Original scientific paper

Fullonica in Verige Bay on the Brijuni Islands

Vlasta Begović Dvoržak
Ivančica Dvoržak Schrunk

Abstract

The fullonica in Verige Bay was built over a maritime villa dating from the 1st century. The remains of large lacunae and smaller square pools in front of them are still very well preserved in situ in the northern part of the bay. The fullonica is situated between the baths and farm buildings of the maritime villa, and its construction partially erased earlier facilities of the farm complex. The building with external porticos and internal atria which housed the fullonica installations was built after the villa. Judging by the size of the construction material (spica), it belongs to a different construction period from that of the villa. The location of the new building and the way in which it erased earlier structures on the same plot prove that it was built at a later date. Similar modifi cations and the construction of production facilities can be observed in other maritime villas in Istria, too (in Barbariga and Fornače). Sheep farming and wool production took place in Istria as early as in the 1st century and they were described by Pliny the Elder (Plin., Nat. hist., 8, 191). A very successful economy driven by cattle breeding included sheep farming and the production of meat, milk, cheese and wool in the Istrian mountains. The weaving of woollen cloth and its treatment and dyeing were organised in coastal villas which, by that time, had lost their strictly representative function. The fi nal treatment of such cloth was a very complex process that was managed by imperial supervisors, the procurators. Another factor which favoured the development of fullonicae in this region was the sulphur deposits necessary for bleaching the cloth. The sulphur deposits in Istarske Toplice in northern Istria are well known. Other important factors include the habitats of the murex shell which yields a purple dye.

Keywords

fullonica; lacunae; Brijuni; maritime villa; fullones; 1st – 6th c.

Hrčak ID:

693

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/693

Publication date:

15.9.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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