It’s a known fact the Croatian coast boasts a historical heritage dating back multiple millenia. The Adriatic waters still respresent a treasure trove of undiscovered archeological artefacts waiting to tell their stories of times that are long gone, and provide more insight into what life looked like on the Mediterranean in a period that’s hard to imagine from our perspective.
A professional team coming from the Archaeology department of the University of Zadar is currently working on a site at Ričula, an islet located in the Pašman channel, six kilometres north-west of Biograd na Moru. The underwater site dates back 3500 years, to a time when the area was populated by a people older even than the Liburnians, reported Morski.hr.
The research project is headed by archaeologists Dr Mato Ilkić, Dr Mate Parica and Dr Dario Vujević, accompanied by archaeology student Vinka Milišić. The site is located at a depth of 3 metres, where the experts found remains of a prehistoric settlement dated to 1500 BC using 14 C analysis. Up to this point, there weren’t many information about the time period in question, so the ongoing research has potential to shed some light on this fascinating topic.
The team found numerous exhibits, such as ceramic dishes including pots and cups with decorative handles. Previous archaeological campaigns uncovered other types of artefacts, such as various wooden objects whose purpose hasn’t yet been established. There were also fragments of stone axes and tools made of deer’s horns – probably needles that were used to make fishing nets. The archaeological findings are all typical for prehistoric communities inhabiting seaside areas.
Another interesting uncovered artefact is a large fragment of a stone mill, pointing to the fact the prehistoric community used to grow wheat. The mill was used 3500 years ago, and as such represents the oldest artefact of its type found in the waters of northern Dalmatia.
Three archaeological campaigns were carried out until now, and the fourth is underway. The experts of the University of Zadar aim to explore the area, present the found artefacts and preserve the valuable historical heritage for the coming generations.
