In 2016 within the RED Project Roman Economy in Dalmatia: production, distribution and demand in the light of pottery workshops, 5 selected areas around the Podšilo Bay were geophysically surveyed. During the fieldworks in the Lopar protected area, located in the northeastern part of the Island of Rab a gradiometer, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were used. The main aim of the project was to document presence of the Roman architecture in two areas of the bay's hinterland as suggested earlier by finds of pottery and glass. Geophysical studies conducted in the Lopar area revealed presence of underground remains of ancient structures, probably from the late Roman period and connected with a ceramic production centre at the present seashore. The most interesting results were obtained for the area no. 4, the site where magnetic, georadar and ERT surveys revealed an ancient regular building at 0.4-0.6 m depth. The survey performed in the Lopar area clearly indicates that integration of different geophysical methods enables detailed and effective identification of buried archaeological structures.

The paper presents results of a geophysical survey conducted in Crikvenica, a town located at the north-eastern Adriatic Sea coast in Croatia. The main aim was to identify extent of a Roman pottery workshop discovered to the north of the present town, at the site known as "Igralište". The performed magnetic and GPR surveys within the area of the modern playground in Crikvenica revealed a large number of anomalies that may be connected with anthropogenic activity during different periods, both in modern and ancient times. The first group consists of anomalies generated by remnants of the modern underground infrastructure. Magnetic and ground-penetrating radar maps revealed anomalies in the north-western part of the modern playground that can be very likely interpreted as remains of a large ceramic kiln dated back to the Roman Period, similar to the kiln discovered during the excavations located further to the north. Finally, the survey performed within the Crikvenica football stadium clearly indicates that the integration of different Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic methods allows for a detailed and effective identification of buried archaeological structures in large areas.

Results of multidisciplinary research conducted on the island of Rab (Northeastern Adriatic, Croatia) are presented with particular focus on late Roman rural settlements and their economic activities. The settlement in Podšilo bay, Lopar peninsula, is analyzed in more detail, providing evidence on a vibrant local community engaged in diversified craft activities and the exploitation of local land and marine resources. Along with the specificities of its layout and organization, this site also presents unique possibilities to study environmental factors that influenced its setup and economy, but also its demise, tentatively placed within the 6th century AD.

The paper deals with two vessels bearing a toponymic inscription - Felix Arba and Salona – found in Nin and Janice, in all likelihood originating from the island of Rab and Salona, and a recently identified vessel, also from Nin, possibly belonging to the same group, though the interpretation of its inscription is difficult. On the basis of morphological and typological characteristics, vessels are classified to pottery categories of tableware and transport pottery, which enables their potential chronological and functional attribution, corroborating assumptions on their local origin. On the basis of the aforementioned, the vessels are interpreted as ancient souvenirs, not only as ceramic objects but also as possible receptacles for assumed foodstuffs and other liquids. Alternatively, on the basis of analogies from other parts of the Empire, possibility of their use is suggested in transport or commercialization of specific local products intended for very specific clients, in this case sailors, anyhow these are vessels intended for small-scale market. Regardless of the interpretation we might be inclined to accept, vessels with (not only?) toponymic inscriptions can be observed in various contexts, enabling reconstruction of not only productive and market cycle of these products but also their more extensive biography, as well as certain cultural practices, such as ancient mobility, creating memory and “self-representation” of ancient sites, ancient literacy etc., suggesting possibility of their multiple function as well as reuse, attested at least in one case, and assumed lengthy use.

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