Reassessing the Architecture and Spatial Organization of Lasinja Culture Settlements in the Southeastern Alpine Region. Insights from Northeastern Slovenia

In the northern Dalmatia region where there were only two cultural systems throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, four moments are crucial in the use of cremation ritual during the 2nd/1st centuries BC: in the Early Bronze Age (Cetina culture: Ervenik, Podvršje − Matakov brig, Nadin, Krneza − Duševića glavica), in the Early Iron Age (Nadin, mound 13, Krneza − Jokina glavica), in Hellenism (Dragišić, gr. 4 A-C), and finally, for the first time very intensively during the Romanization of Liburnians. Newly discovered cremations in ceramic urns (gr. 3, 13) in burial mound 13 (9th – 6th cent. BC) from Nadin near Benkovac are the first example (after Dragišić) of Liburnian cremation; more precisely, burial mound 13 with 19 graves represents a form of biritualism in the Liburnians. It is also an example of the greatest number of Liburnian burials under a mound, with crouched, extended and cremated skeletons and many ritual remains (traces of fire on the ground and on animal bones: funerary feast?; numerous remains of ceramic vessels (libation?). Although typical Liburnian burial "inherits" many formal and symbolic elements (stone cist, enclosing wall, libation, etc.) from the (Early) Bronze Age (and probably Eneolithic as well), cremation in the Liburnian burial mound 13 from Nadin cannot be explained in terms of continuity from the Early Bronze Age; links are missing, particularly those from the Middle Bronze Age in the study of the cultural dynamics of the 2nd millennium BC in the northern Dalmatia region. Squat form of the Nadin urns with a distinct neck has analogies in the Liburnian (Nin) and Daunian funerary pots for burying newborns (ad encytrismos), and also in the typology of pottery (undecorated or decorated) in a wider region (Ruše, V.Gorica, Dalj/Vukovar, Terni II, Este, Bologna I-II, Roma II, Cumae I, Pontecagnano IA, Histrians, etc.), i.e. in the forms widespread from the Danubian region, Alps, and Balkans to the Apennine Peninsula between the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (10th/9th – 8th cent. BC). Although appearance of cremation in the Picenian culture has not been completely clear (Fermo necropolis, burials from Ancona, Numana, Novilara: graves Servici, 29, 39 from Piceno II-III, from the 8th/7th.cent. BC), Liburnian culture is most similar to the Picenian culture in the Adriatic world by the intensity and period of cremation, and form of urns. Specifically, decorated urn in a male grave 52 from Numana from the 9th century BC is analogous to the Nadin urns. This grave from Numana is usually mentioned as an example of trans-Adriatic, Picenian-Liburnian (Balkanic) i.e. Picenian-Histrian relations. Liburnian urns are similar to the urn from the grave in Numana, 495, Davanzali, from the late 9th century by their profilation. "Genesis" of both Liburnian and Picenian cremation is unknown. They are two convergent phenomena, reflecting the "unity" of the late Urnenfelder world of the 10th/9th centuries BC and resulting from cultural-ethnical contacts in a "closed circle" from the Danubian region – southeastern Alpine region – Apennine Peninsula, supported by smaller migrations in the first centuries of the Iron Age, from the trans-Adriatic direction in Picenum (with definite Villanova influence), and in Liburnia probably from the hinterland. In this Adriatic circle in the first centuries of the Iron Age multiple cultural contacts between Liburnians, Histrians and Picenians are for now a good (initial) context for a more detailed interpretation of Liburnian cremation. Despite the aforementioned, it is not necessary to relate directly the structure (ritual, goods) of gr. 52, Numana – Qualiotti to Histrian patterns nor the grave 495, Numana-Davanzali to the Iapodian ones. Cremated Liburnian burial from the Early Iron Age represents a certain continuity and a "reflection" of the late Urnenfelder circle, which was manifested in different ways in the beginnings of the Liburnian, Picenian, and Histrian cultures and elsewhere. The latest excavations on a planned Liburnian-Roman necropolis in Nadin (Nedinum) provided us with new information about the spatial, chronological and symbolical relation (religious, social) between the autochtonous Liburnian and Roman component in the period of Romanization of northern Dalmatia.

Several years of excavations at the site of Virje–Volarski Breg/Sušine uncovered the remains of a settlement from the Late Bronze and Late Iron Ages. The finds of a bronze pin and potsherds from the Late Bronze Age enabled the dating of the settlement to the early and late phases of the Urnfield culture, with the settlement at Volarski Breg being older than the one at Sušine. The excavations revealed parts of La Tène settlement infrastructure, which indicated that it was a prominent lowland settlement from the Middle and Late La Tène. They included the exceptional discovery of a pit with the remains of a loom. Both for the organization of the La Tène culture settlement and for its pottery finds, there are parallels in the known settlements from the middle Drava valley and the neighbouring areas of north-eastern Slovenia and south-western Hungary. These settlements are considered to have a rural character and to be the result of the life needs of small agricultural communities integrated in the landscape. The explored parts of the infrastructure of these settlements show that they were organized around single households. The intensive habitation of the middle Drava valley in the Late Bronze and Late Iron Ages is not at all surprising, since the area was crossed by an important communication route between the south-eastern Alpine region and the Danube region.

The article considers cremation graves from the site of Podsmreka near Višnja Gora (Slovenia). Based on the analysis of their pottery, it could be shown that the graves can be dated to the Middle Bronze Age period (Br B2/C1) and thus represent one of the oldest cremation burials of the Bronze Age in Slovenia. First, the ceramic finds from the radiocarbon dated settlement contexts are discussed in order to reach a more exact chronological framework for the vessel forms from graves. A synthesis of all Middle Bronze Age graves, both inhumations and cremations, from central and eastern Slovenia allows us to get a better understanding of when the change in burial practices occurred. Surprisingly, the best analogies for the vessels from graves at Podsmreka near Višnja Gora can be found in the northern Carpathian Basin, where we observe a long-standing tradition of cremation burials. The analysis of radiocarbon samples from two graves from Šafárikovo in Slovakia allowed us to verify the absolute chronology of urn amphorae vessels with particular form and decoration, which we can date between the second half of the 16th and the first half of the 15th century BC. Such astonishing correspondences in the pottery between the northern Carpathian Basin and the south-eastern Alpine region seem to indicate that the very area of the Upper Tisza river, and the territory of the Piliny Culture, played a crucial role in the transmission of new burial practices, not only to Slovenia, but also across wider areas along the Sava and Drava rivers on the distribution area of the Virovitica group.

BIOGEOGRAPHIA — vol. XI/I — 1987 Biageografla delle Alpi Sud-Orientali Paleobiogeografia dei Vertebrati e dei Molluschi continentali dell’area alpina sud—orientale(qq‘) DANIELA ESUqqq — TASSOS KOTSAKISqq“q“q qqqq Dz'pczrtz'77zeI2to dz‘ Sczenze dellzz Terra, U7zz'11ersz'tc2 «La Sczpz'e7zzcz», Roma. qqqqq Ceiztro di Studio per la Geologia de[l’Iz‘aZz'tz Centmle, C.N.R. c/0 Dz'pm*tz'I7ze7zt0 dz‘ Scienze della Term, Um'1Jersz'tz2 «La Sapz'e7zzzz», Roma. SUMMARY The study of fossil vertebrates and continental molluscs of South»Eastern Alpine region allows to point out the following palaeobiogeographical observations. 1) During Carboniferous emerged areas of Friuli are colonized by plants of European origin. Amphi- bian foot-prints testify the same meaning too. 2) Permian data are not sufficient to do some palaeobiogeographic hypothesis. 3) During Triassic the coastal reptiles community which populate this area are spread along the Te- thian Northern coast. This datum is confirmed also by the finding of a pterosaur. Perhaps an island near the European coast of Tethys was populated by a little endemic thecodont. ) Data about Jurassic are lacking. 5) During Cretaceous lldinosaurians» foot-prints show the possibility of communications between Istria and a not better identified mainland, almost during two moments. Nevertheless the aigialo- saurids and dolichosaurids, semi-aquatic lizards, seem to testify the presence of a Tethyan archipe- lago which was including Dinarids (Istria inclusive). 6) The continental Paleocene molluscs (Lower and ?Middle Paleocene) of Trieste Karst point out insularity conditions with very strong endernisrns. Fossil Charophyta confirm this hypothesis. 7) During Middle Eocene the Friuli emerged area seems to be colonized by continental molluscs of Western European origin. 8) The Oligocene few continental fossil molluscs of Friuli testify connections with Central Europe. 9) During Upper Miocene connections between Friuli and Central—Eastern Europe are postulated by the study of continental molluscs and by the finding of the single mammal remain of this period. 10) Continental Pliocene fossils of this area are unknown. 11) About Pleistocene more data are available. Few Villafranchian remains indicate the presence of wide distribution European species. At the beginning of Middle Pleistocene some eastern species appear, they spread later on all along the Italian Peninsula. During Mindel some Central Asian species appear for a short time (Oc/Jotomz purillzz, Micro/us gregalis). During the whole Middle Pleistocene the genus Di2zaromyr persist in the Southeastern alpine region; at present this genus survives only in the Dinaric areas. During Riss some boreal elements, as Mztratzzr OEEOIZOIIZZIJ, arrives in the area. Other arctic elements (Gt/10 gzllo) arrive during W/'iirrn, Rarzgzfer tzzramzlz/r real ches the borders of the investigated area, while Alopex lzzgapur and Dicrartolzyx tarqzzzztus don’t invade the area. 12) At the beginning of Holocene the fauna is similar to the present, there is also some elements that later will disappear (Castor fiber, Crztetzzlzzr /7zz'gratarz'ur). INTRODUZIONE I resti fossili di vertebrati e di molluschi continentali sono distribuiti in maniera discontinua nell’area alpina sud-orientale. Per il Paleozoico si conc- (‘*) Si dedica questo lavoro alla Memoria di Maria Luisa Zucchi Stolfa. 57

Impact of climate change and water use policies on hydropower potential in the south-eastern Alpine region

Coping with Natural Hazards in the Southeastern Alpine Region in the Middle Ages and in Early Modern Times

Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (C, H and O) stable isotope ratios of whole wood and components are commonly used as paleoclimate proxies. In this work we consider eight different proxies in order to discover the most suitable wood component and stable isotope ratio to provide the strongest climate signal in Picea abies in a southeastern Alpine region (Trentino, Italy). δ(13)C, δ(18)O and δ(2)H values in whole wood and cellulose, and δ(13)C and δ(2)H values in lignin methoxyl groups were measured. Analysis was performed using an Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer coupled with an Elemental Analyser for measuring (13)C/(12)C and a Pyrolyser for measuring (2)H/(1)H and (18)O/(16)O. The data were evaluated by Principal Component Analysis, and a simple Pearson's correlation between isotope chronologies and climatic features, and multiple linear regression were performed to evaluate the data. Each stable isotope ratio in cellulose and lignin methoxyl differs significantly from the same stable isotope ratio in whole wood, the values begin higher in cellulose and lignin except for the lignin δ(2)H values. Significant correlations were found between the whole wood and the cellulose fractions for each isotope ratio. Overall, the highest correlations with temperature were found with the δ(18)O and δ(2)H values in whole wood, whereas no significant correlations were found between isotope proxies and precipitation. δ(18)O and δ(2)H values in whole wood provide the best temperature signals in Picea abies in the northern Italian study area. Extraction of cellulose and lignin and analysis of other isotopic ratios do not seem to be necessary.

Colonia Iulia Emona at the crossroads in the South-Eastern Alpine region during the late Roman period – An isotope perspective

Isotopic investigations of human cremations from the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age cemetery of Ljubljana – Dvorišče SAZU, Slovenia

Understanding social relations through settlement vs cemetery records. Late Bronze Age social (in)equalities in the case of Ljubljana (Slovenia)

The paper explores the ritual use of dogs and wolfs in south-eastern Alpine region (Slovenia) in Late Bronze and Iron Age from different archaeological contexts: graves, settlements and hoards. Archeo(zoo)logical analysis showed that dog and wolf bones were seldom put into the Early Iron Age graves. Recent excavations on the prehistoric settlement of Tribuna (Ljubljana, Slovenia) revealed that dog bones were sometimes placed in the foundations of the prehistoric dwellings. According to the analogies from the Italian archaeological sites, we could interpret this ritual practice as foundation offerings and for the protection of the buildings. Wolf and dog bones were also found in the prehistoric hoard in Skeletna cave near fikocjan on the Kras plateau. Beside the mentioned archeo(zoo)logical records, dogs and wolfs appeared as a frequent iconographic motive on the products of the so called "situla art". As dogs were often linked with the death and underworld (graves, caves, iconography), we might interpret here presented archaeological contexts as dog sacrifices being part of the "rites de passages". Further insights into the role of canids has been inferred by stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of main animal species as well as man.

This article explores how the early medieval past was used to justify Germanic political and cultural hegemony across East Central Europe during the first half of the 20th century. It highlights the ways in which medieval historians and archaeologists contributed to, and were influenced by, the program of “Ostforschung” (Eastern Research). A close reading of the work of two prominent German archaeologists during the interwar and National Socialist periods suggests that their conception of the early medieval eastern Alps was not only influenced by national chauvinism, but also reveals striking parallels with Western imperial ideologies typical of overseas colonial contexts.

Regional coherence and group identities in the Hallstatt culture in the south-eastern Alpine region

In recent decades, several Roman Period sites, from villas to urban centres, have been studied archaeozoologically in present-day Slovenia, providing a solid understanding of the characteristics of animal husbandry in the first three centuries AD. Much less is known about the production, supply, and use of animal resources in Late Antiquity, mainly due to the meagre amount of (published) data. Of late, however, the study of a handful of contexts from the 4th to 7th centuries AD has provided an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the cultural changes and transformations in animal husbandry triggered by the unstable political and security conditions of the period. Among the topics addressed are how the intensity of production, the taxonomic richness of livestock, local and transregional supply systems, and the social stratification of the population changed in the turmoil of the collapsing empire. The archaeozoological results were complemented by relevant data reported by ancient authors to contextualise them better. It is suggested that late antique communities in the study area tended to be economically self-sufficient. Animal husbandry seems to have been based on relatively small specimens of primitive local forms, with the keeping of pigs and sheep gradually replacing cattle husbandry in scale.

Previous articleNext article No AccessThe "Conquest" Theory of the Genesis of the Polish StateZygmunt J. GasiorowskiZygmunt J. Gasiorowski Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Speculum Volume 30, Number 4Oct., 1955 The journal of the Medieval Academy of America Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2307/2849612 Views: 4Total views on this site Citations: 1Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1955 The Mediaeval Academy of AmericaPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:K. Patrick Fazioli From First Reich to Third Reich: German Imperialism and Early Medieval Scholarship in the Southeastern Alpine Region (c. 1919–1945), Archaeologies 8, no.22 (Feb 2012): 116–144.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-012-9192-1