Preliminary communication
Prehistory Settlement Virovitica − Brekinja
Tajana Sekelj Ivančan
Jacqueline Balen
Abstract
The Virovitica−Brekinja archaeological site is situated in a lowland region west of Virovitica. In June, July and August 2005 rescue excavations and two campaigns were conducted at the site (Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb and Archaeological Museum, Zagreb). On this occasion the existence of a prehistoric Neolithic settlement was verified, extending over a surface of 5,400 m2 (Fig. 1). The planned road route passes over the periphery of the Neolithic settlement, which stretches east of the route. Thus in excavations mostly the working zones and fences with various purposes were identified. Only one residential structure (a pit dwelling) was unearthed, but it was only partly excavated due to the fact that a larger part of the structure was outside the expropriation line.
Among the finds, stone artefacts are represented in a large number, most of them chipped. The working areas in which stone was processed are long (up to 15 metres) and narrow (2-3 metres) channels. In the course of excavations seven quern stones were unearthed, as well as grinding stones, which also confirm that we are dealing with working areas in which food was prepared. A wedge made of sandstone was found; there are no traces of use visible on it so we can assume that it had a cult purpose. Among the ceramic goods we can underline the find of a female figurine − an idol. The bottom part was preserved with highly steatopygous attribute. The only analogy of this type on the territory of Croatia is the model from Vinkovci (Fig. 2).
Among the vessels, the most commonly represented is coarse pottery, decorated with barbotine. No painted pottery was found. Among the functional vessel shapes, round pots and vessels on a foot prevail. Several altar fragments were unearthed as well. The ceramic finds can be ascribed to the Spiraloid B phase of the Starčevo culture. Based on the size of the excavated area, the Starčevo culture settlement at the Virovitica−Brekinja site belongs to larger excavated Neolithic sites in northern Croatia. Excavations show that it is a lowland single-layered site with numerous movable objects dated to the early Neolithic, i.e. in the Spiraloid B phase of the Starčevo culture.
Those facts shall unquestionably further illuminate the archaeological picture of the Virovitica region. Up to the present, in this region the existence of seven Starčevo sites was documented − in Gaćište, Orešac, Dabrovica, on two locations in Pčelić, in Pepelane and Stara Krivaja, but only at the Pepelane site archaeological excavations were conducted.
Keywords
Brekinja site; rescue archaeological excavation; Neolithic; Spiraloid B phase of Starčevo Culture
Hrčak ID:
9186
URI
Publication date:
11.11.2006.
Visits: 3.082 *