Preliminary communication
Trial Archaeological Ecxavations on Prečno pole I Site in Torčec by Koprivnica
Tajana Sekelj Ivančan
Abstract
The Torčec−Prečno Pole 1 archaeological site is situated on the southern side of the large drained meander of the Drava River, stretching north of the village of Torčec in Koprivnica−Križevci County (Fig. 1). On a slightly elevated terrain between the aforementioned meander and so-called Graba, on narrow strip of private farmland, a co-ordinate network with dimensions of 5 x 5 m was set based on a suadrant, and an overall area of 470 m2 was excavated.
In the archaeological excavations conducted, twelve larger artefacts were documented (Fig. 2), which are probably the remains of structures, of which one had a firmly-built hearth, several sunken pillars, a grave with a burial and a recent trench. All the pits appear immediately beneath the ploughed layer in a mixed layer consisting of ploughed clay and yellowish sand, or on spots where it is missing in the layer of yellow sand.
The excavated larger artefacts were categorised into three groups; there is no cultural layer between them, and the space between them is archaeologically sterile. The shape of most of the artefacts is oval or square, their orientation indicating no regularities.
The finds lead to the conclusion that the inhabitants of the rural settlement in Prečno Pole 1 populated the area in the period after the first half of the fourth century. This conclusion is supported in particular by the multitude of ceramic vessel fragments with coarse facture and mildly rounded or cut edges and a simple profile, with straight and wavy combed decoration (so-called broomshaped ornamentation) on the vessel shoulders and bodies, but also the outer edge of the rim, and several types of ceramic whorls, bone tools among which thrusting objects made of bone are interesting, and the indicative find of Roman coins with the inscription CONST (Constantine’s centennial, minted in Ticinium 320-321).
Only after conducting analyses and the expertise-based and scientific processing of the archaeological fi nds will it be possible to say more about the duration of habitation in the settlement that existed along the meander (which, it is assumed, was filled with water), and the connection between the settlement and grave in which no grave goods were found.
Keywords
Torčec-Prečno pole I; Trial Archaological ecxavations; Settlement; Late Antisuity/Early Middle Ages
Hrčak ID:
9228
URI
Publication date:
11.11.2006.
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