Osječki zbornik, Vol. Vol. 26 No. xx, 2002.
Original scientific paper
Antique viticulture and wine production in Slavonia
Mirko Bulat
Abstract
After the introduction in which he defines time and place scope of the topic - the area of today's Slavonia and Croatian Baranya as parts of Roman Pannonia, the author gives a short review of the origins of viticulture in general (Vitis vinifera, probably of wild vine substrate Vitis silvestris that was wide-spread in Mediterranean forests, EHRENDORFER, 1984, 338. The oldest find of cultivated vine of those sorts in Aegea originates from mid-Neolithic layers of localities in Sitagroa in Thrace (ZANINOVIC, 1976, 263). According to antique authors - Dio Casisus and others, conditions for viticulture had been unfavourable at the beginning, but after melioration and Probe's vineyard planting, the conditions improved. (KATANCIC, 1991, 58-61, MOCSY, 1962, 681; GRAF, 1936, 12-13).
The above data refer to archeological and epigra-phic finds concerning antique viticulture and wine production till the first half of the year 2001. in the region of traditional Slavonia and Croatian Baranya that has been divided into today's counties: Osjecko-baranjska, Vukovarsko-srijemska, Brodsko-posavska, Pozesko-slavonska, Bjelovarsko-bilogorska and Viro-viticko-podravska.
In spite of the data being unequal due to the fact that antique localities haven't been researched at the same level, it is noticeable that today's most important wine growing areas gave most finds from the ancient times.
The most important monument of antique viticulture, not only in our region, but also in Pannonia in general, originates from Popovac in Baranya. It is the altar for Father Libero on which huge vine areas have been engraved, but as the inscription has been significantly damaged it is not possible to clear up all the facts. (KATANCIC, 1826, 443, 565; BRUNSMID, 1907, 112-113; GRAF, 1936, 112; MOCSY, 1962, 669)
The earliest and the most numerous finds originate from the area of Osijek, Roman Mursa, beginning with cantars and craters from the early Iron age (SPAJIC, 1962, T. 14:7, T. 19:20). These early finds as well as those from the early Roman period, among which the most important is a fragment ACO jug with a relief inscription. (BULAT, 1977.a. 26, T.10:l)are not a proof of antique viticulture in our region, but they only prove that people were familiar with imported wine . (PINTEROVIC, 1978, passim).
There are other localities in the south part of Osjecko-baranjska county, the most important of which are: Dalj, antique Teutiburgium, (PINTEROVIC, 1954,
20-21, BULAT 1977a, 77-78, BULAT 1984a, 126, fig. 8), Strbinci near Đakovo, antique Certissa (BRUNSMID, 1901, 137.139, MIGOTTI, 1998, 75 and further).
The most important localities in Vukovarsko-srijemska county are: Vinkovci, (Cibalae), Sotin (Cornacum) and Ilok (Cuccium). Altars to Libero originate from Vinkovci and Sotin. On the altar from Vinkovci there is a cask (DIMITRIJEVIĆ, 1979, 168), a unique and very important find. Besides other finds from Vinkovici (BRUNŠMID, 1902, passim; DIMITRIJEVIĆ, 1979, 170, 174-175) there are also numerous fragments of amphora necks some of which with signet (VIKIĆ, BELANČIĆ, 1970, 172-173).
Among finds from the still not enough researched Sotin (BRUNSMID, 1907,111-112; 1913-1914, 225) there is bronze fist of Thrace God Sabazi (BRUNŠMID, 1913-1914, 245) which could be connected with colonists from Thrace- winegrowers- of the first half of the 3rd century (BULAT, 1991, 46). Of the earlier finds from Ilok there is a greenish-brown enameled jug from the antique grave by the road to Ljuba.(BRUNŠMID, 1901, 145-148).
In the eastern part of Brodsko-posavska county there are numerous famous archeological finds of antique localities some of which have been researched. (LOZUK, 1993, 35) and in the north there is a find of antique villa in Otrnci near Benkovci (DAMEVSKA, GORENC, 1976-1980). In Požeško-slavonska county there are also numerous archeological finds of antique settlements and rustic villas. Research of late antique necropolis in Treštanovac gradina near Tekić is one of the most significant excavations in that area. (SOKAČ-ŠTIMAC, BULAT, 1974, 116, SOKAČ-ŠTIMAC, 1984, 134-135)
The most important archeological find of the southeastern part of Bjelovarsko-bilogorska county -Daruvar (it is actually in Veliki Bastaji) gave, among other finds, a big sarcophagus with a relief of Dionysus panther and vine with grapes. However, it doesn't have to be proof of antique viticulture, but it could have symbolic meaning only. (HOFFILLER, SARIA, 1938, 272-273, SZABO, 1934, 83-84, PINTEROVIC, 1973-1975, 142-144).
There are no data for Virovitičko-podravska county concerning antique viticulture and wine production. Taking into account finds from the locality Orešac, near Suhopolje, we could say that it had been present in that area as well.(MINICHREITER, 1986, 81-89).
Antique viticulture and wine production was blooming in the late antique and in particular with Christianity that needed wine for its rituals. However, Barbaric invasions after Emperor Valent's defeat at Drinopolje in 378, made an end of Christianity and
viticulture in Pannonia. Viticulture was resumed to some extent in Pannonia, north of Drava River after defeat of Avars (GRIVEC, 1985, 105-106) but that is not subject of this paper.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
164452
URI
Publication date:
5.12.2002.
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