Roman production of wine in Muline on the island of Ugljan

Abstract

Closeness to the colony Iader and favourable climate conditions were stimulus for founding a great agricultural estate at the most fertile, north-western part of the island of Ugljan. A work area for reprocessing olives and grapevine was built after the completion of the ager limitation and when these two main agricultural sorts had started being cultivated at plantations. The reprocessing plant was placed within the ager centuriatus, not far from its harbour. Production line for reprocessing grapes and storing the wine (cella vinaria) was at the coldest, north-eastern side of the building, from no. 3 to no. 8. Two objects where grapes were trodden (G1 and G2) were discovered. Below them were two smaller reservoirs - collectors (S j and S2) in which the must infused. The grape press (T) was next to the collector S2. Rooms for olive-oil production (cella olearia) were on the other, south-western, side of the building. Remains of five olive presses were discovered. A broad corridor (from no. 9 to no. 11) was between these two workplaces; through the corridor, one could enter into the both of the workplaces. A water-cistern, the former impluvium (M), was built at the end of this corridor. No residential buildings can be traced around this manufacture. Remains of large ruins, called “Gospodska gomila” (= the lordly mound) among the local inhabitants, are at some 700 m to the North-West from the manufacture. It is presumed that there was a mysterious villa rustica in which, at some distance from the production plant, occasionally dwelled the owner of the manufacture.