REPRESENTING INVISIBLE TOWNS WITHIN THE MODERN URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF OSIJEK (CROATIA)
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 21/01/2021

This paper aims to present current results and future developments of the project «Archaeological heritage of Osijek» executed by the Croatian Academy in the Croatian town of Osijek. The history of This town came to its turning point in the begging of the 18th century. After Habsburg Reconquista of the eastern part of the Danube basin from the Ottoman empire, Austrian government decided to build a fortress, accompanied by two towns, on the place of the existing Ottoman city. During these developments remains of all existing structures were eradicated and covered with the sprawl of the modern Osijek. Even more, remains of old structures were used as a building material for new parts of town. Due to this not a single structure or a monument remained to witness the existence of settlements that preceded modern Osijek: the Roman colony Mursa, medieval and Ottoman Osijek. In 2012 the Ministry of Culture of Croatia and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts established a project whose aim is to excavate, scientifically evaluate and present archaeological remains of these past towns. The final objective of the project is to create a plethora of public spaces through which (re)presentation of the remains of currently invisible cities will be incorporated within modern urbanity. The paper aims to present current acknowledgments, explain the problems in the execution of the project, as well as communicating the aims of the project to the general public and local authority. The paper will also present guidelines and plans for future development of this project.


Lelekovic, Tino (The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts)