National projects

Synergy of Diversity: Archeology of Landscape and Technological Traditions in Continental and Adriatic Croatia (SirAkt)

By applying an interdisciplinary research methodology and systematically collecting data on the features of the environment, archaeological landscapes and raw materials, as well as features of technology and technological choices, the proposed research will provide a scientific basis for humanistic considerations of archaeologically invisible phenomena such as the role of cultural factors in the sustainability of communities from the past or the less researched role of environmental factors on settlement dynamics. The project's primary goal is to analyse the landscape to explore the dynamic relationship between man and the environment across a wide space-time range with an emphasis on settlement patterns and models of communication establishment while questioning the sustainability, resilience and persistence of communities. The goal is also to study the characteristics, availability, and origin of certain raw materials and investigate the features of adopted technologies by considering technological choices and organising the production of goods. The methodological approach is based on non-destructive methods of field research, geoprospecting and archaeometry, and the subject of research ranges from materials and materiality to the environment and vice versa. The holistic approach includes different segments of human activity in the natural environment, and using multidisciplinary methodologies of data collection on archaeological heritage on spatiotemporally different case studies, we will try to establish patterns and understand decision-making mechanisms that are deeply connected to the environment and the traditions of communities from the past. Consequently, the project aims to increase the funds for the study collection of archaeological and geological samples and to upgrade existing research databases using digital tools and applying the principles of open science.

Throughout all periods, research has been carried out on many spatial entities in northern, central, coastal, and island Croatia (especially related to significant water and land communications). Spatial entities - case studies (according to types of research) that will be emphasised are:

1. Identification and sampling of sources of raw materials for archaeometry research and the study of production technologies (ceramics and metal): Istria, Lika, northwestern Croatia (Podravina, Posavina), central Dalmatia
2. Application of non-destructive methods: eastern Croatia (identification of settlement networks and possible communications)
3. Analysis of natural and cultural landscapes, communication and field surveys: Kvarner (island of Cres, Krk and Rab, Crikvenica), southern Dalmatia (Korčula), Lika (Žuta Lokva), northern, central and eastern Croatia (networks of settlements and communication since prehistoric times to the early Middle Ages)

Web page: https://sirakt.iarh.hr/index.php/en/

Project duration: 48 months (2024 – 2027)

Project financing: The project is financed by the European Union-NextGeneration EU (NPOO) – 116.000, 00 euros.

PI: dr. Ivana Ožanić Roguljić (Institute of Archaeology)

Research group: dr. Katarina Botić, dr. Hrvoje Kalafatić, dr. Ana Konestra, dr. Saša Kovačević, dr. Andreja Kudelić, dr. Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, dr. Tajana Sekelj Ivančan, dr. Bartul Šiljeg, dr. Tena Karavidović, Jere Drpić, Natali Neral

International collaborators: dr. Sándor Gulyás (Department of Geology and Paleontology, University of Szeged, Hungary), dr. Angelina Raičković Savić (Archaeological Institute Belgrade, Serbia)