Rescue Excavations in the Sacristy of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in 2008

Prilikom građevinskih radova na sakristiji crkve Sv. Marije Magdalene u središtu Čazme pronađeni su ostaci ljudskih kostiju te je u razdoblju od 18. veljače do 6.ožujka 2008. obavljeno zaštitno istraživanje područja sakristije. Istraživanjem je otkriveno sedam grobnih cjelina. Grobovi sadrže vrlo malo nalaza, a na temelju stratigrafskih odnosa mogu se datirati u razdoblje novog vijeka.From 18 February to 6 March 2008, prior to construction works, archaeological rescue excavations were conducted in the sacristy of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Čazma. The excavations were lead by Vjekoslav Štrk from the Slavko Kolar Culture Centre in Čazma, with the participation of Siniša Krznar, M.S. from the Institute of Archaeolog y of the Republic of Croatia. The excavation area was limited by the sacristy walls and encompassed 21.70 m2. In the excavations, 53 stratigraphic units were defined and 25 sacks of finds (mostly pottery fragments and nails) and 8 special finds were excavated and 37 samples taken. Additionally, 8 graves were revealed, which can be dated to the New Era. Upon the conclusion of archaeological works and site mapping, construction works in the area of the sacristy resumed, facilitating the restoration of the sacristy’s ritual function

Trial archaeological investigation at Novi Čeminac-Remanec poljana-Krčevine, on the route of a connecting road east of junction Čeminac – south extension (AS 9)

Rad donosi sažeti prikaz rezultata istraživanja provedenih na lokalitetu Novi Čeminac – Remanec poljana – Krčevine. Kako se taj lokalitet nalazi na trasi buduće autoceste A5 Beli Manastir – Osijek – Svilaj, dionica Beli Manastir – Osijek, točnije na spojnoj cesti istočno od čvora Čeminac – južni krak, Institut za arheologiju je na njemu proveo probna istraživanja putem istražnih rovova. Arheološki objekti nisu istraživani nego su samo dokumentirani. Sva keramika pronađena na lokalitetu može se datirati u brončano doba pa možemo pretpostaviti da i većina objekata potječe iz toga razdoblja.Between the 11th and 14th October 2013 the Institute of Archaeology carried out trial archaeological excavations at the AS 9 Novi Čeminac-Remanec poljana-Krčevine site, positioned on the route of the future motorway A5 Beli Manastir – Osijek – Svilaj, the Beli Manastir – Osijek section, more precisely, on the connecting road east of the Čeminac south extension junction. The site lies to the left of the road leading from Jagodnjak to Novi Čeminac, that is, north of the road connecting Novi Čeminac and Čeminac. It lies on a gentle natural elevation extending from north-west towards south-east. The area was first documented as an archaeological site in the 1986 field survey. The excavation at the site was carried out by means of 12 trial trenches covering 2048 m2. Trial excavations established that the northern part of the site was mostly sterile with only occasional archaeological features. Most structures occupied the central and southern parts of the site, on the highest part of the terrain. Since the structures were not excavated and their surfaces often did not yield pottery, not all of them could be dated with precision. However, all the pottery found at the site is dated to the Bronze Age

Archaeological investigations at the site Torčec-Cirkvišče in 2012

Rad donosi sažeti prikaz rezultata istraživanja na lokalitetu Torčec – Cirkvišče, provedenim u listopadu 2012. godine. Ovogodišnja se istraživanja nadovezuju na ona koje je Institut za arheologiju do sada provodio na lokalitetu. Otvorena je sonda površine 50 m2 većina koje je istražena do zdravice. Definirano je i istraženo 57 novih grobnih cjelina. Osim grobova pronađeni su i veoma skromni ostaci zidanih struktura te ukop nepoznate namjene.In the period between October 5 and 27, 2012, the Institute of Archaeology carried out archaeological investigations at the site Torčec-Cirkvišće. The goal of the season was to find the rest of the wall whose negative and modest stone remains were discovered in 2011. After the plough layer was removed, it was revealed that the wall was preserved in situ only in the length of 50 cm. Apart from these remains of the foundation, in the south-western part of the sondage the poorly preserved remains of another stone structure were also discovered. Like foundation SU 205, this structure lies on a thin layer of gravel above the virgin soil. These walls differ both in their direction and in the binding mortar, so that we may conclude that they belonged to different structures or to different phases of the same structure. In the course of the season, 55 graves were also investigated. They can mostly be dated to the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period and they belonged to the parish cemetery. In addition to these graves, a considerably older grave (G 108) was also discovered, in which a ceramic vessel was placed between the feet of the deceased and a corroded metal object was found on his belt – probably a knife. Based on its appearance, texture and decorations the vessel – and thus also the grave – can be dated to the end of the 8th and beginning of 9th century, as confirmed by the 14C analysis of the bones of the deceased

Research results from Torčec – Cirkvišče site in 2016

Tijekom kolovoza 2016. godine provedena je vjerojatno posljednja sezona istraživanja na položaju Torčec ‒ Cirkvišče. Ova istraživanja provedena su na istoj katastarskoj čestici 5284/6, k.o. Đelekovec, no na njenom zapadnom dijelu, uz cestu koja od Torčeca vodi u Đelekovec. Otvorene su četiri sonde, a ukupna istražena površina iznosi 190 m2. Pored 69 grobova koji se uglavnom mogu datirati u rani novi vijek istražen je i dio jarka koji je razdvajao profani i sakralni prostor te dio srednjovjekovnog naselja smještenog zapadno od groblja.During August 2016, the Institute of Archaeology carried out the most probably last season of research at the position Torčec-Cirkvišče. This research was carried out on the same cadastral plot 5284/6 c.m. Đelekovec, but in its western part, along the road that leads from Torčec to Đelekovec. Four trenches were excavated, and the total explored area was 190 m2. In addition to the 69 graves that are mainly dated to early modern period, part of the ditch which separated the profane and the sacred space and part of the medieval village located west of the cemetery have been investigated

Archaeological research of AN 8 Donji Miholjac – Goračka site

Rad donosi rezultate istraživanja provedenih na lokalitetu Donji Miholjac – Goračka. Lokalitet se nalazi na trasi južne zaobilaznice grada Donjeg Miholjca. Na osnovi pokretnih nalaza pronađenih tijekom rekognosciranja pretpostavljeno je da se nalazište proteže između stacionaža 1+190 i 1+330. Provedenim arheološkim istraživanjima otvorena je površina od 2803,27 m2. Arheološki objekti pronađeni su uglavnom u istočnom dijelu otvorene površine i na osnovi pronađene keramike mogu se datirati u eneolitik.Donji Miholjac – Goračka site is located along the Donji Miholjac south bypass, on the west side of the road, that is, left of the current road from Donji Miholjac to Ivanovo between station labels 1+190 and 1+330. From November 27 to December 1, 2014, Institute of Archaeology conducted research and excavated 2803.27 m2 of land. Archaeological features were mostly found in the eastern part of the area in question, eight smaller buildings and a dugout. The pottery finds date back to the Copper age, but the rough, undecorated ceramics does not allow for any specific cultural identification. It is highly likely that the research has confirmed the western edge of the Copper age settlement stretching towards the east within the research area of Donji Miholjac - Panjik (AN 7) site

New season of research at the Torčec-Cirkvišče site

U listopadu 2014. godine provedena je šesta sezona istraživanja lokaliteta Torčec – Cirkvišče. Tijekom istraživanja otvorena je sonda površine 100 m2, odnosno četiri kvadranta (I, J i K 8 te K9). Unutar istražene površine pronađeni su skromni ostaci crkve (dio južnog zida te apside), 76 novih grobova i četiri groba koji su dijelom istraženi 2012. godine te dio dubokog jarka koji je vjerojatno služio i kao rub groblja. Većina ove sezone pronađenih grobova pripada ranijoj fazi župnog groblja i na osnovi 14C analiza te pojedinih nalaza mogu se datirati od sredine 12. do kraja 14. stoljeća.From October 6 to 25, 2014, the Institute of Archaeology carried out the sixth season of research at the Torčec-Cirkvišče site. Four quadrants were opened (I, J, K 8 and K9), that is, the sondage explored an area of 100 m2. Modest remains of a church were found (part of the south apside wall), 76 new graves and 4 graves which were partially researched in 2012, as well as part of a deep ditch which could have been the edge of the cemetery. This season, most of the graves found date back to the earlier stage of the parochial cemetery. Based on 14C analysis and individual finds, they can be attributed to mid-12th to late 14th century. Graves 224 and 240 are particularly interesting. Burial in grave 224 is face down, being the second grave of that kind found on this site. Grave 240 contained a bag made of organic material with 16 to 18 pieces of silver coin (Slavonian banovci). Although there are few remains of the actual church, they still provide some information. The layout of the church was fully investigated during this season, and the size can be estimated to 14.5 x 8.3 m. The moat that was found was probably an old natural water stream which outlined the cemetery. When the church was torn down and the cemetery abandoned, the stream was filled with building material and soil

Archaeological investigation at Torčec – Cirkvišče in 2013

Krajem listopada i u prvim danima studenoga 2013. godine provedena je nova sezona istraživanja lokaliteta Torčec – Cirkvišče. Unutar sonde od 50 m2 pronađeni su skromni ostaci građevine koji nam, povezani s onima iz prijašnjih faza istraživanja, ipak daju sliku o veličini objekta. Istraženo je i 78 grobova. Većina grobova pripada župnom groblju kasnoga srednjeg i ranoga novog vijeka.In the period between 28th October and 11th November 2013 the Institute of Archaeology carried out the fifth season of archaeological research at the Torčec-Cirkvišče site. The 50 m2 excavated trench covered squares H and I 9. The topsoil was removed also from square K 9, but there was not enough time to excavate there too. A total of 78 graves were investigated this year. Most graves belonged to the parish cemetery and were dated to the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period. In addition to these graves we discovered also the burial of grave 161. It is completely dug into the virgin soil and reaches to a geological layer of gravel. Like the early medieval grave 108, it is filled with small gravel, and might be dated to the same period. Interestingly, we did not find the bones of the buried person. In addition to the graves we found also very scanty remains of walls. Even though these were completely destroyed, they nevertheless offer basic information regarding the alignment and dimensions of the structure

Geofizička istraživanja lokaliteta Popovec Kalnički – Breg 2019. godine

Kratki izvještaj o istraživanjima Short field repor

Was there a custom of laying coins into late mediaeval/early modern graves in the region of northern Croatia?

U radu se raspravlja o postojanju običaja polaganja kovanica u kasnosrednjovjekovne i ranonovovjekovne grobove na prostoru sjeverne Hrvatske i simboličnom značenju toga novca. Osim putem arheoloških nalaza, ovo pitanje se pokušava rasvijetliti i na temelju etnološke literature.This paper focuses on the custom of enclosing coins in the graves of the deceased on late mediaeval and early modern cemeteries in northern Croatia. The main problem encountered while studying this custom is the lack of multidisciplinary research of the cemeteries of the mentioned time period and especially the lack of high quality publications. The discoveries from the graves can mainly be divided into three categories: 1. parts of traditional costumes, 2. jewellery and 3. objects tied to religious beliefs. The last category can further be divided into two groups. One group would consist of devotionals (crosses, rosaries, medallions of saints...) which were relatively frequent in early modern graves and depict the personal religiousness of the deceased within the regular Catholic system. The other group consists of objects which can be linked to superstitious or popular beliefs which were maintained parallel with the official religion. This group of symbolic objects is comprised of scissors, knives, sickles, locks, keys, animal teeth and coins. Regardless of the Christian (mainly Catholic) ban of enclosing contributions in graves, coins can be found in many cemeteries from this time period. Coins are commonly connected to the Greek myth about Haron in archaeological literature. The ethnological data, which is much closer to the observed graves in terms of time and culture, gives a much more diverse range of reasons for the monetary contributions - so the deceased can pay for their house, to pay for peace on Earth, to pay for their space, to prevent them from becoming a vampire, to not return, to not leave empty handed, to be paid out, to pay out for the remaining estate or cattle so the deceased would not pull it with them. The coins also served as a reward for paying for the transport, crossing the river, transport to the island of the Blessed, for paying off space or a house in the other world or so that the deceased can pay off his sins. Within the Christian context, as we can see, money and other objects which are occasionally included get a new purpose and serve as a help to the deceased in the passage from life to death and on their journey through purgatory and renewed life during Judgment Day. Based on the archaeological and ethnological data, we can therefore cite several reasons for enclosing coins in a grave on late mediaeval and early modern graves: 1. coins ended up in the grave by accident. 2. coins were placed in the grave next to the deceased on purpose. In this case, the coins had a symbolic role and served for the protection of the living from the deceased or for numerous necessities the deceased may have had in the other world. 3. coins served as decoration, they were placed in the grave because they were sewn onto clothing or repurposed for jewellery 4. coins which are the personal ownership of the deceased. They were placed into the grave as part of a sack on a belt or sewn/hidden in the clothing of the deceased. 5. other reasons which cannot be interpreted to date