Colapians – the Iron Age people along the river Kolpa

The social and historical changes in Bela Krajina at transition from the Early to the Late Iron Age (E/LIA) are studied in the case of in this region most important Podzemelj Iron Age complex. The excavations at the southern summit of Kučar provide new insight into the intensity and changes in the settlement, but the newly discovered cemetery at Pezdirčeva njiva shows even greater scientific potential. It presents the core base for studying the contact between the indigenous peoples and their Hallstatt cultural tradition and the population in the LIA, who are the bearers of Vinica culture – perhaps in ancient written sources testified Colapians (Fig. 1). The analysis of the development and definition of the chronological phases of the Vinica group is a great desideratum of research. With the discovery of new site in Podzemelj, a more detailed study of this cultural group and the LIA in Bela Krajina is now possible for the first time.

Fig. 1: Late Iron Age communities in Slovenia with marked main natural trails from Bela krajina (arrows) to areas of the Colapian and Iapodic communities in the NW of Croatia

The project – supported by the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts –significantly complements the current knowledge of the Bela Krajina settlement picture during the Iron Age and considerably contributed to elucidating the development and origins of the community that inhabited the Kolpa River area. In order to achieve the main aim of the project, we follow three objectives (RO):

1. Studies of funeral rites at the transition from the E/LIA

A key site for this RO is the cemetery at Pezdirčeva njiva (Fig. 2), where we examine the dynamics of burial, the social structure and different changes that occur on the transition period.

Fig. 2: Pezdirčeva njiva cemetery, 2019 excavations with late Hallstatt princely grave with a Negova helmet and some Vinica-group attire. Photo: L. Grahek, O. Kovač, F. Aš.

2. Analysis of the IA settlement at Kučar

With set of studies we determine the intensity and changes in the settlement pattern of the Podzemelj complex with the main settlement on hill Kučar. In the younger Hallstatt period, there appeared to be radical changes, while the settlement picture in the LIA is not clarified yet.

3. Research on the Vinica cultural group

Based on a detailed study of new graves that provide insight into the characteristics of the Vinica community the first typo-chronological scheme is presented. Great attention is given to examining the formation and development of this group in relation to the Iapodes and Colapians in neighboring Croatia.

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The research is conducted in collaboration with specialists in various research in archaeology. The results are evaluated in a final monograph, which serve as a reference work for various studies of social and cultural processes at the transition of the E/LIA in wider SE Alpine region. It contributes to the development of the Slovenian archeological profession, but it can also be used for educational purposes and for the promotion and management of the cultural heritage of this area.

Project team

- Lucija Grahek, project leader
- Otmar Kovač, external associate for excavations and field surveys
- Nataša Nemeček, external associate for conservation / restoration of archaeological finds and chemical analyses of non-ceramic grave goods) - Sneža Tecco Hvala, studies of Early Iron Age, material culture, funeral rites, social structure
- Dragan Božič, studies of Late Iron Age, material culture, Mecklenburg Collection
- Helena Grčman, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, leader of a pedological and geochemical sediment research team
- Anja Ragolič, epigraphy and studies of ancient literary sources for Iapodes and Colapians
- Tjaša Tolar, paleobotanical and anthracotomic analyses and studies
- Borut Toškan, archaeozoological analyses and studies
- Tilen Podobnik, expert technical associate