Original scientific paper
RADIOCARBON DATES OF THE EARLY AND MIDDLE BRONZE AGE IN ISTRIA
Bernhard Hänsel
; Institut für Prähistorische Archäologie, Altensteinstraße 15, 14195 Berlin
Biba Teržan
; Oddelek za arheologijo, Filozofska fakulteta Univerza v Ljubljani, Zavetiška 5, SLO-61000 Ljubljana
Kristina Mihovilić
; Arheološki muzej Istre, Carrarina 3, HR-52100 Pula
Abstract
SUMMARY
RADIOCARBON DATES OF THE EARLY AND MIDDLE
BRONZE AGE IN ISTRIA
Bernhard HÄNSEL, Biba TERŽAN, Kristina MIHOVILIĆ
The enclosed settlement from the developed Early and Middle Bronze Age of Monkodonja
near Rovinj in Istria has been the subject of previous reports and poses a number of
dating problems. On the one hand, it is clear the repeatedly rebuilt expanded enclosure
in the core area called the acropolis, as well as the massive masonry at both main gates
and at the enclosing wall, had a long usage life. On the other hand, their archaeological
classification rests on just a few bronze finds and significant ceramics. The numerous,
but mostly very fragmented, pottery finds have a distinctively local form and are not
particularly helpful in narrowing down the chronological time frame. For this reason, a
series of 21 14C-datings was performed in the “Leibniz” Laboratory for Age Determination
in Kiel, Germany. With this data, a picture could be gained of the enclosure as it changed
over the course of several rebuilding and construction phases behind the walls. All data
samples for the AMS measurements were carried out on animal and human bones.
Further measurements will follow, because even after the presentation of these data, a
few questions remain open.
According to the measurements, the hill was first used in the middle of the 3rd millennium
BC, although no traces of settlement were left behind. The acropolis wall was built before
1800 BC, and was rebuilt in phases reaching into the end of the 15th century. The outer
enclosure was finished one or two generations later. Its casemate-type extensions were
in use up to or after 1200 BC. The graves in the area of the west gate date to the time
of the foundation of the settlement on the hill, and became part of the enclosure only
at a later date. The last uses of the central settlement area date back to the time around
1000 BC.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
40937
URI
Publication date:
15.11.2007.
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