Sensational discovery on Biokovo as 4,500-year-old burial site unearthed

by croatiaweek
November 12, 2024
in News

Biokovo

Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, located along the Dalmatian coast.

An exciting archaeological discovery on Biokovo mountain has unveiled a 4,500-year-old burial site, believed to belong to ancient shepherding communities.

The results of eight years of research were presented at Biokovo’s Adrion Presentation Centre, highlighting the region’s rich archaeological landscape from prehistory to modern times, Slobodna Dalmacija reported.

Led by Professor Željko Miletić and Professor Silvija Bekavac from the University of Zadar, along with their students, the team conducted extensive research in the Biokovo Nature Park since 2016.

One of their most remarkable findings is a prehistoric tumulus, the oldest within the Cetina culture, located at one of the highest altitudes for such structures.

This tumulus and others like it are large, with some spanning 20 metres wide and 15 metres tall, and were used for multiple burials. The excavations revealed unique burial practices, with skeletons often in a fetal position, suggesting ancient beliefs in eternal sleep.

The research team, including assistant Antonela Čelan and spatial analysis specialist Dora Štublin, used modern technology to map possible early shepherd settlements on Biokovo.

At Podglogovik, researchers found over 60 tumuli dating back to the third millennium BC, associated with Indo-European settlers who introduced new burial practices, including stone tombs.

Biokovo Nature Park

Later burials in the Lokva area, near the mountain lodge Slobodan Ravlić, yielded more human remains, including a fully intact skeleton of a 25-year-old man, unusually old for the time, with evidence of malnutrition and spinal issues.

In a nearby tomb, a 16 to 18-year-old youth was buried, with signs of trauma and scarcity in his life. The deepest grave contained a man holding a decorated vessel, linking him to the Cetina cultural group, a find that has drawn international interest.

These findings have generated much excitement, with Biokovo Nature Park’s director Slavo Jakša expressing hopes that the park will increasingly attract visitors drawn by its rich archaeological heritage, adding a new dimension to the park’s appeal.

The Biokovo-Imotski Lakes Geopark is a remarkable region filled with a rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage. It boasts a wide variety of habitats, plant and animal species, and an impressive array of geological formations formed over different periods of Earth's history. One of its notable features is the Blue Lake, which has an elliptical shape and depths ranging from 300 to 500 meters. The water level in this lake fluctuates annually, sometimes reaching depths of up to 100 meters. Situated on the outskirts of the historic town of Imotski, the Blue Lake is a popular destination for swimming and a favorite gathering place during the summer. To reach it, you can descend along a winding path constructed in the early 20th century using the dry stone wall technique. Another remarkable hydro-morphological wonder in the area is located 1.5 kilometers northwest of Imotski. This deep fissure, surrounded by striking red rocks, partially contains water and is aptly named due to the way it reflects the crimson hues of its surroundings. Experts consider it one of Europe's deepest water fissures, and it was designated as a Monument of Nature in 1971. Research conducted in 1998 revealed that the lake's bottom is situated 6 meters below sea level, classifying it as a depression. Biokovo, the highest mountain range in Croatia's coastal region, rises to an impressive altitude of 1,762 meters above sea level at its highest point, St. George Peak. Its unique geomorphology, exceptional biodiversity, and breathtaking landscapes have led to its designation as a protected nature park. It forms a part of the expansive karst region of the Dinaric Alps, renowned globally for its distinct karst formations, which create a vital climatic and physical barrier between the coastal areas and the inland region where the Imotski Lakes are situated.

Biokovo above Makarska

Visitors to the event enjoyed presentations on Biokovo’s archaeology, followed by a tasting of prehistoric-inspired dishes, including barley-based treats and traditional rakija made from pine needles gathered from the mountains.