Site formation processes and the Hvar Survey Project, Yugoslavia.

Introduction: the archaeology of Hvar During September 1987, a team of archaeologists from Bradford Un ive r s i ty collaborated wi th Ljubljana University in the first season of a projected 10 year survey of the archaeology of the Dalmatian island of Hvar, Yugoslavia. The island possesses a rich and varied archaeological heritage (Figure 6.1) (cf Pétrie 1975). The celebrated material culture associated with excavated Neolithic cave sites on the island has, for example, been extensively researched and published (Novak 1955), whilst the later prehistoric period is represented by the presence of large numbers of tumuli and by hillforts. The island is also noteworthy, however, for the 4th century BC Greek colony of Faros, situated on the site of modern Starigrad, and the 'centuriated' field system associated with that city (Wilkes 1969). The area containing these land divisions, preserved within the modern field layout as a result of their immense drystone construction, has received considerable attention within recent years (Zaninovic 1983; Slapsak and Kirigin 1987; Slapsak and Stancic 1988). Consequently the distribution of numerous Roman villas, the remains of which lie within the fields (Figure 6.2), has already been established. During the turbulent Migration period, the island was colonised by Slavs, who appear to have initiated the present settlement pattern of the island, whilst during the highand post-medieval periods the island was possessed in turn by a number of European powers. The sophistication and wealth of the island's inhabitants during this period are testified by the presence of numerous churches and private houses, many of which are associated with the Croatian Renaissance of the 16th century. More recently, the incorporation of the island into the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a significant time-lag in the spread of the Phylloxera epidemic from West to East Europe led to a huge boom in wine output. These events are reflected in the phenomenal spread of terracing and stone clearance cairns over much of the island, including some of the steepest limestone areas of Yugoslavia. Despite such promise and although Hvar's archaeology is much researched, the evidence is only partially understood. The early prehistoric period on Hvar is an excellent example of this. Despite the international importance of the Neolithic of the area, the virtual confinement of recorded early prehistoric activity to cave sites could not be considered a true reflection of the potential archaeological data. Published material from other areas of Yugoslavia tends to emphasise the existence of open site and offsite activity which appears to be almost totally absent within the recorded archaeological record of Hvar (Batovic and Chapman 1985). Significantly the recovery of off-site lithics within the Starigrad Plain by the 1987 survey team indicates the potential of the island for non site-based work. Similar problems can be cited for later periods of occupation. Although the 4th century BC Greek colony is attested both historically and archaeologically (Kirigin forthcoming), the evidence of contemporary land-use is poorly represented and little understood. Although much valuable work had been carried out in the area prior to the 1987 survey, the siteand period-specific nature of much of the research reduces the wider utility of the data collected. Doubtless at least part of the problem of landscape reconstruction on Hvar, as in many other Mediterranean areas, is a result of present land-use (Cherry 1983). Much of the countryside is covered with mediterranean phrygana/steppe vegetation and is characterised by low ground visibility. Massive terrace walls lead to a number of logistical problems during survey, whilst the process of terracing itself results in differential masking and destruction (Gams 1987; Shiel 1988). These problems may now be considered in more detail.