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Finds
that were recovered from layers directly overlaying the Eneolithic
phase of Hvar culture determine the next prehistoric culture. Definition
of its basic characteristics rests on forms and decoration of pottery
vessels, as was the case with previous prehistoric cultures. Comparative
analysis of late Hvar finds with the finds that immediately overlay
them indicates differences such as changes in decorative system
and appearance of new vessel shapes. Most evident changes are disappearance
of channelling/vertical incision and plastic apliqué ribs,
as well as a reduction in number of small simple bowls with step-like
protruding shoulders. We divided the new elements into three groups.
1 - The first group consists of wares that testify of continuous
presence of the earlier population, judging by the raw materials
that were used, by production technology, and partially also by
vessel shapes. We attribute these finds to Cetina culture or, more
precisely, to its local variant. Aside from marked continuity with
the previous phase, its main characteristics are: flat rims decorated
by impression; thickened ring-like rims decorated by horizontall
series of impressions; frequent use of plain or decorated plastic
appliqué bands (their decoration usually consisting of pinched
finger marks); various types of handles (“tunnel-shaped”,
“X-shaped”, “knee-shaped”). Most characteristic
vessel form is an S-profile jar with globular body and cylindrical
neck, an “X-shaped” handle, and a rim that is sometimes
everted. These finds were split into two developmental stages according
to their stratigraphic position, but we note that the differences
between the stages are minimal. For all practical purposes, most
of the key attributes are present throughout the long time span
from the beginning of the first to the end of the second developmental
stage. Amorphous, coarse potsherds, which do not differ much in
manufacture or raw material from corresponding older and younger
finds, make up most of the recovered material.
2 - A fraction of recovered finds belongs to gouged pottery. Basic
characteristics of this ware are an inferior quality of raw material
and decoration that consists of grooves bordered with series of
impressions that run horizontally around the neck and vertically
across the body of vessels. Quantity of pottery that has been decorated
in this manner is almost negligible relative to all finds. Its stratigraphic
position registers highest concentrations near the end of the Eneolithic
phase of Hvar culture and the first stage of Cetina culture, but
sporadic finds appear until the end of the second phase.
3 - A well-made ware, characterized by white encrusted decoration,
is easily distinguished from the rest of the pottery, most of which
is coarse and plain. Recovered potsherds correspond to analogous
finds from other Cetina sites, in particular from those attributed
to the first stage of Cetina culture. Total number of known vessel
shapes is very small. Most of them belong to the older stage, while
a few are from the younger stage (or even the end of the younger
stage). Heterogeneity of decorative techniques is worth noting.
By this we refer to a variety of roulette-impressed designs which
range from those 5 mm in size to shallow miniature impressions where
each of the impressed triangles is smaller than 1 mm. Differences
in raw material, technique, as well as stratigraphic position, testify
of occasional but long-lasting contacts with various representatives
of a culture (or cultures) which uses decorative white encrustation.
The most expressive and the most frequent representative of white
encrusted decoration is the Adriatic (Middle Adriatic) type of Ljubljana
culture, although presence of the carriers of classic Ljubljana
culture, or a late Vucedol population, cannot be excluded. It is
known that carriers of Cetina culture also used the encrustation
technique.
It follows from the above that the impoverished culture which culminated
near the end of Eneolithic is gradually and constantly transformed,
and that the instigators of those transformations are various external
influences which so far have been documented by traces of presence
of carriers of the grooved and encrusted wares. Greatest importance,
however, must be awarded to gradual local development, as well as
to contacts and adoption of trends that are present at other sites
within the principal territory of Cetina culture. In this way the
local autochthonous substratum is transformed and enriched slowly
but constantly, and is adapting to the new times of the Early Bronze
Age. Great quantity of potsherds, absence of metal finds, simplicity
of forms and poverty of the decorative system indicate that the
cave was used intensively, although not as a permanent seat of a
clan, but rather as an occasional and temporary residence - probably,
of a group of shepherds. At the beginning of Bronze Age, Vela Cave
is a well-known and often used point in the landscape, but permanent
settlement must be sought on one of the neighboring hill forts.
Uniformity of finds and poor decorative repertoire prohibits specific
temporal and cultural determination of finds.
A pottery urn containing incinerated bones and grave goods that
consist of a copper ax and seven long flint knives is an unusually
interesting example of burial. This burial is the most obvious indicator
of change in burial rite, which can be attributed to presence of
new inhabitants, most likely to the carriers of the grooved wares.
There are clear connections with sites in Dalmatian hinterland,
the region that stretches from Škarin samograd cave to the
bay of Boka Kotorska, and all the way inland to Glasinac. Location
of Vela Cave on the trans-Adriatic maritime route, as indicated
by recent finds from the islet of Palagruža (Forenbaher-Kaiser
1997: 18 ff.), will again prove to be crucial.
We
hope that exploration of the site will continue in the coming years.
The extent of this short overview of Vela Cave’s stratigraphy
does not allow us to support our interpretations with usual extensive
argumentation. That, as well as publication of even a part of the
recovered finds, would require much more space.
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Hrvatski
