found in the northern part of the Đakovo plain, north of the town of Đakovo in the Osijek-Baranja county (Fig. 1). The sites are in various stages of investigation. At the sites of Gorjani–Topole and Gorjani–Kremenjača, Preslatinci–Ugljara, and Tomašanci–Dubrava i Gradina, aerial imagery was studied to observe structures (Šiljeg & Kalafatić, 2016; Kalafatić & Šiljeg, 2018); a circular enclosure was identified at Gorjani–Topole (Fig. 2). Ground surveys were carried out in order to establish chronology and a large-scale magnetic prospection was conducted with a multi-probe fluxgate gradiometer. The results of earlier research, as well as the newly observed features at selected sites were reevaluated, and new patterns were identified using an integrative approach.
Archeological excavations and field survey of Neolithic sites during the last 100 years have form... more Archeological excavations and field survey of Neolithic sites during the last 100 years have formed a certain framework within which we developed an interpretation of Neolithic life in this area. Even though researchers have stressed the importance of sites, region, or period in their publications, most of the results revealed very modest remains of Neolithic settlements, too small or too scarce to provide insight in settlement size, organization, and other aspects of life. A combination of non-destructive methods of research is proving to be a more effective means of Neolithic site detection and interpretation. Here, we present the sites Gorjani-Kremenjača, Koritna-Pašnik, Gat-Svetošnice, Ivanovac-Korođvar, Klisa-Groblje, and Brdo, whose size and shape were defined through a combination of the analysis of aerial and satellite imagery and geomagnetic survey. Experience in combined research strategies will help us in our efforts to define parameters in recognizing regularities in the remains of settlement organization visible only from the air. Our results showed a complex network of densely populated settlements with elaborate internal organization and infrastructure varying in size from 10 to 50 ha. All settlements were surrounded by at least one set of ditches. Their internal organization was complex and suggests dense habitation. Many sites have several ditched spaces organized in complex systems. Obtained data and results provide a comprehensive review in a wider European context.
This paper presents the results of the field survey and remote sensing of
the area around the wel... more This paper presents the results of the field survey and remote sensing of the area around the well-known Roman fort with the Croatian part of the Danube limes, Dragojlov brijeg, in Baranja. Until now, Roman enclosures had not been detected through aerial surveys of this region. New surveillance has revealed a fort, road and several extramural enclosures in the surrounding area of the fort. The pottery found during the field survey of the extramural enclosure dates it to between 2nd and beginning 4th c. AD.
Roman building materials, especially brick and tiles (tegulae and imbex) marked a new era in the ... more Roman building materials, especially brick and tiles (tegulae and imbex) marked a new era in the architecture of Roman Dalmatia. While imported materials seem to still form the bulk of the evidence, recently identified and definitely located local productions provide the possibility to place these products within a technological and economical framework. The in-depth analysis of the array of ceramic building materials (CBM) of the workshop of Sextus Me(u)tillius Maximus in Crikvenica (north-eastern Adriatic) evidences their forming methods and production technology, while some distribution aspects and their role within the rural economy indicate their relevance within the regional CBM market. This paper will highlight such aspects and place them within a wider debate on the onset of production, the organisation of rural property, and the transmission of technology and knowledge through the adoption of “Roman style” architectural solutions.
The site of Stancija Blek –Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of... more The site of Stancija Blek –Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of the 20th century during rural works. The main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an élite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
The beginning of 2018 was the starting date of Life on the Roman Road: Communications, trade and ... more The beginning of 2018 was the starting date of Life on the Roman Road: Communications, trade and identities on the Roman roads in Croatia from the 1st to the 8th century (UIP-05-2017-9768) (led by Ivana Ožanić Roguljić), a project financed by the Croatian Science Foundation and executed at the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb. The first year of the project was dedicated to research, dissemination, popularising and educational activities. The first activity of the project was the on-site inspection of the Čepin municipality and of the area next to the Josipovac.
The paper presents the results of archaeological research at eight sites of Sopot culture in the ... more The paper presents the results of archaeological research at eight sites of Sopot culture in the area north of the town of Đakovo. The sites are in various stages of investigation – from aerial remote sensing and reconnaissance, to archaeological excavation and the application of the magnetic survey. It has been established through recent research that the sites of the Sopot culture are of a much larger scale and of a much more complex structure than previously thought, and it is proposed to re-evaluate the current interpretations. All settlements are enclosed by one or more ditches, except for the Đakovo – Grabrovac/Ciglana settlement for which it is not possible to determine whether it had a ditch, since most of the site was removed by the activities of the brickworks during the 20th century. The fndings from eight settlements were analysed typologically and chronologically in the context of other sites of Sopot culture in Slavonia.
Hortus Artium Medievalium. Journal of the International Research Center for Late Antiquity and Middle Ages, 2019
The site of Stancija Blek - Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings o... more The site of Stancija Blek - Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of the 20th century during rural works. The main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an elite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
Neolithic settlements (6th/5th millennium BC) encircled by moats were widespread throughout Europ... more Neolithic settlements (6th/5th millennium BC) encircled by moats were widespread throughout Europe, including eastern Croatia, on which there is an extensive bibliography. Excavations conducted over the last several years have confirmed the existence of thus far unrecorded methods for the formation and organization of such settlements in eastern Croatia – twin settlements. This new type of settlement was ascertained by means of remote sensing from aircraft and by means of drones, in combination with a series of satellite and aerial vertical photographs, while the results of field surveys of the sites so discovered have confirmed that they were generally multi-layered, long-term and attributed to the Sopot culture, so that they may be generally dated to the 5th millennium BC.
RIMSKE KERAMIČARSKE I STAKLARSKE RADIONICE. PROIZVODNJA I TRGOVINA NA JADRANSKOM PROSTORU. ZBORNI... more RIMSKE KERAMIČARSKE I STAKLARSKE RADIONICE. PROIZVODNJA I TRGOVINA NA JADRANSKOM PROSTORU. ZBORNIK III. MEĐUNARODNOG ARHEOLOŠKOG KOLOKVIJA CRIKVENICA, 4. - 5. STUDENOGA 2014. OFFICINE PER LA PRODUZIONE DI CERAMICA E VETRO IN EPOCA ROMANA. PRODUZIONE E COMMERCIO NELLA REGIONE ADRIATICA ATTI DEL III COLLOQUIO ARCHEOLOGICO INTERNAZIONALE CRIKVENICA (CROAZIA), 4 - 5 NOVEMBRE 2014
Zbornik Instituta za arheologiju/ Serta Instituti Archaeologici Volume 2, 2014
Rimske keramičarske i staklarske radionice. Proizvodnja i trgovina na jadranskom prostoru Tema k... more Rimske keramičarske i staklarske radionice. Proizvodnja i trgovina na jadranskom prostoru Tema kolokvija: Eksperimentalna arheologija / Roman Pottery and Glass Manufactures. Production and Trade in the Adriatic region Colloquium Theme: Experimental archaeology
The decade of research concentrating on the area of Eastern Slavonia revealed an abundance of lar... more The decade of research concentrating on the area of Eastern Slavonia revealed an abundance of large and complex Middle and Late Neolithic sites. It changed profoundly how we perceive Middle and Late Neolithic settlements, including space, size and organization. The vast majority of these sites were detected through aerial reconnaissance and satellite image analysis. The observation of the sites was followed by intensive field surveys, which confirmed their attribution to the Middle and Late Neolithic period by surface finds. On those confirmed sites in the vicinity of Đakovo, Croatia, a magnetic survey was conducted on five sites, and the results confirmed the presence of large-scale Middle and Late Neolithic settlements with complex spatial organization and enclosure(s). The most complex remains so far are the sites Gorjani, Kremenjača and Topole, which we present in this paper, where one or two settlements remain covering an area of 70 hectares which is currently in the process of formal protection as a cultural landscape by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. The special focus of this paper is the application of remote sensing in the detection, archaeological confirmation and protection of the site of Gorjani Topole.
Rezultati istraživanja u Lovasu (zapadni Srijem)-Otkriće ranolatenskoga biritualnog groblja Resea... more Rezultati istraživanja u Lovasu (zapadni Srijem)-Otkriće ranolatenskoga biritualnog groblja Research results for Lovas (Western Syrmia)-Discovery of an Early La Tène biritual cemetery
The Roman archaeological site of Podšilo is located in southern part of the Lopar Peninsula (Lopa... more The Roman archaeological site of Podšilo is located in southern part of the Lopar Peninsula (Lopar Municipality, island of Rab, County of Primorje and Gorski Kotar). It is situated in a bay, encompassing the entire coastal area (between the bays of Dubec and Sahare) as well as a part of the immediate hinterland towards the south-west, all the way to the next antiquity site called “Beli Grad”. Since 2007 the Institute of Archaeology has conducted field survey of the territory of this site within the project “Northern Croatian Coastland within the Context of the Classical Antiquity Defense System”, led by Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, PhD. At the Podšilo site a partly preserved Roman kiln was identified. Since its architectural elements are directly endangered, from 27th April until 17th May 2009 the Zagreb Institute of Archaeology conducted archaeological rescue excavations. The Roman kiln lays in the north-eastern peripheral part of the Podšilo Bay (opposite Goli Otok) and it seems that an elevated earthen hill was chosen for its position above the sea. But the fact that this hill is elevated compared to the surrounding landscape is a consequence of the disappearance of the surrounding soil due to erosion. Above the earthen cover its bow was visible, and it was not possible to identify whether it belonged to the bottom parts of the architecture or to the kiln’s roofing. In the last survey of this structure, conducted near the end of the year 2008, a devastation of the bow was stated, which in fact set off the kiln’s rescue excavation at the very beginning of the year 2009. After the preparatory stage of the site’s arrangement and documenting the existing status of the finds, the humus part SU 001 (only 0.5 m thick) was removed. The first surface stratigraphic data enabled an immediate identification of the important spatial determinant for the location of the Lopar Roman kiln. The Romans decided to locate it on the hilly elevation (which was out of reach of sea), and the kiln’s entire structure – apart from the entrance part of the firing channel and its final coverings – was sunken into the ground. The method of burying the kiln is most evident from the height differences of sterile soil, and thus between the entrance to the kiln and its gable. At the entrance to the baking chamber the sterile soil ranged from ▼273 m above sea level to ▼3.57 m above sea level. At the gable part of the kiln it is ▼5.20 m above sea level. In addition to choosing a hilly elevation for burying the kiln, its constructors used another natural characteristic of the terrain: the presence of schist rocks, SU 013. Although schist is not as firm as other rock types, in this region it is an extraordinarily valuable construction element, used for kiln foundations and for reinforcement of its construction elements on a tremor flysch terrain. The kiln was buried in line with the ramp system: from the lowest point at the entrance into the praefurnium towards the highest point at the end of the kiln i.e. the gable wall. The Lopari Roman kiln was built as a standard Roman kiln type with a rectangular chamber, type II b (according to Cuomo di Caprio). The kiln consists of two basic parts: the firing channel – praefurnium (SU 021) and a combustion chamber (SU 087). The firing channel is 0.70 m / 0.80 m wide. The praefurnium floor (SU 048 and SU 079) is ▼3.370 m above sea level. The firing channel walls were built of tiles and arch vaulted. No visible remains of the vault were preserved. The larger part of the channel was sunken (praefurnium SU 022 buried in sterile soil), with the exception of the entrance part. The preserved remains suggest that the firing channel length is 2.20 m. The firing channel leads to the baking chamber and its smoke channel, SU 028. The baking chamber is of a rectangular shape 3.00 m x 2.90 m. Only the bottom layers of the chamber’s walls, SU 020, were preserved. Within the chamber there is a smoke channel SU 028, which had an arch vault with three opposite pairs of pilasters (diagonal compartments) followed by bows. As the fill of the kiln’s chamber was emptied, numerous contemporary materials were found pointing to a recent attempt at devastating this archaeological site. It was identified that the layers of almost the entire fill are upside-down. At the point where the firing channel turned to the chamber’s smoke channel, beneath the flooring of this preserved kiln, an extraordinarily thick layer of collapsed material, SU 080, was found, consisting of construction ceramic fragments. The collapsed layer is part of an earlier kiln that used to be at the same spot. Thus our assumption was confirmed that the remains of the Lopari kiln are not an isolated antiquity find at this site, but part of a pottery workshop belonging to a nearby Roman villa rustica. According to the first analyses, the Lopar kiln can be dated approximately in the first two centuries BC. Parallel with the archaeological digs, field survey was conducted of the wider area near the Podšilo site, and of the Lopar area. Thanks to information provided by the local population, numerous antiquity sites were identified, which testify to a very intensive life in the Lopar area during Roman antiquity.
Donji Miholjac is often mentioned in the context of the site of mansio Maurianis, in accordance w... more Donji Miholjac is often mentioned in the context of the site of mansio Maurianis, in accordance with Itinerarium Burdigalense. Several sites from the Roman period were ascertained on the territory of Donji Miholjac Municipality. This paper presents sites from the Roman period known from the literature, as well as two new sites as a result of a field survey in Rakitovica area, south of Donji Miholjac. Two sites from the Roman period which are dated by the finds to the second half of the second century and the third century were discovered at elevated positions of the meandering river of Karašica.
By combining several methods that include the use of predictive modeling in GIS, remote interpret... more By combining several methods that include the use of predictive modeling in GIS, remote interpretation and field survey, several settlement structures from the late Neolithic of circular and oval layout and one rectangular layout belonging to the late Middle Ages were discovered south of Bračevci at the Bašćina site. This is one of the first known and successful uses of modeling in Croatia in the discovery of Late Neolithic circular fortified settlements. The newly discovered settlements were observed in the context of the hitherto known network of late Neolithic settlements in eastern Croatia. Remote sensing was followed by an intensive field survey. Numerous fragments of ceramic vessels, fragments of ceramic whorls and weights, as well as complete pieces and fragments of knapped and polished lithic objects were found during the survey. The position and concentration of the findings were recorded, and diagnostic fragments were collected, some of which are presented in this paper. Fragments of pottery belong to the late Neolithic period. Among the non-diagnostic fragments, fragments of coarse and fine pottery were found. Among the finds of fine pottery, black polished high-gloss surface treatment dominates. Two fragments of Neolithic pottery with traces of painting have also been recorded
Rezultati istraživanja nalazišta Batina-Sredno 2013. godine The results of the investigations at ... more Rezultati istraživanja nalazišta Batina-Sredno 2013. godine The results of the investigations at Batina-Sredno in 2013 21 21 Field survey and archaeological supervision of the reconstruction of State Road D212, Kneževi Vinogradi-Zmajevac Terenski pregled i arheološki nadzor na rekonstrukciji državne ceste D212, Kneževi Vinogradi-Zmajevac
Analizom digitaliziranog snimka ciklickog snimanja Državne geodetske uprave doslo se do novih pod... more Analizom digitaliziranog snimka ciklickog snimanja Državne geodetske uprave doslo se do novih podataka o spomenickom kompleksu koji se nalazi na istocnoj strani otoka Krka. Poluotok Sokol i prevlaka Bosar su na položaju koji kontrolira pomorski put između Senja, kao izlazne tocke kopnenog puta koji preko Senja ide u unutrasnjost prema Lici i dalje, te Osora koji je u povijesti važna tocka u pomorskom prometu prema sjeveru i jugu. Analizom su otkriveni potpuno novi objekti, primjerice isprekidani suhozid, a neki su naslucivani primjerice prethistorijska gradina ili suhozidni objekt na zapadnoj obali Male Luke. Također su objekti, o kojima se raspravljalo u literaturi, na primjer kula na istocnoj obali Male Luke, dobili konkretne obrise. U ovom slucaju je potvrđena kasnija faza objekta jer njegovi zidovi preklapaju niz zidova ranije antike. Pokazano je da utvrđenje Korintija zahtjeva novu izmjeru ili eventualnu rektifikaciju zracnih snimaka.
Many sites of the Neolithic Sopot culture (about 5,000 BC) have been identified in Slavonia (east... more Many sites of the Neolithic Sopot culture (about 5,000 BC) have been identified in Slavonia (eastern Croatia) over the last 30 years. A high density of these sites is found in the northern part of the Đakovo plain, north of the town of Đakovo in the Osijek-Baranja county (Fig. 1). The sites are in various stages of investigation. At the sites of Gorjani–Topole and Gorjani–Kremenjača, Preslatinci–Ugljara, and Tomašanci–Dubrava i Gradina, aerial imagery was studied to observe structures (Šiljeg & Kalafatić, 2016; Kalafatić & Šiljeg, 2018); a circular enclosure was identified at Gorjani–Topole (Fig. 2). Ground surveys were carried out in order to establish chronology and a large-scale magnetic prospection was conducted with a multi-probe fluxgate gradiometer. The results of earlier research, as well as the newly observed features at selected sites were reevaluated, and new patterns were identified using an integrative approach.
Archeological excavations and field survey of Neolithic sites during the last 100 years have form... more Archeological excavations and field survey of Neolithic sites during the last 100 years have formed a certain framework within which we developed an interpretation of Neolithic life in this area. Even though researchers have stressed the importance of sites, region, or period in their publications, most of the results revealed very modest remains of Neolithic settlements, too small or too scarce to provide insight in settlement size, organization, and other aspects of life. A combination of non-destructive methods of research is proving to be a more effective means of Neolithic site detection and interpretation. Here, we present the sites Gorjani-Kremenjača, Koritna-Pašnik, Gat-Svetošnice, Ivanovac-Korođvar, Klisa-Groblje, and Brdo, whose size and shape were defined through a combination of the analysis of aerial and satellite imagery and geomagnetic survey. Experience in combined research strategies will help us in our efforts to define parameters in recognizing regularities in the remains of settlement organization visible only from the air. Our results showed a complex network of densely populated settlements with elaborate internal organization and infrastructure varying in size from 10 to 50 ha. All settlements were surrounded by at least one set of ditches. Their internal organization was complex and suggests dense habitation. Many sites have several ditched spaces organized in complex systems. Obtained data and results provide a comprehensive review in a wider European context.
This paper presents the results of the field survey and remote sensing of
the area around the wel... more This paper presents the results of the field survey and remote sensing of the area around the well-known Roman fort with the Croatian part of the Danube limes, Dragojlov brijeg, in Baranja. Until now, Roman enclosures had not been detected through aerial surveys of this region. New surveillance has revealed a fort, road and several extramural enclosures in the surrounding area of the fort. The pottery found during the field survey of the extramural enclosure dates it to between 2nd and beginning 4th c. AD.
Roman building materials, especially brick and tiles (tegulae and imbex) marked a new era in the ... more Roman building materials, especially brick and tiles (tegulae and imbex) marked a new era in the architecture of Roman Dalmatia. While imported materials seem to still form the bulk of the evidence, recently identified and definitely located local productions provide the possibility to place these products within a technological and economical framework. The in-depth analysis of the array of ceramic building materials (CBM) of the workshop of Sextus Me(u)tillius Maximus in Crikvenica (north-eastern Adriatic) evidences their forming methods and production technology, while some distribution aspects and their role within the rural economy indicate their relevance within the regional CBM market. This paper will highlight such aspects and place them within a wider debate on the onset of production, the organisation of rural property, and the transmission of technology and knowledge through the adoption of “Roman style” architectural solutions.
The site of Stancija Blek –Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of... more The site of Stancija Blek –Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of the 20th century during rural works. The main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an élite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
The beginning of 2018 was the starting date of Life on the Roman Road: Communications, trade and ... more The beginning of 2018 was the starting date of Life on the Roman Road: Communications, trade and identities on the Roman roads in Croatia from the 1st to the 8th century (UIP-05-2017-9768) (led by Ivana Ožanić Roguljić), a project financed by the Croatian Science Foundation and executed at the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb. The first year of the project was dedicated to research, dissemination, popularising and educational activities. The first activity of the project was the on-site inspection of the Čepin municipality and of the area next to the Josipovac.
The paper presents the results of archaeological research at eight sites of Sopot culture in the ... more The paper presents the results of archaeological research at eight sites of Sopot culture in the area north of the town of Đakovo. The sites are in various stages of investigation – from aerial remote sensing and reconnaissance, to archaeological excavation and the application of the magnetic survey. It has been established through recent research that the sites of the Sopot culture are of a much larger scale and of a much more complex structure than previously thought, and it is proposed to re-evaluate the current interpretations. All settlements are enclosed by one or more ditches, except for the Đakovo – Grabrovac/Ciglana settlement for which it is not possible to determine whether it had a ditch, since most of the site was removed by the activities of the brickworks during the 20th century. The fndings from eight settlements were analysed typologically and chronologically in the context of other sites of Sopot culture in Slavonia.
Hortus Artium Medievalium. Journal of the International Research Center for Late Antiquity and Middle Ages, 2019
The site of Stancija Blek - Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings o... more The site of Stancija Blek - Tarovec (Tar-Vabriga\Torre-Abrega) was discovered at the beginnings of the 20th century during rural works. The main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an elite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
Neolithic settlements (6th/5th millennium BC) encircled by moats were widespread throughout Europ... more Neolithic settlements (6th/5th millennium BC) encircled by moats were widespread throughout Europe, including eastern Croatia, on which there is an extensive bibliography. Excavations conducted over the last several years have confirmed the existence of thus far unrecorded methods for the formation and organization of such settlements in eastern Croatia – twin settlements. This new type of settlement was ascertained by means of remote sensing from aircraft and by means of drones, in combination with a series of satellite and aerial vertical photographs, while the results of field surveys of the sites so discovered have confirmed that they were generally multi-layered, long-term and attributed to the Sopot culture, so that they may be generally dated to the 5th millennium BC.
The basis of the research was a comparative image study of 4 cyclic photogrammetric surveys made ... more The basis of the research was a comparative image study of 4 cyclic photogrammetric surveys made by Republic of Croatia State Geodetic Administration from 1997 to 2015. Satellite imagery and Internet geographic services, such as Google Earth, Bing maps, Croatian Internet geodetic and agricultural map services, were also extensively used in this research. Spatial analysis of aerial images was combined with Internet historical map and image. A valuable resource is also the digitalized vertical images originated before 1968, available since 2015 (Produced by Military Geographical Institute, Belgrade). Sites were selected according to the results of the above mentioned analysis, to conduct of aircraft photographic surveys in 2013 to 2016. UAVs have been used to record target areas and sites, which significantly increased the number of newly discovered sites. The satellite imagery and aerial photography data were compared with results of the systematic field survey. Consequently, more than 200 (new 50 in 2016) archaeological sites were identified throughout the area.
CRACOW LANDSCAPE MONOGRAPHS 2 Landscape as impulsion for culture: research, perception & protection LANDSCAPE IN THE PAST & FORGOTTEN LANDSCAPES, 2016
From the Late Neolithic in the 6th millennium BC in Carpathian Basin developed circular fortified... more From the Late Neolithic in the 6th millennium BC in Carpathian Basin developed circular fortified settlements, some of which in long term eventually grow into settlement mounds, tells. Our modern perception, which is developed from some of extraordinary examples of settlement mounds dominating the landscape, is only partly accurate since only some tells reached a significant height, and they are usually part of the complex settlement structure which surrounds them. Much more stays hidden in landscape and this presentation aims to investigate changing perceptions on Neolithic landscapes in eastern Croatia and to reconsider the dynamics of human-environment interactions. It will also explore possibilities of landscape reconstructions by mapping the specific Neolithic settlements through aerial remote sensing approaches.
Exhibition on Ad turres (Crikvenica, Croatia) and its ancient heritage, with particular enphasis ... more Exhibition on Ad turres (Crikvenica, Croatia) and its ancient heritage, with particular enphasis on its roman pottery workshop.
Presentation of the research carried out in 2015. g. by the Institute of archaeology and the Zavi... more Presentation of the research carried out in 2015. g. by the Institute of archaeology and the Zavičajni muzej poreštine.
Stanzia Blek, also known as Old Tar, is a rare Istrian
example where we can study the transformat... more Stanzia Blek, also known as Old Tar, is a rare Istrian example where we can study the transformation from a Roman rural estate to a medieval village in more depth. Archaeological research carried out jointly by the Museum of Poreč and the Institute of Archaeology (Zagreb, Croatia) from 2008, is focused on developing a better understanding of this transformation which was previously identified by historic and architectural research. So far, four main phases have been identified, each corresponding to a somewhat different usage of the site. In this contribution, each of the phases will be presented in more detail drawing on the available evidence, and trying to understand how the site adapted to changing natural, economical and political factors until its final demise that saw the transfer of its population to the location of today’s town of Tar.
In 2004 excavations confirmed the existence of a pottery workshop (figlina) at Crikvenica, on Cro... more In 2004 excavations confirmed the existence of a pottery workshop (figlina) at Crikvenica, on Croatia's north-western littoral, while systematic investigations followed from 2006. Since then, four kilns have been excavated as well as a range of annexes functional to the activities of the workshop. The 40 and more tons of waste material so far unearthed on the floors of the figlina, allowed us to isolate a wide range of products comprising of 11 types of amphorae, more than 90 types of common wares, loom weights and four types of ceramic building materials, most of them representing new typologies here identified for the first time. The workshop's activity is roughly dated between 50 BC and 200 AD. It is the „bricks and tiles“ that we would like to present on this occasion. Apart from roof tiles, bearing a stamp indicating the workshop was part of a saltus belonging to the italic Sextus Metilius Maximus, production included rectangular tublae, floor tiles (spicae), and bricks. Results of a study dedicated specifically to the workshop's ceramic building materials and its distribution, will allow us to presents in detail their typology, enabling us to discuss production techniques and features, but also to recognise them on other sites within the region. The wide distribution of the ceramic building materials from Sextus' fliglina, encompassing the whole northern part of Dalmatia province, shows that regionally produced tiles could compete on a market saturated with italic imports (Pansiana, Q. Clodi Ambrosi etc.). The rich assortment of products indicates the need of local builders for a variety of building materials in a time of urban developments that occurred in the region after the formal establishment of Roman rule. This local workshop, the first so far unearthed in the province, was well able to provide such materials, establishing itself within the market of a wider regional context.
I n t h i s p a p e r , we u t i l i z e l a n d s c a p e s u r v e y a n d a n a l y s e s o f ... more I n t h i s p a p e r , we u t i l i z e l a n d s c a p e s u r v e y a n d a n a l y s e s o f ma t e r i a l a s s e mb l a g e s
This poster aims to investigate changing perceptions on Neolithic landscapes in eastern Croatia a... more This poster aims to investigate changing perceptions on Neolithic landscapes in eastern Croatia and to reconsider the dynamics of human-environment interactions. It will also explore possibilities of landscape reconstructions by mapping the specific Neolithic settlements through aerial remote sensing approaches. Detailed analysis of satellite imagery and aerial photography will provide data of strategic use of landscape during Sopot culture of the late Neolithic on “twin” enclosures which are situated in Slavonia region of eastern Croatia. The enclosures are approximately 150-200 meters in diameter and are situated in close vicinity. The poster will focus in first results of the analysis of satellite imagery and aerial photography, also showing achieved results during the low altitude aerial survey. The satellite imagery and aerial photography data were analyzed to examine any kind of correlation between environmental, archaeological and aerial images data and the results were compared with the results of the field survey that was conducted on Neolithic „twin“ enclosures.
This work is published in Aquileia - Salona, Putevima Jadrana od početka srednjeg vijeka ; Un iti... more This work is published in Aquileia - Salona, Putevima Jadrana od početka srednjeg vijeka ; Un itinéraire Adriatique du IIe s.ac.jc. au début du Moyen Age / Čaušević Bully Morana ; Tassaux, francis (ur.). Zagreb : Arheološki muzej u Zagrebu, Ècole française de Rome, 2015. Str. 90-97.
The 2018 excavations on the Stancija Blek site near Tar (Tar – Vabriga / Torre – Abrega municipal... more The 2018 excavations on the Stancija Blek site near Tar (Tar – Vabriga / Torre – Abrega municipality, Istrian County) were undertaken in three sectors: west of the ancient cistern, between the tower and the rampart, and in the area south of the church. The graves found in the latter area, or more precisely, in both identified annexes, can be dated to the period after the 9th century on the basis of the location and the sporadic finds from the fills. Five graves have been identified, but only three have been explored: two are family graves, and one is actually an ossuary dominated by child burials. In the southwestern part of the site, excavations were finished in the sector west of the cistern; more to the west, works began on removing the layer of rubble and collapsed material several meters thick, filling the space between the western annex of the tower and the rampart. Even though the works next to the church and in the western part of the site will continue during the next campaigns, the collected preliminary data is valuable for identifying the function of the church annex and defining the stratigraphy of the preserved layers between the rampart and the tower.
The 2017 research and conservation activities carried out at the Stancija Blek site in Tar covere... more The 2017 research and conservation activities carried out at the Stancija Blek site in Tar covered three sectors of the multiphase architectonic complex which is being investigated since 2008 (Fig. 1). In sector P4, now researched for the first time, the course of the (early) medieval fencing wall was determined, as well as the entryway flanked by two massive walls (SU 185 and 186). The western side of the entrance was later walled, creating a small room, to then be filled with destruction debris held by another wall leaning to it from the east (Fig. 2), and marking the final defunctionalisation of this space. Within sector P8 layers of collapse debris and Late Antique readaptations of an early Imperial room were defined. The room, stretching along the western side of the previously defined cistern was filled with debris upon which a hearth was placed (Fig. 4) and a dividing wall stretching in east-west orientation was built. In the south-eastern corner of this space, a wall (SU 085) with integrated channel, whose spout exists in the room, was uncovered, pointing to the existence of a water management system alongside the cistern. In the western part a threshold was identified, indicating the entrance to the room. The southern limit of the room is still to be defined, as the presently visible wall SU 078, leaning onto SU 085, is a later addition (Fig. 3). In sector P8A/3, relative to the church and eastern section of the cistern, a thick layer of recent debris was removed in order to allow conservation of the eastern cistern's wall and the southern church's wall. This allowed the uncovering of a room annexed to the church from south, underneath which a raster of previous walls is visible. A wall stretching further south indicates the possible existence of another annex (Fig. 5). The time of building of the annex is still to be determined, but there are indications that it might have been part of the same construction project as the church, thus built within a short time-span after it. Conservation of the afore-mentioned walls was carried out by removal of loose stones and their repositioning keeping the original height of the walls. Binding was carried out with lime and sand mortar and finishing was done so to preserve the original appearance of the walls' faces and tops.
Archaeological excavations at Stancija Blek (Tar, Tar – Vabriga municipality) in 2016 covered the... more Archaeological excavations at Stancija Blek (Tar, Tar – Vabriga municipality) in 2016 covered the areas of, as previously defined, Room 8 and Room 1. In fact, research was carried out to define the western perimeter of the cistern, the area to the east of it, and to review the presence of archaeological stratiphication within the "tower", where previous clearings have taken away part of the infill. In the western part of R8 a more complex stratigraphy has been determined, providing a better understanding of the layers excavated in the previous years. A phase, to which burnt layers and white mortar features can be linked, laid above a reddish layer into which a posthole had been dug. Below this features, upon removal of the wall SU 059, layers of destruction were excavated showing the presence of two walls belonging, probably, to the earliest phases of the complex. As the destruction layers yielded mostly 5th-6th c. materials, the burnt layers, the mortar features but also the oven, must be dated later. One of the newly established walls (SU 161) creates a channel-like feature along the western wall of the cistern, on whose bottom a layer of floor preparation has been established. The function of the other newly established wall, SU 143, is at this point still unclear. In the eastern part of P8, excavations showed that the eastern wall of the cistern, though built in a tripartite way, presents a much thicker external wall (SU 142). SU 115, a drywall structure partly build on the cistern's infill (SU 113) and partly on the other two section of the cistern's eastern wall (SU 054–055), leans onto this wall. A complex situation has been noted in the northern part of the cistern as well. Here, two structures are laid above SU 054/058 (the cistern wall onto which the wall of P1 was later built), closing a gap between the walls of P1 and SU 142. By removing part of the cistern's infill, a larger section of the hydraulic mortar applied on SU 058 is now visible, with a gap corresponding to the supposed location of a ceiling's supporting pilaster. This year excavation was extended to P1, the inner space of the tower. As this area has been subjected to debris clearing through a long period of time, almost all stratigraphy is lost. Nevertheless, a structure built along (and perhaps underneath) SU 058 has been established, as well as layers of floor preparation in the central area of this space. In the SE corner layers are better preserved though in small sections, thus hindering their interpretation. This area yielded materials datable to the mid-1st c. AD, confirming an early Roman phase of the complex.
Research at the site Stancija Blek (Tar) continued in 2015 as part
of systematic exchavations tha... more Research at the site Stancija Blek (Tar) continued in 2015 as part of systematic exchavations that have been carried out since 2008 by the Poreč Heritage Museum and the Institute of Archaeology. As previously, research was carried out in the so-called Room 8, in the western part of which an oven and several destruction and burning layers were located, indicating the existance of a unitary space that during Late Antiquity, went through a series of adaptations which are visibile in the stratigraphy. In fact, it is clear that the cistern was defunctionalized during a later Antique period and the area to the west of the cistern was partly used for food preparation/consumption, although craft activities have not been ruled out. In the area of the cistern an interesting architectural layout of subsequent remodelings and the refunctionalisation of the space as a residential area (?), which also allowed the preservation of its perimetral walls, has been established. By better defining the northern wall of the cistern it can now be supposed that it was covered by triple vaults. Thanks to the commitment of the Poreč Heritage Museum and the Italian Community in Tar, the public was introduced to the research results and the importance of Stari Tar site.
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Books by Bartul Šiljeg
CRIKVENICA, 4. - 5. STUDENOGA 2014.
OFFICINE PER LA PRODUZIONE DI CERAMICA E VETRO IN EPOCA ROMANA. PRODUZIONE E COMMERCIO NELLA REGIONE ADRIATICA
ATTI DEL III COLLOQUIO ARCHEOLOGICO INTERNAZIONALE CRIKVENICA (CROAZIA), 4 - 5 NOVEMBRE 2014
Papers by Bartul Šiljeg
Several sites from the Roman period were ascertained on the territory of Donji Miholjac Municipality. This paper presents
sites from the Roman period known from the literature, as well as two new sites as a result of a field survey in Rakitovica
area, south of Donji Miholjac. Two sites from the Roman period which are dated by the finds to the second half of the second
century and the third century were discovered at elevated positions of the meandering river of Karašica.
Middle Ages were discovered south of Bračevci at the Bašćina site. This is one of the first known and successful uses of modeling
in Croatia in the discovery of Late Neolithic circular fortified settlements. The newly discovered settlements were observed in
the context of the hitherto known network of late Neolithic settlements in eastern Croatia. Remote sensing was followed by
an intensive field survey. Numerous fragments of ceramic vessels, fragments of ceramic whorls and weights, as well as complete
pieces and fragments of knapped and polished lithic objects were found during the survey.
The position and concentration of the findings were recorded, and diagnostic fragments were collected, some of which are presented in this paper. Fragments of pottery belong to the late Neolithic period. Among the non-diagnostic fragments, fragments
of coarse and fine pottery were found. Among the finds of fine pottery, black polished high-gloss surface treatment dominates.
Two fragments of Neolithic pottery with traces of painting have also been recorded
the area around the well-known Roman fort with the Croatian part of the Danube
limes, Dragojlov brijeg, in Baranja. Until now, Roman enclosures had not been detected
through aerial surveys of this region. New surveillance has revealed a fort, road
and several extramural enclosures in the surrounding area of the fort. The pottery
found during the field survey of the extramural enclosure dates it to between 2nd and
beginning 4th c. AD.
main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an élite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
Roman roads in Croatia from the 1st to the 8th century (UIP-05-2017-9768) (led by Ivana Ožanić Roguljić), a project
financed by the Croatian Science Foundation and executed at the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb. The first year of the
project was dedicated to research, dissemination, popularising and educational activities. The first activity of the project was
the on-site inspection of the Čepin municipality and of the area next to the Josipovac.
while the results of field surveys of the sites so discovered have confirmed that they were generally multi-layered, long-term and attributed to the Sopot culture, so that they may be generally dated to the 5th millennium BC.
CRIKVENICA, 4. - 5. STUDENOGA 2014.
OFFICINE PER LA PRODUZIONE DI CERAMICA E VETRO IN EPOCA ROMANA. PRODUZIONE E COMMERCIO NELLA REGIONE ADRIATICA
ATTI DEL III COLLOQUIO ARCHEOLOGICO INTERNAZIONALE CRIKVENICA (CROAZIA), 4 - 5 NOVEMBRE 2014
Several sites from the Roman period were ascertained on the territory of Donji Miholjac Municipality. This paper presents
sites from the Roman period known from the literature, as well as two new sites as a result of a field survey in Rakitovica
area, south of Donji Miholjac. Two sites from the Roman period which are dated by the finds to the second half of the second
century and the third century were discovered at elevated positions of the meandering river of Karašica.
Middle Ages were discovered south of Bračevci at the Bašćina site. This is one of the first known and successful uses of modeling
in Croatia in the discovery of Late Neolithic circular fortified settlements. The newly discovered settlements were observed in
the context of the hitherto known network of late Neolithic settlements in eastern Croatia. Remote sensing was followed by
an intensive field survey. Numerous fragments of ceramic vessels, fragments of ceramic whorls and weights, as well as complete
pieces and fragments of knapped and polished lithic objects were found during the survey.
The position and concentration of the findings were recorded, and diagnostic fragments were collected, some of which are presented in this paper. Fragments of pottery belong to the late Neolithic period. Among the non-diagnostic fragments, fragments
of coarse and fine pottery were found. Among the finds of fine pottery, black polished high-gloss surface treatment dominates.
Two fragments of Neolithic pottery with traces of painting have also been recorded
the area around the well-known Roman fort with the Croatian part of the Danube
limes, Dragojlov brijeg, in Baranja. Until now, Roman enclosures had not been detected
through aerial surveys of this region. New surveillance has revealed a fort, road
and several extramural enclosures in the surrounding area of the fort. The pottery
found during the field survey of the extramural enclosure dates it to between 2nd and
beginning 4th c. AD.
main building is an impressive stone tower that controls the mouth of Quieto River, built over the older walls of a Roman farm. Excavations were carried out since 2008 when most of the settlement was investigated with architectural analysis and stratigraphic samples. These investigations analyzed the various phases suggesting a Byzantine watchtower over the abandoned Roman site. In 2016 and 2017 a new series of excavations has been undertaken by a team constituted by researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, the Museum of the Poreč territory and the University of Bologna. In this paper we will present the main results of the first two seasons of joint excavations pointing out the first phase of construction, documenting a continuity of use also during the 6th and 7th c. as a rural site, possibly linked to olive oil production. Between the 8th and 9th c. the settlement was surrounded by an enceinte wall that included the central tower, a chapel and various rooms of an élite site, surrounded by a wider village. This type of settlement is known elsewhere in early medieval Istria and future research will try to better define the steps of the transformation from rural Roman tradition site to a new fortified site and its function as a medieval center of power.
Roman roads in Croatia from the 1st to the 8th century (UIP-05-2017-9768) (led by Ivana Ožanić Roguljić), a project
financed by the Croatian Science Foundation and executed at the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb. The first year of the
project was dedicated to research, dissemination, popularising and educational activities. The first activity of the project was
the on-site inspection of the Čepin municipality and of the area next to the Josipovac.
while the results of field surveys of the sites so discovered have confirmed that they were generally multi-layered, long-term and attributed to the Sopot culture, so that they may be generally dated to the 5th millennium BC.
which in long term eventually grow into settlement mounds, tells. Our modern perception, which is developed from some
of extraordinary examples of settlement mounds dominating the landscape, is only partly accurate since only some tells
reached a significant height, and they are usually part of the complex settlement structure which surrounds them. Much
more stays hidden in landscape and this presentation aims to investigate changing perceptions on Neolithic landscapes
in eastern Croatia and to reconsider the dynamics of human-environment interactions. It will also explore possibilities
of landscape reconstructions by mapping the specific Neolithic settlements through aerial remote sensing approaches.
example where we can study the transformation from a
Roman rural estate to a medieval village in more depth.
Archaeological research carried out jointly by the Museum
of Poreč and the Institute of Archaeology (Zagreb, Croatia)
from 2008, is focused on developing a better
understanding of this transformation which was previously
identified by historic and architectural research.
So far, four main phases have been identified, each
corresponding to a somewhat different usage of the site. In
this contribution, each of the phases will be presented in
more detail drawing on the available evidence, and trying
to understand how the site adapted to changing natural,
economical and political factors until its final demise that
saw the transfer of its population to the location of today’s
town of Tar.
It is the „bricks and tiles“ that we would like to present on this occasion. Apart from roof tiles, bearing a stamp indicating the workshop was part of a saltus belonging to the italic Sextus Metilius Maximus, production included rectangular tublae, floor tiles (spicae), and bricks. Results of a study dedicated specifically to the workshop's ceramic building materials and its distribution, will allow us to presents in detail their typology, enabling us to discuss production techniques and features, but also to recognise them on other sites within the region.
The wide distribution of the ceramic building materials from Sextus' fliglina, encompassing the whole northern part of Dalmatia province, shows that regionally produced tiles could compete on a market saturated with italic imports (Pansiana, Q. Clodi Ambrosi etc.). The rich assortment of products indicates the need of local builders for a variety of building materials in a time of urban developments that occurred in the region after the formal establishment of Roman rule. This local workshop, the first so far unearthed in the province, was well able to provide such materials, establishing itself within the market of a wider regional context.
The graves found in the latter area, or more precisely, in both identified annexes, can be dated to the period after the 9th century on the basis of the location and the sporadic finds from the fills. Five graves have been identified, but only three have been explored: two are family graves, and one is actually an ossuary dominated by child burials. In the southwestern part of the site, excavations were finished in the sector west of the cistern; more to the west, works began on removing the layer of rubble and collapsed material several meters thick, filling the space between the western annex of the tower and the rampart. Even
though the works next to the church and in the western part of the site will continue during the next campaigns, the collected
preliminary data is valuable for identifying the function of the church annex and defining the stratigraphy of the preserved layers between the rampart and the tower.
Within sector P8 layers of collapse debris and Late Antique readaptations of an early Imperial room were defined. The room, stretching along the western side of the previously defined cistern was filled with debris upon which a hearth was placed (Fig. 4) and a dividing wall stretching in east-west orientation was built. In the south-eastern corner of this space, a wall (SU 085) with integrated channel, whose spout exists in the room, was uncovered, pointing to the existence of a water management system alongside the cistern. In the western part a threshold was identified, indicating the entrance to the room. The southern limit of the room is still to be defined, as the presently visible wall SU 078, leaning onto SU 085, is a later addition (Fig. 3).
In sector P8A/3, relative to the church and eastern section of the cistern, a thick layer of recent debris was removed in order to allow conservation of the eastern cistern's wall and the southern church's wall. This allowed the uncovering of a room annexed to the church from south, underneath which a raster of previous walls is visible. A wall stretching further south indicates the possible existence of another annex (Fig. 5). The time of building of the annex is still to be determined, but there are indications that it might have been part of the same construction project as the church, thus built within a short time-span after it.
Conservation of the afore-mentioned walls was carried out by removal of loose stones and their repositioning keeping the original height of the walls. Binding was carried out with lime and sand mortar and finishing was done so to preserve the original appearance of the walls' faces and tops.
In the western part of R8 a more complex stratigraphy has been determined, providing a better understanding of the layers excavated in the previous years. A phase, to which burnt layers and white mortar features can be linked, laid above a reddish layer into which a posthole had been dug. Below this features, upon removal of the wall SU 059, layers of destruction were excavated showing the presence of two walls belonging, probably, to the earliest phases of the complex. As the destruction layers yielded mostly 5th-6th c. materials, the burnt layers, the mortar features but also the oven, must be dated later. One of the newly established walls (SU 161) creates a channel-like feature along the western wall of the cistern, on whose bottom a layer of floor preparation has been established.
The function of the other newly established wall, SU 143, is at this point still unclear.
In the eastern part of P8, excavations showed that the eastern wall of the cistern, though built in a tripartite way, presents a much thicker external wall (SU 142). SU 115, a drywall structure partly build on the cistern's infill (SU 113) and partly on the other two section of the cistern's eastern wall (SU 054–055), leans onto this wall. A complex situation has been noted in the northern part of the cistern as well. Here, two structures are laid above SU 054/058 (the cistern wall onto which the wall of P1 was later built), closing a gap between the walls of P1 and SU 142. By removing part of the cistern's infill, a larger section of the hydraulic mortar
applied on SU 058 is now visible, with a gap corresponding to the supposed
location of a ceiling's supporting pilaster.
This year excavation was extended to P1, the inner space of the tower. As this area has been subjected to debris clearing through a long period of time, almost all stratigraphy is lost. Nevertheless, a structure built along (and perhaps underneath) SU 058 has been established, as well as layers of floor preparation in the central area of this space. In the SE corner layers are better preserved though in small sections, thus hindering their interpretation. This area yielded materials datable to the mid-1st c. AD, confirming an early Roman phase of the complex.
of systematic exchavations that have been carried out since 2008 by the Poreč Heritage Museum and the Institute of Archaeology. As previously, research was carried out in the so-called Room 8, in the western part of which an oven and several destruction and burning layers were located, indicating the existance of a unitary space that during Late Antiquity, went through a series of adaptations which are visibile in the stratigraphy.
In fact, it is clear that the cistern was defunctionalized during a later
Antique period and the area to the west of the cistern was partly used
for food preparation/consumption, although craft activities have not been ruled out.
In the area of the cistern an interesting architectural layout of subsequent remodelings and the refunctionalisation of the space as a residential area (?), which also allowed the preservation of its perimetral walls, has been established. By better defining the northern wall of the cistern it can now be supposed that it was covered by triple vaults.
Thanks to the commitment of the Poreč Heritage Museum and
the Italian Community in Tar, the public was introduced to the research
results and the importance of Stari Tar site.