The spread of farming in the central and western Mediterranean took place rapidly, linked to the ... more The spread of farming in the central and western Mediterranean took place rapidly, linked to the Impressa Ware. The Impressa Ware originated somewhere in the southern Adriatic and spread westwards across the Mediterranean. These early farmers had an economy based on cereal agriculture and caprine husbandry, but there is still little information on how this agropastoral system functioned. This study aims to unravel the farming practices of the early Dalmatian farmers linked to the Impressa culture by using an integrated analysis, combining archaeozoology, palaeoproteomics and stable isotopes, applied to the faunal assemblages of Tinj-Podlivade and Crno Vrilo. The results show: (1) the composition of the flocks was overwhelmingly sheep; (2) sheep exploitation at both sites was similar, focusing on milk and meat; (3) sheep reproduction was concentrated at the beginning of winter, with no reproduction in autumn as in later sites in the western Mediterranean. We conclude that a common animal economy existed at both sites, which could be related to the mobility practiced by these early farming societies throughout the Mediterranean.
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY, 2023
During the Early Iron Age in Europe (EIA), the phenomenon of the Hallstatt culture enveloped a la... more During the Early Iron Age in Europe (EIA), the phenomenon of the Hallstatt culture enveloped a large portion of the European continent. Between the Atlantic Ocean and the River Danube, cultural groups can be roughly divided into two major regions: the Western and the Eastern Hallstatt circle. EIA finds made from organic material decorated with pigments are usually well-preserved only in specific conditions. A good example is the coloured textile found in the salt mines of the eponymous site Hallstatt (AT). Other examples are Scythian finds north and east of the Black Sea, far outside the Hallstatt culture area. This paper presents the results of the analysis of decorated artifacts made from bone or antlers from Jalžabet (NW Croatia). The artifacts were found in two princely burial mounds with incinerated remains: burial mound 1 (Gomila) and burial mound 2. The funerary monuments belong to the Eastern Hallstatt culture and date back to the middle of the 6th century BC, i.e., the end of the Ha D1 period. A group of scientists from Croatia and abroad performed several series of analyses on the selected bone or antler artifacts. The motifs on the artifacts were made by incisions and were filled with black pigment, and there are faint traces of red pigment on the surface. With the help of colourant analysis performed in Brussels and Zagreb (SEM-EDX, MRS, FT-IR), zooarchaeological taxonomic identification, and archaeological determination of a selected group of findings from Jalžabet, we have tried to answer several major questions. The most important question being: are the traces of pigments on artefacts deliberate decoration? If so, can we determine the composition of the paint? What kind of raw materials were used for the production of the artifacts? These questions are important because these kinds of EIA finds are rare and even more rarely analysed. New data would considerably expand our knowledge about the funeral rites of the most prominent members of the Hallstatt nobility in the Drava River valley and Central Europe. Taxonomically, the raw material from which the finds were made was identified to be antlers, probably from red deer (Cervus elaphus). Using methods for colourant analysis, we have successfully proven deliberate application of black paint based on carbon black as a pigment, probably in combination with terpenoid resin. Until now, this composition was only known from much later, Roman-period finds. Also, it was confirmed that the black paint on the artifacts from both burial mounds in Jalžabet is of the same composition. The red pigment on the finds has been identified as hematite. It is highly probable that the red surfaces were deliberate, painted decoration. The probability of extracting the raw material needed for the production of the red paint in the Jalžabet micro-region was also established and requires further research (bog iron ore). The archaeological analysis of the finds supports the idea of the use of various types of decorated plates as inlays, probably on furniture or other luxury everyday items. Smaller finds could have been used as utilitarian objects, parts of attire, and jewellery.
This paper presents palaeoecological reconstructions and late Neanderthal responses to environmen... more This paper presents palaeoecological reconstructions and late Neanderthal responses to environmental conditions in two different palaeoecological zones (continental south‐central Europe and the eastern Adriatic) during MIS 3. Our interpretations are based on the available records of climatic conditions, characteristics of Mousterian industries and site characteristics. A variety of data obtained by different methods of analyses (sediments and biological remains) were used for palaeoecological reconstructions, while hominin behaviour was examined from various perspectives based on lithic remains (technology, typology, raw material use), subsistence strategies, land use and site structures. In both regions, Neanderthals practiced a broad exploitation of different faunal and lithic resources available to them and successfully adapted to local environments. Based on a variety of evidence, we offer a new synthesis and examine whether continental south‐central Europe and the Adriatic really acted as refugia during the time of late Neanderthal occupations. We also consider the possible causes and/or timing of Neanderthal disappearance in these regions.
In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal r... more In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this "hidden" specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which,...
This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological a... more This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological and geoarcheological analyses from the Early Neolithic, Mesolithic and late Upper Paleolithic levels of Zemunica Cave in Croatia. The site provides valuable information about the aforementioned periods in Dalmatia and original evidence supporting newly proposed models of the spread of Neolithisation in this area.
Bone retouchers are tools used for the tasks of retouching lithics and are usually made from long... more Bone retouchers are tools used for the tasks of retouching lithics and are usually made from long bone shaft fragments. They are a common feature of many Middle Palaeolithic assemblages throughout Europe and the Near East but are also found during the Late Lower Palaeolithic and the Upper Palaeolithic. This study presents the results of the analysis of bone retouchers from the Middle Palaeolithic contexts of Veternica (MIS 3-5) and the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic contexts of Vindija (MIS 3), Northwestern Croatia. The study is comprised of an examination of site information, taxonomic and anatomical determination, basic taphonomic analysis, morphometric analysis and analysis of the retoucher use traces. The results reveal a fundamental difference between the two retoucher assemblages. In Veternica, the bone retouchers are an important part of stone tool technology, represented by the number of retouchers, preferential selection of faunal species, preparatory scraping, evidence of curation, the sometimes heavy intensity of use and shaping of the morphology through flaking. In Vindija, retouchers represent a more expedient technology, suggested by the low number of finds in individual layers, their small size, low intensity of use and lack of evidence for preparatory measures and curation. Exceptionally, the assemblage from Veternica has provided retouchers made from cave bear bones, which could suggest exploitation of this species by Neanderthals.
This paper investigates the childhood diet of 16 individuals from the Middle/Late Bronze Age (143... more This paper investigates the childhood diet of 16 individuals from the Middle/Late Bronze Age (1430-1290 BCE) Bezdanjača Cave (Lika region, Croatia) using stable isotope analysis of dentin collagen from permanent first molars. Results from the analysis reveal that the individuals from Bezdanjača consumed notable quantities of C4 plants during their childhood. The most common C4 plant is millet, whose spread throughout Southern Europe was recently dated to the second half of the 2nd millennium BCE, which agrees with the results obtained in this research. Comparisons between the data collected for the individuals from Bezdanjača and other Middle and Late Bronze Age sites in Croatia suggest that only the individuals from the site of Veliki Vital (Middle Bronze Age, inland Croatia) exhibit similar isotopic values to those from Bezdanjača. Human isotopic values from coastal sites, however, reveal that during the Middle and Late Bronze Age people from the coast had diet that still predominantly contained C3 plant-based foods, which appears to suggest that the dispersion of this crop in Croatia during the Bronze Age followed an east-west trajectory, appearing earlier (Middle and Late Bronze Age) in inland settlements such as Veliki Vital and Bezdanjača and only later (Late Bronze Age and mostly Iron Age) in coastal sites.
Eight anatomically and taxonomically different finds are presented in this paper, and they belong... more Eight anatomically and taxonomically different finds are presented in this paper, and they belong to four taxa: woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and dog (Canis familiaris). All specimens represent allochthonous Late Pleistocene and Holocene animal remains, and all were dredged during the gravel exploitation at the Sekuline site near Molve (Podravina region, SW Pannonian basin, NE Croatia). Mammoth remains (bone and tusk fragments) were radiocarbon dated, and these are the first absolute dates on mammoths in Croatia. One upper last left deciduous premolar (dP4 sin.) also belongs to the same species. Ascribed to a dog is one well-preserved skull with a peculiar abscess scar on the maxillary bone as the result of an inflammatory process on the carnassial (P4) premolar. The Late Pleistocene cervid remains are giant deer, while the other cervid finds were determined to be red deer of the Holocene age. Morphometrical an...
Foraging Assemblages: Papers Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Volume 2, 2021
During the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the eastern Adriatic was an area of dynamic climatic ... more During the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the eastern Adriatic was an area of dynamic climatic and environmental changes, both of which influenced human subsistence strategies. This paper presents the case study of Vlakno cave, which is located in the interior of Dugi Otok (Long Island), in the region of Dalmatia on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Recent archaeological research of this multi-layer cave site has revealed an abundance of faunal remains, showing that the cave was in use more or less continuously over the past 20,000 years. This study looks at Vlakno’s Early Mesolithic vertebrate assemblage, from which two phases reflecting changes in the subsistence strategies of the cave’s Mesolithic inhabitants can be inferred. Comparison of the vertebrate assemblage from Vlakno cave with contemporaneous faunal assemblages from the wider region reveals specifics in the faunal composition and human subsistence strategies due to the nature of the island’s conditions.
In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal r... more In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this "hidden" specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which, the bone fragment belonged to a wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the timeframe of the Middle Eneolithic Retz-Gajary culture in the region (4,781 ± 35 years before present). This study provides a reference for future paleontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous potential of anatomical studies of comparable skeletal remains that are either petrified or enclosed in speleothemic deposits. A novel virtual visualisation approach for fossilised skeletal remains non-invasively reveals their original shape and surface in great detail. We present a combination of computed tomography, a specially developed segmentation protocol, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning. Non-invasive methods of analysis leave bioarchaeological finds preserved for future generations. We provide a reference for future palaeontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous scientific potential of fossilised skeletal remains.
Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica... more Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019 Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia. The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked, including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
The recently discovered Vlakno Cave, situated in the central part of the island of Dugi Otok (Cro... more The recently discovered Vlakno Cave, situated in the central part of the island of Dugi Otok (Croatia), is one of the most prominent Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites along the eastern part of the Adriatic coast. Its uninterupted stratigraphy offers a rare opportunity to study the response of Pleistocene populations to a post-glacial environment. The artifact assemblage shows a gradual transition toward a typical Mesolithic assemblage, but with strongly pronounced Epigravettian traditions. Subtle changes within mostly uniform material culture are best seen in the ornamental assemblage, but similar patterns can be observed in subsistence strategies and lithic production. The Epigravettian deposits are dominated with the remains of red deer. Changes can be observed with the beginning of the Holocene, when marked diversification of mammalian taxa is accompanied with an increasing number of fish and molluscs remains.
Close to the bone: current studies in bone technologies, 2016
Barice-Gređani group was first defined on a basis of cemetery finds from cemetery Barice near Gor... more Barice-Gređani group was first defined on a basis of cemetery finds from cemetery Barice near Gornja Orahovica and it was long known in literature as a group of Barice-Gređani type cemeteries. That was supported by a number of excavated and published cemeteries and lack of settlement research in Slavonian and Bosnian Posavina was present at that time. The first material from settlement of Barice-Gređani group was partially published in late 1980s. A numerous new settlements and cemeteries of Urnfield Culture were discovered and excavated in last 30 years due to intensive building of infrastructure, organising museum networks and monument protection system. In that light it is now possible to reinterpret older finds and make more complex contextualisation of Barice-Gređani group burial ritual. Three bone beads found in burial 16 belong to rare finds in the cemeteries of Barice-Gređani group. Only two cemeteries except Mačkovac from area that covers group Barice-Gređani have similar worked bone finds. Bone objects are exposed to funeral pyre together with deceased in all excavated contexts.
This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological a... more This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological and geoarcheological analyses from the Early Neolithic, Mesolithic and late Upper Paleolithic levels of Zemunica Cave in Croatia. The site provides valuable information about the aforementioned periods in Dalmatia and original evidence supporting newly proposed models of the spread of Neolithisation in this area.
The Virovitica Kiškorija South site was a Roman village. In this paper archaeological, archaeobot... more The Virovitica Kiškorija South site was a Roman village. In this paper archaeological, archaeobotanical, and archaeozoological finds are presented and interpreted, then compared with similar sites and information available from ancient sources. The site was divided into complexes that made a whole. The finds within each complex are presented and compared to similar archaeological sites, as well as data from ancient written sources. The goal of the paper is to determine which kind of diet was present at this Roman village in Pannonia, and to analyze the differences and similarities between this village and analogous sites.
The spread of farming in the central and western Mediterranean took place rapidly, linked to the ... more The spread of farming in the central and western Mediterranean took place rapidly, linked to the Impressa Ware. The Impressa Ware originated somewhere in the southern Adriatic and spread westwards across the Mediterranean. These early farmers had an economy based on cereal agriculture and caprine husbandry, but there is still little information on how this agropastoral system functioned. This study aims to unravel the farming practices of the early Dalmatian farmers linked to the Impressa culture by using an integrated analysis, combining archaeozoology, palaeoproteomics and stable isotopes, applied to the faunal assemblages of Tinj-Podlivade and Crno Vrilo. The results show: (1) the composition of the flocks was overwhelmingly sheep; (2) sheep exploitation at both sites was similar, focusing on milk and meat; (3) sheep reproduction was concentrated at the beginning of winter, with no reproduction in autumn as in later sites in the western Mediterranean. We conclude that a common animal economy existed at both sites, which could be related to the mobility practiced by these early farming societies throughout the Mediterranean.
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY, 2023
During the Early Iron Age in Europe (EIA), the phenomenon of the Hallstatt culture enveloped a la... more During the Early Iron Age in Europe (EIA), the phenomenon of the Hallstatt culture enveloped a large portion of the European continent. Between the Atlantic Ocean and the River Danube, cultural groups can be roughly divided into two major regions: the Western and the Eastern Hallstatt circle. EIA finds made from organic material decorated with pigments are usually well-preserved only in specific conditions. A good example is the coloured textile found in the salt mines of the eponymous site Hallstatt (AT). Other examples are Scythian finds north and east of the Black Sea, far outside the Hallstatt culture area. This paper presents the results of the analysis of decorated artifacts made from bone or antlers from Jalžabet (NW Croatia). The artifacts were found in two princely burial mounds with incinerated remains: burial mound 1 (Gomila) and burial mound 2. The funerary monuments belong to the Eastern Hallstatt culture and date back to the middle of the 6th century BC, i.e., the end of the Ha D1 period. A group of scientists from Croatia and abroad performed several series of analyses on the selected bone or antler artifacts. The motifs on the artifacts were made by incisions and were filled with black pigment, and there are faint traces of red pigment on the surface. With the help of colourant analysis performed in Brussels and Zagreb (SEM-EDX, MRS, FT-IR), zooarchaeological taxonomic identification, and archaeological determination of a selected group of findings from Jalžabet, we have tried to answer several major questions. The most important question being: are the traces of pigments on artefacts deliberate decoration? If so, can we determine the composition of the paint? What kind of raw materials were used for the production of the artifacts? These questions are important because these kinds of EIA finds are rare and even more rarely analysed. New data would considerably expand our knowledge about the funeral rites of the most prominent members of the Hallstatt nobility in the Drava River valley and Central Europe. Taxonomically, the raw material from which the finds were made was identified to be antlers, probably from red deer (Cervus elaphus). Using methods for colourant analysis, we have successfully proven deliberate application of black paint based on carbon black as a pigment, probably in combination with terpenoid resin. Until now, this composition was only known from much later, Roman-period finds. Also, it was confirmed that the black paint on the artifacts from both burial mounds in Jalžabet is of the same composition. The red pigment on the finds has been identified as hematite. It is highly probable that the red surfaces were deliberate, painted decoration. The probability of extracting the raw material needed for the production of the red paint in the Jalžabet micro-region was also established and requires further research (bog iron ore). The archaeological analysis of the finds supports the idea of the use of various types of decorated plates as inlays, probably on furniture or other luxury everyday items. Smaller finds could have been used as utilitarian objects, parts of attire, and jewellery.
This paper presents palaeoecological reconstructions and late Neanderthal responses to environmen... more This paper presents palaeoecological reconstructions and late Neanderthal responses to environmental conditions in two different palaeoecological zones (continental south‐central Europe and the eastern Adriatic) during MIS 3. Our interpretations are based on the available records of climatic conditions, characteristics of Mousterian industries and site characteristics. A variety of data obtained by different methods of analyses (sediments and biological remains) were used for palaeoecological reconstructions, while hominin behaviour was examined from various perspectives based on lithic remains (technology, typology, raw material use), subsistence strategies, land use and site structures. In both regions, Neanderthals practiced a broad exploitation of different faunal and lithic resources available to them and successfully adapted to local environments. Based on a variety of evidence, we offer a new synthesis and examine whether continental south‐central Europe and the Adriatic really acted as refugia during the time of late Neanderthal occupations. We also consider the possible causes and/or timing of Neanderthal disappearance in these regions.
In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal r... more In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this "hidden" specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which,...
This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological a... more This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological and geoarcheological analyses from the Early Neolithic, Mesolithic and late Upper Paleolithic levels of Zemunica Cave in Croatia. The site provides valuable information about the aforementioned periods in Dalmatia and original evidence supporting newly proposed models of the spread of Neolithisation in this area.
Bone retouchers are tools used for the tasks of retouching lithics and are usually made from long... more Bone retouchers are tools used for the tasks of retouching lithics and are usually made from long bone shaft fragments. They are a common feature of many Middle Palaeolithic assemblages throughout Europe and the Near East but are also found during the Late Lower Palaeolithic and the Upper Palaeolithic. This study presents the results of the analysis of bone retouchers from the Middle Palaeolithic contexts of Veternica (MIS 3-5) and the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic contexts of Vindija (MIS 3), Northwestern Croatia. The study is comprised of an examination of site information, taxonomic and anatomical determination, basic taphonomic analysis, morphometric analysis and analysis of the retoucher use traces. The results reveal a fundamental difference between the two retoucher assemblages. In Veternica, the bone retouchers are an important part of stone tool technology, represented by the number of retouchers, preferential selection of faunal species, preparatory scraping, evidence of curation, the sometimes heavy intensity of use and shaping of the morphology through flaking. In Vindija, retouchers represent a more expedient technology, suggested by the low number of finds in individual layers, their small size, low intensity of use and lack of evidence for preparatory measures and curation. Exceptionally, the assemblage from Veternica has provided retouchers made from cave bear bones, which could suggest exploitation of this species by Neanderthals.
This paper investigates the childhood diet of 16 individuals from the Middle/Late Bronze Age (143... more This paper investigates the childhood diet of 16 individuals from the Middle/Late Bronze Age (1430-1290 BCE) Bezdanjača Cave (Lika region, Croatia) using stable isotope analysis of dentin collagen from permanent first molars. Results from the analysis reveal that the individuals from Bezdanjača consumed notable quantities of C4 plants during their childhood. The most common C4 plant is millet, whose spread throughout Southern Europe was recently dated to the second half of the 2nd millennium BCE, which agrees with the results obtained in this research. Comparisons between the data collected for the individuals from Bezdanjača and other Middle and Late Bronze Age sites in Croatia suggest that only the individuals from the site of Veliki Vital (Middle Bronze Age, inland Croatia) exhibit similar isotopic values to those from Bezdanjača. Human isotopic values from coastal sites, however, reveal that during the Middle and Late Bronze Age people from the coast had diet that still predominantly contained C3 plant-based foods, which appears to suggest that the dispersion of this crop in Croatia during the Bronze Age followed an east-west trajectory, appearing earlier (Middle and Late Bronze Age) in inland settlements such as Veliki Vital and Bezdanjača and only later (Late Bronze Age and mostly Iron Age) in coastal sites.
Eight anatomically and taxonomically different finds are presented in this paper, and they belong... more Eight anatomically and taxonomically different finds are presented in this paper, and they belong to four taxa: woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and dog (Canis familiaris). All specimens represent allochthonous Late Pleistocene and Holocene animal remains, and all were dredged during the gravel exploitation at the Sekuline site near Molve (Podravina region, SW Pannonian basin, NE Croatia). Mammoth remains (bone and tusk fragments) were radiocarbon dated, and these are the first absolute dates on mammoths in Croatia. One upper last left deciduous premolar (dP4 sin.) also belongs to the same species. Ascribed to a dog is one well-preserved skull with a peculiar abscess scar on the maxillary bone as the result of an inflammatory process on the carnassial (P4) premolar. The Late Pleistocene cervid remains are giant deer, while the other cervid finds were determined to be red deer of the Holocene age. Morphometrical an...
Foraging Assemblages: Papers Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Volume 2, 2021
During the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the eastern Adriatic was an area of dynamic climatic ... more During the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the eastern Adriatic was an area of dynamic climatic and environmental changes, both of which influenced human subsistence strategies. This paper presents the case study of Vlakno cave, which is located in the interior of Dugi Otok (Long Island), in the region of Dalmatia on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Recent archaeological research of this multi-layer cave site has revealed an abundance of faunal remains, showing that the cave was in use more or less continuously over the past 20,000 years. This study looks at Vlakno’s Early Mesolithic vertebrate assemblage, from which two phases reflecting changes in the subsistence strategies of the cave’s Mesolithic inhabitants can be inferred. Comparison of the vertebrate assemblage from Vlakno cave with contemporaneous faunal assemblages from the wider region reveals specifics in the faunal composition and human subsistence strategies due to the nature of the island’s conditions.
In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal r... more In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this "hidden" specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which, the bone fragment belonged to a wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the timeframe of the Middle Eneolithic Retz-Gajary culture in the region (4,781 ± 35 years before present). This study provides a reference for future paleontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous potential of anatomical studies of comparable skeletal remains that are either petrified or enclosed in speleothemic deposits. A novel virtual visualisation approach for fossilised skeletal remains non-invasively reveals their original shape and surface in great detail. We present a combination of computed tomography, a specially developed segmentation protocol, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning. Non-invasive methods of analysis leave bioarchaeological finds preserved for future generations. We provide a reference for future palaeontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous scientific potential of fossilised skeletal remains.
Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica... more Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019 Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia. The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked, including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
The recently discovered Vlakno Cave, situated in the central part of the island of Dugi Otok (Cro... more The recently discovered Vlakno Cave, situated in the central part of the island of Dugi Otok (Croatia), is one of the most prominent Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites along the eastern part of the Adriatic coast. Its uninterupted stratigraphy offers a rare opportunity to study the response of Pleistocene populations to a post-glacial environment. The artifact assemblage shows a gradual transition toward a typical Mesolithic assemblage, but with strongly pronounced Epigravettian traditions. Subtle changes within mostly uniform material culture are best seen in the ornamental assemblage, but similar patterns can be observed in subsistence strategies and lithic production. The Epigravettian deposits are dominated with the remains of red deer. Changes can be observed with the beginning of the Holocene, when marked diversification of mammalian taxa is accompanied with an increasing number of fish and molluscs remains.
Close to the bone: current studies in bone technologies, 2016
Barice-Gređani group was first defined on a basis of cemetery finds from cemetery Barice near Gor... more Barice-Gređani group was first defined on a basis of cemetery finds from cemetery Barice near Gornja Orahovica and it was long known in literature as a group of Barice-Gređani type cemeteries. That was supported by a number of excavated and published cemeteries and lack of settlement research in Slavonian and Bosnian Posavina was present at that time. The first material from settlement of Barice-Gređani group was partially published in late 1980s. A numerous new settlements and cemeteries of Urnfield Culture were discovered and excavated in last 30 years due to intensive building of infrastructure, organising museum networks and monument protection system. In that light it is now possible to reinterpret older finds and make more complex contextualisation of Barice-Gređani group burial ritual. Three bone beads found in burial 16 belong to rare finds in the cemeteries of Barice-Gređani group. Only two cemeteries except Mačkovac from area that covers group Barice-Gređani have similar worked bone finds. Bone objects are exposed to funeral pyre together with deceased in all excavated contexts.
This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological a... more This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological and geoarcheological analyses from the Early Neolithic, Mesolithic and late Upper Paleolithic levels of Zemunica Cave in Croatia. The site provides valuable information about the aforementioned periods in Dalmatia and original evidence supporting newly proposed models of the spread of Neolithisation in this area.
The Virovitica Kiškorija South site was a Roman village. In this paper archaeological, archaeobot... more The Virovitica Kiškorija South site was a Roman village. In this paper archaeological, archaeobotanical, and archaeozoological finds are presented and interpreted, then compared with similar sites and information available from ancient sources. The site was divided into complexes that made a whole. The finds within each complex are presented and compared to similar archaeological sites, as well as data from ancient written sources. The goal of the paper is to determine which kind of diet was present at this Roman village in Pannonia, and to analyze the differences and similarities between this village and analogous sites.
MetArh 02 knjiga sažetaka / Miloglav, Ina (ur.). - Zagreb : Hrvatsko arheološko društvo , 2014. 38-38
Analizom arheoloških, arheobotaničkih i arheozooloških nalaza iz rimskog sela Virovitica Kiškorij... more Analizom arheoloških, arheobotaničkih i arheozooloških nalaza iz rimskog sela Virovitica Kiškorija jug i njihovom usporedbom s antičkim pisanim izvorima te objavljenim podacima iz suvremenih mjesta u ovoj regiji dobiva se uvid u prehrambene navike bivših stanovnika, kao i u svakodnevni život u ovom selu. Arheobotaničke i arehozoološke analize udružene s kvalitetno razrađenom tipologijom posuđa predstavile su pravu smočnicu rimskog razdoblja na lokalitetu Kiškorija jug. Prema tim analizama znamo sa sigurnošću da se skladištilo i pripremalo žitarice, grahorice, voće te mesne, ali i mliječne prerađevine. U ovom radu predstavit ćemo rezultate suradnje arheologa, arheobotaničara i arheozoologa u interpretaciji jednog segmenta seoskog života u rimskodobnoj Panoniji.
vessels and decorative items. Catalogue (Karmen Farac, Ivan Radman-Livaja)
4.4. Novac i katalog ... more vessels and decorative items. Catalogue (Karmen Farac, Ivan Radman-Livaja)
4.4. Novac i katalog / Coins and the catalogue (Anja Bertol)
4.5. Tragovi metalurgije / Traces of metallurgical activity (Kristina Jelinčić Vučković)
4.6. Predmeti izrađeni od kamena, katalog / Stone items, catalogue ( Josip Halamić, Kristina Jelinčić
Vučković)
4.7. Table pokretne arheološke građe po cjelinama / Tables of movable archaeological findings by
units
III dio / Part III
5. Arheobotanički i arheozoološki nalazi: prehrambene navike; uzgoj biljaka i životinja na lokalitetu
Virovitica Kiškorija jug / Archaeobotanical and archaeozoological finds: dietary habits; cultivation of
plants and animal husbandry at the site of Virovitica Kiškorija South
5.1. Životinjski ostaci iz rimskog i ranosrednjovjekovnog naselja na nalazištu Virovitica Kiškorija Jug (Siniša
Radović) / Animal remains from the Roman and early medieval settlements at the Virovitica Kiškorija South
5.2. Biljni ostaci iz antičkog i srednjovjekovnog naselja na lokalitetu Virovitica Kiškorija Jug / Plant remains
from the Roman and early medieval settlement at the site Virovitica Kiškorija South (Renata Šoštarić)
5.3. Interpretacija arheobotaničkih i arheozooloških nalaza iz rimskog konteksta prema povijesnim izvorima
/ Interpretation of archaeobotanical and archaeozoological finds from Roman contexts according to
historical sources (Ivana Ožanić Roguljić)
6. Virovitica Kiškorija Jug u ranom srednjem vijeku / Virovitica Kiškorija South during the early Middle ages
(Tajana Sekelj Ivančan, Tatjana Tkalčec)
IV dio / Part IV
7. Virovitica Kiškorija Jug: primjer rimskog sela u Gornjoj Panoniji / Virovitica Kiškorija South: example of
Roman village in the Upper Pannonia
V dio
8. Popis literature i antičkih izvora / Bibliography and a list of ancient sources
9. Podaci o suradnicima na knjizi / Information on associates
Odsjek za arheologiju Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu pokrenuo je 2013. godine održav... more Odsjek za arheologiju Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu pokrenuo je 2013. godine održavanje znanstvenog skupa „METodologija i ARHeometrija“ kojemu je cilj poticanje interdisciplinarnosti, kritičkog promišljanja, novih spoznaja i pristupa, te teoretskih okvira u suvremenoj arheološkoj znanosti. Pokrivanje širokog spektra tema i znanstvenih disciplina rezultiralo je radovima i raspravama koje promiču znanstvenu problematiku iz područja metodologije, dokumentiranja i interpretacije arheoloških podataka. Interdisciplinarni karakter skupa na jednom mjestu okuplja arheologe i istraživače ostalih znanstvenih disciplina s kojima arheolozi blisko surađuju, a koji svojim radom, projektima i idejama promiču nove spoznaje o interpretaciji ljudskog života u prošlosti.
23rd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists: Building bridges. Maastricht, Netherlands, 30 Aug- 01 Sept 2017., 2017
The site of Vlakno is a rock shelter situated on the island of Dugi otok in the Adriatic sea, Cro... more The site of Vlakno is a rock shelter situated on the island of Dugi otok in the Adriatic sea, Croatia. Systematic excavations that are still ongoing revealed rich deposits from the Mesolithic and Palaeolithic period. This site is one of the richest sites on the Eastern Adriatic coast with the finds of ornamental assemblage from the Mesolithic and Epigravettian period. Almost 500 specimens of body ornaments, have been discovered so far, along with numerous unperforated marine gastropods species. According to the raw material, ornamental assemblage can be divided into three groups: marine gastropods, bivalves and scaphopoda; freshwater gastropods; terrestrial mammals (teeth and bones). Long sequence of the site’s use may provide information on long-term variations in raw materials selection and technology. Furthermore, careful analysis may give insight into symbolic value of certain ornaments, as well as on possible routes of trade and exchange. On-going multidisciplinary studies include analyses of zooarchaeological origin of the raw material, technological analysis of manufacturing techniques and macro- and microscopic analyses of usewear traces. In this paper preliminary results will be presented, in particular analyses of technological procedures; advantages and problems of use of diverse magnification will be discussed.
Vlakno cave is located on Dugi Otok (Long Island), situated in the northern Dalmatia... more Vlakno cave is located on Dugi Otok (Long Island), situated in the northern Dalmatia. Systematic archaeological excavations revealed rich stratigraphic sequence from the Late Upper Palaeolithic to Mesolithic. Excavated deposits yielded tens of thousands of vertebrate remains, mostly skeleton remains of large mammals. Considering the amount of available osseous materials it is natural to expect correspondingly high amount of tools made of bone, teeth and antler. Here we integrate results of archaeozoological analysis and the study of osseous tools. Raw material selection, technological and typological aspects were analysed. Availability of skeletal elements is compared with raw material choices. Recovered bone and antler tools show very little typological diversity between Epigravettian and Mesolithic layers. However there are some interesting small-scale temporal trends (e.g. retouchers and harpoons being almost exclusively present in older deposits). Authors debate this pattern in tool production as the reflection of environmental and subsequently subsistence changes corresponding to availability of targeted animal taxa.
exhibition catalogue, I. Drnić (ed.), Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, 2020
How did a small Bronze Age settlement, founded at the end of the second millennium BC and later r... more How did a small Bronze Age settlement, founded at the end of the second millennium BC and later recorded in ancient written sources as Segestica and Siscia, transform into one of the most important Iron Age centers in the Sava and Drava River interfluve?
The Segestica and Siscia – a settlement from the beginning of history exhibition and catalogue try to provide an answer to this question. They present the founding, development, and the cultural dynamics of this exceptional settlement, the everyday lives of its inhabitants, their attire and warrior equipment, their diet, their economic and trading activities, and their spiritual life.
Finds that are kept in the collections of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the Sisak Municipal Museum, and the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum), accompanied by the results of contemporary archaeological research, have allowed the study of the continual development of the prehistoric settlement in Sisak throughout the first millennium BC, up until 35 BC, when this settlement, situated at the key strategic position for taking over Pannonia, was conquered by Roman legions led by Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. That is when the settlement became an important military stronghold that later developed into the famous Roman city of Siscia.
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from the wider region reveals specifics in the faunal composition and human subsistence strategies due to the nature of the island’s conditions.
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019
Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at
these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery
evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia.
The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the
first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum
miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were
consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked,
including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study
shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological
material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
infrastructure, organising museum networks and monument protection system. In that light it is now possible to reinterpret older finds and make more complex contextualisation of Barice-Gređani group burial ritual. Three bone beads found in burial 16 belong to rare finds in the cemeteries of Barice-Gređani group. Only two cemeteries except Mačkovac from area that covers group Barice-Gređani have similar worked bone finds. Bone objects are exposed to funeral pyre together
with deceased in all excavated contexts.
finds are presented and interpreted, then compared with similar sites and information available from ancient
sources. The site was divided into complexes that made a whole. The finds within each complex are presented and compared
to similar archaeological sites, as well as data from ancient written sources. The goal of the paper is to determine
which kind of diet was present at this Roman village in Pannonia, and to analyze the differences and similarities between
this village and analogous sites.
from the wider region reveals specifics in the faunal composition and human subsistence strategies due to the nature of the island’s conditions.
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019
Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at
these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery
evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia.
The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the
first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum
miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were
consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked,
including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study
shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological
material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
infrastructure, organising museum networks and monument protection system. In that light it is now possible to reinterpret older finds and make more complex contextualisation of Barice-Gređani group burial ritual. Three bone beads found in burial 16 belong to rare finds in the cemeteries of Barice-Gređani group. Only two cemeteries except Mačkovac from area that covers group Barice-Gređani have similar worked bone finds. Bone objects are exposed to funeral pyre together
with deceased in all excavated contexts.
finds are presented and interpreted, then compared with similar sites and information available from ancient
sources. The site was divided into complexes that made a whole. The finds within each complex are presented and compared
to similar archaeological sites, as well as data from ancient written sources. The goal of the paper is to determine
which kind of diet was present at this Roman village in Pannonia, and to analyze the differences and similarities between
this village and analogous sites.
4.4. Novac i katalog / Coins and the catalogue (Anja Bertol)
4.5. Tragovi metalurgije / Traces of metallurgical activity (Kristina Jelinčić Vučković)
4.6. Predmeti izrađeni od kamena, katalog / Stone items, catalogue ( Josip Halamić, Kristina Jelinčić
Vučković)
4.7. Table pokretne arheološke građe po cjelinama / Tables of movable archaeological findings by
units
III dio / Part III
5. Arheobotanički i arheozoološki nalazi: prehrambene navike; uzgoj biljaka i životinja na lokalitetu
Virovitica Kiškorija jug / Archaeobotanical and archaeozoological finds: dietary habits; cultivation of
plants and animal husbandry at the site of Virovitica Kiškorija South
5.1. Životinjski ostaci iz rimskog i ranosrednjovjekovnog naselja na nalazištu Virovitica Kiškorija Jug (Siniša
Radović) / Animal remains from the Roman and early medieval settlements at the Virovitica Kiškorija South
5.2. Biljni ostaci iz antičkog i srednjovjekovnog naselja na lokalitetu Virovitica Kiškorija Jug / Plant remains
from the Roman and early medieval settlement at the site Virovitica Kiškorija South (Renata Šoštarić)
5.3. Interpretacija arheobotaničkih i arheozooloških nalaza iz rimskog konteksta prema povijesnim izvorima
/ Interpretation of archaeobotanical and archaeozoological finds from Roman contexts according to
historical sources (Ivana Ožanić Roguljić)
6. Virovitica Kiškorija Jug u ranom srednjem vijeku / Virovitica Kiškorija South during the early Middle ages
(Tajana Sekelj Ivančan, Tatjana Tkalčec)
IV dio / Part IV
7. Virovitica Kiškorija Jug: primjer rimskog sela u Gornjoj Panoniji / Virovitica Kiškorija South: example of
Roman village in the Upper Pannonia
V dio
8. Popis literature i antičkih izvora / Bibliography and a list of ancient sources
9. Podaci o suradnicima na knjizi / Information on associates
The Segestica and Siscia – a settlement from the beginning of history exhibition and catalogue try to provide an answer to this question. They present the founding, development, and the cultural dynamics of this exceptional settlement, the everyday lives of its inhabitants, their attire and warrior equipment, their diet, their economic and trading activities, and their spiritual life.
Finds that are kept in the collections of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the Sisak Municipal Museum, and the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum), accompanied by the results of contemporary archaeological research, have allowed the study of the continual development of the prehistoric settlement in Sisak throughout the first millennium BC, up until 35 BC, when this settlement, situated at the key strategic position for taking over Pannonia, was conquered by Roman legions led by Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. That is when the settlement became an important military stronghold that later developed into the famous Roman city of Siscia.