Za titno arheolo ko istra ivanje u vranji kome podmorju

In the autumn of 2005 begun reconstruction of the western and southern wharfs of Vranjic. Numerous accidental nds and spolia built in the houses in Vranjic, as well as the often mentioned sarcophagusi noticed in the 19th century in the shallow sea west of the Vranjic peninsula, indicated this was a possible archaeological site deserving particular attention. The hard working conditions under the sea resulted in deciding to introducing permanentarchaeological supervision of construction excavations and protective submarine researches only on locations of greater concentration of nds. From October 2005 to October 2006,construction works were interrupted twelve times, and protective research performed during a total of 90 days. In the course of archaeological supervision and submarine research, discovered werenumerous stone artefacts dated to 1st-6th centuries AD. These are artefacts of sepulchral,secular and sacral character, in the past secondarily used in building of early harbour structures. It is still impossible to say whether the said nds origin from the very peninsula or were brought from the nearby mainland.The said structures are erected on a layer of organic matter, at places up to 1 m thick, by the C14 analyses dated to the period 4th-7th centuries AD. The organic layer consists of large quantities of branches, fruits and plants, shaped wooden objects and materials disposed ofduring woodworking. The control pro les done under the eastern part of the southern wharf of Vranjic enabled establishing the site stratigraphy and the course of layers from the middle Bronze Age tillthe late Middle Ages. About 3 m deep, there is also noticed an older layer of organic matter, dated to the 6th century BC. Its pro les clearly show two layers of wooden piles used for strengthening of the wharf at the early-imperial and the late-classical periods.Under the lower organic layer, there are several layers of a Bronze-Age settlement in the area of Vranjic, con rmed by numerous fragments of ceramic vessels, house plaster, coal andbone awls.In spite of the value and interest of the site, the protective research is performed subject to great limitations and insu cient cooperation between the archaeologists, the developers andthe building contractors, which signi cantly a ected the volume of the information gathered and the overall research results.