Dragonera: Arheološka istraživanja 2003-2004 [Dragonera: Archaeological excavations 2003-2004]

Archaeological rescue excavations were carried out on two separate archaeological sites, Dragonera North and Dragonera South, in 2003 and 2004. Both sites were previously unexplored and only known from professional publications on the level of field survey activities. Archaeological rescue excavations on the Dragonera South site, located on the southern side of Cape Grote, resulted in the discovery of a preserved Roman and Late Roman residential- agricultural complex with its entire ground plan, including facilities for the production of olive oil. Although we are not aware of the name of the master of the estate, we know all of the titles that he held – aedile, duovir, and duovir at the quinqueanial census at the Colonia Pola. We are also acquainted with the name of his wife – Perelia Grata. The early imperial villa maritima (from 70 to 90 A.D.) that was owned by this Roman knight, encompassed the whole bay with the residential building, port and production facilities. The villa was decorated with outstanding mosaics one of which features a unique depiction of a rhinoceros, from a triclinium. The main corridor (F) in front of the apse is paved with a four-colour mosaic containing intricate geometrical motifs based on Christian symbolism. The residential wing from the period of the first construction, from 1st-4th century, was equipped with black-and-white as well as multi-coloured mosaic floorings. The areas covered by mosaics are well-preserved, except in places where they were damaged by excavation of the foundations of a Late Roman residential wing. The most interesting mosaic was from a dining room. The rectangular ground plan of the room is divided by the artistic design of the floor, with the polychrome motif covering a square surface that measures 5.2 m x 5.2 m, and the rest being covered by a black-and-white interlace motif. The polychrome mosaic carpet was executed in two techniques, a simpler opus tessellatum technique, and a more precise opus vermiculatum technique that consists of very small cubes of stone in a very large number of shades. The figural depictions were preserved in two fields only, showing an antelope turned towards a tree in one of the fields, and a rhinoceros in the other. In the apodyterium is a completely preserved floor mosaic featuring a chessboard motif. In the second half of the 4th century, this early imperial villa was ravaged by a fire and thoroughly rebuilt afterwards. Throughout the 5th and 6th centuries, the structure at Dragonera maintained the basic layout inherited from the original early imperial structure. The Roman forge with a smelting furnace originates from this period. In the course of the 7th century a great fire finally made inhabitants seek shelter in the fortified settlement of Kastrum, located on the western side of Veli Brijun Island. The less preserved structure, Dragonera North, was established at the beginning of the 1st century A.D. and was inhabited until the 7th century, when it was engulfed in a devastating fire. It was a villa maritima, with a preserved section of a mill for the production of olive oil, and a furnace that was added at a later date. After the villa was abandoned, the sea destroyed most of the structure.