Page 78 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(2) (2025)

Awls, as multifunctional tools, were com- had long characterised the neighbouring Istri-
mon grave goods throughout Europe from the an area during the Early Iron Age (Mihovilić
Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age up to the Late 2014), it was also observed among Liburnian,
Iron Age. Given the context, their symbolic role Piceni, and Japodian communities at the tran-
in graves remains uncertain (Willroth 1997; cf. sition of the last prehistoric millennia (cf. Ku-
Tecco Hvala 2012, 341). Although the grave was koč 2010; 2011).
dated to the 7th century BCE based on a pottery The next burial, grave 5 (5.184), was exca-
rim fragment with incised triangular decora- vated in 2016 in the southern nave of the fore-
tion, both the decoration and the rim profile are court of the church of Sv. Petar (fig. 9; 11) (Bul-
difficult to determine precisely and to link close- ly et al. 2017, fig. 20; Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017,
ly with Timavo-type vessels, as proposed by Mi- fig. 14). The burial of an adult female aged be-
hovilić, since these typically have a much more tween 25 and 30 years (Patterson et al. 2022), was
78 flared, almost S-shaped profile. It is more likely in a semi-crouched position, enclosed by large
that this burial, like comparable examples from unworked stone blocks and oriented northwest–
Istrian or northern Italian sites, belongs to an southeast. With a variety of jewellery and attire
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 13 (2025), številka 2 / volume 13 (2025), number 2
older tradition and should be placed within the accessories – including an Adriatic-type spec-
broader chronological span of burials from the tacle fibula, double-section bracelets, three am-
11th/10th to the 9th century BCE, i.e., in phase ber beads in two variants, eight blue glass beads
I.C/II of the Kvarner group. in two variants, and twelve fragments of ribbed
bone beads – this grave represents the richest
Sv. Petar burial at this burial ground (fig. 11, 1–6) (Blečić
In the second half of the 10th and the early 9th Kavur 2021, fig. 6; Blečić Kavur and Kavur 2024,
century BCE, i.e., at the transition from the Late figs. 2–3; 2025, fig. 7). Particular attention should
Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, the first (6.115) be given to two polygonal amber beads, as they
of two urn burials was identified during exca- are a morphologically distinctive type for the
vations in 2009 within the foundation struc- Osor area, having adorned the pins of large fib-
tures of the Benedictine monastic complex out- ulae of the Osor type, such as those from grave
side the church of Sv. Petar (fig. 1; 9; 10) (Marić 6 at Sv. Marija (fig. 5, 6) or from Mala Prepoved
et al. 2010, 277–9, figs. 2–5). The urn was com- (fig. 7, 2). This confirms their use as components
pared morphologically and stylistically with am- of necklaces or pendants, and as amulets in pec-
phorae from phase II of the Ruše cultural group, toral jewellery, which were also decorated with
within the continental circle of the Late Urn- glass and bone beads. The assemblage thus repre-
4
field Culture spanning 950–900 BCE, and was sents a typical set of dress items of the local com-
thus dated to phase I.C of the Kvarner chron- munity. Based on typological and chronological
ological sequence marking the transition to the parameters, the assemblage can be reliably dated
Iron Age. This amphora represents the first find to the second half of the 9th century BCE, with
of its type and burial rite at Osor.Alongside the a possible continuation into the early 8th centu-
recording of other burials of the same type with- ry BCE, that is, Phase II of the Kvarner cultural
in the foundations of medieval architecture, the group (Blečić Kavur 2021, 543; Blečić Kavur and
presence of a small cremation cemetery at this Kavur 2024, 19).
highest topographical position in Osor was rea- Grave 6 (5.185), located nearby, falls with-
sonably inferred (Blečić Kavur 2014, 110–11, fig. in the same chronological framework and con-
64; 2021, 542–3; Blečić Kavur and Kavur 2013; tains round and flat biconical amber beads, as
2024, 17–19, figs. 2–3). Although this burial rite well as blue glass beads of various sizes (fig. 9; 11,

4 The date is US6 1016 – Poz-34654, 2735±35BP (Blečić Kavur and Kavur 2013, 354, fig. 5).