Page 15 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(1) (2024)

northern Dalmatian islands and the Liburnian contextual data regarding existing necropo-
coast. From the northwest, it opens towards the les, particularly Kavanela, or older excavations
Kvarner Gulf, with a diagonal connection to the within and outside the city area, made it diffi-
eastern Histrian coast and Nesactium, the sec- cult to understand the broader picture of funer-
ond most important metropolis of the northern ary protocols and the archaeology of death. De-
Adriatic. Thus, Osor emerges as a centre – sur- tailed analyses were not presented even during
th
rounded by the sea, fortified with strong walls, research in the second half of the 20 century,
and equipped with port infrastructure. During not comparing the spatial layout and relation-
this time, a canal was likely improved along the ships between necropoles and graves, grave ar-
western part of the isthmus, which granted the chitecture, and other material remains connect-
city its strategic position at the dawn of mari- ed to burial rituals and everyday operations.
time and coastal navigation (Blečić Kavur 2015, The absence of literary contexts that might of-
49–50). According to current understanding, fer a broader understanding of this significant 15
based on numerous archaeological studies (Faber aspect, as part of the universal experience of
1972; 1974; 1976; 1980; 1982; 2000; cf. Blečić and death, its perception, and commemoration,
Sušanj 2007; Blečić Kavur 2014a; 2014b; 2015; forces us to rely solely on archaeological evi-
2020; 2021; Blečić Kavur and Kavur 2013), Osor dence and comparative insights from synchro-
had a clear proto-urban character. It played a key nous, interconnected, and more fully interpret-
role in shaping and filtering economic and cul- ed cultural communities.
tural trends, becoming an essential transporta- The opulent archaeological heritage from
tion hub in the northern Adriatic and overseeing Osor, most of which comes from graves, such as
a crucial communication route from continen- various items of attire and jewellery of local and
tal Europe to the Mediterranean (Blečić Kavur imported origin, as well as lavish items of sym-
2014b; 2015, 11–21). bolic and ideological value and prestigious exot-
In these circumstances, the city's infra- ic materials, directly indicates that Osor socie- Death in Osor: Rituals and Practices of Prehistoric Burials
structure likely included various systems to sup- ty was highly developed and played an equal role
port and facilitate daily life in Osor. Commu- on the historical stage of the Adriatic and broad-
nal infrastructure was vital, especially in how er European areas. Analysis of these objects has
the dead were treated and buried, through sys- shown a variety of influences reflecting con-
tems of necropoles and individual graves where tacts with numerous economic and cultural net-
the population was laid to rest over a millen- works, primarily from the Adriatic, Alpine, and
nium. The ‘archaeology of death’ in Osor dur- Italian regions, followed by influences from the
ing this period exhibited a dual nature: on the Greek-Macedonian milieu and, finally, from the
one hand, there was a wealth of artefacts, and Celtic cultural sphere of Central Europe during
on the other, a complete lack of contextual un- the Iron Age. On the other hand, certain dis-
derstanding of their discovery. Statistically, the tinctive and unique forms of jewellery and cloth-
largest number of artefacts have been recovered ing suggest that some of these items were likely
from graves and necropoles, where they were produced in local workshops, further confirm-
placed as grave goods. Thanks to these objects, ing Osor's role in important economic activities,
certain, often very limited, information was ob- particularly production (Blečić Kavur 2014b;
tained about the society, individual status, the 2015; 2021; 2022).
origin and import of certain items, and, to a
limited extent, the burial customs and rituals Topography and Typology of Osor Graves
conducted in relation to death and commemo- The topography and typology of necropoles and
ration. However, the lack of archaeological re- graves are important for understanding how
cords, documentation from excavations, and these structures were integrated into the living