Projects / Programmes
Prehistoric settlement patterns in North-Eastern Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.02.00 |
Humanities |
Archaeology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H340 |
Humanities |
Archaeology |
Eastern Slovenia, Prehistory, Neolithic, Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Settement patterns
Researchers (5)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The main aim is the scientific analyses of the archaeological data obtained on rescue excavations in north-eastern Slovenia and the inclusion of the obtained knowledge into a broader picture or the updating of our knowledge on the development of the whole region in prehistory. Due to the scale of research new systems of data treatment and result explanations will be elaborated. They will enable the scientific evaluation of settlement models in prehistory and enable the elaboration of predicament models for the prevention of destruction of the archaeological heritage in the region.
Traditional archaeological analysis of settlement remains and graveyards, creation of a computerized system for handling of large sets of data on analyzed archaeological remains and geographical information systems, which will enable the observation of settlement pattern changes in relation to environmental changes, changes in the economy of the societies in regard of the inclusion into larger economic networks; will enable a new and adequate historical evaluation of the area of eastern Slovenia in the period between the 5th millennium BC and the end of the 1st century AD.
The results of the project will be important for Slovenian and international scientific community – they will for the very first time elaborate models of regional development of cultural landscape in prehistory based on data analyses from large scale excavations. For the first time in Slovenia the historical reconstruction of the processes of cultural development will be based on analyses of large scale relations in the rural environment. Based on observed patterns of settlement and of economic development, models of cultural and economic contacts in the region will be elaborated which will illustrate the activities that have shaped the regional settlement patterns.
Significance for science
Within the research included in the project the project team restores and maintains the permanent care for the development of methodologies and techniques of archaeological collection and analysing of data and the application of modern interpretative concepts and models in a region which in the last decades was a little bit pushed aside from the mean streams of scientific research. Permanent care for the development of Slovenian scientific terminology, methodology of research and the promotion of scientific work and results was included into the framework of development and mediation of standards of the archaeological work.
A special focus was oriented towards the care for the integral dealing with archaeological data and primary contexts of finds, to the care for the systematic inclusion of analytical procedures deriving from natural sciences and to the use and development of dating techniques. A critical and theoretical reflection on the possibilities of recognition and the results of modern archaeological research was initiated which dealt with the interpretation of material culture as a part of the interpretation of the cultural history of the region. The project oriented towards analyses of the material culture and the dating of important contexts as well as the collaboration of researchers in international research networks, enabled an continuous contact and the exchange of data which created an constant authentication of results and the confrontation of contemporary interpretations created on universities and research institutes in the neighbouring regions. The formal forms of confrontations of results were conducted in the frameworks of numerous collaborations of researchers on international conferences and their visits on foreign universities.
Among the major achievements we can reckon the supplemented model of the cultural and chronological division of the Neolithic and Eneolithic, the supplementation and addition to the understanding of Bronze Age behaviour, the demonstration of cultural contacts in the broader region during the Early Iron Age and the multilayered demonstration of the contacts between the Celtic and the Macedonian cultural area. As most important for the international science we can expose the first and the last major achievement.
Analises of pottery forms and decorations, stone tools and the absolute dating of the contexts enabled a supplementation of the cultural chronology as well as the particularization of the demonstration of the influences of different Copper Age cultures. Beside the inclusion into the broader trends of Central and Eastern Europe it was demonstrated that in the period between the 38th and 34th century BC we are a witness to a specific regional development which was marked by the absence of classical elements of the Baden culture and the continuous existence of several formal and decorative elements of the Horizon of furrow incised pottery.
Analyse of the circulation of objects between the Celtic and Hellenistic world enabled the creation and argumentation for the proposition of a revised absolute chronology of the end of the early and the beginning of the middle Late Iron Age. The publication of results created much excitement in the circles of researcher working on the archaeology of the Celts and numerous international authorities confirmed the regularity of inference and interpretations which radically changed the convictions on the accepted and valid chronological schemes. The results radically changed the accepted ideas about the absolute chronology in Central Europe and in the months after the publication provoked several new studies which will supplement the results and include into the system also other regions of Europe.
Significance for the country
The importance for the development of Slovenia can be observed as the promotion of cultural heritage, transfer of the results into the sphere of education on the level of university and permanent education, and most of all the development and promotion of the scientific work and scientific excellence.
It is important to stress the educational employment of the members of the research group which enables the direct transfer of the results into the educational field which is a good practice of collaboration between the university educational system and the research institutions. Members of the research group are active as university professors and assistants on the Faculty of Humanities in Koper and Turistica – Faculty for Touristic Studies, and were active as visiting professors on foreign universities which could be understood and evaluated as the promotion of Slovenian scientific excellence.
In the framework of the project a promotional act was organised with an exhibition, presented in the lobby of Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, on which the oldest ceramic figurine representing a human body discovered on the territory of Slovenia, was presented. The patron of honour of the exhibition was the spouse of the president of the republic, the presentation of the exhibition was included in to the activities of the state protocol and the copy of the figurine was included into the protocol gifts of the protocol of the Republic of Slovenia.
In the framework of the activities connected with the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage it is important to stress the co organisation of the Summer school of museology, which is for years organised in the Institute for Mediterranean Heritage in Piran and where members of the project team collaborate as lecturers. It is a school intended for the permanent education of specialists employed in the network of museums and the research and dissemination of new concepts of protection and promotion of cultural heritage. In the last years the focus was oriented towards the communication of results of the scientific work connected with cultural heritage which is a good practice of widening the systems of explanations and promotions of science to the interested public. The science protecting cultural heritage as a form of national interest and the dissemination of knowledge on the latter creates new knowledge and creates new destination points of cultural tourism.
The project assured the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and possibilities to understand and interpret historical processes in the region. The results are important for the general cultural development of Slovenia and national identity. The results supplement the knowledge on past cultures and settlement patterns on the territory of Eastern Slovenia. In some segments new interpretations of the past were established, interpretations exceeding the national frameworks and enabling a new consideration of European cultural history. The results of the project will for sure contribute to the international recognition of Slovenian archaeological science.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
