TYPE OF PROJECT:

• Scientific research project

PERIOD OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION:

• 1 October 2025 – 30 September 2029

PROJECT HOLDER AND PROJECT TEAM:

PROJECT HOLDER:

• akademician Robert Matijašić, Faculty of Humanities, project leader.

COLLABORATORS: 

• Associate Prof. Davor Bulić, Faculty of Humanities, team member.
• Assistant Prof. Katarina Gerometta, Faculty of Humanities, team member.
• Assistant Prof. Josip Višnjić, Faculty of Humanities, team member.
• Federico Bernardini, PhD, Università Ca' Foscari, team member

SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 

The research builds upon the results obtained so far, through several projects, concerning the archaeological landscape between the last centuries BC and the first centuries AD. Investigations at the Monte Ricco site near Vrsar, conducted from 2014 to the present, have produced excellent results and opened up new research questions — the most significant being how widespread the practice of Roman settlement was along the western coast of Istria and its immediate hinterland prior to the establishment of Roman colonies. Between the Roman conquest of Istria (in 177 BC) and the founding of the colonies (around 45 BC), a period of 130 years elapsed for which there are no historiographical records, and the archaeological data are very scarce. The intention is to continue research at the Monte Ricco site, to begin trial excavations at the Monkaštel site near Bale, and to synthesise existing knowledge about the occupation of hillforts in the early Roman period. The synthesis of data will be carried out following an analysis of spatial, archaeological, and historiographical evidence concerning the settlement of the coastal area of western Istria, with particular attention to hillfort settlements and Roman habitation. Standard archaeological procedures will be applied during fieldwork and artefact analysis, employing modern remote sensing methods (LiDAR, geophysical surveys) and scientific approaches (archaeobotany, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, etc.).

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of the proposed project is to collect, analyse, and present new data on settlement patterns in hillforts and coastal areas from the 2nd century BC to the end of the 1st century AD, through several stages representing distinct work packages.

1. Conduct field research at multiple sites along the coast and in the immediate hinterland.
2. Carry out systematic field surveys at several locations along the western coast of Istria.
3. Enhance the appreciation and interpretation of archaeological sites within the framework of educational and recreational opportunities for the local population and visitors.
4. Present the results of the landscape evaluation to the wider scientific, professional, and general public.

PROJECT HOLDER: Juraj Dobrila University of Pula