Preliminary communication
Suhopolje − Kliškovac. 2005 Excavation Results
Željko Tomičić
Kristina Jelinčić
orcid.org/0000-0002-1236-734X
Abstract
Archaeological trial excavations on the site with the noteworthy toponym Kliškovac (Turski grad, Pavlovac) in Suhopolje, conducted from 16 to 26 August 2005, proved the existence of a multilayer burial graveyard arranged in rows. The graves are as a rule oriented west-east, i.e. with the heads of the deceased to the west. The graves indicate that several generations were buried one after another, i.e. vertical stratigraphy, but also horizontal stratigraphy. The excavations proved a great density of graves, 25 of them, on a relatively small surface of 29 m2. This clearly proves a long duration of usage of the cemetery that up to the present was unknown, and that reflects the existence of a synchronous settlement, probably an assumed village. The finds of fragments of medieval pottery and several moveable finds (perforated coins, spurs) possibly prove the time at which the dead from a neighbouring village were buried there. The exact location of that village is not known at the moment, even though during former surveys of the surroundings of Kliškovac after farming activities the possible site was located. On the other hand, the traces of two levels of burials, proved also during the archaeological campaign of 2005, along with excavation of a part of a brick wall connected with mortar on the northern slope of the railway cutting (Fig. 6) speak in favour of further systematic archaeological excavations. It is highly probable that the medieval cemetery whose existence close to the centre of Suhopolje was confirmed had been organized at a certain point of time around a sacral structure. It seems that the existence of a church (klisa) is highly possible. The nearby toponym Pavlovac and the unearthed remains of structures indicate the location of a church, or of its remains. The oldest horizon of graves in the unearthed part of the cemetery has not been excavated yet, but according to the previous finds (jewellery artefacts, perforated coins) there are clear indicators that it is a Bjelo Brdo culture cemetery. Thus we are dealing with an early church cemetery (end of eleventh and beginning of twelfth centuries) suggesting long duration, i.e. utilization during several generations (see: site map of the cemetery). Along with horizontal stratigraphy the vertical stratigraphy of the cemetery is present as well. A total of 25 graves were unearthed, and 11 were excavated.
After trial excavations, the trial trench was completely covered by plastic foil (S 1) at the excavation level, and to its cover, in order to be able to continue the work in 2006. Therefore, already the first archaeological trial dig, organized in 2005 at the Suhopolje−Kliškovac site, confirmed the existence of a church cemetery, which in turn proves the existence of a medieval village, whose name was forgotten over the course of history. Still the people recall its name in the toponyms Kliškovac and Turski grad, or Pavlovac, which also confirm a medieval origin. In the period from 2006 onward, systematic archaeological excavations are planned, financed commonly by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Virovitica−Podravina County and the local authorities in the Suhopolje Municipality. This specific excavation shall contribute to an understanding of the character and size of the Suhopolje−Kliškovac site and correspondingly its presentation as an interesting and expressible part of the overall tourism product of the Suhopolje Municipality, Virovitica−Podravina County and Croatia.
Keywords
Suhopolje; Middle Ages; graweyard; church
Hrčak ID:
9169
URI
Publication date:
11.11.2006.
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