On the Methodology of the Research of Croatian Pre-Slavic Toponyms

Sa？etak Pre-Slavic toponyms are the oldest stratum of Croatian toponymy. Due to inadequate methodology, pre-Slavic origin is sometimes also attributed to those toponyms which do not belong to this group. In this paper the author discusses the criteria for attributing Pre-Slavic origin to certain toponyms. The criteria are both linguistic (ancient sources, etymology, borrowing before 9th c., parallel formation) and non-linguistic (the size and importance of a particular toponym, archaeological finds). Our paper highlights the differences between the methodological approaches to pre-Slavic toponyms that were recorded in ancient sources and those which were recorded for the first time in more recent sources. Criteria for attributing pre-Slavic origin to toponyms that were first recorded only in newer sources have been derived from the regularities established through systematic analysis of toponyms found in ancient sources. Special attention is given to the description of the onomastic continuity of pre-Slavic toponyms