Histria antiqua, Vol. 20 No. 20, 2011.
Professional paper
The “Roman beer hall” site in Sisak – A Monumental Building of public purpose: Investigations in the Second Half of the 19th century
Vlatka Vukelić
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Hrvatski studiji Borongajska 83 d HR - 10000 Zagreb
Abstract
The most interesting archaeological event in Sisak in 1868 was the beginning of excavations at a site popularly called “the Roman Beer Hall.” The local vicar, Franjo Scholissnigg, brought the groundplan of the whole complex, and he exchanged his experiences and comments related to the excavating process with the then manager of the National Museum in Zagreb, Šime Ljubić. It is visible from the aforementioned correspondence that the excavation works on the ramparts of “the Roman Beer Hall” site began in late April 1868, and that the excavation was initiated by the then owner of the land – Capitulum Cathedralis of Zagreb. Among other things in this correspondence, it was mentioned that the nature of this entirely monumental building had certainly been both public and representative. The groundplan of the building showed several building layers, where there was a double apsidal structure, including a smaller one of an older building, and a bigger one belonging to a subsequent construction built on the already existing building. The most significant inscription found at this site is the one dedicated to Emperor Trajan. Along with the groundplan, Schloissnigg also brings a number of interesting pieces of information, helping us to place the building, which is, in fact, the ultimate goal of this paper. It is significant to mention that most of the small finds have been stored at the National Museum in Zagreb, but only following the official handover between Zagreb Kaptol and the Academy. The young chaplain Ivan Tkalčić was also very much involved in the investigation of this site, but during one of his visits he noticed that the excavation was not being carried out in line with the rules. Based on the alleged discovery of lead pipes in the vicinity, he believed that thermae were situated at this site, or in its immediate vicinity. The whole paper results from an analysis of the original archival materials, stored at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, while the ubication of the site will be attempted based on the archaeological maps stored at the City Museum of Sisak and work in the field.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
79759
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2011.
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