Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although t... more Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although the procedure was first mentioned and described by Hippocrates, the first osteological evidence of trephining goes back to at least the Neolithic. In the procedure the skull is drilled or scraped by a sharp instrument thus exposing the intracranial contents either to treat health problems or for mystical purposes. So far, only two cases of trepanation were reported from Croatian skeletal series: one from the prehistoric Bezdanjača site, and the other from Ludbreg dated to the Migration period. In the osteological collection of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts two additional cases from North Dalmatia have recently been acquired. One from the Late Medieval and Early Modern Age archaeological site Škabrnja - St. Mary investigated in 2009 by Archaeological Museum in Zadar. The site yielded 12 graves. The skull was found in grave No 5 which contained one female skeleton and an abundan...
Cities are a growing factor in global change today, but urbanization as a process has played a si... more Cities are a growing factor in global change today, but urbanization as a process has played a significant role in shaping our planet's environments for millennia. Exploring the longevity or persistence of cityscapes can therefore reveal qualities that may have strengthened urban sustainability or resilience over long periods. In the Mediterranean, many ancient cities lie in ruin and are fully formed archaeological sites, while others reflect continuous growth and expansion into the modern era, often replacing what has traditionally been a rural mosaic of green space with a more homogenized urban landcover. Green spaces like cultivated lands, urban forests, recreational parks, and green belts are essential components of urban resilience, as they build adaptive capacity by improving human health and livelihoods, reducing surface runoff and erosion, and mitigating urban heat island effects, among others. Protection of green space in urban and peri-urban contexts also offers greater capacity to transform in the face of uncertain change. This paper centers on the ancient city of Zadar along Croatia's Adriatic coast to characterize broad millennial-scale changes in urban landcover and green space. The results suggest that the distribution of urban landcover and green space appears to have been fairly stable for much of Zadar's 3,000-year history, which arguably played a significant role in its persistence into the present era. However, the pace and scale of urban development, as well as the corresponding losses of green space, have accelerated from the mid-twentieth century onward, depleting a major source of socioecological resilience that has benefitted the city since the Iron Age. Archaeological and historical fields of study provide a deep temporal context to these contemporary challenges and are well-suited to identify and promote the locally and historically distinctive character of surviving green spaces. Land use legacies stemming from Roman surveying and historic field clearance practices around Zadar have resulted in one of the most distinctive and well-preserved physical manifestations of ancient and historic land use in the Mediterranean. Recognition of their cultural significance, even in their diminished state, would add further value for their protection and continued capacity toward urban resilience in the next century.
This paper analyses a stone-built tomb (Grave 76) discovered in 2011 in the Church of St Mary at ... more This paper analyses a stone-built tomb (Grave 76) discovered in 2011 in the Church of St Mary at the site Pakoštane – Crkvina, which belonged in the Middle Ages to the settlement of Zablaće. The archaeological excavations established four strata of burials in which the osteological remains of 24 individuals were found, as well as numerous items of jewellery, dress accessories and coins. Among the osteological remains, worth highlighting are two decedents with interesting traumas, one of which was caused by trepanation. The grave was built in the first half of the 15th century, and successive burials in it were carried out for somewhat more than a hundred years.
A Contribution to the Understanding of the Citadela Fort in Zadar the 2008 Investigations ... U... more A Contribution to the Understanding of the Citadela Fort in Zadar the 2008 Investigations ... UDK/UDC 904(497.5 Zadar):725.96653 Primljeno/Received: 31. 3. 2009. Prihvaćeno/Accepted: 19. 9. 2009. ... KARLA GUSAR Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilite u ...
U radu se analiziraju nalazi religijskih medaljica pronađenih istraživanjima unutrašnjosti crkve ... more U radu se analiziraju nalazi religijskih medaljica pronađenih istraživanjima unutrašnjosti crkve sv. Dominika u Zadru koje je 2016. godine provodio Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru. Istraživanjem crkve otkrivene su novovjekovne zidane grobnice igrobovi bez arhitekture. U njima je između ostalih nalaza pronađeno i 29 medaljica raznih svetaca, među kojima su najbrojnije one s prikazom Gospe Loretske. Sve medaljice potječu iz 17. i 18. stoljeća.
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century A.D., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century A.D., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia's central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures-a fortress and a mosque-to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
Sažetak: Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru 2008. godine proveo je arheološka istraživanja ... more Sažetak: Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru 2008. godine proveo je arheološka istraživanja tumula Matakova glavica u selu Podvšje kod Zadra. To je grobni humak s tragovima ukapanja od prapovijesnog razdoblja. Prapovijesni grob na žalost nije sačuvan ...
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia’s central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures—a fortress and a mosque—to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
In the course of archaeological excavations at the Pakoštane-Crkvina site from 2006 to 2013, the ... more In the course of archaeological excavations at the Pakoštane-Crkvina site from 2006 to 2013, the remnants of the Church of St. Mary, which was part of the medieval settlement of Zablaće, were unearthed. Auxiliary rooms and a medieval cemetery were uncovered beside the church. However, the features of grave 75 make it stand out. It is a constructed tomb with Romanesque style characteristics. The construction of this unusual grave can be dated to the 12th century. It can be compared to the tomb of the Abbess Vekenega in the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary in Zadar. Partial reconstruction is also possible based on the preserved parts. Apart from its rich architecture, grave 75 should also be singled out for the finds uncovered within it. These include jewellery, parts of attire and coins. Grave 75 and the other unearthed graves and finds indicate the site’s importance in the period between the 12th and 16th century.
Underwater reconnaissance of the maritime zone of the island of Pašman near the island of Babac u... more Underwater reconnaissance of the maritime zone of the island of Pašman near the island of Babac uncovered archaeological finds from the late medieval and post-medieval period. The finds were discovered in the western cove of the island of Babac facing the settlement of Pašman on the homonymous island. The Pašman Channel is narrowest at this spot, and the site was probably used as an anchorage owing to favourable natural position and because it was a good shelter from all winds. Recovered material was found at the depth of 3 to 4 meters. Pottery represents most abundant category of finds with dominant glazed kitchenware and tableware while glass vessels are represented by a small number of specimens. Typologically diverse finds indicate that the site was probably used as an anchorage for centuries where ships sought shelter in bad weather or spent night.
The site of Podvršje-Glavčine is situated in the vicinity of Zadar and it was excavated in severa... more The site of Podvršje-Glavčine is situated in the vicinity of Zadar and it was excavated in several archaeological campaigns from 2002 to 2007 under the leadership of A. Uglešić. During the research an early Christian complex consisting of double basilicae with ancillary rooms and a cemetery was discovered on this position. Besides architectural remains, great number of fragments of stone furniture and architectural decoration was discovered in this complex, as well as fragments of ceramic and glass vessels belonging to Late Antiquity. The entire complex was destroyed in a fire during the first half or middle of the 7th century, as indicated by archaeological finds, and the results of radiocarbon analysis. Among finds which for the most part belong to Late Antiquity, fragments of early medieval ceramic vessels of Slavic technological-typological characteristics found chiefly in the front part of the northern church are particularly interesting. There were six such vessels among which...
The topic of this paper is a copper alloy seal matrix as a rare mediae val find. It was discovere... more The topic of this paper is a copper alloy seal matrix as a rare mediae val find. It was discovered by chance, not far from the church of St. Andrew, about two kilometres south of Ražanac. It is a double seal matrix. Various mirrored elements are engraved on opposite circular laminate fields of unequal diameter. In the centre of the larger field there is a coat of arms around which runs a circular inscription in Gothic letters, while the smaller one is dominated by a representation of the cross. The owner of the double seal matrix was Simoneto da Vale. Members of this family were mentioned in several mediaeval historical documents from Zadar and Trogir.
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia’s central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures—a fortress and a mosque—to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
Arheološka istraživanja Gradine u Zemuniku provedena na području srednjovjekovne i novovjekovne u... more Arheološka istraživanja Gradine u Zemuniku provedena na području srednjovjekovne i novovjekovne utvrde, iako površinom obuhvaćaju njezin mali dio, osim arhitektonskih ostataka iznjedrila su i popriličnu veliku količinu sitnih nalaza. Najveći dio nalaza može se datirati od kraja 15. do sredine 17. st. što svjedoči o vremenu najveće aktivnosti i protoka ljudi na prostoru utvrde.
Many small archaeological finds from the Late Medieval and Modern
Age have been found at Fortica ... more Many small archaeological finds from the Late Medieval and Modern Age have been found at Fortica fortress in Novigrad (Fig. 1 and 3, catalogue 1–49, T1–6). They include various pottery, glass and metal items discovered during conservation work on the North Dalmatian fortress, though there are also random finds from the surface. The pottery items include kitchen and table vessels (catalogue 1–24, T1–4:1) and tobacco pipes (catalogue 25–27, T4: 4a–b). The rough kitchenware usually takes the form of pots, while the glazed pottery includes various types of kitchen and table vessels, such as invetriata, engobe and majolica ware. Glass vessels are somewhat rarer (catalogue 29–36, T5:2–8, T6:1). They usually take the form of drinking glasses, Metal items (catalogue 38–49, T6:3–12) are mostly for everyday use, often jewellery or clothing ornaments. In this group, a set of cufflinks stands out. The two copper alloy discs are intricately engraved with a figurative design and legend (Fig. 4, catalogue 49, T6:14a–b). Cufflinks are extremely rare finds in Croatia. Taken as a whole, the artefacts recovered from Fortica bear witness to the intensity of life in a developed trading centre during the Late Medieval and Modern Ages, and form part of general historical circumstances in the Novigrad area between the 13th and 18th centuries.
Archaeological investigations in the town of Hvar are of modest scope. This work presents an anal... more Archaeological investigations in the town of Hvar are of modest scope. This work presents an analysis of the available ceramic material from the area of the town of Hvar in the collection of the Hvar Heritage Museum, and from the archaeological investigations of Hvar’s Gothic-Renaissance palace of Jakša, carried out in 2002. Among these finds three basic types of ceramics are represented – crude ceramics, purified clay ceramics and glazed ceramics. We cannot precisely date the crude kitchen ceramic pottery, but from comparisons and the glazed material we can approximately place it from the 15th to the 18th century. There is significantly more glazed pottery, and we differentiate these as invetriata, slipware and maiolica, with various technological and stylistic subgroups. The majority of glazed ceramics in Hvar are slipware ceramics, and the greatest number of examples are of engraved slipware from the 16th and 17th centuries. The finest and most expensive ceramic pottery are the maiolica products of Italian production centred in Faenza, Montelupo and Deruta. Examples of the first phase of maiolica production are not among the finds from Hvar. The earliest finds are examples of flowery Gothic and date from the mid-15th century. After flowery Gothic all the main styles of maiolica appear in Hvar, even examples decorated with lustre which are very rare on the eastern Adriatic coast. A unique example of maiolica figurative sculpture should be highlighted, with no known counterpart on the eastern Adriatic coast, which we date to the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. The archaeological finds of ceramics in Hvar offer additional confirmation of the data from historical sources. Hvar was most prosperous in the 16th century but the finds from the 17th century are not far behind considering the destruction of that time. However, a fuller picture of the presence of medieval and modern-era ceramics in Hvar will only be possible after further archaeological research.
Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although t... more Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although the procedure was first mentioned and described by Hippocrates, the first osteological evidence of trephining goes back to at least the Neolithic. In the procedure the skull is drilled or scraped by a sharp instrument thus exposing the intracranial contents either to treat health problems or for mystical purposes. So far, only two cases of trepanation were reported from Croatian skeletal series: one from the prehistoric Bezdanjača site, and the other from Ludbreg dated to the Migration period. In the osteological collection of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts two additional cases from North Dalmatia have recently been acquired. One from the Late Medieval and Early Modern Age archaeological site Škabrnja - St. Mary investigated in 2009 by Archaeological Museum in Zadar. The site yielded 12 graves. The skull was found in grave No 5 which contained one female skeleton and an abundan...
Cities are a growing factor in global change today, but urbanization as a process has played a si... more Cities are a growing factor in global change today, but urbanization as a process has played a significant role in shaping our planet's environments for millennia. Exploring the longevity or persistence of cityscapes can therefore reveal qualities that may have strengthened urban sustainability or resilience over long periods. In the Mediterranean, many ancient cities lie in ruin and are fully formed archaeological sites, while others reflect continuous growth and expansion into the modern era, often replacing what has traditionally been a rural mosaic of green space with a more homogenized urban landcover. Green spaces like cultivated lands, urban forests, recreational parks, and green belts are essential components of urban resilience, as they build adaptive capacity by improving human health and livelihoods, reducing surface runoff and erosion, and mitigating urban heat island effects, among others. Protection of green space in urban and peri-urban contexts also offers greater capacity to transform in the face of uncertain change. This paper centers on the ancient city of Zadar along Croatia's Adriatic coast to characterize broad millennial-scale changes in urban landcover and green space. The results suggest that the distribution of urban landcover and green space appears to have been fairly stable for much of Zadar's 3,000-year history, which arguably played a significant role in its persistence into the present era. However, the pace and scale of urban development, as well as the corresponding losses of green space, have accelerated from the mid-twentieth century onward, depleting a major source of socioecological resilience that has benefitted the city since the Iron Age. Archaeological and historical fields of study provide a deep temporal context to these contemporary challenges and are well-suited to identify and promote the locally and historically distinctive character of surviving green spaces. Land use legacies stemming from Roman surveying and historic field clearance practices around Zadar have resulted in one of the most distinctive and well-preserved physical manifestations of ancient and historic land use in the Mediterranean. Recognition of their cultural significance, even in their diminished state, would add further value for their protection and continued capacity toward urban resilience in the next century.
This paper analyses a stone-built tomb (Grave 76) discovered in 2011 in the Church of St Mary at ... more This paper analyses a stone-built tomb (Grave 76) discovered in 2011 in the Church of St Mary at the site Pakoštane – Crkvina, which belonged in the Middle Ages to the settlement of Zablaće. The archaeological excavations established four strata of burials in which the osteological remains of 24 individuals were found, as well as numerous items of jewellery, dress accessories and coins. Among the osteological remains, worth highlighting are two decedents with interesting traumas, one of which was caused by trepanation. The grave was built in the first half of the 15th century, and successive burials in it were carried out for somewhat more than a hundred years.
A Contribution to the Understanding of the Citadela Fort in Zadar the 2008 Investigations ... U... more A Contribution to the Understanding of the Citadela Fort in Zadar the 2008 Investigations ... UDK/UDC 904(497.5 Zadar):725.96653 Primljeno/Received: 31. 3. 2009. Prihvaćeno/Accepted: 19. 9. 2009. ... KARLA GUSAR Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilite u ...
U radu se analiziraju nalazi religijskih medaljica pronađenih istraživanjima unutrašnjosti crkve ... more U radu se analiziraju nalazi religijskih medaljica pronađenih istraživanjima unutrašnjosti crkve sv. Dominika u Zadru koje je 2016. godine provodio Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru. Istraživanjem crkve otkrivene su novovjekovne zidane grobnice igrobovi bez arhitekture. U njima je između ostalih nalaza pronađeno i 29 medaljica raznih svetaca, među kojima su najbrojnije one s prikazom Gospe Loretske. Sve medaljice potječu iz 17. i 18. stoljeća.
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century A.D., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century A.D., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia's central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures-a fortress and a mosque-to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
Sažetak: Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru 2008. godine proveo je arheološka istraživanja ... more Sažetak: Odjel za arheologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru 2008. godine proveo je arheološka istraživanja tumula Matakova glavica u selu Podvšje kod Zadra. To je grobni humak s tragovima ukapanja od prapovijesnog razdoblja. Prapovijesni grob na žalost nije sačuvan ...
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia’s central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures—a fortress and a mosque—to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
In the course of archaeological excavations at the Pakoštane-Crkvina site from 2006 to 2013, the ... more In the course of archaeological excavations at the Pakoštane-Crkvina site from 2006 to 2013, the remnants of the Church of St. Mary, which was part of the medieval settlement of Zablaće, were unearthed. Auxiliary rooms and a medieval cemetery were uncovered beside the church. However, the features of grave 75 make it stand out. It is a constructed tomb with Romanesque style characteristics. The construction of this unusual grave can be dated to the 12th century. It can be compared to the tomb of the Abbess Vekenega in the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary in Zadar. Partial reconstruction is also possible based on the preserved parts. Apart from its rich architecture, grave 75 should also be singled out for the finds uncovered within it. These include jewellery, parts of attire and coins. Grave 75 and the other unearthed graves and finds indicate the site’s importance in the period between the 12th and 16th century.
Underwater reconnaissance of the maritime zone of the island of Pašman near the island of Babac u... more Underwater reconnaissance of the maritime zone of the island of Pašman near the island of Babac uncovered archaeological finds from the late medieval and post-medieval period. The finds were discovered in the western cove of the island of Babac facing the settlement of Pašman on the homonymous island. The Pašman Channel is narrowest at this spot, and the site was probably used as an anchorage owing to favourable natural position and because it was a good shelter from all winds. Recovered material was found at the depth of 3 to 4 meters. Pottery represents most abundant category of finds with dominant glazed kitchenware and tableware while glass vessels are represented by a small number of specimens. Typologically diverse finds indicate that the site was probably used as an anchorage for centuries where ships sought shelter in bad weather or spent night.
The site of Podvršje-Glavčine is situated in the vicinity of Zadar and it was excavated in severa... more The site of Podvršje-Glavčine is situated in the vicinity of Zadar and it was excavated in several archaeological campaigns from 2002 to 2007 under the leadership of A. Uglešić. During the research an early Christian complex consisting of double basilicae with ancillary rooms and a cemetery was discovered on this position. Besides architectural remains, great number of fragments of stone furniture and architectural decoration was discovered in this complex, as well as fragments of ceramic and glass vessels belonging to Late Antiquity. The entire complex was destroyed in a fire during the first half or middle of the 7th century, as indicated by archaeological finds, and the results of radiocarbon analysis. Among finds which for the most part belong to Late Antiquity, fragments of early medieval ceramic vessels of Slavic technological-typological characteristics found chiefly in the front part of the northern church are particularly interesting. There were six such vessels among which...
The topic of this paper is a copper alloy seal matrix as a rare mediae val find. It was discovere... more The topic of this paper is a copper alloy seal matrix as a rare mediae val find. It was discovered by chance, not far from the church of St. Andrew, about two kilometres south of Ražanac. It is a double seal matrix. Various mirrored elements are engraved on opposite circular laminate fields of unequal diameter. In the centre of the larger field there is a coat of arms around which runs a circular inscription in Gothic letters, while the smaller one is dominated by a representation of the cross. The owner of the double seal matrix was Simoneto da Vale. Members of this family were mentioned in several mediaeval historical documents from Zadar and Trogir.
The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundar... more The Ottoman Empire swept across southeastern Europe in the 16th century a.d., testing the boundaries of Venetian-controlled territories in the eastern Adriatic. In an area known as Ravni Kotari along Croatia’s central coast, Ottoman governance lasted about a century, but little is known about the material manifestation of conquest in the area. Here, we summarize the results of recent archaeological work at Nadin-Gradina, a hilltop settlement centrally located within Ravni Kotari. In addition to historic records, we rely upon artifact assemblages and the ruins of two monumental structures—a fortress and a mosque—to assess the material expression and consequences of Ottoman authority. Despite more than a century of Ottoman control, the artifactual record portrays a complicated and porous situation along the border, where commercial exchange continued with the west with only scant evidence of products introduced from eastern workshops. In this scenario, the mosque likely served as the most conspicuous indicator of territorial control in this contested frontier setting.
Arheološka istraživanja Gradine u Zemuniku provedena na području srednjovjekovne i novovjekovne u... more Arheološka istraživanja Gradine u Zemuniku provedena na području srednjovjekovne i novovjekovne utvrde, iako površinom obuhvaćaju njezin mali dio, osim arhitektonskih ostataka iznjedrila su i popriličnu veliku količinu sitnih nalaza. Najveći dio nalaza može se datirati od kraja 15. do sredine 17. st. što svjedoči o vremenu najveće aktivnosti i protoka ljudi na prostoru utvrde.
Many small archaeological finds from the Late Medieval and Modern
Age have been found at Fortica ... more Many small archaeological finds from the Late Medieval and Modern Age have been found at Fortica fortress in Novigrad (Fig. 1 and 3, catalogue 1–49, T1–6). They include various pottery, glass and metal items discovered during conservation work on the North Dalmatian fortress, though there are also random finds from the surface. The pottery items include kitchen and table vessels (catalogue 1–24, T1–4:1) and tobacco pipes (catalogue 25–27, T4: 4a–b). The rough kitchenware usually takes the form of pots, while the glazed pottery includes various types of kitchen and table vessels, such as invetriata, engobe and majolica ware. Glass vessels are somewhat rarer (catalogue 29–36, T5:2–8, T6:1). They usually take the form of drinking glasses, Metal items (catalogue 38–49, T6:3–12) are mostly for everyday use, often jewellery or clothing ornaments. In this group, a set of cufflinks stands out. The two copper alloy discs are intricately engraved with a figurative design and legend (Fig. 4, catalogue 49, T6:14a–b). Cufflinks are extremely rare finds in Croatia. Taken as a whole, the artefacts recovered from Fortica bear witness to the intensity of life in a developed trading centre during the Late Medieval and Modern Ages, and form part of general historical circumstances in the Novigrad area between the 13th and 18th centuries.
Archaeological investigations in the town of Hvar are of modest scope. This work presents an anal... more Archaeological investigations in the town of Hvar are of modest scope. This work presents an analysis of the available ceramic material from the area of the town of Hvar in the collection of the Hvar Heritage Museum, and from the archaeological investigations of Hvar’s Gothic-Renaissance palace of Jakša, carried out in 2002. Among these finds three basic types of ceramics are represented – crude ceramics, purified clay ceramics and glazed ceramics. We cannot precisely date the crude kitchen ceramic pottery, but from comparisons and the glazed material we can approximately place it from the 15th to the 18th century. There is significantly more glazed pottery, and we differentiate these as invetriata, slipware and maiolica, with various technological and stylistic subgroups. The majority of glazed ceramics in Hvar are slipware ceramics, and the greatest number of examples are of engraved slipware from the 16th and 17th centuries. The finest and most expensive ceramic pottery are the maiolica products of Italian production centred in Faenza, Montelupo and Deruta. Examples of the first phase of maiolica production are not among the finds from Hvar. The earliest finds are examples of flowery Gothic and date from the mid-15th century. After flowery Gothic all the main styles of maiolica appear in Hvar, even examples decorated with lustre which are very rare on the eastern Adriatic coast. A unique example of maiolica figurative sculpture should be highlighted, with no known counterpart on the eastern Adriatic coast, which we date to the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. The archaeological finds of ceramics in Hvar offer additional confirmation of the data from historical sources. Hvar was most prosperous in the 16th century but the finds from the 17th century are not far behind considering the destruction of that time. However, a fuller picture of the presence of medieval and modern-era ceramics in Hvar will only be possible after further archaeological research.
The Pakoštane-Crkvina site is located in Dalmatia (Croatia) on the western shore of Lake Vrana al... more The Pakoštane-Crkvina site is located in Dalmatia (Croatia) on the western shore of Lake Vrana along the road which leads from Pakoštane to Vrana. The church of St. Mary belonged to the medieval settlement of Zablaće. After the Knights Templar appeared in nearby Vrana between 1165 and 1169, Zablaće became part of the Vrana preceptory, and from the 13th century it was mentioned as the separate Zablaće preceptory. The entire area was devastated in the 16th century during the wars with the Ottomans. A systematic archaeological campaign started in 2006, and by 2016 several excavation campaigns had been conducted. Two auxiliary rooms, a bell tower and a medieval cemetery were uncovered beside the Church of St. Mary. Since the entire site was walled in, this probably represents the remains of a monastery complex.
Anthropological analysis was conducted on the skeletal material deriving from 78 graves excavated from 2008 to 2014. Most of the graves contained more than one individual. Sex and age were determined for 88 skeletons. The sample comprising of 39 subadults, 9 females, and 40 males shows unequal ratio 0.97 : 0.23 : 1 with the evident underrepresentation of females. Furthermore, for graves containing more than one individual the method of quantification of commingled osteological material was applied. The minimum number of 217 individuals (162 adults and 55 subadults) was present.
Many antemortem (occured before death) and few perimortem (occured at or near the time of death) injuries were recorded on the analyzed material. In 21 out of 88 individuals (23.9%) 39 injuries were evidenced. 19 out of 36 complete adult crania (52.8 %), and 4 out of 22 complete subadult crania (18.2%) exhibited trauma. In adults total long bone fracture frequency is 3.3% while in subadults only one long bone fracture was observed (0.4%). All traumas in adults were noticed only in males. Perimortem traumas were observed in three males and one subadult while antemortem healed sharp force traumas were evidenced in two males. The predominance of frontal craniofacial injuries, as well as the presence of perimortem trauma and healed sharp force lesions suggests the presence of intentional violence in this community.
In comparison with other concurrent sites from Eastern Adriatic coast (Dugopolje, Koprivno and Nin) where frequency of the cranial traumas varies between 20.0 and 23.5%, and frequency of long bone traumas between 1.0 and 1.9%, traumas in Pakoštane show higher prevalence, mostly statistically significant.
Late medieval period in Dalmatia was marked as a turbulent time when the rule of the Hungarian-Croatian kings from the Arpad dynasty came to an end. The Venetians constantly fought for the control of Dalmatia, and the intrusions of Mongols in the 13th and the Ottomans in the 15th century were common. However these circumstances don't fully explain why higher prevalence of traumatic injuries in Pakoštane differs from other similar sites in the area. Perhaps the presence of the Knights Templar and later the Hospitallers played certain role, since the latter were known by providing care for sick, poor or injured.
Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although t... more Trepanation is one of the most spectacular traumas observed on human skeletal remains. Although the procedure was first mentioned and described by Hippocrates, the first osteological evidence of trephining goes back to at least the Neolithic. In the procedure the skull is drilled or scraped by a sharp instrument thus exposing the intracranial contents either to treat health problems or for mystical purposes. So far, only two cases of trepanation were reported from Croatian skeletal series: one from the prehistoric Bezdanjača site, and the other from Ludbreg dated to the Migration period. In the osteological collection of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts two additional cases from North Dalmatia have recently been acquired. One from the Late Medieval and Early Modern Age archaeological site Škabrnja - St. Mary investigated in 2009 by Archaeological Museum in Zadar. The site yielded 12 graves. The skull was found in grave No 5 which contained one female skeleton and an abundance of dislocated bones. A minimum number of five individuals (four adults and one subadult) was present. An oval shaped defect is located on the right side of the frontal bone of a male skull. It is completely healed indicating that the person survived the surgical procedure and lived for some time. The other case was found during archaeological excavations in Pakoštane - Crkvina conducted by Department of Archaeology, University of Zadar. During systemic archaeological excavations from 2006 to 2015 the remnants of the Church of St. Mary and a medieval cemetery were uncovered. Mass grave 76B contained nine individuals (eight adults and one subadult). One of the male skulls showed a massive lytic defect on the right side of the cranium that was in the process of healing suggesting that the afflicted individual died shortly after the surgical procedure was performed.
Publication presents the results of the work on the project "Migrations between two worlds - the ... more Publication presents the results of the work on the project "Migrations between two worlds - the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire - in the light of stable isotope analysis": archaeological research of 23 graves at the site of Maksanova gomila, bioarchaeological analysis of the deceased people and stable isotope analysis. Three horizons of the burials were investigated - a grave from the early Middle Ages, graves from the 14th century and graves from the transition from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Age (second half of the 15th and 16th centuries). At the center is the question of the relationship between the burials at Maksanova gomila and at the nearby site of Crkvina.
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Papers by Karla Gusar
Age have been found at Fortica fortress in Novigrad (Fig.
1 and 3, catalogue 1–49, T1–6). They include various pottery, glass
and metal items discovered during conservation work on the
North Dalmatian fortress, though there are also random finds
from the surface. The pottery items include kitchen and table vessels
(catalogue 1–24, T1–4:1) and tobacco pipes (catalogue 25–27,
T4: 4a–b). The rough kitchenware usually takes the form of pots,
while the glazed pottery includes various types of kitchen and
table vessels, such as invetriata, engobe and majolica ware. Glass
vessels are somewhat rarer (catalogue 29–36, T5:2–8, T6:1). They
usually take the form of drinking glasses, Metal items (catalogue
38–49, T6:3–12) are mostly for everyday use, often jewellery or clothing
ornaments. In this group, a set of cufflinks stands out. The
two copper alloy discs are intricately engraved with a figurative
design and legend (Fig. 4, catalogue 49, T6:14a–b). Cufflinks are
extremely rare finds in Croatia. Taken as a whole, the artefacts
recovered from Fortica bear witness to the intensity of life in a
developed trading centre during the Late Medieval and Modern
Ages, and form part of general historical circumstances in the Novigrad
area between the 13th and 18th centuries.
ceramics are represented – crude ceramics, purified clay
ceramics and glazed ceramics. We cannot precisely date the crude kitchen ceramic pottery, but from comparisons and the glazed material we can approximately place it from the 15th to the 18th century. There is significantly more glazed pottery, and we differentiate these as invetriata, slipware and maiolica, with various technological and stylistic subgroups. The majority of glazed ceramics in Hvar are slipware ceramics, and the
greatest number of examples are of engraved slipware from the 16th and 17th centuries. The finest and most expensive ceramic pottery are the maiolica products of Italian production centred in Faenza, Montelupo and Deruta. Examples of the first phase of maiolica production are not among the finds from Hvar. The earliest finds are examples of flowery Gothic and date from the mid-15th century. After flowery Gothic all the
main styles of maiolica appear in Hvar, even examples
decorated with lustre which are very rare on the eastern Adriatic coast. A unique example of maiolica figurative sculpture should be highlighted, with no known
counterpart on the eastern Adriatic coast, which we date to the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. The archaeological finds of ceramics in Hvar offer additional confirmation of the data from historical sources.
Hvar was most prosperous in the 16th century but the
finds from the 17th century are not far behind considering
the destruction of that time. However, a fuller picture of the presence of medieval and modern-era ceramics in Hvar will only be possible after further archaeological research.
Age have been found at Fortica fortress in Novigrad (Fig.
1 and 3, catalogue 1–49, T1–6). They include various pottery, glass
and metal items discovered during conservation work on the
North Dalmatian fortress, though there are also random finds
from the surface. The pottery items include kitchen and table vessels
(catalogue 1–24, T1–4:1) and tobacco pipes (catalogue 25–27,
T4: 4a–b). The rough kitchenware usually takes the form of pots,
while the glazed pottery includes various types of kitchen and
table vessels, such as invetriata, engobe and majolica ware. Glass
vessels are somewhat rarer (catalogue 29–36, T5:2–8, T6:1). They
usually take the form of drinking glasses, Metal items (catalogue
38–49, T6:3–12) are mostly for everyday use, often jewellery or clothing
ornaments. In this group, a set of cufflinks stands out. The
two copper alloy discs are intricately engraved with a figurative
design and legend (Fig. 4, catalogue 49, T6:14a–b). Cufflinks are
extremely rare finds in Croatia. Taken as a whole, the artefacts
recovered from Fortica bear witness to the intensity of life in a
developed trading centre during the Late Medieval and Modern
Ages, and form part of general historical circumstances in the Novigrad
area between the 13th and 18th centuries.
ceramics are represented – crude ceramics, purified clay
ceramics and glazed ceramics. We cannot precisely date the crude kitchen ceramic pottery, but from comparisons and the glazed material we can approximately place it from the 15th to the 18th century. There is significantly more glazed pottery, and we differentiate these as invetriata, slipware and maiolica, with various technological and stylistic subgroups. The majority of glazed ceramics in Hvar are slipware ceramics, and the
greatest number of examples are of engraved slipware from the 16th and 17th centuries. The finest and most expensive ceramic pottery are the maiolica products of Italian production centred in Faenza, Montelupo and Deruta. Examples of the first phase of maiolica production are not among the finds from Hvar. The earliest finds are examples of flowery Gothic and date from the mid-15th century. After flowery Gothic all the
main styles of maiolica appear in Hvar, even examples
decorated with lustre which are very rare on the eastern Adriatic coast. A unique example of maiolica figurative sculpture should be highlighted, with no known
counterpart on the eastern Adriatic coast, which we date to the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. The archaeological finds of ceramics in Hvar offer additional confirmation of the data from historical sources.
Hvar was most prosperous in the 16th century but the
finds from the 17th century are not far behind considering
the destruction of that time. However, a fuller picture of the presence of medieval and modern-era ceramics in Hvar will only be possible after further archaeological research.
Anthropological analysis was conducted on the skeletal material deriving from 78 graves excavated from 2008 to 2014. Most of the graves contained more than one individual. Sex and age were determined for 88 skeletons. The sample comprising of 39 subadults, 9 females, and 40 males shows unequal ratio 0.97 : 0.23 : 1 with the evident underrepresentation of females. Furthermore, for graves containing more than one individual the method of quantification of commingled osteological material was applied. The minimum number of 217 individuals (162 adults and 55 subadults) was present.
Many antemortem (occured before death) and few perimortem (occured at or near the time of death) injuries were recorded on the analyzed material. In 21 out of 88 individuals (23.9%) 39 injuries were evidenced. 19 out of 36 complete adult crania (52.8 %), and 4 out of 22 complete subadult crania (18.2%) exhibited trauma. In adults total long bone fracture frequency is 3.3% while in subadults only one long bone fracture was observed (0.4%). All traumas in adults were noticed only in males. Perimortem traumas were observed in three males and one subadult while antemortem healed sharp force traumas were evidenced in two males. The predominance of frontal craniofacial injuries, as well as the presence of perimortem trauma and healed sharp force lesions suggests the presence of intentional violence in this community.
In comparison with other concurrent sites from Eastern Adriatic coast (Dugopolje, Koprivno and Nin) where frequency of the cranial traumas varies between 20.0 and 23.5%, and frequency of long bone traumas between 1.0 and 1.9%, traumas in Pakoštane show higher prevalence, mostly statistically significant.
Late medieval period in Dalmatia was marked as a turbulent time when the rule of the Hungarian-Croatian kings from the Arpad dynasty came to an end. The Venetians constantly fought for the control of Dalmatia, and the intrusions of Mongols in the 13th and the Ottomans in the 15th century were common. However these circumstances don't fully explain why higher prevalence of traumatic injuries in Pakoštane differs from other similar sites in the area. Perhaps the presence of the Knights Templar and later the Hospitallers played certain role, since the latter were known by providing care for sick, poor or injured.