Page 21 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(1) (2024)

mus of Kavanela, lies Osor's so-called western contextualized within a broader cultural frame-
necropolis (fig. 1). This location, surrounded on work (cf. Faber 1980; 1982; Glogović 1982; 1989;
two sides by the sea, is quite strategically posi- 2003; Blečić Kavur 2014a; 2014b; 2015; 2017;
tioned. The isthmus itself is about 350 metres 2020; 2021; 2022).
wide, with the canal now 10.2 metres wide and at The only data that can be linked to the Ka-
least 3.5 metres deep (Draganits et al. 2019, 14– vanela necropolis comes from archival docu-
15). Based on the length, width, and geological mentation regarding excavations near the site,
structure of the canal’s cross-section, which in- specifically within the Kaštel and Venetian walls
cludes some smaller deposits of sediment, it is in 1953 (Baćić 1953). At depths of nearly 5 metres,
likely that the entire isthmus has the same lime- several prehistoric graves with clearly recogniz-
stone structure with a red soil cover. Major exca- able architecture, made from unworked stone
vations of the prehistoric and Roman necropolis blocks and covered with semi-finished lids, were
began at this site in the 19th century, continu- documented. These were Late Iron Age graves, 21
ing to the south up to the chapel of Sv. Stjepan. only one of which was fully explored (Mladin
Unfortunately, these excavations were conduct- 1960, 212) (fig. 4). Perhaps from this grave came
ed in a non-professional and methodological- a silver plate fibula (Vinski 1956, 26, fig. 5; Blečić
ly inadequate manner by the parish priest Ivan Kavur 2015, 172–173, fig. 62) and fibulae of Mid-
Kvirin Bolmarčić. Archaeologists and conser- dle La Tène scheme, as also noted during recent
vators who occasionally supervised noted that investigations of graves at Preko mosta.
an enormous number of various, but ‘extreme- Alongside this necropolis, near the city wall
ly poorly preserved’, items were unearthed. Re- and the western entrance to the town, there was
ports about the findings were brief, with limited also a cremation site confirmed during the 1953
descriptions of selected artefacts (Burton 1877; Kaštel excavations (Baćić 1953). It is not clear
Sacken 1879; Benndorf 1880; Klodič 1885). Doc- when the cremation site was used and for what
umentation regarding burial methods, funerary purposes, but it likely dates back to the Iron Age, Death in Osor: Rituals and Practices of Prehistoric Burials
practices, grave constructions, and overall burial considering the graves and significant quanti-
contexts was very superficial (Milčetić 1884, 83– ties of ceramics from that period (Baćić 1953;
85; Marchesetti 1924, 140–141). Regarding the cf. Močinić and Zubin Ferri 2013). The site may
prehistoric graves, based on the material culture, have served as a ritual cremation area for the cer-
systematic burials during the Late Bronze and emonial destruction of valuable items, honour-
Iron Ages were established. The most compre- ing ancestors and preserving memory. This could
hensive report was published by Otto von Benn- explain the extensive destruction and poor pres-
dorf, detailing different burial types and practic- ervation of many artefacts, accelerated by the
es, while Anton Klodič wrote extensively about high salinity of the area. The existence of the ne-
the more intriguing items (Benndorf 1880, 73– cropolis and further confirmation of earlier in-
82; Klodič 1885, fig. 1; 4–5; 13–14; 16). By the end terpretations were achieved through recent res-
of the century, conservator Stefano Petris also cue excavations. These investigations primarily
contributed with limited reports and lists of ma- confirm the earlier hypothesis of the necropo-
terials (Petris 1895; 1897). lis’s spatial spread toward the south, where the
According to their records, various types of Roman necropolis extended much further along
burial practices must have been carried out in the Lošinj side, following the road to Nerezine
the Kavanela necropolis, including both skele- (Los 2018; Janeš n.d.).
tal and cremation burials. These were placed in
pits, urns, or stone chests. However, it remains Preko mosta
unclear which periods these practices belonged During rescue excavations in 2018 on the Lošinj
to, though the material culture has mostly been side of Kavanela, at the so-called Preko mosta