An archeological view of the problems of the investigation, conserving, reconstructing and presenting the Illyrian settlement on Ošanići

Abstract

In the paper the author makes an aitempt to draw the character of the Illyrian city in Ošanići, West of Stolac in Hercegovina. This was die center of the Illyrian tribe Daorsoi that was destroyed about the middle of the 1st century BC. In his discussion on Ošanićii, the author analyzes the nature of Illyrian settlements, especially as they had been near the end of the protohistorical period; he considers the question of the Illyrian city's name in Ošanići, its location, development, urban traits, tile functions of the different parts of the city, with special attention given to its fortification system and its living quarters. After establishing that the choice of the location for raising a fortified settlement is typically Illyrian while die building technique is typically Greek, the author observes that this testifies to a certain synthesis of native and imported habits. Near the end of the article, the author considers the methodological problems the archeologist has to confront in Ošanići. He warns about the shallow layer in one part of die settlement, draws attention to the greater importance of the horizontal than of the vertical stratigraphy and stresses the importance of statistically processing the minute findings, particularly ceramics, the elements that enable one to determine the character of specific environments. In addition, the author considers the problems of conserving the remains and presenting the locality. There is no doubt that Ošanići, as a locality, deserves European standards of conservation and presentation.