Carolingian fortified settlement of Guran, Istria – excavations 2017 (October 4th – 15th)

The 2017 archaeological campaign, led by CROMART project leader M. Jurković, was carried out. Its main goal was further exploration of the inner perimetral communication inside the settlement, as well as the mapping of housing structures related to the road.New interesting results helped our understanding of how the settlement has functioned during its later period in the late middle ages. The second staircase foundation has confirmed the existence of a number of two-story housing structures. Furthermore, a monumental entrance to one of the houses implies a higher social level of residents occupying this part of the settlement. Together with archaeological layers and new wall structures, archaeologists have found a large amount of pottery, primarily of late medieval origin. Detailed documentation of the sondages was made, together with digital 3D models of wall structures.

Preliminary survey of the terrain has been made in order to plan the next campaign since the heavy conditions require careful organisation of resources and work.

Together with the excavations, a part of research team has carried out aerial survey of the area with the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). The data was later compared to detailed historical maps of Guran area in order to track and map historical routes which have survived in the rural landscape.