Bioarchaeological Research in Croatia – A Historical Review

The study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites gives us the opportunity to answer important questions about the lifestyle of past populations. The discipline that studies human skeletal remains is known as bioarchaeology. This paper provides a historical review of bioarchaeological research in Croatia. It is based on the available published material that analyzes human skeletal remains from archaeological sites located on the Croatian territory covering time span from the Neolithic period to the late Middle Ages

The Prehistoric Hillfort at Grad (Pelje{ac, Dalmatia) – Preliminary Results of Intensive Surface Survey

An intensive surface survey, covering an area of approximately 10.000 m2, was carried out at Grad, a hillfort in southern Dalmatia. Its aims were to obtain information relevant for determining the spatial extent of the site, its function(s), periods of occupation, degree of preservation, and potential for further investigation. Research strategy included mapping of the visible structural remains and systematic recovery of all surface finds. Majority of the collected finds are coarse Hellenistic ceramics followed by Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery. The central area of the hillfort was intensively used during the last few centuries B.C., while its origins can be traced back to the Bronze Age. The recorded structures and the recovered finds hint at a residential and defensive function of the site, while its central, elevated area may have been a focus of special activities

Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from Nadin Iron Age Burial Mound

This analysis attempts to reconstruct health, disease and life conditions of the population buried in Nadin, a burial mound, situated in central Dalmatia, Croatia. The analyzed skeletal material belongs to Liburnian culture and could be dated to early Iron Age, from 9th to 6th century B.C. The sample consists of a minimum number of 37 individuals, 7 children and 30 adults. The frequency of all the observed conditions is relatively low. Cribra orbitalia was observed only in females, the frequency of periosteal reaction on the tibiae is 26.1%. Two cases of cranial trauma were observed. Analyzed teeth exhibit low prevalence of carious lesions, ante mortem tooth loss and linear enamel hypoplasia. The case of hyperostosis frontalis interna on the endocranial surface of the frontal bone was observed. The affected skull belongs to the older adult female

Urn Burial Find at Mariškići (Lupoglav)

U članku je prikazana grupa predmeta koji čine ostatke oštećene grobne cjeline pronađene ispod kaštela Stari Lupoglav, odnosno u blizini naselja Mariškići. Sakupljeni su ulomci keramike, među kojima se ističe gnathia olpe, staklene perle i ulomci brončanog nakita, koji se mogu datirati u razdoblje 3. i 2. st. pr. n. e. Analizom skromnih spaljenih koštanih ostataka utvrđeno je da se radi o ukopu odrasle osobe i djeteta.This paper presents a group of artefacts that comprise the remains of a damaged grave context found below Stari Lupoglav castle, near the settlement of Mariškići. Notable among the recovered finds are a Gnathian olpe vessel, glass beads, and fragments of bronze jewellery that can be assigned to the period of the third to second century BCE. An analysis of the modest burned bone remains points to the burial of an adult and a child

POGREBNI OBIČAJI NA POČETKU KASNOG BRONČANOG DOBA – NEKI PRIMJERI ŽENSKIH GROBOVA

U radu se prikazuju podaci o pogrebnim običajima na početku kasnog brončanog doba na primjeru ženskih grobova. To je vrijeme od kraja 14. do 12. st. pr. Kr., odnosno od kraja Br C, kroz Br D i Ha A1 stupanj. Fokus je na grobovima koji su antropološkom analizom određeni kao ženski te na usporedbi podataka koji se o životu tih žena mogu dobiti iz grobova i arheološkog zapisa

“Hush, Weep in Silence. Let Us Weep and Let Us Die. We’ll Die Alone”: Changes in Mourning and Funeral Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Smrt je kao dio svakodnevnog života u vrijeme pandemije češća i prisutnija, čime su njezina percepcija i doživljaj znatno intenzivniji. Tijekom pandemije bolesti COVID-19 smrt je zbog svakodnevnih izvještaja o broju umrlih, njihovoj dobi, spolu i mjestu gdje su preminuli postala masovna i vidljivija, ušla je u našu svakodnevicu. Brojni su izazovi koji prate proces umiranja, suočavanja sa smrću i tugovanjem tijekom pandemije. Službene protuepidemijske mjere obuhvaćaju niz pravila o postupanju s pokojnicima. Osim smjernica za zdravstvene djelatnike, uvedene su promjene vezane uz pogrebe i ispraćaje umrlih osoba. Nova pravila ograničavala su broj sudionika, ali i ukinula neke obrede i običaje vezane uz smrt i postupanje s tijelom. Analizirali smo pravila koja su donesena u Republici Hrvatskoj s obzirom na poštovanje kulturnih specifičnosti, tradicija sahrane i pogrebnih običaja. Preporuke su uključivale tihi sprovod u najužem obiteljskom krugu i žalovanje u samoći i izolaciji. To je dovelo do promjena u pogrebnim obredima i običajima te u obrascima tugovanja. Koristeći kvalitativnu metodologiju i pristup u radu iznosimo iskustva i osjećaje osoba koje su tijekom epidemije bolesti COVID-19 i karantene u Hrvatskoj (od 20. ožujka do 6. svibnja 2020. godine) doživjele smrt i pogrebe bliskih osoba. Ožalošćeni članovi obitelji prihvatili su nova pravila i prilagodili im se modificirajući postupak tugovanja, ali i uvodeći nove prakse. Umiranje i tugovanje u samoći istaknuti su kao najspornija mjesta, a nedostatak poznatih običaja, tradicija i praksi tugovanja uzrokovao je osjećaj nesigurnosti, pa čak i krivnje kod ožalošćenih.In the pandemic, death has become more frequent and common in everyday life, making its perception and experience more intense. Everyday reports on the number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the age, gender and place of death of the deceased, made death more ubiquitous and noticeable in our everyday life. The process of dying, coping with death and grieving during the pandemic poses numerous challenges. Official anti-epidemic measures encompass a number of rules concerning treatment of the deceased. In addition to guidelines for healthcare workers, changes have been instituted in relation to funerals and memorial services. The new rules limit the number of participants, and prohibited certain rites and practices connected with death and the body of the deceased. This paper presents an analysis of the current regulations in the Republic of Croatia, focusing on whether they take into account culturally specific practices as well as funeral rites and traditions. The recommendations included holding a quiet funeral limited to the immediate family only, and mourning in solitude and isolation. This led to changes in funeral rites and traditions and in grieving patterns. Using qualitative methodology and approaches, we present the experiences and feelings of people who experienced death and funerals of their loved ones during the COVID-19 epidemic and lockdown in Croatia (from 20 March until 6 May). The grieving family members accepted the new rules and adapted to them by modifying their grieving process and by introducing new practices. Dying and mourning in solitude were indicated as most controversial, and the lack of familiar rites, traditions and grieving practices led to a feeling of uncertainty and even guilt by the grieving family members