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CURRENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN CROATIA
Site name:
Rižinice
Position:
Rupotine, Solin
Head of excavations:
Ante Milošević and Ljubo Gudelj
Institution:
Museum of Croatian Archaeological
Monuments in Split
Type of excavation:
systematic archaeological
excavation and conservation work
Excavation period:
summer 2014
Total excavated area:
approximately 150 m²
Chronological and cultural
attribution of the site:
Classical Antiquity, Middle Ages
ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT RIŽINICE IN RUPOTINE
In July, August and September 2014, rescue excavation activities resumed at the archaeological
site Rižinice in Rupotine near Solin. During that period, excavations
on the eastern end of the complex (approximately 150 m 2 ) were concluded and the
reconstruction of a previously discovered ancient sarcophagus was completed. In
addition, rescue and conservation work on the dilapidated walls continued, and
part of the excavated area was backfilled with soil to protect the remains of structures
found at the site. At the same time, the backfilling of the remains of an ancient
temple under a collapsed section of the Solin-Klis road was supervised. The
backfilling was conducted by Delmat Galiot d.o.o., a company commissioned and
instructed by the Conservation Department in Split. The procedure was financed
by the County Roads Administration. Little archaeological material was excavated
at the time: two late Roman coins from the 5 th century, parts of a marble column
and a marble pedestal of Roman provenance, around thirty fragments of pottery
and glass bowls, mostly dating from the late Roman period. However, this year’s
excavation has significantly contributed to what was already known about the
organization of the Rižinice complex and the time of construction of individual
structures. The sediment of tuff found on the southern end of the excavated area
is considered particularly valuable as it provides evidence that large quantities
of water used to flow down the slopes of Kozjak hill through a natural ditch in
Rižinice into a stream called Ilijin potok. Special attention was devoted to the reconstruction
of the sarcophagus, carried out by the Museum’s conservators. Two
ancient sarcophagi were placed on firm concrete props similar to the spolia that
had served as their base before being removed. After the excavation was completed,
the area around the sarcophagi was flattened to what was once floor level in
preparation for the permanent arranging of that part of the site.
The newly discovered architectural remains were documented. Prior to the recovery
of the dilapidated walls, site drainage was installed to facilitate an unobstructed
flow of water, as the water had previously threatened their existence.
The remains of walls and mortar on the sides of a small ancient cistern were reinforced
and the cistern was temporarily protected by means of geotextile, soil and
a wooden canopy. In addition to that, approximately 700 m 2 of scrubland that had
stretched from the terraces to the stream Ilijin potok was cleared to ensure better
visibility and prepare the area for forthcoming excavations. An information panel
with basic information about the site was set up at the site.
The work on the site was carried out by a team from the Museum of Croatian Archaeological
Monuments in Split under the expert guidance of Ante Milošević,
PhD. The team was comprised of senior curator Ljubomir Gudelj, conservators
Mladen Matijaca and Dalibor Popović, preparator Milan Palčok, documentarists
Silvana Juraga and Maja Marković, photographer Zoran Alajbeg and trainee archaeologists
Ante Alajbeg and Kristina Babić. Archaeology students Silvija Lasić
and Deni Tojčić, as well as four manual workers who were also part of the team.
The various options on how to proceed with archaeological activities at the site
and address the problems that surround it were discussed with the mayor of Solin
and the representatives of the County Roads Administration and the Conservation
Department in Split. All parties agree that the archaeological park should
be restored and the collapsed section of the Solin-Klis road should be recovered
in a way that will allow for excavations to continue, enable the presentation of
archaeological remains, as well as secure parking space and access to the site. We
are aware that the final design solution for this section of the county road can be
part of a larger project planned to include a reconstruction of the road in its full
length.
Translated by Lana Štefulj