engleski

THE SITE OF THE “ROMAN TAVERN” IN SISAK. AN INSIGHT INTO THE HISTORY OF ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCH IN 19TH-CENTURY

The frst antiquarian (proto-archaeological) excavations within the urban frameworN of the former Roman colony of Siscia were led by prominent 19th century Croatian scholars, who also chaired the newly established professional and scholarly societies. Along with them, the care for the archaeological heritage of Siscia belonged to local parish rectors, who were assisted by commissioners sent by the Zagreb Cathedral Chapter, owner of vast land possessions in the region. In the course of the second half of the 19th century intense residential construction took place on the Chapter land, therefore, it is in this period that we fnd frst information on archaeological excavations at the site popularly Nnown as ³RimsNa pivnica´ (³Roman tavern´), which were conducted by the local parish rector Franjo Schloissnigg. The beginning of these excavations was the most interesting event in the history of archaeology in SisaN for the year 1868. The ground plan of the complex was drawn by Franjo Schloissnigg who discussed about the fnds with âime Ljubiü (director of the National Museum in Zagreb), and Ivan .rstitelj TNalþiü (member of the Southern-Slav Academy of Sciences and Arts). Their correspondence suggests that the worNs began at the end of April 1868 by excavating the walls at the ³Roman tavern´ site and were initiated by the landowner – the Cathedral Chapter of Zagreb. What was unearthed was a monumental building with public and representative character, and numerous Croatian scholars tried to defne its purpose. The ground plan of the complex confrms the existence of several architectural layers, with visible double apse structures, identifed as an older small construction, overlapped by a later larger building. The most signifcant inscription found on the site is dedicated to Emperor Hadrian. Franjo Schloissnigg wrote down a number of specifc data which helped the author to defne the precise location of the complex. Noteworthy is the fact that the majority of movable material was deposited in the National Museum in Zagreb. The scholars who visited the site maintained that it must have been a part of the ancient baths of the Roman colony of Siscia. The aim of this paper is to prove its original purpose by combined analysis of both epigraphical sources and archaeological evidence in its immediate vicinity and to locate it within the modern SisaN landscape.

Siscia, Sisak, second half of the 19th century, archaeological excavations, “Rimska pivnica” site, ancient thermal complex

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