Medulin Bay in Late Antiquity Antique and Late Antique Site of Vižula near Medulin, Croatia

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1 Medulin Bay in Late Antiquity Antique and Late Antique Site of Vižula near Medulin, Croatia Kristina Džin, International Research Centre for Archaeology Brijuni Medulin Ivo Pilar Institute, Zagreb p.p. 554, Pula Croatia Igor Miholjek, Croatian Conservation Institute Department of Underwater Archaeology Grškovićeva Zagreb Croatia Historic, economic and urban development of Istria before Antiquity, in Antiquity and in Late Antiquity cannot be understood without a particular analysis of Medulin Bay with modern settlements of Medulin, Pomer and Premantura. Judging from historical sources and archaeological remains, the area in question represented one of the most important strategic and economic points in the northern Adriatic throughout history. The richness of nature, coastal area, fields and forests of Medulin Bay and Pomer Bay, favoured agricultural production, livestock farming, development of different workshops and particularly the flourishing of trade on a wide scale. Architectural ingenuity and practicality reflected in residential maritime complexes with annexed production and commercial facilities, numerous rural production centres, piers and docks with warehouses, paved roads and water supply systems, are all examples of the highest level of civilization achievements. With the stabilisation of the Roman rule in Istria following Augustus reorganisation of the empire, the area of Medulin Bay experienced full swing of architectural activity. Archaeological evidence does not indicate a recession in the field of architecture despite an agricultural crisis and the relevant Domitian s decree prohibiting cultivation of grapes and production of wine other than for household needs. At the end of the 3 rd century AD, emperor Valerius Diocletian s administrative reorganisation annexed Istria to diocese of Italy with Milan as its seat. The reign of emperor Constantine the Great, his struggle against emperors Licinius and Maxentius, the edict of tolerance of Christians in 313, and the murder of Constantine s son Crispus in 326, all exerted particular influence on Istria and marked the history and circumstances of life in Medulin Bay and at the residential maritime villa on Vižula. Archaeological excavation, documentation and partial conservation of the walls were conducted from 1995 to 2013*. During annual campaigns, foundation walls of buildings, floor mosaics, thermae and a cistern were uncovered in excavated sectors I, IIa and IIb, located on three terraces of the western, coastal area of the peninsula, both on land and under water. The discovered remains had been built and used in four main phases from the 1 st to 6 th centuries AD, and in intermediate phases (Augustus, Hadrian, Constantine and Early Middle Ages). Architectural continuity was obvious in each new stratigraphic unit. It was observed that certain construction parts and layers were destroyed in Antiquity with the aim of building a monumental, maritime residential villa richly decorated in marble in the period of the Late Antique in the 4 th century AD. 1

2 Underwater investigations were conducted almost at the same time as the land investigations. The results of underwater investigations will allow for a more precise dating of various building phases, and shed more light on the social aspect of the site. An earlier phase of construction, predating the 1 st century AD, was not established by the underwater investigations. However, it is interesting that the first review of the recovered material established it dated from the 1 st to the 5 th centuries AD, while the land investigations show that life continued in this large villa to the end of the 6 th century AD, and even to the beginning of the 7 th century AD. Certainly, at that point this was no longer life in a luxurious villa, but life in a late antique settlement. Further scientific analysis should yield more reliable results. Probe investigations were conducted at underwater constructions. At the moment, the most interesting is that the probes D, E and F show spoliae were used for the construction of the peer in one of its construction phases. This re-used material was once part of a large building, probably a temple, which had fluted columns. In addition, probe E shows that the blocks found in the probe once formed the head of the pier, while the connection with the extension of the pier is not clear, or, more precisely, it does not exist in this section. If material from the temple was used for building the pier, then the pier was not built before the end of the 4 th century AD. However, the movable material shows that there is no material dated after the 4 th century AD. In any case, the investigation should continue so that this construction may also be finally dated. Also, of particular interest is the construction H. Further investigations on this construction could indicate a possible new function of the road and give answers to questions related to the water supply on the peninsula. The site is an extremely important and valuable Roman villa site. The complex is exposed to the destructive effects of natural forces and human actions, and it is therefore necessary to continue the protective investigations and to carry on documenting and recording the visible remains so that this valuable complex of great cultural and historical significance can be preserved and adequately presented in the future. Fig. 1 Areal view of Medulin Bay 2

3 Fig. 2 Vižula, black and white mosaic floor in area 2, early Christian period Fig. 3 Vižula, late antique mosaic in area 44, by hypocaust 3

4 Fig. 4 Vižula, late antique mosaic in areas 50 and 56, on third villa terrace Fig. 5 Vižula, late antique fireplace adaptation on mosaic in area 50 4

5 Fig. 6 Vižula, detail of monumental early Christian building inserted in late antique pier Fig. 7 Vižula, possible sunken road (costruction H, probe D) with visible pavement 5

6 Fig. 8 Vižula, orthophoto image with marked constructions on land and underwater Fig. 9 Medulin Bay, antique and late antique villas * Land investigations headed by: prof. Vesna Girardi Jurkić, Ph.D. / Kristina Džin, M.A.; underwater investigations headed by: prof. Marijan Orlić, / Mario Jurišić, Ph.D / Igor Miholjek, archaeologist. 6