engleski

Plant remains from the Roman harbour at Zaton near Zadar (Croatia)

71 archaeobotanical samples from an undersea archaeological locality – a Roman harbour at Zaton near Zadar (Croatia) were analysed. Cultural layers excavated in Zaton provide material evidence for activity of this harbour during the time between 1st to the 3rd (eventually 4th) century A.D. Out of the collected samples, a total of 3611 seeds, fruits and other, mostly non-carbonized plant remains have been separated, out of which 3409 have been identified, mostly up to species level. An analysis of the results illustrated that the most important agricultural products were the grape vine (Vitis vinifera), olives (Olea europaea) and figs (Ficus carica). The stone pine (Pinus pinea), sweet/sour cherry (Prunus avium/cerasus), peach (Prunus persica) and almond (Prunus amygdalus), some cereals, vegetables and seasoning plants were cultivated or traded as well. Mediterranean evergreen vegetation, today described as alliance Quercion ilicis, already existed in the Roman period but under anthropogenic influence it already became degraded into maquis, garigues and pastures. The most interesting findings, as new and unexpected for investigated area, are radish (Raphanus sativus), blackspot hornpoppy (Glaucium corniculatum) and Assyrian plum (Cordia myxa).

Plant remains; Roman harbour; Zaton; Croatia

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