Professional paper
THE RESULTS OF RECENT RESEARCHES OF MEDIAEVAL SITES IN DALMATIA
Vedrana Delonga
; Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika HR -Split 21 000
Abstract
This contribution on the results of recent research of Mediaeval archaeological sites in Dalmatia is a part of the paper presented at the meeting in October 1993 on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments, Split. In its hundred year long history (1893-1993) the museum was exclusively oriented towards field research and study of material remains of Mediaeval civilization in northern and central Dalmatia the greatest part of which is the archaeological he :itage of the Croats. In the last 15-20 years, approximately from 1975 (76) to 1993, great steps forward have been made in the study of the Middle Ages in Croatia which are mostly based on the results of field research. Several museums and research institutions in Dalmatia carried out policentric activity in the field. The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments headed many of these important field works. The aim of this synthectic survey is to show the existing state of research of Mediaeval archaeological sites in the entire Dalmatian macro-region (northern, central and southern Dalmatia) but also to show new tendencies in the research of Mediaeval archaeological sites in this region. Therefore, the survey combines the information on l) the results of field research of a larger or smaller scope which play an important role in general context of archaeological and historical science, and 2) calls attention to new achievements in field archaeology in those geographical and cultural regions of Dalmatia which for some reason eluded interest of relevant archaeologists. The last 20 years have been marked by an intensive field activity in which about 115 sites have been fully or partly researched and about 106 new ones have been registered. This phase is characterized by a wider scholarly interest in the approach to archaeological research that in previous phases and is best evidenced by achievements in the research of urban environment, socalled white zones, to the north of the Cetina River and on the islands, and by a more organized approach to field surveys.
So-called urban archaeology is one of the greatest achievements in Mediaeval field archaeology in Dalmatia in the last 15-20 years. Dalmatia, as well as the entire Adriatic region of Croatia, has the longest tradition of urban life. The most interesting towns for the study of Mediaeval urbanism are those originating in the ancient times and which have endured to the present with some transformation in their urban tissue. Seven Da!matian towns were n:searched in that period -Zadar, Nin, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik. In spite of their different origins and typological and topographical characteristics archaeological research has revealed layers of Mediaeval cultural stratigraphy important for the understanding of urban topography of the oldest towns on the central Adriatic coast. Specially important is the research on the monuments of urban sacra! topography. The archiepiscopal complex in Zadar with the cathedra!, baptistcry and archbishop's palace have been researched as well as the churches of St Donat, St Lawrence and St Simeon. In Trogir, an outstanding Mediaeval Adriatic commune, four sacra l complexes have been researched: the area around the monastery of St John, St Mary's Church with six apses and the oldest Benedictine nunnery of St Nicholas. Excavations of Diocletian's Palace have been resumed after several years and they are expected to yield some traces of Split's oldest episcopate from the late 14th century. In the course of reconstruction works on some historical buildings damaged in the 1979 earthquake, extensive archaeological works were carried out in Dubrovnik in order to find a sacral complex of the oldest cathedral from the 6th century. The latter works are extremely important since they completely change the accepted historical thesis concerning the time of the origin of Dubrovnik. Numerous discoveries inside the city walls testify once again to the importance of archaeological and field research in solving numerous historical dilemmas.
On several occasions systematic archaeological research on the Dalmatian microregion has confirmed the link between the late ancient and early Mediaeval cultural horizons. They confirmed the continuity of two civilizations primarily in continuous life of coastal towns but also inland, in earlier Roman or late ancient settlements. It was mainly manifested in numerous cultural layers and in the acceptance of cult and profane buildings which were adapted in accordance with the spiritual and social needs of Mediaeval times. In this sense the most n:vealing is the Crkvina site in the village of Galovac near Zadar. This site has several layers and shows continuity from the antiquity to the modern world. There is an early Christian memoria from the 5th century in the centre and a basilica which was in use in pre-Romanesque time with a large Mediaeval necropolis. Some of the most important sites of Mediaeval architecture like St George (Sv. Juraj) on Putalj, and St Peter in Muć, near Split, have been researched. Great progress was made in the discovery of the remains of Mediaeval churches on the territory to the east of the Cetina River, on Makarsko Primorje (Makarska coast), in Imotska Krajina (Imotski region) and on the Island of Brač.
Among Mediaeval sites in Dalmatia which have been researched the most numerous are Mediaeval cemeteries. When taken globally this period has not brought great changes in the established picture of Mediaeval culture as manifested through burial phenomena in the Middle Ages. It is true, however, that in the last twenty years numerous researches of this period have yielded a number of single finds which in a wider context complete or correct already established conceptions. According to the available data about 45 necropolises have been researched in Dalmatia since 1975. They are dated to the period from the early to the late Middle Ages. The largest number of early Mediaeval ccmeteries was researched in the localities in northern Dalmatia such as Rodaljice, Ostrovica, Vrbica, Smrdelji and Knin. The most interesting early Mediaeval necropolis from the archaeological point of view was found in Dubravice near Skradin which offered data related to the existence of cremation and skeleton burials. In central Dalmatia, between the Krka and Neretva Rivers the largest number of researched graves is from the mid and late Middle Ages. Cetinska Krajina (thc Cetina region) is the richest in newly found sites on which late Mediaeval neeropolises marked by tomb stones -stećci is best researched.
Recently, increased attention has been paid to the discovery of settlement sites and, especially, Mediaeval fortifications, both of which were rather neglected in earlier periods. Hydroarchaeology of the sea and rlver beds has also made great progress and offered extremely important archaeological material from the mid course of the Cetina River in Sinjsko Polje (The Sinj Valley). A large number of newly registered sites is the result of a comprehensive and systematic approach to the surface archaeological survey. Perfect pilot models of this kind arc the Survey Project of North Dalmatia and the Project Hvar.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
93884
URI
Publication date:
19.12.1995.
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