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NEOLITSKA NASELBINA ^ATE@-SREDNO POLJE

MITJA GU{TIN, ALENKA TOMA`, BORIS KAVUR, ANTONIO JAKIMOVSKI, ZRINKA MILEUSNI}, GEORG TIEFENGRABER, ZDRAVKA HINCAK

Izvle~ek: Arheolo{ko najdi{~e ^ate`-Sredno polje se nahaja na savski tersi ob vzno`ju Gorjancev. Leta 2002 je bilo v okviru za{~itnih arheolo{kih izkopavanj raziskanih 31.154 m2. Odkriti so bili {tevilni ostanki iz mlaj{e kamene dobe, nekaj objektov iz bakrene in bronaste dobe ter rimsko voja{ko tabori{~e. Odkritih je bilo ve~ kot 68.600 odlomkov neolitske lon~enine ter ve~ kot 15.000 kamnitih jeder in odbitkov. Podobne najdbe se pojavljajo v Lengyelski kulturi, na podlagi absolutnih datacij odkritih vzorcev lesnega oglja pa jih lahko uvrstimo v prvo polovico 5. tiso~letja pred na{im {tetjem. Klju~ne besede: neolitik, Savska skupina Lengyelske kulture, neolitska keramika, kamnita orodja

Abstract: The archaeological site of ^ate`-Sredno polje is situated on a terrace of Sava, at the foot of Gorjanci. Rescue archaeological investigations were conducted there in 2002, covering an area of 31.154 m2. Remains of numerous Neolithic dwellings, some pits from the Copper and Bronze Ages as well as Roman Period military camp were discovered. Excavations yielded more than 68.600 fragments of Neolithic pottery and more than 15.000 stone flakes and cores. Similar material appears in the Lengyel Culture. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples sets the settlement in the first half of the 5th millennium BC. Keywords: Neolithic, Sava group of the Lengyel Culture, pottery, stone tools

Arheolo{ko najdi{~e ^ate`-Sredno polje je obsegalo povr{ine na savski terasi ob vzno`ju Gorjancev med lokalnima cestama ^ate` - Mokrice in ^ate` - ^ate{ke toplice nekaj sto metrov vzhodneje od soto~ja reke Krke s Savo (sl. 1). Z raz{iritvijo sedanje magistralne ceste za avtocesto in izvoza s kro`i{~i za Bre`ice je bilo obmo~je

tudi arheolo{ko sistemati~no raziskano. Leta 1998 je bil na obmo~ju najdi{~a v okviru programa pregledov tras bodo~ih avtocest v okviru projektne skupine SAAS izveden ekstenzivni arheolo{ki pregled, ki je pokazal razmeroma skromne sledi starej{ih poselitev (Djuri} et al. 2000). V letih 1999 in 2000 je bil narejen {e arheolo{ki intenzivni pregled v mre`i 10 x 10 m, izkopanih pa je bilo tudi 10 testnih jarkov velikosti 1 x 1 m. Terenski pregledi so pokazali vzhodnem delu obravnavanega obmo~ja zna~ilne ostanke prazgodovinskega naselja s kamnitimi odbitki in odlomki lon~enine, v zahodnem delu pa ostanke rimskega gradbenega materiala in lon~enine (Djuri} et al. 2001). Za{~itne arheolo{ke raziskave so potekale pod vodstvom M. Gu{tina od marca do maja 2002 in raziskale podro~je v skupnem obsegu 31.154 m2. Zgodovinsko gledano, le`i ^ate`-Sredno polje v neposredni bli`ini vrste pomebnih arheolo{kih najdi{~ iz razli~nih ~asovnih obdobij. Lokacija le`i ob rimski cesti, ki je vodila od Emone preko Nevioduna proti Siscii in na ju`nem obrobju v rimskem ~asu mo~no poseljenega Kr{kega in

Slika 1 ^ate`-Sredno polje: lokacija najdi{~a / location of the site.

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eneolitik neolitik raziskan prostor

Slika 2 ^ate -Sredno polje: na~rt najdi{~a z vrisanimi neolitskimi (modro) in bakrenodobnimi strukturami (rde~e) / plan of the site with drawn Neolithic (blue) and Copper Age structures (red).

Dobovskega polja. Tako se dalje proti Dvorcam ob sedanji cesti pojavljajo rimske ostaline, ki spremljajo cesto takoreko~ ves ~as. Nad najdi{~em se na izpostavljenem vr{acu nahaja {entvid, znan kot ha{tatsko gradi{~e in poznoanti~na utrdba, zahodno nad soto~jem pa ^ate{ki gri~ z izpri~ano poselitvijo iz bakrene dobe in hal{tatskim oz. poznolatenskim gradi{~em. Nekoliko dalje proti vzhodu stoji `elezn-

odobno gradi{~e Velike Malence, ki je bilo nadgrajeno s poznoanti~no trdnjavo. Dalje proti istoimenski vasi pa je bila v 90-tih letih prej{njega stoletja raziskana tudi dobro ohranjena rimska villa rustica, ki je bila postavljena na sloje nekdanje neolitske naselbine. Nedale~ proti severu, preko Save na obmo~ju Bre`ic so v mestu ohranjeni sledovi hal{taske poselitve in na terasi nad Savo je bilo veliko keltsko grobi{~e.
NOVOVE[KE STRUKTURE RECENT STRUCTURES RIMSKODOBNI VOJA[KI TABOR ROMAN MILITARY MARCHING CAMP 20 BC-9. AD BRONASTODOBNE STRUKTURE BRONZE AGE STRUCTURES ZGODNJEBRONASTODOBNE STRUKTURE EARLY BRONZE AGE STRUCTURES BAKRENODOBNE STRUKTURE COOPER AGE STRUCTURES MLAJ[E NEOLITSKA NASELBINA LATE NEOLITCHIC SETTLEMENT

Slika 3 ^ate`-Sredno polje: pogled na najdi{~e; v ozadju naselje ^ate` pri Bre`icah / view of the site; village of ^ate` near Bre`ice in the background.

4800-4500

Slika 4 ^ate`-Sredno polje, shemati~en pregled poselitve najdi{~a / schematic overview of the sites occupation.

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Celoten raziskan prostor na ^ate`u-Srednem polju je bil glede na predvidene gradbene posege razdeljen v sedem ve~jih izkopnih polj. Sonda A v obsegu 7.111 m2 je bila ob severnem robu magistralne ceste Ljubljana - Zagreb. Sonda B je bila na podro~ju, ki je bilo predvideno za severni del dostopa na bodo~o avtocesto in del avtocestnega telesa ter je zajela 6.874 m2 povr{ine. Sonda C je obsegala vzhodni del pentlje dostopa bodo~e avtoceste v povr{ini 1.695 m2. Sonda D v obsegu 10.678 m2 je bila izkopana na ju`ni strani obstoje~e magistralne ceste Ljubljana - Zagreb. Sonda E je bila izkopana paralelno s sondo D v obsegu 3.577 m2. Sondi F in G sta bili izkopani na Z predelu deteljice za dostop na avtocesto, v obsegu 706 in 509 m2 (sl. 2, 3). Rezultati za{~itnih izkopavanj na najdi{~u ^ate`-Sredno polje so glede na izredno skromne povr{inske najdbe presenetili tako po svojem obsegu kot tudi zna~aju. Pod ornico so bile poleg ostankov {tevilnih neolitskih objektov ohranjene tudi posamezne jame iz bakrene (sl. 2) in bronaste dobe ter ostanki rimskega pohodnega voja{kega tabora. Pri slednjem so bili, podobno kot na Obre`ju, tik pod ornico odkriti sledovi dvojnega, v trikotnik izkopanega jarka ter dober ducat majhnih okroglih pe~i s polkro`no kupolo in predprostorom za nalaganje in ~i{~enje pe~i. Malo{tevilne, vendar izpovedne najdbe delov rimske voja{ke opreme, t. i. militaria, kot so bronasta sponka za oklep, `elezen okov piluma, `elezna suli~na ost in zna~ilen {otorski klin iz `eleza, so skupaj s kru{nimi pe~mi ter obrambnima jarkoma zadostno potrdilo, da imamo opravka s kratkotrajnim oz. pohodnim voja{kim taborom. V predprostoru ene od pe~i je bil odkrit tudi zgornji del kamnitih `rmelj, pri drugi pa republikanski srebrn novec in zna~ilna bronasta galska sponka, ki opredeljujeta tabor v najzgodnej{e obdobje rimske okupacije slovenskega ozemlja: v zadnji desetletji pred n. {., oziroma najkasneje v ~as delmatsko - panonskega upora med leti 6 in 9 n. {. (Gu{tin 2002; Gu{tin, Beki} 2002). NEOLITSKO NASELJE Neolitsko naselje ^ate`-Sredno polje se je razprostiralo takoreko~ na celotni raziskani povr{ini najdi{~a (cca. 3,1 ha). Velikost naselja, predvsem pa dejstvo, da je bilo skoraj v celoti raziskano, postavljata ^ate`-Sredno polje med najpomembnej{a in najve~ja dosedaj raziskana naselja iz obdobja prve polovice 5. tiso~letja B.C., ne samo v slovenskem prostoru ampak tudi v njegovi {ir{i okolici. Glavnina struktur je bila odkrita takoreko~ na sredini izkopnega polja na podro~ju velikosti 142 x 102 m. Na obrobju izkopi{~a pa je bilo ohranjenih neolitskih struktur

22 m m Slika 5 ^ate`-Sredno polje: tloris in presek objekta 055 / plan and crosssection of pit 055.

bistveno manj, tako da lahko sklepamo, da smo z arheolo{kimi raziskavami zaobjeli glavnino samega naselja. Zahodno, severno in vzhodno od najve~je koncentracije objektov so sicer bile ohranjene posamezni neolitske strukture oziroma jame, vendar se njihova pogostnost z oddaljenostjo od samega sredi{~a bistveno zmanj{uje, ju`no pa takoreko~ ni ohranjenih sledi neolitske poselitve (sl. 2).

1m 1m Slika 6 ^ate`-Sredno polje, tloris in presek objekta 093 / plan and crosssection of pit 093.

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Skupno je bilo na ^ate`u-Srednem polju odkritih 65 neolitskih struktur, ki pripadajo razli~nim objektom. Strukture so bile neposredno pod ornico, vkopane v geolo{ko osnovo. Pri tem naj poudarimo, da so odkrite jame takoreko~ "ostanki - ostankov", namre~ intenzivno poljedelstvo zadnjih nekaj tiso~letij je vrhnje plasti in s tem tudi vrhnje dele neolitskih objektov dodobra uni~ilo Med odkritimi neolitskimi strukturami je bilo 24 razmeroma velikih, ki jih najverjetneje lahko interpretiramo kot bivanjske objekte. So zelo raznolikih oblik, od nepravilnih ovalnih pa do skoraj povsem kro`nih oziroma kvadratnih in velikosti v povpre~ju med 4 x 4 in 8 x 8 m (sl. 5, 6). V sterilno osnovo so bile navadno vkopane najve~ do 0,7 m, v posameznih primerih pa je bilo ohranjeno takoreko~ samo "dno" objekta, saj ohranjena globina ni presegala 0, 15 m. V ^ate`u-Srednem polju odkriti bivanjski objekti znotraj najdi{~ Savske skupine prakti~no nimajo ustrezne primerjave. Zanimivo je, da pri izkopavanjih niso bili odkriti nobeni gradbeni elementi, ki bi jih lahko uporabili za interpretacijo in rekonstrukcijo objektov (npr. stojk za nosilna bruna, ostankov stenskih konstrukcij ter ohranjenih ognji{~). V nekaterih primerih so bili odkriti odlomki hi{nega lepa, ki dopu{~ajo domnevo, da so deli stavbnih
Slika 8 ^ate`-Sredno polje: rekonstruirani skledi na nogi / reconstructed bowls on foot.

struktur postavljenih nad jamami. Do neke mere ustrezajo posameznim slabo ohranjenim objektom, odkritim v Dragomlju (65-79). Ta vrsta objektov se navezuje na bivalno kulturo znotraj Lengyelske kulture ter so~asnih kultur v JV Evropi. Poleg o~itnih bivanjskih objektov je bilo na najdi{~u odkritih tudi preko 40 manj{ih jam. Tudi te so bile zelo raznolike, ve~inoma pa kro`ne oziroma ovalne oblike. Njihove velikosti so bile v povpre~ju sicer znatno manj{e od prve skupine, pa vendar nekatere dosegajo tudi preko 2 x 2 m. Praviloma so bile tudi nekoliko bolj plitve. Glede na podobno strukturo polnil, menimo, da so bile manj{e, tako

Slika 7 ^ate`-Sredno polje: zna~ilna neolitska lon~enina / characteristic Neolithic pottery.

Slika 9 ^ate`-Sredno polje: rekonstruiran lonec / reconstructed pot.

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da dopu{~ajo popolno rekonstrukcijo ostenja (sl. 7 - 10; 722, predmeti 1, 6, 7, 9, 11-14; 113-129, predmeti 1, 9, 10, 19, 21, 24, 49, 51, 52), celoten kerami~ni zbir pa vklju~uje tudi preko 3500 odlomkov ustij, ve~ kot tiso~ odlomkov dna in ve~ deset tiso~ odlomkov ostenj posodja. Razmeroma pogosti so {e odlomki nog, ro~ajev in dr`ajev (113-129, predmeti 14, 17, 36, 37, 50). Lon~eninski zbir najdi{~a sestavljajo: skodele, sklede, sklede in ostale posode na nogi (sl. 8), ~a{e, lonci (sl. 9), pokrovi (3), zajemalke (sl. 10), posode posebnih namembnosti (2) ter miniaturne posode (sl. 7 - 10; 7-22, predmeti 1-14; 113-129, predmeti 1-52). Za lon~enino lahko re~emo, da je zelo homogena, posamezne osnovne oblike so sorodne, oziroma ka`ejo skupne zna~ilnosti, podoben pa je tudi njihov na~in izdelave in okras. Ob upo{tevanju vseh karakteristik dolo~enega predmeta, pa zlahka ugotovimo, da je posamezna posoda takoreko~ unikatni izdelek, kar pa je pri prostoro~no oblikovani lon~enini tudi pri~akovano. Sklede in sklede na nogi so ve~inoma preprostih odprtih oblik in so praviloma zelo pogosta oblika lon~enine (sl. 7-

Slika 10 ^ate`-Sredno polje: v celoti ohranjeni zajemalki / completely preserved ladles.

kot velike, jame zapolnjene z ostanki istih procesov, oziroma so bile z njimi v neposredni povezavi. V bivanjskih objektih in ostalih manj{ih jamah so bili odkriti {tevilni kamniti odbitki in kamnita orodja ter {tevilne kerami~ne najdbe. Med njimi so bili tudi slabo ohranjeni in razdrobljeni odlomki `ivalskih kosti, pri ~emer lahko slabo ohranjenost kostnega materiala pripi{emo predvsem kisli zemlji, v kateri so kostni ostanki le`ali tiso~letja. Poleg na{tetega pa so bili v posameznih raziskanih strukturah s flotacijo odkriti tudi rastlinski ostanki. Obilica arheolo{kega gradiva iz zaklju~enih celot, ki so ~asovno izjemno dobro ume{~ene, predstavlja eno najbolj{ih osnov za preu~evanje materialnega vidika neolitske dru`be. KERAMI^NE NAJDBE Kerami~no gradivo je na najdi{~u ^ate`-Sredno polje za slovenske razmere izjemno {tevilno. Skupno je bilo na najdi{~u odkritih preko 68 600 odlomkov keramike, ki ve~inoma izvirajo iz zaklju~enih celot (jam oziroma bivanjskih objektov), posamezni odlomki pa so bili odkriti tudi v preme{ani vrhnji plasti. Med kerami~nim gradivom je najve~ odlomkov lon~enine, odkriti pa so bili tudi drugi kerami~ni predmeti kot so vij~ki in razli~no oblikovane jagode, ki morda predstavljajo dele kerami~nega nakita (Toma` 2006). Med lon~enino je kar nekaj v celoti ohranjenih posod oziroma predvsem posod, ki so ohranjene v tolik{ni meri,

Slika 11 ^ate`-Sredno polje: kerami~ni predmeti. Zvezdica, objekt 106 M: 1:1; nogi posode, objekt 108 - M: 1:3 / ceramic objects. Star, pit 106, scale 1:1; feet of a vessel pit 108, scale 1:3.

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8; 7-22, predmeti 1-7; 113-129, predmeti 3-8, 20-35). Tudi skodele so navadno preprostih odprtih oblik, so pa praviloma bistveno redkej{e (sl. 7; 113-129, predmeti 2, 18). Lonci so razmeroma pogosta oblika lon~enine, v posameznih objektih so celo naj{tevilnej{i. Njihova oblikovanost jih deli v dve skupini. Lahko so enostavnih preprostih oblik, vendar pa veliko pogosteje zahtevnej{ih sestavljenih oblik (sl. 9; 7-22, predmeti 7-10; 113-129, predmeti 9-15, 38-41). Razmeroma {tevilne so tudi zajemalke, ki sodijo v skupino s tulastim dr`ajem. So ve~inoma kro`nih ali ovalnih oblik z zaobljenim oziroma v posameznih primerih tudi ravnim dnom (sl. 10; 7-22, predmeti 11-14; 113-129, predmeti 15, 16, 45-48).

jagoda v obliki zvezdice (1, sl. 9, Gu{tin 2003, 6-7; Toma` 2006). Majhna, izjemno skrbno oblikovana petkraka zvezdica, z ohranjenimi sledmi rde~kastega glinenega premaza, je redek primer tovrstno oblikovanega neolitskega nakita (Toma` 2006). Zanimiv vpogled v kerami~no produkcijo tedanjega ~asa nam ponuja analiza tehnolo{ke izvedbe izdelave lon~enine, ki je ve~inoma izdelana zelo podobno oziroma na enak na~in. Oblikovana je prostoro~no. Najpogostej{a je drobnozrnata lon~enina, razmeroma pogosta pa je tudi lon~enina fine in grobe zrnatosti. Njena povr{ina je najve~krat gladka, le izjemoma groba, v posameznih primerih pa je povr{ina gladka na zunanji in groba na notranji strani ali tudi obratno. Povr{ina lon~enine je izjemoma tudi premazana z glinenimi premazi rde~e, rjave ali ~rne barve. @ganje lon~enine je v glavnem oksidacijsko, pri ~emer postopek navadno ni bil izpeljan do konca, zato v ve~ini primerov govorimo o nepopolnem oksidacijskem `ganju. Vsa odkrita lon~enina praviloma sodi med trdo keramiko, redkeje pa lahko govorimo o mehki oziroma zelo trdi keramiki ali keramiki, ki razi steklo (113-129, sl. 8). Neolitska lon~enina iz najdi{~a ^ate`-Sredno polje je razmeroma pogosto okra{ena. Ve~inoma je okras izdelan v osnovni tehniki vtiskovanja in sicer z odtisi nohta. Tovrsten na~in okra{evanja je v posameznih lon~eninskih zbirih tako pogost, da presega 70% okra{ene lon~enine (113-129, sl. 9). Lon~enina je dokaj pogosto okra{ena tudi v tehniki apliciranja oziroma kombinaciji vtiskovanja in apliciranja. Vrezani in modelirani okrasi ter okrasi, izdelani v kombiniranih tehnikah pa so praviloma redkej{i. Okrasni motivi so ve~inoma enostavni oziroma linijski, kompleksnej{i sestavljeni motivi pa so navadno redkej{i, kot je npr. na odlomku 4.

3 4

Slika 12 ^ate -Sredno polje: 3, odlomek kerami~nega pokrova iz objekta 096 in 4, naklju~na najdba odlomka ostenja posode / 3 ceramic lid fragment from pit 096 and 4 chance find of a vessel fragment. M/scale: 1:3.

Zelo zanimiv del lon~eninskega zbira predstavljajo miniaturne posode, ki jih oblikovno lahko ve`emo na razli~ne osnovne oblike lon~enine. Med njimi tako lahko prepoznamo miniaturne lonce, sklede, bute, sklede na nogi, zajemalke, itd. (113-129, predmeti 1, 48-50; Toma` 2005, 261-267, sl. 4-5). Tovrstne posodice so zanimive tudi zato, ker so dosedaj edina tako pestra zbirka miniatur v slovenskem, pa tudi {ir{em srednjeevropskem prostoru (Toma` 2005). V posameznih primerih pa morda lahko govorimo tudi o posodah posebnih namembnosti - oziroma t.i. "kultnih posodah". Jasno izoblikovani nogi - antropomorfni, oziroma zoomorfni (2), ki sta slu`ili kot podstavek recipientu, najverjetneje lahko pripi{emo tovrstnim posodam (primerjava - npr. Barna 2001, pl. IV: 1). Med gradivom so bili odkriti tudi deli kerami~nega nakita. Poleg razli~no oblikovanih ovalnih kerami~nih jagod ter prevrtanih kerami~nih plo{~ic, izdelanih iz ostenj posodja, je bila na Srednem polju pri ^ate`u odkrita tudi kerami~na

5 Slika 13 ^ate`-Sredno polje: v celoti ohranjena plo{~ata kamnita sekira / completely preserved flat stone axe. M/scale: 1:1.

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6 Slika 14 ^ate`-Sredno polje: odlomljena kamnita sekira / broken stone axe. M/scale:: 1:1. 7 Slika 15 ^ate`-Sredno polje: kamnit polizdelek / stone semi-product. M/scale:: 1:1.

Med okra{eno lon~enino sta zlasti zanimiva dva lonca, pri katerih je okras nekoliko nevsakdanji - vsaj za slovenski prostor. Prvi, ohranjeno ima ustje z delom ostenja, je okra{en z aplicirano `ivalsko glavo. Najverjetneje gre za upodobitev bikove ali morda tudi ovnove glave. Okras je izdelan na prehodu vratu v rame lonca (113-129, predmet 39). Drugi lonec, na `alost je ohranjen samo del ramena z najve~jim obodom, pa izstopa od ostale lon~enine zaradi izjemno realisti~ne upodobitve ~love{kega nosu, ki je apliciran na ramenu lonca tik nad najve~jim obodom in je zaenkrat edin tovrstni primerek v slovenskem prostoru (113-129, predmet 15). KAMNITA ORODJA Na neolitskem najdi{~u ^ate`-Sredno polje je bilo odkrito dosedaj najve~je {tevilo kamnitih orodij na podro~ju Slovenije. V neolitskih objektih je bilo skupaj odkritih 15.001 odbitkov in jeder - pri ~emer je bilo 11.838 odbitkov (78,9%), 1.229 retu{iranih orodij (8,1%), 1.934 jeder (12,8%), 114 sekir in polizdelkov sekir (sl. 13-15), pri ~emer je 44 sekir

(38,5%), 21 odlomkov sekir (18,4%), 35 polizdelkov sekir (30,7%), 14 odlomkov polizdelkov sekir (12,2%); 12 jeder, ki so polizdelki za izdelavo sekir ali tolka~ev, 39 tolka~ev in terilcev, 55 odlomkov `rmelj, 26 brusnih kamnov, izvrtek, sferoid in obdelan kos kamna (sl. 13-15). Ta zbir artefaktov je pomemben tudi zato, ker je nastal v zamejenem ~asovnem obdobju, kar izklju~uje mo`nosti me{anja starej{ih in mlaj{ih elementov ter nudi najbolj{i vpogled v materialno kulturo obse`nega naselja, v obdobju srednjega neolitika. Na drugi strani pa prav velika koli~ina arheolo{kih ostankov v prostorsko jasno lo~enih objektih omogo~a tudi dokumentiranje tipolo{ke in tehnolo{ke raznolikosti materialne kulture znotraj najdi{~a - omogo~a nam predstavitve in pojasnitve posameznih specialisti~nih dejavnosti, ki so se odvijale v dolo~enih delih naselbine (131-144). KOSTNI OSTANKI V neolitskih objektih ^ate`a-Srednega polja je bilo odkritih razmeroma malo kostnih ostankov. Makroskopska anal-

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iza kostnih in dentalnih ostankov `ivali je pokazala, da so bili v okviru neolitskih objektov ohranjeni predvsem ostanki pragoveda (Bos primigenius, Boj. - 18,2%), jelena (Cervus elaphus, L. - 17,2%), svinje (Sus scrofa sp. 14,2%), navadnega goveda (Bos taurus, L. - 10%), ovce in koze (Ovis/Capra - 12,1%) ter srne (Capreolus capreolus, L. - 5,1%). Ohranili pa so se tudi odlomki dolgih kosti ptic (Aves - 1%) in ostanki velikih pre`vekovalcev (20,2%). Pri tem je potrebno poudariti, da so ostanki izredno slabo ohranjeni. Najve~ji dele` okritih ostankov predstavljajo odlomki skleninskih delov zob (68,55%), z manj{im dele`em pa so prisotni tudi kostni deli skeleta (31,45%). Le-ti zajemajo dolge kosti, kosti metapodijev in v enem primeru odlomek vretenca. Dolo~itev starosti posameznih `ivali je zaradi slab{e ohranjenosti kosti ote`ena, v ve~ini primerov pa gre za odrasle osebke (sl. 16). Mo{ki spol je dolo~en v primeru divje svinje iz objekta 150 po ohranjenem podo~niku (canines) spodnje ~eljusti (mandibula). Ohranjen del laktne kosti (olecranon ulnae) navadnega goveda iz objekta 106 - SP 16 je bil obdelan in je verjetno slu`il kot orodje.

Radiokarbonsko analizirani vzorci oglja iz triindvajsetih struktur postavljajo odkrito naselje v ~as prve polovice 5. tiso~letja cal. BC. Ve~ina datumov, s posameznimi izjemami, sodi v obdobje med 4600 in 4800 cal. BC (7-22, sl. 2). Neolitska skupnost je `ivela na tem prostoru najve~ tri stoletja, verjetneje pa {e kak{no stoletje manj. 1 Zvezdica - kerami~na jagoda (cela) je izdelana prostoro~no iz zelo finozrnate lon~arske mase. Gladka povr{ina je svetlo rde~e barve. Ohranjene sledi rde~kastega premaza. Vel. 2 x 1,9 x 0,7 cm. Objekt PO 106. 2 Odl. dveh nog sta izdelana prostoro~no iz grobozrnate lon~arske mase. Zgornji sloj povr{ine (prevleka) je ohranjen le v sledovih in je bil narejen iz zelo fino zrnate lon~arske mase svetlo rjave barve in premazan z svetlo rde~im glinenim premazom. Zgornji del nog je v preseku okrogle oblike, spodnji del pa ima lepo izdelano stojno ploskev v obliki podplata (zoomorfne oblike). Stojna ploskev je delno po{kodovana. Pr. n. 2,9 cm, v. 11,1 cm. Objekt PO 108. 3 Pokrov (odl. roba z ostenjem) je izdelan prostoro~no iz grobozrnate lon~arske mase. Groba povr{ina je lisasta, svetlo sivo rjave in zelo temno rjave barve. Celotno zunanje ostenje je okra{eno z odtisi nohta. Pr. u. 15 cm, v. 2,4 cm. Objekt 092. 4 Odl. ostenja posode je izdelan prostoro~no iz drobnozrnate lon~arske mase. Gladka povr{ina je temno rjave in ~rne barve. Okras spiralno uvitih linij je izdelan na najve~ obodu ostenja z vrezovanjem. Vel. 4,8 x 5,4 cm. Povr{inska najdba. 5 V celoti ohranjena manj{a plo{~ata kamnita sekirica. Izdelana je iz zelenkaste kamnine. Vel. 3,4 x 2,8 x 0,9 cm. Objekt 105. 6 Odlomljena plo{~ata kamnita sekira. Izdelana je iz svetlo sivo - zelene kamnine. ~elo sekire je odlomljeno na ventralni in dorzalni strani. Na levem in desnem lateralnem robu na dorzalni strani in na proksimalnemdelu in distalnem delu desnega lateralnega roba na ventralni strani so zaglajeni negativi prej{njih odbitkov. Vel. 9,5 x 4,7 x 2 cm. 7 Polizdelek za izdelavo plo{~ate kamnite sekire. Izdelan je iz svetlo - rjave kamnine. Na proksimalnem delu na ventralni strani je negativ odbitka. Vel. 10,2 x 5 x 2,2 cm.

Slika 16 ^ate`-Sredno polje: starostna struktura `ivali po posameznih objektih / age structure of animals from individual pits.

ZAKLJU^EK V primeru ^ate`a-Srednega polja lahko govorimo o naselju, katerega lon~enina in kamnito orodje sodita v {iroko kronolo{ko shemo mlaj{e kamene dobe oziroma neolitika. Zelo podobno gradivo poznamo v srednjeevropski Lengyelski kulturi (predvsem v njenih zgodnej{ih fazah), ki je {e posebej zna~ilna za Panonijo.

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THE NEOLITIC SETTLEMENT AT ^ATE@-SREDNO POLJE

The archaeological site of ^ate`-Sredno polje is situated on a Sava terrace, at the foot of Gorjanci, between two local roads ^ate` - Mokrice and ^ate` - ^ate{ke toplice, and some hundred meters easterly from the confluence of the Krka and the Sava (Fig. 1). Due to the reconstruction and widening of the existent main road into a highway, and also due to the construction of new branches and circular traffic systems for the town of Bre`ice, the location had to undergo careful archaeological examination. In 1998 the whole area of the site was included in the program for a complete survey of the layout of the future Slovenian highways, launched by the Group for the Archaeology of Slovenian Highways (SAAS). The extensive archaeological survey brought rather moderate settlement evidence of earlier periods (Djuri} et al. 2000). In 1999 and 2000 followed an intensive archaeological survey in a 10 x 10 m grid and with ten 1 x 1 m large test trenches. Field surveys proved characteristic remains of a prehistoric settlement with numerous stone flakes and fragments of pottery in the eastern part of the investigated area and remains of Roman period constructions and pottery in the western part (Djuri} et al. 2001). Rescue excavations were carried out between March and May 2002 and covered an area of 31.154 m2. From a historical point of view, ^ate`-Sredno polje lies in close vicinity to a number of important archaeological sites from different periods of settlement. The location is situated beside the old Roman road connecting Emona, nearby Neviodunum and Siscia, and in the south borders to the Kr{ko and Dobovsko polje, densely populated in the Roman period. In direction of the Dvorce village, Roman period remains follow the present road almost uninterruptedly. On the exposed hilltop just above the location, there is [entvid, a Hallstatt period hillfort and Late Roman fortification. To the west of the Sava-Krka confluence there is ^ate{ki gri~ with documented remains of Bronze Age, Hallstatt and La Tene period settlements. Further to the east there is the prehistoric hill-fort and Late Roman period stronghold of Velike Malence. In the same direction, closer to the village of the same name, a well preserved Roman villa rustica, set on top of a Neolithic settlement, was discovered in the 1990s. Not far away, to the north, and on the other side of the Sava, there are numerous evidences of a Hallstatt period settlement on the territory of Bre`ice, and a large Celtic cemetery on the terrace above the Sava. Following the planned construction activities of the future highway, the investigated site of ^ate`-Sredno Polje had to be divided into seven large excavation areas. Trench A, measuring a total of 7.111 m2, was the area bordering the north side of the Ljubljana Zagreb main road. Trench B was the area that was going to become the northern part of the access road and also a part of the body of the highway, and measured 6.874 m2. Trench C was to cover the eastern part of the circular traffic system and measured 1.695 m2. Trench D was 10.678 m2 large and lay on the southern part of the existent Ljubljana - Zagreb main road. Trench E ran parallel to trench D and measured 3.577 m2. Trenches F and G were dug in the western part of the circular access traffic system and measured 706 m2, and 509 m2 (Fig. 2 and 3), respectively. Considering the extremely scarce surface finds on the location of ^ate`-Sredno polje the results of protective excavations came as a surprise regarding the extent as well as the character of the site. Below the layer of arable soil beside remains of numerous Neolithic dwellings also pits originating from the Copper (Fig. 2) and Bronze Ages and even Roman period military camp could be distinguished. Similarly to Obre`je, few kilometers further to the east, also just below the arable earth the characteristic traces of a double, trianglarly laid out ditch and over a dozen of small, round ovens with a semicircular dome and space for charging and cleaning could be discovered. Rare pieces of Roman period militaria, like a bronze armour clasp, an iron pillum shackle, an iron lance point and a typical iron tent peg, together with numerous ovens for baking bread and a protection ditch are sufficient to prove that we are dealing with a short-lived or campaign military camp respectively. In front of one of the ovens an upper piece of a stone hand mill was discovered and close to another a Republican silver coin and a characteristic Gallic fibulae were found, defining the existence of the camp in the period of earliest Roman colonisation of Slovenian territory, i. e. in the last decades of the 1st century BC or in the tide of the Dalmato-Pannonian rebellion between 6 and 9 AD at the latest (Gu{tin 2002, 70-74). THE NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT The Neolithic Settlement of ^ate`-Sredno polje covered more or less the whole area under investigation (about 3,1 hectares). The size of the settlement and most of all the fact that it was almost completely excavated render the site to be one of the most important and largest settlements from the first half of the 5th millennium BC not only in Slovenia but also in a much wider area. The predominant part of the structures was discovered in the centre of the investigated field, in an area of 142 x 102 m. At the periphery of the excavated field the Neolithic structures are not at

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all dense so it could be concluded that the very centre of the settlement was discovered (Fig. 2). At ^ate`-Sredno polje a total of 65 Neolithic structures, belonging to several different pits could be discovered. The structures lay just below the arable soil and were dug into the sterile geological base. It should be stressed that the pits that have been discovered are actually the "remains of remains" as during the several thousands of years that followed the intensive agricultural exploitation of the area almost completely destroyed the upper layers as well as the upper architectural parts of the Neolithic settlement. Among the Neolithic structures 24 could be defined as rather large and therefore with greatest probability interpreted as dwelling pits. They appear in various shapes: anything from incorrect ovals to almost complete circular or rectangular structures in sizes between 4 x 4 and 8 x 8 m (Fig. 5 and 6). They were dug up to 0.7 m deep into the sterile bedrock and in some cases actually only the "bottom" of pits could be detected, as the depth that remained never exceeded 0.15 m. The dwellings discovered in ^ate`-Sredno polje have hardly any parallels within the sites of the Sava group. It is interesting that the excavations almost completely failed in tracing elements, applicable for interpretation or reconstruction of the dwellings (pole shafts for supporting beams, remains of wall constructions or hearths). There were some cases of architectural elements (burnt clay daub) allowing for a supposition that they have been part of a structure erected above the pits. To a certain extent they resemble certain poorly preserved architectural objects discovered in Dragomelj. This kind of objects has ties with the dwelling culture within the Lengyel circle and the contemporary cultures of South-East Europe. Beside evident dwelling objects the site revealed also more than 40 smaller pits. These also appear in a number of different round an oval shapes. In size they were as a rule smaller whit some of them exceeding 2 x 2 m. Usually they were even shallower. Considering the similar structure of pit fillings we believe that both large and small pits were filled with remains of the same processes or were in their direct contact. Dwellings and other small pits contained numerous stone flakes and stone tools as well as abundant pottery fragments. Among them badly preserved and broken remains of animal bones could be detected in rather poor condition due to aggressive acid soil, affecting them for thousands of years. In some of the investigated structures by means of flotation also botanic remains were found. The abundance of archaeological material obtained from complete units after the possibility for extremely plausible dating and prove to be an excellent basis for the study of material aspects of the Neolithic society.

POTTERY FINDS For Slovenian conditions, the site of ^ate`-Sredno polje definitely abounds with pottery finds. As a whole, excavations brought more than 68,600 fragments, mostly discovered in complete units (pits or dwellings), only a few originating from the disturbed upper layer. Among the pottery most numerous appear to be fragments of vessels, beside several other objects, like spindles, and clay beads of different shapes that were most probably parts of clay ornaments or trinkets (Toma` 2006). Quite a number of vessels were excavated that allow a total reconstruction of shape and size; some sessels were discovered complete (Fig. 7 - 10; 7-22, objects 1, 6, 7, 9, 11-14; 113-129, objects 1, 9, 10, 19, 21, 24, 49, 51, 52). The ceramic assemblage includes more than 3500 rims, over a thousand bottoms and several ten thousands of walls of vessels. Rather numerous are also fragments of feet, handles and hafts (113-129, objects 14, 17, 36, 37, 50). The pottery ensemble of the site includes dishes, bowls, and other vessels on a foot (Fig. 8), beakers, jars (Fig. 9), pot lids (3), ladles (Fig. 10), vessels for special purposes (2) and miniature vessels (Fig. 7-10; 113-129, objects 1-52; 7-22, objects 1-14). The pottery could be described as very homogenous. Individual basic forms are familiar, showing common characteristics and sharing the same decorations and production processes. However considering different characteristics of a certain object it becomes obvious that each piece was made as an individual creation. For hand shaped pottery this is to be expected. Bowls and bowls on a foot are mostly of simple, open shapes and as a rule a rather common type of vessel (Fig. 7-8; 7-22, objects 1-7; 113-129, objects 3-8, 20-35). Dishes are also usually made in a simple and open form, yet they are not so numerous (Fig. 7; 113-129, objects 2, 18). Pots are a rather common form of a vessel, in some pits even the most numerous. Based on their form they could be divided into two groups. They can be simple shaped, or formed into rather demanding - compound shapes, which are even more common (Fig. 9; 7-22, objects 7-10; 113-129, objects 9-15, 38-41). The site produced also quite a number of ladles. They are of the quiver shaft type and mostly oval or round in shape with a rounded, exceptionally flat bottom (Fig. 10; 7-22, objects 11-14; 113-129, objects 15, 16, 45-48). The most interesting part of the pottery assemblage is the miniature vessels, regarding their shape in line with several different basic forms of vessels. Among them there are miniature pots, miniature bowls and dishes, miniature ladles and bowls on foot, etc. (Toma` 2005, 261-267, Fig. 4-5; 113-129, objects 1, 48-50). These tiny vessels are interesting also because they are the most diverse assemblage that has ever been discovered not only in

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Slovenia but also in the central European area. In some cases special usage could be assumed - they might have been so called "ritual vessels". Distinctly and fine shaped feet - anthropomorphic or zoomorphic respectfully (Fig. 11: 2), serving as a stand of a recipient, are most likely to belong to this group of vessels (comparison - e.g. Barna 2001, Pl. IV: 1). Pieces of clay ornaments or perhaps trinkets also appear. Besides numerous forms of ceramic beads and small pierced clay plates, made of pottery walls, a unique star-shaped bead from ^ate`Sredno polje has to be mentioned (Fig. 11: 1, Gu{tin 2003, 6-7; Toma` 2006). The small, very carefully formed five-legged star with remains of red clay slip is the only example of this kind of Neolithic trinkets in Slovenia and wider. A rather interesting aspect of the pottery production of the time is offered by the technological analysis of the material, as a rule produced in a rather uniform if not same way. It was exclusively handshaped. Most commonly there appears the clay with tiny particles of tempering material, quite often also with fine or coarse grains. The surfaces are usually smooth, only exceptionally rough and in a limited number of cases the surface smooth on the outside and rough inside or vice versa. Also exceptionally was the surface decorated with a red, brown or black slip. Most of this pottery was fired in the presence of oxygen, but the process was usually never quite completed therefore in most cases it is the incomplete oxidation firing that may be observed. The excavated pottery as a rule belongs to hard pottery, whit soft and very hard pieces or even glass scratching potsherds being rather scarce (113-129). The Neolithic pottery of ^ate`-Sredno polje is often decorated. In most cases the ornament was made with impressions or fingernail stitches. In some pottery assemblages this kind of decoration is so frequent that it appears on more than 70% of all fragments. Quite frequently the pottery was decorated with applications or with a combination of applications and impressions. Cut and modelled decorations made in mixed or combined techniques are rather scarce. The motifs are usually simple and linear, more complex and composed decorations are rare, e. g. fragment 4. When decorated pottery is considered there are two pots that are particularly interesting and unusual for the Slovenian territory. One, preserved only as part of the rim and wall of the vessel, is decorated with an application in form of an animal head. Most probably it is a head of a ram or a bull and applied on the transition part between the neck and the shoulder of the vessel (113-129, object 39). The other pot, at which unfortunatly the shoulder and the widest part of the belly were preserved, is important because of the extremely realistic depiction of a human nose, applied on the shoulder wall just above the widest part of the belly (113-129, object 15).

STONE TOOLS The location of ^ate`-Sredno polje revealed the largest number of Neolithic stone tools ever found in Slovenia. 15.001 stone flakes and cores were excavated - that is 11,838 flakes (78.9%), 1,229 flaked tools (8.1%), 1,934 cores (12.8%), 114 axes and axe semiproducts (Fig. 13-15) - among them 44 complete axes (38.5%), 21 fragmented axes (18.4%), 35 axe semi-products (30.7%) and 14 fragmented axe semi-products (12.2%). There were also 12 cores, semi products in axe and mallet production, 39 mallets and pestles, 55 fragmented hand mills, 26 grindstones, a drilling spigot, a spheroid and a piece of a stone showing working processes (Fig. 13-15). This assemblage of artefacts is important also because of the fact that it has been produced in a limited period of time, excluding the possibility of mixing with earlier or later elements. It therefore offers the possibility of an excellent insight into the material culture of a large settlement from the period of the Late Neolithic. On the other hand large quantities of archaeological material evidence discovered in a number of well - defined architectural units give excellent opportunity to document the typological and technological differences within the material culture of a single settlement - it makes it possible to introduce and elucidate specific activities that have been performed in certain parts of the settlement (131-144). BONE REMAINS The macroscopic analysis of animal bone and dental remains found inside the Neolithic pits proved the presence of ancient cattle (Bos primigenius, Boj. - 18.2%), red deer (Cervus elaphus, L. - 17.2%), pigs (Sus scroffa sp. - 14.2%), cattle (Bos Taurus, L. 10%), sheep and goat (Ovis/Capra - 12.1%), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, L. - 5.1%). Even some long bones of birds were recoignised (Aves - 1%) along with remains of large mammals (20.2%). It has to be pointed out that there remains are extremely poorly preserved. The predominant part of the remains are fragments of tooth enamel (68.55%) and less of other bones of the skeleton (31.45%). Among them are long bones, bones of the matapodium and in one case a vertebra. Due to a poor preservation the age determination of the animals was difficult, however in most instances we are dealing with adult individuals (Fig. 16). Only a boar found in Pit 150 could be defined as a male, considering the large lower jaw (mandibula) canine tooth. The preserved part of the cattle foreleg (olecranon ulnae), found in Pit 106 - SP 16 has been worked and was probably used as a tool.

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CONCLUSIONS ^ate`-Sredno polje is a settlement that can be, considering the pottery and stone tools, defined as being a part of the wide chronological scheme of the Neolithic. Very similar material appears in the central European Lengyel Culture (particularly in its early phases), most characteristic for the Pannonia.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples taken from twenty three structures put the settlement in the time of the first half of the 5th millennium BC. Most dates, with just a few exceptions, fall into the period between 4600 and 4800 cal. BC (7-22, Fig. 2). The Neolithic society lived in this area for approximately three centuries, probably even a century less.

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