Search

The Greek establishment of the city of Pharos and their presence on other Adriatic islands and the coast brought a new population, mostly islanders, to adapt to the new landscape. Approaching the shoreline as a bridge, not a boundary, they explored the sea and harvested sea life leaving us remains of shellfish gathering and artefacts of non-utilitarian purposes. Such remains are found in Pharos, on the island of Hvar, throughout different excavations of settlement contexts. An archaeomalacological analysis will reveal traces of use of shellfish, while a historical approach will be used for a better understanding of the importance of the sea and its fruits in everyday life of the Greeks. Comparing Adriatic marine evidence from the Late Classical and Hellenistic period with those in the Aegean Sea will provide insight into the seascape explored by the Greek colonists and those left in the motherland.

Nalazi slatkovodne i kopnene malakofaune na arheološkim lokalitetima mogu pružiti vrijedne podatke o paleookolišu, prehrani i korištenju mekušaca kao sirovine za izradu predmeta različite namjene. U radu su predstavljeni rezultati arheomalakološke analize slatkovodnih školjkaša iz roda Unio pronađenih u prapovijesnim slojevima na lokalitetu Ilok – Dvor knezova Iločkih u istočnoj Hrvatskoj. Analiza je obuhvatila 35 fragmenata školjkaša koji potječu iz deset stratigrafskih jedinica. Prema morfologiji određene su vrste Unio crassus, Unio pictorum i Unio tumidus. Jedan primjerak ima perforaciju na umbu, što može upućivati na uporabu predmeta kao privjeska. Tafonomske promjene na školjkašima ukazuju na ekstrakciju sirovog mesa, dok skroman skup nalaza pretpostavlja sporadično korištenje., Finds of freshwater and terrestrial malacofauna at archaeological sites can provide valuable information on the paleoenvironment, nutrition and use of mollusks as raw materials for the manufacture of objects for various purposes. The paper presents the results of archeomalacological analysis of freshwater shellfish of the genus Unio found in prehistoric strata at the site Ilok – Dvor knezova Iločkih in eastern Croatia. The analysis included 35 shell fragments originating from ten stratigraphic units. According to morphology, the species Unio crassus, Unio pictorum and Unio tumidus were determined. One specimen has a perforation on the umbo, which may indicate the use of the object as a pendant. Taphonomic changes in shellfish indicate extraction of raw meat, while a modest set of findings suggests sporadic use.

At the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron age, two cemeteries from eastern Croatia were formed – Sotin and Batina. Animal remains from six female graves (three from each cemetery) were selected for zooarchaeological analysis. Animal presence in graves indicates their inclusion in funerary rites. By sharing coexistence with humans, animals often shared an afterlife as well. Along the way, they ended up as a part of the sacrifice or as a companion to the deceased. Archaeozoological analysis from the sites of Sotin and Batina revealed mostly unburned and domestic animals (cattle, pig, sheep/goat), with exception of one roe deer astragalus. Analyses of the faunal remains from female graves are not very common, and this study presents new data with many questions and few answers on this topic.

Environmental changes at the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of Holocene, such as change in climate, faunal and floral communities, sea level and so on had impact on human behavior and use of resources. These are also reflected in diet. Here we present the use of marine mollusks in diet of Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic inhabitants of Vlakno cave, Dugi Otok, Croatia. Differences in treatment of mollusks (e.g. traces of burning, abundance) and differences in species collected are compared between layers of inhabitation at the site.

Paleolithic sites situated in the Hrvatsko zagorje region of north-western Croatia (Krapina, Vindija) are well known because they contain important finds of fossil human remains associated with both faunal remains and lithic industry. However, in recent years, work on Mousterian sites in Dalmatia (south Croatia) has intensified. It focuses on three types of sites, (caves, open-air, and an underwater site) as well as on a systematic survey of the region. This poster briefly presents one of each type of the site in the light of new research and compares evidences from these sites. While the cave site of Mujina pećina has yielded both lithics and faunal remains in a stratigraphic context, lithics from the Karanušići open-air site and the Kaštel Štafilić— Resnik underwater site were mainly collected from the surface. Although surface finds lack stratigraphic information, they contain some general technological and typological data, damage patterns, as well as information on sphericity and roundness of finds. This integrative approach to mentioned sites allows a comparison between land sites and those now under water, providing better insight into formation processes, a more complete picture of the area occupied by the Mousterian people and a clearer insight into their mobility patterns.

Shells of marine and land mollusc exploited by prehistoric humans contain archives of palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic data, as well as of human behaviour in coastal settings. Here we present a method for studying archaeomalacological assemblages from cave sites and describe an application of this method in the analysis of remains recovered from systematic excavations at Vlakno cave (Dugi island, Croatia). The study was based on marine gastropods, marine bivalves and terrestrial gastropods from late Pleistocene and early Holocene layers. In that period, a significant paleogeographic and palaeoecological changes occurred, mostly visible in the Adriatic area through flooding of the north Adriatic lowland by increasing sea level. Taphonomic studies have an important role in identification of agents that modify shells and of processes that affect shell midden formation. This study contributes to enhanced interpretations of human activities and paleoenvironmental and paleoecological reconstructions of eastern Adriatic coast.

Romuald's cave is located on the southern slopes of the Lim channel in Istria, Croatia. In the mid 20th century M. Malez conducted more extensive excavations of the site and unearthed various archaeological and paleontological material dating from the Late Pleistocene to the Bronze and Iron Age. The Late Pleistocene finds included Upper Palaeolithic types of tools, faunal remains and two juvenile human teeth. In 2007 and 2008 D. Komšo led small scale excavations during which several Mousterian artefacts were found. In 2014 new excavations of the site started as a part of the ARCHAEOLIM financed by the Croatian Science Foundation. During the three years of work at the site, human skeletal material and artefacts from Bronze Age, as well as artefacts from Iron age were found. The middle sequences yielded several Upper Palaeolithic tool types, while the lower sequence yielded Mousterian artefacts and Pleistocene faunal remains dated to over 48 kya.

Rad donosi rezultate arheoloških istraživanja na četiri lokaliteta na području Limskog kanala provedenih tijekom 2016. godine. Terenska istraživanja dio su projekta “Arheološka istraživanja kasnog pleistocena i ranog holocena na prostoru Limskog kanala (ARCHAEOLIM)” financiranog od Hrvatske zaklade za znanost i provedena su na četiri lokaliteta: Romualdovoj pećini, Abri Kontija 002, Pećini kod Rovinjskog Sela i Lim 001., This paper presents the results of archaeological excavation conducted in the course of 2016 at four sites in the Lim Channel area. The field excavations were conducted in the frame of the Archaeological Investigations into the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene of the Lim Channel (ARCHAEOLIM) project, financed by the Croatian Science Foundation and conducted at four sites: Romuald’s Cave, Abri Kontija 002, Cave near Rovinjsko Selo and Lim 001.

The end of Pleistocene saw drastic change in climate, including sea level rise, which reached approximately today's levels at the beginning of Holocene. All this resulted in submerging or erasing of many sites. So far, underwater Palaeolithic sites at eastern Adriatic shore are very rare. However, Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik can be attributted to the Middle Paleolithic while finds from another underwater site, located near the island of Stipanac in Prokljansko lake near Skradin, may be attributed to Pleistocene. Kaštel štafilić - Resnik is located at about 4 meters below today's sea level. Technological and typological analysis of all collected lithic finds was undertaken, including measurements of roundness and sphericity. Analysis shows that the most abudant tool types at Kaštel Štafilić - Resnik are side scrapers, typical of Mousterian industry. Lithic industry of Stipanac will be preliminary presented in this oral presentation. Research on underwater Palaeolithic sites has a great potential, yet it comes with difficulties. One of major problems is distinguishing artefatcts from geofacts, both when collecting, as well as during analysis. In addition, the sites are often disturbed by changes in sea level. Furthermore, underwater research is more time consuming, and much more expensive than research at land sites. However, the potential rewards are great, as very little is known about many aspects of formation of such sites, as well as various processess that affected the sites since human habitation. Therefore, it is essential to invest into and further our efforts in this type of research, which will benefit future knowledge and methodology alike.

Izlaganje donosi pregled najvažnijih rezultata arheoloških istraživanja u Romualdovoj pećini u Limskom kanalu. U sklopu HRZZ projekta ARCHAEOLIM od 2014. do 2016. provedena su sustavna sondažna istraživanja Romualdove pećine. Skupljen je brojan paleontološki i arheološki materijal iz prapovijesnih razdoblja. Napravljena je revizija ranijih nalaza, provedeno datiranje slojeva i uzeti su uzorci za geoarheološke analize. Tijekom 2017. godine u pećini su provedena i geofizikalna mjerenja.

As a part of the project „Archaeological Investigations into the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene of the Lim Channel, Istria (ARCHAEOLIM)“ financed by the Croatian Science foundation (Grant no. 7789), archaeological excavations have been undertaken on four sites Two yielded material from the Paleolithic. At Romualdo's Cave previous researchers found traces of the Upper Paleolithic industry and two human teeth, and later several artefacts that could be assigned to Mousterian industry. Our work resulted in discovery of faunal remains and lithic finds from Upper Pleistocene. While the Upper Paleolithic finds were rare (only a few lithic finds can be securely assigned to this period) there is evidence of human occupation of the site during the Middle Paleolithic. At Abri Kontija 002 archaeological work resulted in a very rich, and what seems to be either frequent or continuous human presence during the Upper Paleolithic. All excavated layers are very rich in faunal remains, lithics, and traces of fire and other finds. Here we discuss the main finds from three excavation seasons.

Rad donosi tehnološku i tipološku analizu eneolitičkih lomljenih i glačanih izrađevina te abrazivnog oruđa s lokaliteta Crkvišće- Bukovlje u središnjoj Hrvatskoj. Preliminarno su određene i sirovinske kategorije i njihovo moguće podrijetlo te se na kraju pokušalo rekonstruirati lanac operacija. Analizirani nalazi većinom pripadaju lasinjskoj kulturi. Kako bi se dobio bolji uvid u litičku produkciju navedenog razdoblja, kao usporedni materijal korišteni su nalazi s tri lasinjska lokaliteta: Tomašanci – Palača, Kuševac – Topolina i Slavča – Nova Gradiška., The article presents technological and typological analysis of chipped, polished and abrasive artifacts from Crkvišće-Bukovlje site in central Croatia. Raw material and its possible origin is preliminary determined, and attempt was made to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire. Most of the analyzed finds are attributable to the Lasinja culture. In order to obtain a better insight into lithic production of the Lasinja culture period, comparative material from three Lasinja sites, Tomašanci – Palača, Kuševac – Topolina i Slavča – Nova Gradiška was used.

Članak donosi pregled aktivnosti i preliminarne rezultate arheoloških istraživanja srednjopaleolitičkih nalazišta u Dalmaciji te geoloških istraživanja u okviru kojih su provedena bušenja potencijalnih nalazišta. Aktivnosti su ostvarene provedbom druge i treće godine projekta Kasni musterijen na istočnom Jadranu – temelj za razumijevanje identiteta kasnih neandertalaca i njihovog nestanka Hrvatske zaklade za znanost. Terenski je rad najvećim dijelom bio usmjeren na nastavak istraživanja Velike pećine u Kličevici i podvodnoga paleolitičkog nalazišta Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik. Provedeno je također probno istraživanje jednog nalazišta u zaleđu Kaštela (Giljanovići/Karanušići) i geološka bušenja.

Nekropola Gradci iz starijega željeznog doba dio je kompleksnoga arheološkog nalazišta u blizini mjesta Kaptol kraj Požege. Tijekom 2007. godine istraživan je tumul 13, čija je starost tipološki određena prema nalazima, a smješta ga u razdoblje Ha C2/D1. Tijekom 2010. godine istražen je tumul 14 koji se datira u Ha C2 razdoblje, odnosno u drugu polovinu 7. st. pr. Kr. Tijekom istraživanja iz oba su tumula uzimani uzorci za arheobotaničku analizu čije rezultate predstavljamo u ovom radu. U tumulu 13 nađeno je 140 karboniziranih biljnih ostataka ; prevladavaju različiti plodovi sakupljeni u prirodi, a najzastupljeniji je lješnjak (Corylus avellana). U tumulu 14 izdvojeno je 3880 karboniziranih biljnih ostataka. U nalazima dominiraju različite vrste žitarica, ali su u određenom postotku prisutni i „voćni” prilozi, prije svega plodovi divlje jabuke (Malus sylvestris). Prilozi biljnog podrijetla nesumnjivo su imali veliko značenje u grobnom ritualu halštata, ali za precizniju rekonstrukciju običaja trebat će dovršiti analize ostalih tumula s istog lokaliteta koje su u tijeku. The Early Iron Age necropolis of Gradci is part of a complex archaeological site in the vicinity of the municipality of Kaptol, near Požega (Croatia). In 2007, tumulus 13 was excavated and, on the basis of a typological analysis of the artefacts discovered, dated to period Ha C2/D1. In 2010, tumulus 14 was explored. That one has been dated to Ha C2, that is, to the second half of the 7th cent. BC. During the excavations, samples for archaeobotanical analysis were taken from both tumuli ; this paper presents the results of that analysis. From tumulus 13, 140 carbonized plant remains were recovered. Predominant among them were various fruits gathered from the environment, with greatest presence of common hazel (Corylus avellana). In tumulus 14, 3880 carbonized plant remains were recorded. Predominant among them were various cereal species, with a noticeable proportion of ‘fruit’ grave goods, primarily wild apples (Malus sylvestris). Grave goods of plant origin were undoubtedly very important in the Hallstatt grave ritual, but for a more precise reconstruction of the customs of the time we have to complete the ongoing analysis of finds from other tumuli within the same site.

rad donosi pregled arheoloških i paleoantropoloških pokazatelja ljudskog korištenja špilja i jama u prapovijesti s posebnim osvrtom na nalaze iz Hrvatske

This paper offers a discussion of criteria for lithic atributes that distinguish between human and natural causes of chert modification. The approach is based on various criteria, including technological properties, metric data, and microscopic analysis of damage patterns, among others. Emphasis is made on measurements of sphericity and roundness, as these have proved to have a great potental in distinguishing natural and human modifications. Comparison between open- air, underwater, and cave sites allows an insight into differential natural factors that could affect damage patterns.

Lokalitet Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik podvodni je lokalitet koji se nalazi u Kaštelanskom zaljevu u Dalmaciji. Sustavno je istraživan od 2008. do 2015. osim 2009. Zbog nedostatka primarnog konteksta, prvenstveno činjenice da u Kaštelanskom zaljevu više nema pleistocenskog sedimenta, već samo holocenski mulj, datiranje lokaliteta je vrlo okvirno. Osim toga, mogućnosti za druge analize, poput zooarheoloških, arheobotaničkih, geoarheoloških, analiza rekonstrukcije paleookoliša i drugih, su nepostojeće upravo zbog nedostatka konteksta. Vremenska odrednica kod ovog lokaliteta je vrlo široka. U istraživanjima je pronađeno je oko 5000 komada rožnjaka koji su analizirani i prema tipologiji svrstani u srednji paleolitik, preciznije, u mustjersku kulturu. Prema zastupljenosti tipova oruđa pokušalo se odrediti tip musterijena. Od oruđa najviše su zastupljena strugala, čak 98 %, a takva visoka zastupljenost oruđa najviše odgovara tipičnom musterijenu. Ipak, treba naglasiti da različiti tipovi musterijena nisu rezultat kulturnih promjena tijekom vremena, tako da ova tipološka odrednica nikako ne precizira kronološku (Karavanić, 2006). Mustjerska kultura okvirno traje od prije 200.000 do prije 30.000 godina prije sadašnjosti. Prema podacima za promjene razine mora u Jadranu pokušalo se rekonstruirati u kojim je razdobljima mogao nastati lokalitet, te se došlo do zaključka da je razina mora bila dovoljno niska samo u razdobljima između 190.000 i 130.000 godina prije sadašnjosti (MIS 6), krajem MIS 5 (između 87.800 i 77.800 godina prije sadađnjosti) te između 73.000 (MIS 4) i 40.000 godina prije sadašnjosti 5(polovica MIS 3). Kao donja vremenska granica uzeta je 40.000 godina prije sadašnjosti zbog tipološke odrednice i zbog usporedbe s lokalitetom Mujina pećina. Tip musterijena prisutan na ovom lokalitetu je tipični musterijen, karakterističan zbog dominacije strugala, ali ovu konstataciju treba uzeti s rezervom zbog malog broja oruđa. Za potrebe ovog rada rađene su analize komparativnog materijala s lokaliteta na otvorenom - Karanušići, Ražanac i Panđerovica. Analize s ovih lokaliteta bazirale su se na pregledu omjera artefakata i pseudoartefakata, te oštećenjima na njima. Analize su pokazale visok postotak pseudoartefakata i kod Kaštel Štafilić – Resnika, i kod otvorenih lokaliteta. Zanimljivo, kod lokaliteta na otvorenom visok je udio pseudoartefakta koji morfologijom podsjećaju na udupke i nazupke, dok u Kaštelanskom zaljevu nije pronađen niti jedan nazubljeni komad. Takva distribucija nazubljenih komada pokazuje bitne razlike u nastajanju pseudoartefakata i oštećenja na podvodnom materijalu i onom na otvorenom, a uzroci su različiti geomorfološki procesi pod vodom i na kopnu. Takve razlike vidljive su i na patini, pa tako podvodni nalazi mogu imati bijelu patinu od vode ili crnu od mulja, dok nalazi s otvorenog lokaliteta imaju bež patinu u raznim nijansama. Razlike su vidljive i ako se pogleda odnos zaobljenosti rubova s ova dva tipa lokaliteta. Dominantna kategorija zaobljenosti kod podvodnih nalaza je polu- kutno, dok je kod nalaza s otvorenih lokaliteta kutno. To se može objasniti time da, iako je podvodni materijal u jednu ruku zaštićen od vanjskih utjecaja, nije zaštićen od gibanja mora koje ga lagano miče po morskom dnu i na taj način zaobljuje. Artefakti prikupljeni na otvorenim lokalitetima uglavnom su kutni, što se može povezati s brojnim oštećenjima na rubovima koji su nastali uslijed geomorfoloških procesa. Treba uzeti u obzir i mogućnost da nalazište nije nastalo u jednom razdoblju, već da je bilo naseljeno i / ili posjećivano tijekom dužeg razdoblja dok je bilo kopno. Determinacija artefakta od prirodno lomljenih rožnjaka nova je tema u hrvatskoj arheologiji, te je potrebno još mnogo rada i različitih analiza na ovom polju kako bi se došli do novih spoznaja. Prvi problem je što nema komparativnih lokaliteta na kojima je napravljena takva analiza. Intenzivnija istraživanja i rekognosciranja otvorenih i podvodnih lokaliteta, te stvaranje baze uzoraka pseudoartefakta od različitih sirovina bi moglo pomoći rješavanju tog problema. Nadalje, potrebno je dodatno razraditi kriterije razlikovanja artefakta od pseudoartefakta, jer su kriteriji korišteni u ovom radu kombinacija svih kriterija iz literature koja se bavi ovom tematikom. Za bolje poznavanje uzroka nastajanja pseudoartefakata i oštećenja na artefaktima potrebna je suradnja s geolozima. Na prikupljenom materijalu može se upotrijebiti fotografiranje UV svjetlom ili elektronskim mikroskopom čime bi se istakli negativi od prethodno odlomljenih odbojaka i na taj bi način s većom sigurnošću odvajali artefakte od pseudoartefakta. Što se tiče lokaliteta Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik, smatram da su potrebna daljnja istraživanja i rekognosciranja cijelog Zaljeva jer je dio koji je napravljen proteklih godina premalen za lociranje naselja ili kampa.

Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik is an open-air Middle Paleolithic site, located in Dalmatia, dating to the time when the sea level was lower than today. This is the first systematic exploration of underwater Paleolithic site in Croatia. Poster presents results of lithic analysis of material collected during field seasons 2008, and 2010 – 2015, as a part od research funded by the Croatian Science Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Croatia. Lithic material was collected and analysed, and geological research of surrounding area was undertaken. The original site was destroyed by the wave action, and the artifacts were collected from the sea floor surface and Holocene mud. Analyses confirmed that artifacts belong to the Mousterian industry. This is also supported by finds of centripetal cores and scrapers. The other important issue of Kaštel Štafilić – Resnik is development of criteria for separation pseudo-artifacts that were modified by sea from artifacts. Comparation of geomorphology and lithic assemblage with open- air and cave sites will help us understand effcet of environment on chert and artifacts.