Projects / Programmes
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.02.00 |
Humanities |
Archaeology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H340 |
Humanities |
Archaeology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
Archaeology, prehistory, Late Iron Age, Celts, Romanisation
Researchers (12)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
The project comprises the studying of cultural heritage of select prehistoric communities in the area of today’s Slovenia between the 5th century BC and mid- first century AD. Culturally this refers to the end of Early Iron Age, the entire Late Iron Age and the whole period of Romanization. The project will focus on the material culture from the area (objects), the interpretation of the way material culture was handled (burial rituals, depositions and sacrifices) and the settlement patterns, as well as the spiritual culture that can be reconstructed (the way rituals were reflected, epigraphic monuments, mythological scripts) and the contemporal historical sources that refer to the area. Material objects, rituals and epigraphic as well as historical sources will be used for the studying of contacts with the neighbouring cultures and civilizations – and as evidence of cultural development in three distinct time periods – between the 5th and the 3rd century BC; between the 3rd and the 1st century BC; and between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD.
Research will include archaeological discoveries in teh area of South-western Slovenia (the Primorska region and the Karst), central and South-eastern Slovenia (the Dolenjska region) and the area of the Eastern Slovenia (Štajerska and Prekmurje). The selection of research areas was dictated by the contents of the project, i.e. the plan of observing the dynamics of cultural and economic contacts between Mediterranean civilizations and prehistoric European cultures, that is, their Alpine, Pannonian and Balkan influences.
Apart from influences of the Mediterranean civilizations in the area of Northern Adriatic where there were no cultural interruptions or influences from the Alpine or Balkan area, the earliest period of the Late Iron Age settlement of the area of Slovenia exhibits dominant influences of Eastern Celtic civilization in the East, triggering the most significant cultural change or interruption of the regional cultural development.
In the mid- phase of the Late Iron Age settlement of the Slovene area the most dominant cultural influences – apart from the ever increasing influences of the Roman republic which eventually resulted in the occupation of the area – come from teh Alpine area; however, contacts with Eastern Celts were continually maintained. The continued cultural development and the established Mokronog cultural group means the peak of local production and the expansion of its influences towards the west, north, south and east.
In teh final period the coastal area has consolidated within the Roman state, whereas the central and eastern Slovene area remained a part of the Noricum kingdom, where the cultural contacts with both the Alpine and the Balkan area of Eastern Celts intensified. Both regions eventually ended up as a part of the Roman state with no significant changes implemented.
Significance for science
Financing of the national research project was important for the development of archaeological science in Slovenia, development of science in the broader region and the advance of research potential at the University of Primorska. Research introduced modern interpretational approaches to cultural history of Late Iron Age - importance of Celtic archaeology, long distance trade and cultural contacts on the territory of Slovenia and the broader region. Research projects major contribution to development of the field of research was the use of modern concepts of material culture studies for the interpretation of prehistoric long distance trade and cultural contacts. It included a revision of previous knowledge, formulation of theoretical backgrounds, analyses of important archaeological finds, testing of formulated theoretical backgrounds and historical as well as anthropological interpretations of observed archaeological finds. Establishment of new research methodologies enabled the introduction of new paradigms and perspectives on material culture and consequently Celtic presence in European and especially south-east European archaeology. The later is a science which was many times misused in the regional conflicts and needs a new theoretical framework to be able to identify and help resolving the societal challenges in the region. The research group consists of scientists with different fields of specialization – each of them was already leading research, commercial and promotional projects in their field of expertise. But the project enabled their collaboration and common effort towards the introduction of an advanced perspective of Late Iron Age research presenting the development of new and groundbreaking interpretations of Celtic presence – from the production of material culture, prehistoric creativity and trade observed in the perspective of European cultural history. The project was of major importance for the development of general knowledge based on planned, fast and indirect transfer of results to different audiences – presentations to scientific community on conferences and through scientific publications acted as the promotion of scientific excellence of Slovenian research institutions. With presentations to the public in form of exhibitions in Slovenia and abroad, production of popular science books and promotions on social media as well as the transfer of knowledge in to the field of education were the results presented to the broader public. Results were directly included in to the curricula at University of Primorska and will be presented in visiting lectures on other universities abroad, presenting a good practice of fast and effective transfer of results in to education.
Significance for the country
Scientific impact The results of the project represent an important contribution to the understanding of Celtic archaeology and cultural contacts on the territory between the Alps, Mediterranean, Balkans and the Carpathian basin. From the bottom-up designed approach will demonstrate the micro-regional, regional and broader cultural characteristics of Late Iron Age archaeology. It enabled the testing of the adequacy of assumed cultural groups of the Late Iron Age and created a formulation of major contributions to the understanding of past populations mentioned in ancient literary sources. Economic impact From research to promotion of results designed project will present a good practice of regional archaeological studies and could be copied in similar research and social contexts. The project will with a parallel devised popular presentations of research create bases for a local, regional, national and international presentation of cultural heritage and it's installment in to the framework of major destinantions if cultural tourism. Clear goals The research project followed the goals for the development of sciences formulated in the Slovenian national and university research development strategies. One of the main goals was the development of new methodologies of research where the data produced by natural sciences, comparable to data produced by similar research institutions worldwide, was used for the development of modern explanations in humanities. Get everyone on the same page The structure of the research project enabled the collaboration of two partner institution on a national level as well as the inclusion of their numerous foreign research partners. Since numerous researchers in both institutes were involved their different specialization contributing to the perspective of siacuaaion, creation of multivocality of argumentation, strengthening and broadening of the spectrum of subfields included in to the research. Set direction to priorities The research project enabled a financing in which researchers were able to follow their commitment and develop in continuation new perspectives and methodologies of research. Following highest research standards in the implementation of the project it boosted the research productivity in both research organizations as well as stimulated their research partners and potential users of results. Advance of research potential at the University of Primorska The research group of Institute for archaeology and heritage coordinated several national research projects, international research and promotional projects and conducted several large scale commercial excavations. Consequently we have established close collaborations with major national research, museum and education institutions in the broader region. These connections supported the inclusion of numerous institutions and enabled the access to most important archaeological discoveries as well as augment and speed up the transfer of results and good practices of research.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
