Page 139 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(2) (2025)

The Osor Aquatorium: An Overview of Underwater Archaeological Research
Osorski akvatorij: pregled podvodnih arheoloških raziskav

Zrinka Ettinger Starčić
Lošinj Museum
e-mail: zrinka.ettinger@gmail.com
Igor Miholjek
Croatian Conservation Institute, Department for Underwater Archaeology
e-mail: imiholjek@hrz.hr

Abstract
In the Kvarner area and the Cres-Lošinj archipelago, Osor is the oldest and most significant island set- 139
tlement, as well as the best-researched archaeologically. In addition to land-based archaeological sur-
veys and research, ongoing since the late 19th century, the seabed of the entire island area has been sys-
tematically surveyed and studied. Particular attention has been given to the Osor seabed, due to the
importance and value of the material culture originating from the settlement itself. This article presents
all previous research conducted over the past 70 years, chronologically divided into two main periods:
the first systematic research during the second half of the 20th century, and more recent systematic and
protective research in the early decades of the 21st century. The results of these activities certainly com-
plete the picture of the way and dynamics of life in this island centre throughout different historical
periods, especially from the perspective of ancient seafaring, navigation, and Osor’s role in established
transport and economic communications.
Keywords: Cres-Lošinj, Osor, harbour, maritime trade route, underwater archaeological research

Izvleček
Na območju Kvarnerja in arhipelaga Cres-Lošinj je Osor najstarejše in najpomembnejše otoško nase-
lje ter arheološko najbolje raziskano. Poleg kopenskih arheoloških pregledov in raziskav, ki potekajo že
od konca 19. stoletja, je bilo sistematično raziskano tudi morsko dno celotnega območja otoka. Posebna
pozornost je bila osorskemu morskem dnu namenjena zaradi pomena in vrednosti materialne kulture,
ki izvira iz samega naselja. Članek povzema vse dosedanje raziskave, opravljene v zadnjih 70 letih, kro-
nološko razdeljene v dve glavni obdobji: med prve, sistematične, raziskave v drugi polovici 20. stoletja
in novejše, sistematične ter zaščitne, raziskave v zgodnjih desetletjih 21. stoletja. Rezultati teh aktivnosti
zagotovo dopolnjujejo sliko načina in dinamike življenja v tem otoškem središču skozi različna zgodo-
vinska obdobja, predvsem z vidika starodavnega pomorstva, navigacije in vloge Osorja v vzpostavljenih
transportnih in gospodarskih povezavah.
Ključne besede: Cres-Lošinj, Osor, pristanišče, pomorska trgovska pot, podvodne arheološke raziskave

Introduction
ituated on the narrow isthmus connect- region and the northern Adriatic. It is justifiably
ing the islands of Cres and Lošinj, Osor is considered the ‘metropolis’ of Kvarner and the
Sone of the most prominent historical set- safest city on the eastern Adriatic coast in early
tlements not only within the Cres-Lošinj archi- history (Blečić Kavur 2014; 2015, 15; Blečić Ka-
pelago but also throughout the entire Kvarner vur and Kavur 2025).
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.13(2)139-151 © author/authors