Page 143 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(2) (2025)

wooden beams were also found, most likely
posts (palina) used for mooring ships in the har-
bour (Vrsalović 2011, 89). Along with the site in
Radiboj Bay, the Old Port was designated as one
of the most promising areas in the Osor waters,
with the intention of further systematic research
(fig. 2) (Vrsalović 2011, 89).
The category of isolated or individual ob-
jects also includes three partially preserved Ro-
man sculptures, discovered by chance by a
trawler fisherman in Jaz Bay. These pieces are
identified as Roman Imperial portraits depict-
ing Octavian, Drusus the Younger, and a young- 143
er person, all dated to the 1st century BCE (figs.
2–3). These sculptures are considered exception-
al examples in the eastern Adriatic coastal region
(Cambi 1982, 85–98; 2002, 124).

Underwater Research in the 21st Century Zrinka Ettinger Starčić
During the late 1980s and 1990s, the attention
of archaeologists was focused on other, more sig-
Figure 3: Roman Imperial Portrait of Drusus the Young- nificant sites in the Cres-Lošinj seabed. Howev-
er (photo: Nadir Mavrović, 2017) er, after a break of several years, new underwater
inspection surveys of the Osor waters were un-
from the 4th and 5th centuries were document- dertaken in 2008. These were conducted as part
ed, and in Golubljaj Bay, not far from Osor Cape of the regular project Reconnaissance of Kvarn-
itself, an amphora of North African origin from er (2008–2012), led by Igor Miholjek from the
the 3rd century was found (fig. 2). Near Škojić at Department for Underwater Archaeology of the
Osor Cape, a stone anchor was also recorded (fig. Croatian Conservation Institute, in collabora-
2) (Vrsalović 2011, 87). tion with the Lošinj Museum and the Special
Port facilities and finds alongside ancient Police Diving Centre of the Ministry of the Inte-
architecture were documented at the sites of Bi- rior of the Republic of Croatia from Mali Lošinj.
jar Bay, northwest of Osor, and the Old Port of The project’s goals were to assess the current
Osor (fig. 2). In Bijar Bay, numerous scattered ob- state of known archaeological sites, determine
jects were investigated, particularly pottery from their level of devastation, and create new docu-
both the ancient and medieval periods, as well mentation. Furthermore, the project aimed to
as port infrastructure and various construction conduct a comprehensive survey of potentially
materials. This identified the location as a highly interesting locations, identify possible new sites,
important site, and it was therefore inscribed in and verify information received from local fish-
the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic ermen, resulting in the investigation of 20 sites
of Croatia (Z-77). The Old Port of Osor yielded (Dugonjić 2010, 212; Ettinger Starčić 2012, 623–
the most finds, especially fragments of ampho- 4). The project also planned the recovery of finds
rae with various typological features, as well as from endangered sites or those near the shore.
bowls, plates, pots, platters, and lids, dating from All surveyed sites were documented, and the
antiquity to the 14th/15th century (Matejčić and retrieved objects were registered and, after full
Orlić 1982, 166–7). A large number of round processing, stored at the Lošinj Museum. Dur-