On the horizon of warrior graves from 5th century BC on the territory of the eastern Adriatic coast and its hinterland: the case of a new discovery in Vranjevo Selo near Neum

Pri arheološkom nadzoru za proširenje trase magistralne ceste Neum – Stolac 2006. godine obavljeno je zaštitno istraživanje na nalazištu Vidića guvno u Vranjevom Selu kod Neuma. Istraživanja su pokazala da je riječ o grobnom tumulu s ratničkim, vjerojatno višekratnim ukopima, na kojem se potom u kasnom srednjem vijeku nastavilo sahranjivanje pod stećcima. Kulturni su slojevi naknadnom izgradnjom guvna, nažalost, u znatnoj mjeri oštećeni, no ipak sačuvali su se posebno vrijedni nalazi materijalne kulture iz razdoblja željeznoga doba. Repertoar nalaza iz tzv. ilirskog ratničkog groba uklapa se u već poznatu kulturološku sliku neumskog užeg, ali i šireg južnodalmatinskog područja iz vremena 5. st. pr. Kr. Riječ je o vojnoj opremi navalnog i obrambenog karaktera, o nakitnoj garnituri nošnje te o priloženom bogatom simpozijastičkom keramičkom servisu. Tipološka odredljivost tih predmeta, koji s jedne strane odražavaju snažnu povezanost s glasinačkim te srednjobalkanskim horizontom kneževskih grobova, a s druge strane svjedoče o izrazitim importima iz klasičnog grčkog i makedonskog miljea, samo još jednom potvrđuju tezu o dobro strukturiranoj ratničkoj aristokraciji toga područja. Ilirske kacige nadregionalnog III A2–a tipa, kao i pojedini elementi nošnje i nakita, ukazuju na znatnu pažnju i važnost proizvoda iz domaćih, na obalama srednjeg i južnog Jadrana smještenih proizvodnih središta. Asocijacija takvih nalaza materijalne kulture u pojedinim grobovima nije odraz samo statusnog ili gospodarskog značaja, nego i vojno-političkog autoriteta mjesnih aristokracija koje su balansirale između kompleksnih odnosa regionalnih zajednica, sve snažnijih makedonskih utjecaja i penetracije italskih i grčkih kolonija na istočnome Jadranu. Zapravo, njihovim su se posredništvom običaji prilaganja u grobove raskošnih garnitura za piće i vojne opreme, uobičajeno tumačenih u sklopu prevladavajućeg modnog trenda onoga vremena, prenijeli i u znatnoj mjeri prilagodili potrebama kulturnih zajednica i na obalama istočnoga Jadrana.When archaeological supervision was set up to monitor the widening of the road from Neum to Stolac, in 2006, a rescue excavation was carried out on the site of Vidića guvno in Vranjevo Selo near Neum. Research confirmed the presence of a burial tumulus with, most probably, multiple warrior inhumations, which continued to be used as burial ground in the medieval period, when a cemetery was created under monumental medieval tombstones. A subsequent rebuilding of the site into a threshing floor damaged the cultural layers, but the valuable finds of the Iron Age material culture remained preserved. The inventory of the so-called Illyrian warrior grave fits perfectly into the already known cultural image of the Neum region and the broader southern Dalmatian territory in the 5th century BC. It consists of a full set of offensive and defensive weaponry, a jewelry set and an exceptionally rich ceramic symposiastic set. The typological determination of these finds demonstrates strong connections with the Glasinac cultural area and the Central Balkans horizon of princely graves, but, on the other hand, the imports demonstrate also a connection to the classical Greek and Macedonian sphere, thus confirming the presumption that a well-stratified warrior aristocracy existed in this area. Illyrian helmets of the superregional III A2–a type, as well as individual elements of jewelry and attire, demonstrate the special consideration and importance given to local products originating from the production centers on the costal area of the central and southern Adriatic. The association of such finds in individual graves is not only a reflection of the status of the deceased and their economic importance, but also a demonstration of the military and political authority of these local aristocracies which balanced between the complex relations of the regional societies, the ever stronger Macedonian influences and the penetration of the Italic and Greek colonies located on the eastern Adriatic. It was actually through their mediation that the custom of adding rich sets of drinking vessels and military equipment in the graves, generally interpreted as the dominant fashion of that period, was transferred and adapted to the needs of the cultural groups located on the shores of the eastern Adriatic

Igla kao forma specifične materijalne kulture s kraja bronzanog i početka željeznog doba sjeverne Bosne / Pins as a form of specific material culture from the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in the northern Bosnia

During the final stages of the Late Bronze Age the territory of northern Bosnia was characterised by remarkable cultural dynamics, visible primarily in the distribution of metal finds: weapons, tools, jewelry, and functional costume objects. The new type of funeral practice – inhumation – emerged here and was perhaps an important factor in the formation and social stratification of communities living here at the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron Age. The area of northern Bosnia is situated between the Pannonian Basin to the north and the mountainous region of the western Balkans to the south commonly referred to as Dinarides. Thanks to its geographical location, the upper course of the Sava River facilitates direct connections with the Alps, while its lower course leads to the Danube that creates a link with the Black Sea region. To the north, the area is open to the wide peripanon regions of Slavonia and Syrmia. Up the Danube valley, the communication corridor reaches Transdanubia and, along the Tisza River, the central part of the Carpathian Basin. This paper presents a specific form of material culture, a bronze pins with disk-shaped head and short thickening on the neck. A total of six pins are known; two of which have been discovered in hoards (Osredak and Gajina pećina), one in a grave (Ostrožac near Cazin), while the remaining pins are chance finds (Donja Dolina, Prud, and Soukbunar). They all come from a very limited region south of the Sava River and chronologically cover the period from the 10th to the end of the 9 century BC or with Ha B2/3 horizon of Central European periodization.&#x0D; The pins with a disk-shaped head and short thickening on the neck most likely became part of women’s headgear or complex hairstyles, suggesting the development of special local habits and dress codes intended to promote status and rank. The choice of jewelry and local costume of the females yields information on their origins, affiliations, status, and social and economic role within the community. This paper posits that female costume in nothern Bosnia played the role of an important medium of social communication and interaction, and that it was important for the self-identification of its wearer in identifying their status. Furthermore, women’s mobility played an important role in spreading cultural habits at the end of the Late Bronze Age and in the Early Iron Age in the Western Balkans, with such mobility being evidenced through the distribution of personal items, especially jewellery and ornaments. Reasons for this mobility are related to economic, artisanal, military-political, ritual, and other various practices of the time. A special place in these exchanges was afforded to women, who, through exogamous marriages, became visible in the processes of cultural and social interaction.</jats:p