Naslov
Shepherds of a Coastal Range: the Archaeological Potential of the Velebit Mountain Range (Eastern Adriatic)

Autori
Forenbaher, Stašo

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Hidden Landscapes of Mediterranean Europe: Cultural and Methodological Biases in Pre- and Protohistoric Landscape Studies

Urednik/ci
Van Leusen, Martijn ; Pizziolo , Giovanna ; Sarti, Lucia

Izdavač
Archaeopress

Grad
Oxford

Godina
2011

Raspon stranica
113-121

ISBN
978 1 4073 0903 3

Ključne riječi
pastoralism, prehistory, landscape archaeology, mountains, Velebit, Adriatic

Sažetak
The limestone summits of Velebit, a long coastal range overlooking the Eastern Adriatic, reach an elevation of around 1700 meters just a few kilometers away from the shore. They define a sharp boundary between contrasting maritime and continental environments. Different environmental zones, stacked one above another, enhance the variability of the landscape, making the area attractive for seasonal pastoralists. For a long time Velebit was neglected by archaeologists. Rugged terrain, difficulty of access and a notion that nothing was to be found in those remote mountains kept researchers away. Common problems of archaeological detection of seasonal pastoralists are compounded by intensive erosion which has obliterated or buried most of the open- air sites in this heavily karstified landscape. The archaeological potential of Velebit is nevertheless great. Transhumant sheepherding has survived into modern times, providing the possibility of ethnoarchaeological research. Rich archival records containing legal documents regulating access to pasture and water rights, extend from Austro-Hungarian times back to the era of Roman Imperial administration. Thick stratigraphic sequences in karstic caves provide the opportunity to explore long-term change in herding practices since the time of the first Neolithic farmers.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Arheologija, Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA