Historic Migrations from modern Day Croatia

Historic Migrations from modern day Croatia

The areas of modern day Croatia, a country today between South East and Central Europe, was always, theatre of human mobility and migrations, from prehistory to the 20th century. Finds Stories explored the wealth of the collections in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb and undertook primary archaeological research in the island of Lastovo and the town of Sisak. The project recorded a significant amount of objects that showcased mobility and movement across the Mediterranean and continental Europe from the prehistory to the Early Medieval times.

Amber Bead

AoLEs:
Expressive Arts (art, dance, drama, film and digital media and music)
Humanities (geography; history; religion, values and ethics; social studies)
Languages, Literacy and Communication (English and international languages as well as in literature)

An amber bead, made of material imported from the Baltic to the island of Lastovo, dated between 1700 and 900 BC. This rare, luxurious piece of jewellery, possibly a part of a necklace, is the only archaeological amber object found so far on the island of Lastovo. Amber has travelled a long way from the distant Baltic Sea to this small island in southern Dalmatia. It was transported through complex network of contacts that ensured circulation of raw materials and finished products, as well as ideas, technologies, and cultural patterns. Although the bead probably arrived on the island by trade or exchange, amber could have also been obtained by raiding thriving settlements or trading centres. It could have belonged to a child or a female member of the local population who had a higher social status. Since it was so luxurious and rare, there is a possibility that it was an heirloom. The bead tells stories about connections and influences in ancient prehistory, travel, trade and exchange. Also, it proves that the small island of Lastovo was not as isolated and remote as we perceive it today.

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Skyfos

A Hellenistic skyphos (cup) attributed to the Late Canosan Group of Gnathia ware and dated to the first half of the 3rd century BC. This beautiful piece of Hellenistic pottery was made in a manufactory with high craftmanship specialisation in northern Apulia, in Canusium. It undertook a trans-Adriatic journey as part of a shipload and arrived to one of the island's many coves. The owner of the skyphos was undoubtedly prominent and wealthy enough to afford imported ceramics of this quality and beauty. Skyphoi of this size were used as drinking vessels and have been found in profane, sacred, and funerary contexts. Together with other archaeological finds of imported Hellenistic pottery and miniature vessels of local production, found in stratigraphic unit 13 of Trench 1, the skyphos suggests that ritual activities may have taken place in the cave.

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Gold Necklace

A gold beaded necklace, dated from the end of the 3rd to the first half of the 5th century AD. The necklace consists of 32 barrel-shaped beads made of gold sheet. It was probably not made in Siscia. The necklace came into the possession of its owner through trade, gift exchange or as an heirloom. Since it was the only grave good, and therefore probably carefully chosen placement of the necklace in the grave was ritually conditioned. Its beauty and value indicate that the deceased lady belonged to a group of wealthy inhabitants of higher social status of Late Roman Siscia. The necklace experienced a transition from an item of personal adornment and signifier of affluence and prosperity, to a grave good with ritual and religious importance, incorporated in the funerary ritual.

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Amphora

Expressive Arts (art, dance, drama, film and digital media and music)
Humanities (geography; history; religion, values and ethics; business studies and social studies)
Languages, Literacy and Communication (English and international languages as well as in literature)
Health and Well-being (nutrition)

A Late Republican Lamboglia 2 amphora of Adriatic manufacture, dated from the 2nd to the last third of the 1st century BC. Initially, Lamboglia 2 amphorae were thought to have been produced on the western Adriatic coast. During further archaeological excavations on the eastern Adriatic coast, a large number of Lamboglia 2 potsherds were found, which led to the hypothesis of a local, Dalmatian production. It is considered the most popular type of amphora that circulated within the Adriatic in the 2nd and the 1st century BC. This amphora was probably part of the indigenous Late Iron Age horizon in the cave. This amphora was used for transport and storage of wine, a liquid whose consumption in the Rača Cave was associated not only with profane, everyday consumption, but probably with rituals as well.

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Pottery Jug

An Iron Age miniature jug of local manufacture, dated to the 4th and the 3rd century BC. The presence of miniature vessels at archaeological sites dates from the Neolithic, and although they appear in various archaeological contexts - everyday, funerary and religious - in most cases they are associated with cult activities. Similar miniature vessels have been interpreted as children’s toys, drinking vessels, containers for salt, herbs, spices or cosmetics, ladles, children’s vessels for drinks or food, and children’s products. It is not known if the jug was used in everyday life before it became part of a possible ritual activity and therefore the existence of a shift from utilitarian to ritual function remains uncertain. This miniature vessel is one of the most important archaeological finds of local production, and its presence in the cave indicates the existence of an indigenous shrine.

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Illyrian type helmet

An Illyrian type helmet, made of a copper alloy, dated from the second half of the 6th to the second half of the 5th century BC. This helmet is characterized by a unique, powerful ideology that was widespread in Western and Central Europe, the Apennine Peninsula, the Balkans and Greece. It was shared by members of the Iron Age warrior elite, who had special positions in their communities. Its arrival to Segestica was based on the favorable position of the settlement on the Iron Age communication routes, which ensured the circulation of objects, ideologies, concepts and practices. The helmet must have been in the possession of a member of the warrior elite of Segestica, who was important and powerful enough to obtain this valuable object through trade, exchange or gift exchange. Since it was found during dredging of the Kupa River in Sisak, the helmet may have been involved in the ritual of depositing metal finds into water contexts. The helmet was much more than a functional defensive weapon -˗ it was a symbolic indicator of its owner’s high position not only in the warrior hierarchy, but in the social structure of the community as well. It also testifies to the transfer of the Mediterranean cultural template to the Iron Age continental context.

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Ladle

A bronze ladle (simpulum), made of a copper alloy, dated to the late 6th and 5th centuries BC, probably of Etruscan origin. It was recovered from the riverbed during dredging of the Kupa River in Sisak. The simpulum was made in a manufactory with high craftsmanship specialisation. It came to Segestica through trade, exchange or gift exchange. Its presence, along with several other bronze objects of Italian provenance, confirms the location of the settlement being on the main communication routes between the Mediterranean and mainland Europe. Imported, luxurious objects such as the simpulum confirmed the high social status of their owner through their use and presentation. The simpulum could have been used in two different contexts: as a utalitarian object and in a ritual. At banquets, symposia, wine was prepared in larger vessels and then scooped with the simpulum to pour into glasses. It may also have been used for ritual, religious purposes -˗ to perform liquid sacrifices called libations. The simpulum indicates that some inhabitants of Segestica belonged to the Iron Age elite. For them, luxurious objects like the simpulum were not only a utalitarian item, but also an indicator of social status, wealth and power.

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Comb

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