ABSTRACT:
At the site Vela spilja on the island Korcula (former investigation
leaders Grga Novak, Božidar Cecuk and Dinko Radic:1974-2002)
sediment profiles of about 5 meters were excavated on the surface
of 200 m² of the cave: because of thousands of collected
artefacts in excavated layers, especially ceramics, early, middle
and late Neolithic, Aeneolithic and Bronze-age cultural phases
are well documented. Yet 3-5 m of undisturbed deeper/older deposits
remained for future excavations. Thus the goal of the proposed
project is excavation and investigation of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
sediments, i.e. identification of animal and botanical remains,
interpretation of sedimentological/geological processes, estimation
of radiometrical ages, determination of typology and technology
of artefacts and definition of older cultural phases, reconstruction
of environmental conditions/changes during the Last Glacial as
well as of changes in behaviour and subsistence pattern of human
populations that used the cave Vela spilja as more or less permanent
shelter.
1.
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION
Background:
Last Glacial (Palaeolithic) sites of Croatia, i.e. at Eastern
Adriatic, were mostly investigated only by the method of test-excavation.
Thus, there is a lack of taphonomical and zooarchaeological, as
well as of radiometrical data. Sedimentological, palynological
analyses are rare, and cultures - with exception of Šandalja
by Pula - were determined only on the basis of typology. Stratigraphy
of these sites is based on the levels superposition and macroscopic
characteristics of the sediments (Paunovic et al. 2001).
At the same time, on the Eastern Adriatic islands, many Holocene,
i.e. Neolithic sites were known, that were defined on the basis
of cultural remains especially ceramics (Dimitrijevic et al. 1998).
Until now, there is no evidence of Palaeolithic - Mesolithic -Neolithic
cultural succession on Croatian islands.
Hypothesis:
Considering obtained results of former investigations (1974-2002),
and 3-5 meters of not investigated deposits, we expect to found
evidence of more or less undisturbed cultural sequences from Mousterian
and Upper Palaeolithic to Bronze age, as well as climatic, environmental,
faunal etc. changes.
Meaning
and expected results:
The meaning of the proposed research is to find answers if the
Mousterian was present on the islands, and the archaic and modern
human population migrated using all available resources in the
area in connection with sea level and climate changes during the
Last Glacial when a great part of Adriatic was mainland.
At the same time, an answer is expected to the question if the
lack of Mesolithic at Eastern Adriatic is conditioned by stratigraphical
gap, or the Upper Palaeolithic transits directly to Neolithic,
or the sites with Mesolithic industry are unknown/not investigated.
2.
METHODS
Classical methods used for investigations of Pleistocene and archaeological
sites will be implemented (White 1991): sampling for sedimentological,
chemical and other analyses, documenting changes in the profiles
of sediments and mapping of each macroscopic find, sieving of
sediments with aim to collect microscopic remains, etc.
The work in laboratory will incorporate the preparation of sediments
and thin sections for petrographical and other analyses, washing
and preparation of the animal and cultural remains, their reconstruction,
conservation, protection and numbering, etc.
In the study of fossil and cultural remains the methods will be
used as follows: taxonomy, taphonomy and zooarchaeology (Gamble
1986, Miracle 1995), alternative analyses of the Palaeolithic
(Montet-White 1994), typology of Pleistocene cultures (Bordes
1988), anthracotomical analyses (Grohner 1985), sedimentological
and petrographical analyses (Gale& Hoare 1991), facies analysis
of Quaternary surface and cave sediments (Walker 1993), osteometry
and morphometry (Schwartz 1995, Paunovic et al. 1996), radiometrical
dating (AMS, U/Th), etc.
3.
APPLICATION
The obtained results will be applied in related subjects such
as biology, palaeoanthropology, geography, geology etc., either
for educational purposes or as a data basis for further investigations.
Besides, the results will be applicable in development of scientific
tourism on island Kor?ula and popularisation of science, as well
as in protection of cultural and natural heritage of Republic
of Croatia.
4.
PROTOCOL
DURATION:
3
years
Calculated time for the project is three years: first two mainly
for field work and data collecting, and the third for analytical
approach and preparation of publications.
FIELD
WORK
Phase I:
- Geodetic surveying of the cave and profiles
- Excavations and enlarging of profiles from the investigation
phase 2
- Sampling of sediments from the investigation phase 1
Phase II:
- excavation of Palaeolithic levels (thickness: 3-5m) on the surface
of about 3 m²
- sampling of sediments (sedimentology, palinology, radiometry
etc.)
LABORATORY
- Washing, numbering, conservation and reconstruction of remains
- Preparation of thin sections and samples for analyses
- Production of casts
CABINET WORK:
- 3D reconstruction of the cave and profiles, documentary basis
- Tipological and technological analyses
- Taxonomical and taphonomical analyses
- Sedimentological analyses
- Petrographical analyses of the raw materials
- Analysis of botanical remains
- Analysis of radiometrical data
- Reconstruction of cultural, environmental, behavioural etc.
changes
- Synthesis of all data
- Preparation of manuscripts
PRESENTATION AND PROTECTION OF THE SITE:
- Edition of scientific monograph
- Edition of popularising materials (brochures, prospects, post-cards,
casts)
- Exhibition in Centre of culture (video-projections, lectures)
- Organisation of guided visits to the cave
- Enabling work on the thematic collections
- Organisation of scientific workshops, symposia, etc.
- Closing of the entrance and roof openings at the site
- Chemical and physical protection of the profiles
- Inclusion in the list of protected cultural and natural heritage
of Republic of Croatia
5.
RESEARCH TEAM
CENTRE
OF CULTURE, VELA LUKA, CROATIA:
Dinko Radic
CROATIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, ZAGREB, CROATIA:
Institute of Quaternary Palaeontology and Geology: Maja Paunovic,
Dejana Brajkovic, Vesna Malez, Gordana Jambrešic, Kazimir
Miculinic, Jadranka Mauch Lenardic, Ljerka Marjanac
Archaeological Department: Mario Šlaus
CROATIAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, ZAGREB, CROATIA
Department of Geology and Mineralogy: Zlata Jurišic-Polšak
FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS, ZAGREB, CROATIA:
Department of Mineralogy and Petrography: Dražen Kurtanjek
SLOVENIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
Biological Institute: Metka Culiberg
UNIVERSITY VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator - Institute for Isotope
Research and Nuclear Physic: Eva Maria Wild
6.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES:
Hrvatski
