ARHEOLOGIJA I

PRIRODNE NAUKE

Ovaj broj asopisa Arheologija i prirodne nauke

izdaje se u ast 60. roendana glavnog
urednika i osnivaa dr Miomira Koraa
This issue of the journal Archaeology and Science
is printed in the honor of 60 birthday of
editor in chief and founder Dr Miomir Kora

Center for New Technology

Archaeological Institute Belgrade

ARCHAEOLOGY
AND SCIENCE
7
2011

Belgrade 2012

Centar za nove tehnologije

Arheoloki institut Beograd

ARHEOLOGIJA I
PRIRODNE NAUKE
7
2011

Beograd 2012.

Published:
Center for New Technology Viminacium
Archaeological Institute Belgrade
Kneza Mihaila 35/IV
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel. +381 11 2637191
For the publishers:
Miomir Kora
Slavia Peri
Editor-in-chief:
Miomir Kora
Editorial Board:
Roksana Chowaniec, University of Warsaw, Institute of Archaeology, Warsaw
Gianfranco Cicognani, Central European Initiative (CEI-ES), Trieste
Rosemarie Cordie, Archologiepark Belginum
Eric De Sena, John Cabot University, Rome
Sneana Golubovi, Archaeological Institute, Belgrade
Gisela Grupe, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitt, Mnchen
Michaela Harbeck, Staatssammlung fr Anthropologie und Paloanatomie, Mnchen
Lanfranco Masotti, Universita di Bologna, Bologna
arko Mijailovi, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mathematics, Belgrade
ivko Miki, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Belgrade
Milan Milosavljevi, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Belgrade
Dragan Milovanovi, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Belgrade
Zoran Obradovi, Temple University, Philadelphia
Zoran Ognjanovi, Mathematical Institute, Belgrade
Marco Pacetti, Universita Politecnico delle Marche, Ancona
Slavia Peri, Archaeological Institute, Belgrade
Milica Tapaviki-Ili, Archaeological Institute, Belgrade
Dejan Vukovi, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Belgrade
Zsolt Zolnai, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison
Maria Xagorari Gleiner, Institut fr Klassische Archologie
der Universitt Erlangen-Nrnberg, Erlangen
Olivera Ili (secretary), Archaeological Institute, Belgrade
Translation:
Milica Tapaviki-Ili
Lecturer:
Dave Calcutt
Graphic design:
Nemanja Mri
Print:
Digital Art Beograd
Printed in:
500 copies

ISSN 1452-7448

Izdavai:
Centar za nove tehnologije Viminacium
Arheoloki institut Beograd
Kneza Mihaila 35/IV
11000 Beograd, Srbija
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel. +381 11 2637191
Za izdavae:
Miomir Kora
Slavia Peri
Urednik:
Miomir Kora
Ureivaki odbor:
anfranko ikonjani, Centralnoevropska inicijativa (CEI-ES), Trst
Roksana Hovanjec, Univerzitet u Varavi, Arheoloki institut, Varava
Erik De Sena, Don Kabot Univerzitet, Rim
Sneana Golubovi, Arheoloki institut, Beograd
Gizela Grupe, Ludvig-Maksimilians-Univerzitet, Minhen
Mihaela Harbek, Zbirka za antropologiju i paleoanatomiju, Minhen
Rozmari Kordi, Arheoloki park Belginum
Marija Ksagorari Glaisner, Institut za Klasinu arheologiju, Univerzitet Erlangen-Nirnberg, Erlangen
Lanfranko Masoti, Univerzitet u Bolonji, Bolonja
arko Mijailovi, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Matematiki fakultet, Beograd
ivko Miki, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filozofski fakultet, Beograd
Milan Milosavljevi, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Elektrotehniki fakultet, Beograd
Dragan Milovanovi, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Rudarsko-geoloki fakultet, Beograd
Zoran Obradovi, Univerzitet Templ, Filadelfija
Zoran Ognjanovi, Matematiki institut, Beograd
Marko Paeti, Politehniki univerzitet Marke, Ankona
Slavia Peri, Arheoloki institut, Beograd
Milica Tapaviki-Ili, Arheoloki institut, Beograd
Dejan Vukovi, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Rudarsko-geoloki fakultet, Beograd
Zolt Zolnaj, Univerzitet u Viskonsinu - Medison, Medison
Olivera Ili (sekretar), Arheoloki institut, Beograd
Prevod:
Milica Tapaviki-Ili
Lektor:
Dejv Kalkat
Dizajn i tehniko ureenje:
Nemanja Mri
tampa:
Digital Art Beograd
Tira:
500 primeraka

ISSN 1452-7448

CONTENTS

Ergn Lafl
Glseren Kan ahin

Iron Age and Hellenistic Ceramics from Southwestern Paphlagonia ................9

Bebina Milovanovi

Miniature Decorative Needles from Viminacium...........................................167

Sneana Golubovi
ivko Miki

Results of the Archaeological-Anthropological Study of the Mass Burial at

Viminacium Grave G 2158 The Peine Necropolis...................................173

Ilija Miki
Nina Kora

Viminacium - The Peine Necropolis Skeletons around Late Antique Buildings

A and B....................................................................................................185

Aleksandra Filipovi

Una necropoli bizantina nel golfo di Belceiz: Licia meridionale...................199

Emilija Nikoli
Jelena Anelkovi Graar
Dragana Rogi

uthenticity in Presenting History: The Influence of Ruins on Visitors

Impressions.....................................................................................................231

Jelena Anelkovi Graar

Emilija Nikoli
Dragana Rogi

Symmetry of the Iconography of Surfaces and Spaces from the Viminacium

Tombs G 160, G 5517 And G 2624..................................................................241

Dragana Rogi
Maja Gaji-Kvaev
Velibor Andri

Analysis of Blue and Green Pigments from the Fresco Painted Tombs of
Viminacium.....................................................................................................269

Ernst Knzl

Argo als Kriegsschiff und als Frachtschiff:

Astralikonographie zwischen Antike und Mittelalter......................................291

Mirjana Vojvoda,
Milica Tapaviki-Ili

Inheriting the Throne during the Principate in the Light of Reverse Images on
Roman Imperial Coins.....................................................................................303

Dijana Cerovski

Archaeology through the Eyes of Museology - Archaeology as a Science and

as Heritage.......................................................................................................329

Nina Kora
Ilija Miki

Finds of Causa Mortis on the Skeletons at Viminacium in Context of Amphitheatre

Discovery.........................................................................................................339

Saa Redi
Ilija Dankovi

Find of a Rare Type of Roman Belt Sets at the Territory of Serbia................353

Saa Redi
Ilija Dankovi

A Unique Find of a Belt Set from Viminacium...............................................357

Saa Redi

Knee Fibulae with Spring and Semi-Circular Head Plate from the Territory of
Viminacium.....................................................................................................361

Mladen Jovii
Saa Redi

Late Roman Villa on the Site Livade kod uprije - A Contribution to the Study
of Villae Rusticae in the Vicinity of Viminacium............................................369

REVIEWS
ivko Miki

Documenta Archaeobiologiae, Daob 5, Staatssamlung fr Anthropologie und

Paleoanatomie Mnchen, Gegrndet 2000, Gisela Grupe und Joris Peters
(Eds.), Skeletal Series and T196heir Socio-Economic Context, Verlag Marie
Liedorf Gmbh, Rohden/Westf. 2007....................................................................
........387

GUIDELINES
Guidelines for Submitting Manuscripts for the Periodical Arheologija i Prirodne
Nauke (Archaeology and Science)...................................................................391

Mladen Jovii
Archaeological Institute Belgrade
[email protected]

UDK: 904:728.8652(497.11) ;
902.2:728(497.11)198
ID: 196127756

Saa Redi
Archaeological Institute Belgrade
[email protected]

Original research article

Received: July 08, 2011
Accepted: September 05, 2011

LATE ROMAN VILLA ON THE SITE LIVADE KOD

UPRIJE - A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF VILLAE
RUSTICAE IN THE VICINITY OF VIMINACIUM
ABSTRACT
The Late Roman villa rustica at site Livade kod uprije, located 650 m south of Viminacium
was explored in 1983. Although this site had been explored nearly 30 years ago, the remains of the villa
have not been known in the scientific community until today. The remains of a rectangular object with
an open vestibule in the middle section were found on this site. This object was made of stone, brick and
mortar, while the only decoration found in traces was marble wall paneling. Several artifacts characteristic for the daily life of residents in villas, besides a few tools that indicate economic activities, were
found together inside the object. The villa is dated to the middle and second half of the 4th century, like
as the villas discovered at sites Burdelj, Na Kamenju, Rudine and Stig, all in the vicinity of Viminacium.
KEY WORDS: MOESIA PRIMA, VIMINACIUM, VILLA RUSTICA, 4TH CENTURY, SOUTH
NECROPOLISES.

INTRODUCTION
Although very important to the study of the
economy of a city, little attention was paid to villae risticae, despite the long history of research of
Viminacium. The villa rustica represents a dominant model of landownership and agricultural production typical for the period of Late Republic, as
well as during the whole period of Empire. Namely, those villas represent agricultural households
with rooms intended for the owner (pars urbana),
which are separated from the manufacturing part

of the villa (pars rustica). This manufacturing part

contains chambers for production, storage, barns,
mills, workshops, as well as housing objects for
slaves and staff. Slaves and freedmen were the
main manufacturing force on these estates and
were supervised by a special worker named vilicus.
Researches of villas last over 200 years,
during which numerous examples were examined
across the territory of the Empire, from the Black
Sea to Portugal, and from Yorkshire to the Sahara.1 Numerous remains of villas were also found
1 Percival 1981, 51.

* The article results from the project: IRS - Viminacium, Roman city and legionary camp research of material and non material culture of inhabitants by using modern technologies of remote sensing, geophysics, GIS, digitalisation and 3D visualisation (no 47018), funded by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

in our neighborhood, on the territory of Hungary2

and Croatia.3 An extensive typology was given
by J.T. Smith with a depiction of approximately
1,100 plans of villas throughout the Empire.4
When it comes to villas on the territory of
present-day Serbia, the first significant study concerning the subject and also the first synthesis was
given by Miloje Vasi in 1970. He described previously explored villas in the former Yugoslavia.5
From that period until today, a great number of
villas have been explored on our territory. Previous studies concerning these villas were mostly
focused on the remains of architecture and finds.
Recently, this issue has been elaborated and a
good review of villas investigated up to this date
has been given, with topographic and typological
analysis.6
Little is known about villas on the territory
of Viminacium, especially if the significance of
this town during the Antique period is taken into
account. A specific problem is the fact that the remains of the so far explored villas are not entirely
available to the general scientific community. The
remains of villa at the site Livade kod uprije are
just one example more. The objective of this study
is to present the results of research, to determine
the possible purpose of the object based on the
finds and architecture, as well as to discuss the
problem of the distribution of villas in the vicinity
of Viminacium and across the territory of Moesia
Prima during the 4th century.

VILLAE RUSTICAE IN THE

VICINITY OF VIMINACIUM

2 Tomas 1964; Bir 1974.

3 Begovi, Schrunk 2003; Lelekovi, Rendi-Mioevi
2012.
4 Smith 1997.
5 Vasi 1970.
6 Ili 2012, 74-82, 91-113.

Viminacium, the biggest urban settlement

in the province of Upper Moesia was founded in
the 1st century A.D. It is located on the right bank
of the river Mlava, near the confluence with the
Danube, and the contemporary town of Kostolac.
After Domitians division of Moesia to Upper
and Lower in the year 86 A.D., Viminacium became the capital of the province of Upper Moesia
(Moesia Superior) with a constant military crew
of the Seventh Claudian Legion (Legio VII Claudia) commanded by a legate.7 During the reign
of Hadrian and his visit to Upper Moesia in the
year 117 A.D., Viminacium received the status of
municipium. In the year 239 A.D., the town gains
the status of colonia, during the reign of emperor
Gordian III. In this period Viminacium rises politically and economically. After Diocletians reforms during the 4th and 5th century, Viminacium
was the capital of the province of Moesia Prima.8
A roman town was not limited only to the
settlement, but included a larger area ager or territorium. In the period when Viminacium was a
municipium, its territory included larger part of the
plain in the lower course of the Mlava, nowadays
called Stig. When it gained the status of colonia,
Viminacium spread its land to the whole area of Stig
and Veliko Gradite (Pincum) along with the mine.9
Stig is the second largest plain in Serbia. Its boundaries are the Danube River on the north, the mount
Sopotska greda and the river Mlava on the west and
Homolje Mountains on the east and southeast.10
Many archeological remains throughout the territory of Stig indicate the existence of properties of
independent landowners.11 The fertile plain of Stig
was favorable to the development of all branches of
agriculture, especially grain cultivation.
7 - 2002, 21.
8 Mirkovi 1986, 21-59.
9 1968, 30.
10 , 1992, 63.
11 2002, 44.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Map 1. Viminacium sites

During the many years of research in Viminacium, the remains of several villas were found.
Villas were discovered at sites: Burdelj,12 Livade
kod uprije,13 Na Kamenju,14 Nad Klepekom,15
Rit,16 Rudine17 and Stig.18 The remains of villas
from the sites Stig, Rit and Rudine have been described in detail, while villas on the sites Burdelj,
Livade kod uprije and Na Kamenju have been
just casually mentioned, without a clear description and a proper analysis of found remains. Recently, the first detailed analysis of above mentioned villas has been conducted with topographic
and typological determination.19
12 1980, 97.
13 Raikovi, Redi 2006, 81-105.
14 Golubovi, Kora 2008, 35.
15 The remains of villas on the site Nad Klepekom were
explored in 2010. and 2011., the processing of materials
is in progress.
16 Miki, Stojanovi, Mri 2006, 21-26.
17 , 1988, 168-170.
18 Redi, Raikovi, Mileti 2006, 47-56.
19 Jovii 2011.

LIVADE KOD UPRIJE VILLAS

POSITION AND RESEARCH
HISTORY
The site Livade kod uprije is located in the
proximity of the site Peine, 650 m southwest of
Viminacium, near the river Mlava (Map 1). The
site was explored during the construction of thermal power plant Kostolac B, when the ground was
being leveled to construct future plants. Rescue
excavations were carried out by experts of the
Archeological Institute in Belgrade, and the Republic Institute for Cultural Heritage Preservation, under the direction of Ljubica Zotovi (Fig.
1). During the research of the sites Peine and
Livade kod uprije, excavators found three kilns
for burning brick, four kilns for burning pottery,
two Early Christian churches, a small number of
inhumated graves and the remains of a villa. The
remains of the kilns were published in detail,20
while the remains of the building which was in20 Raikovi, Redi 2006.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Map 2. Villas from 4th century in the vicinity of Viminacium

terpreted as villa rustica by researchers, were only

partially described and until now, were never a
part of a separate study. During the rescue excavation in 1983, the Roman villa was discovered.
The remains of the object were located on the site
of present-day Distribution facility, which is located opposite from the management building of
thermal power plant Drmno. The remains of villa
were damaged during the field leveling in 1982.
Excavations of the villa were carried out in April
and May of 1983. The object, as well as the late
Antique layer at the area around the object, was
built on a layer from an older period. Remains of
a pottery kiln were found beneath the object and
dated in the 2nd or 3rd century. This kiln belonged
to a complex with pottery and brickwork in Viminacium. Until now, 13 pottery and brick kilns that
belonged to the complex were found, and they are
dated from the late 2nd century to the end of the
3rd century A.D.21 Artifacts discovered in the objects that were built above the kilns or that were
found in the area between the kilns, as well as in
the inhumated graves on this area, are dated to the
21 Raikovi 2007, 11.

period of the first half of the 4th century A.D.22 According to the researchers who carried out the excavation of southern necropolises of Viminacium,
a rural settlement was formed on the abandoned
necropolis Peine (formed during the second half
of the 1st century) in the 4th century.23 The remains
of the explored villa certainly affirm this hypothesis.
The exact position of the villa is ascertained circumstantially based on the data from the
documentation, because the situation plan is not
complete. The remains of villa are not presented
on a previously published situation plan of the site
Peine on the area which has been explored southeast from the site Livade kod uprije (Fig. 2).24 On
that plan, as we can see, the remains of two Early
Christian churches A and B are presented and date
back to the 4th century A.D., as well as villa.

22 Raikovi, Redi 2006, 88.

23 , 1990, 2.
24 Raikovi, Redi 2006, 91, P.I.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Figure 1. Archaeological excavation during construction of thermal power plant Kostolac B

Villas architecture
Villa is rectangular in shape and consists
of 8 rooms and a large vestibule in the central
part (Fig. 3). Room 1, located in the southwestern
part of the villa, has an extension in the form of a
semicircular apse. The dimensions of the explored
villa are 21 x 16,30 m. The object with its longer
side is faced in the north-south direction, with a
deviation of 26 degrees towards west on its northern part.
Foundation footing of the object was built
in dry stone wall from crushed bricks and broken
schist. Fragments of brick were stacked aslant.
The width of the mentioned dry stone wall is 1012 cm, and the height is 20 cm. The exceptions
are wall 2, the eastern wall in rooms 1, 5 and 6,
and wall 3, which is the southern wall in rooms
1, 3 and 4. The foundation parts of the walls are
built in technique opus spicatum (two rows of

bricks stacked aslant in herringbone pattern).

Surface parts of the walls were built in technique
opus mixtum with uniformly stacked fragments of
schist stone and brick, which were bound by lime
mortar (Fig. 4).25 Bigger and more evenly broken
fragments of brick and schist were stacked on the
front of the wall, while smaller fragments filled
the wall. The width of the walls is 0,60 m. Wall 4,
that closes the rooms 2 and 4 on the northern side,
is the best preserved wall of the object, and the
height of the wall is preserved in the range from
40 to 60 cm.
Room 1 is located in the southwestern part
of the villa. With its dimensions 6,40 x 5,75 m,
this room represents the biggest room in the object. Southern side is closed with semicircular
apse. The apse, with its radius of 2,80 m, was partially destroyed during the digging of a concrete
25 For a description of these techniques see: Adam 2005,
188, 277.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Figure 2. Situation plan of the site Peine, southeast from the site Livade kod uprije

pedestal. One third of the semicircular wall is preserved, which is the eastern part of the wall. Pilasters were built at the place where apse joined the
walls 1 and 2. The dimensions of pilasters were 70
x 60 cm. The highest preserved part of the wall is
55 cm. Traces of charcoal, burned soil and debris
were found on the surface in the northeastern corner of the Room 1. The dimensions of the surface
were 2,80 x 1,65 m.
Rooms 2, 3 and 4 are located in the southeastern corner of the object. Rooms 2 and 3 which
have the same lengths were located east of Room
1. The dimensions of Room 2 are 4,35 x 2,0 m.
The dimensions of Room 3 are 4,35 x 2,45 m.
Bones of cattle were found in northeastern cor-

ner of the room. Room 4 was located east of these

rooms, and its dimensions were 5,10 x 3,80 m. A
surface with traces of charcoal, with dimensions
of 60 x 50 cm, and thickness of 15 cm was found
in the northwestern corner of Room 4.
In the central part of the villa there was
a room that can be interpreted as a vestibule, or
a lobby. Villas vestibule is located between the
southeastern wing of the object (Rooms 2, 3 and
4) and the northeastern part (Rooms 7 and 8). The
room was closed from south, west and north with
the walls of other rooms, while the eastern side
was open. A ceramic kiln from an older period
was found in the villas vestibule, beneath wall
4. The kiln was located 70 cm below the lower

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Figure 3. Plan of the villa rustica at the site Livade kod uprije

grade level of the wall. The height of the kiln is

preserved at 0,97 m, with a cylindrical burner (diameter of 1,40 m) and its dated to the period of
the 2nd and 3rd century A.D. (Fig. 5).
Room 5 is located north of Room 1, and
west of the vestibule. The north, west and south
walls of the room were partially destroyed during
mechanization. According to reconstruction, the
dimensions of Room 5 are 5,75 x 3,70 m.
Rooms 6, 7 and 8 were in the northern
wing of the object. Room 6 is located in the northwestern corner of the construction. Walls 1 and 7
which closed the room from western and northern
side, were completely destroyed by mechanization works. The dimensions of Room 6 are 5,75
x 5,05 m. Room 7 is located east of Room 6. Like
as previously mentioned rooms, the walls of this
one were also partially destroyed by mechanization works. One row of brick fragments in foundation zone is the only preserved part of western and
northern walls. The dimensions of Room 7 are

5,05 x 4,35 m. Room 8 in the northeastern corner

of the villa was located east of the Room 7. The
dimensions of Room 8 are 5,05 x 3,85 m.

The Finds
Many finds made of iron, bronze, lead,
stone and bone were found in the villas layer.
Most notable iron artifact is an iron arrow shaped
tool with a spoon-shaped handle (T.I/1). It was
found in the vestibules layer, near wall 8. This
artifact can be interpreted as a drill, a tool used
for drilling wood by carpenters and cart wrights.26
A small fragmented and corroded iron axe
with a breech was found in Room 4 (T.I/2). This
axe belongs to a certain type of axe hammers, and
the blade is evenly wide from the breech to the
point.27 These types of axes represent combined
26 1988, 118, 119, T.XX. 3-6.
27 1988, 69.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Figure 4. Walls of the villa rustica

weapons. They could also been used as hammers,

because they have a prism-like end, but they were
primarily used by woodcutters. Axes of this type
were widespread throughout the Antique period.
An iron ring was also found in the southern part
of this room (T.I/3).
The most common are bronze artifacts, and
count the findings of coins, a fibula, needles, a
rings and an application. Nine bronze coins were
found in the rooms and vestibule. According to
available documentation, 6 coins were dated in
the middle and the second half of the 4th century
A.D.28 They are the coins of Julian, Valens, Valentinian I, Valentinian II and Theodosius I. Only
one fibula has been discovered in the object, in
the Room 8. It is a bronze crossbow fibula, which
doesnt have a part of the bow, the head and the
pin (T.I/4). The bow has trapezoidal cross-section,
longitudinally decorated with carvings. It has a
long body with a circular decoration. Crossbow
fibulae were testified with 79 samples on the territory of Viminacium, and all are from the 4th century.29 This type of crossbow fibula has no direct
analogy, but it is the most similar to the fibulae
from Timacum Minus and Romuliana, type 34d,
subvariant 2 according to the typology made by
S. Petkovi, and which she dated from 364 to 380
A.D.30 A bronze sewing needle with a rectangular
perforation was found in the same room (T.I/5).
The needle was broken and slightly deformed.
Such needles are commonly found (Belgrade,
Ritopek, Ue near Obrenovac, Zemun) and dated, based on the context, to the 2nd and 3rd century
A.D.31 A deformed bronze needle was found in the
villas vestibule. A larger bronze ring of a semicircular cross-section was found in Room 3, while a
bronze application with a safety pin was found in
Room 4 (T.I/6).
A miniature lead mirror with a handle
was found in the northwestern corner of Room 2
28 According to the data from excavation field diary.
29 Redi 2007, 65-66.
30 Petkovi 2010, 264-265, Sl. 93, Sl 94.
31 1997, 215-216, . 330-335.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

Figure 5. Wall 5 and a pottery kiln from the older period

Figure 6. a) Krivelj near Bor; b) Livade kod uprije - plans of the villas

(T.I/7). It is ornamented on the back side, and the

front side is damaged. Anterior part of the circular
frame of the mirror is divided in two fields. In one
of the fields, appears a motive of connected ellipse ornaments, which form a chain around the

mirror frame or on the outer line. The inner field

is divided in four sections by vertical lines, which
form a herringbone motif (V motive). These lines
form a schematic wreath. The mirror is type IV/2
according to B. Milovanovi. Three mirrors of

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

this type were found in Danube region, two in

Viminacium one at the site air, and one at the
site Pirivoj. B. Milovanovi dated this type in the
first half of the 4th century A.D.32
Concerning the artifacts made of stone, we
should mentioned one whetstone, found in Room
8 (T.II/1). A piece of marble wall paneling was
found in Room 3. One of its edges was polished,
and it represents the remains of the walls marble
decoration (T.II/2). Another piece of marble board
was found bricked into wall 2. That is a reused
marble tombstone (T.II/3). The data refer to the
age of the deceased are readable. According the
letters and hederas which were properly carved,
the tombstone was dated to the period of the 2nd
century, or the beginning of the 3rd century.
Processing is noticed on deer antler fragment which was cut. The antler was unfinished
piece (T.II/4). These antler tines can often be
found on Antique sites in Upper Moesia.33 These
tines were further used in bone carving workshops
for making plates, cuts, spikes, pipes, that were
later carved into other desired items.
Fragments of pottery found in villas rooms
belong to the repertoire of the 4th century. A green
enameled lamp, characteristic for the 4th century
was found in trench 1 near the villa.

ning of the 4th century, while Structures 2 and 3

are dated to the end of the 4th and beginning of 5th
century.37
Similar situation is noticed with explored
villas on the territory of Serbia. Most of them are
dated to the 4th century, a period when they are numerous on the territory of Moesia Prima,38 Dacia
Mediterranea39 and Pannonia Secunda.40
Villa phenomenon is related to the end of
st
the 1 and the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. in
the most provinces of the Empire. However, the
increased number of villas in all area is typical
for the 4th century, when colonatus was the dominant system.41 During this period, old villas are
renovated and new ones are built, and there is a
development of large land ownership.42 Villas are
often fortified, because there was a risk of barbaric invasions. The 4th century is a period of economical stability, and a more basic, staider way of
manufacturing.
Roman villa at the site Livade kod uprije
is a type of villa with a rectangular basis and a
central corridor.43 Villas with a central corridor
are typical for the territory of Pannonia.44 Villas with similar basis and dimensions were also

DISCUSSION
Based on the finds discovered in villas
rooms, the object can be dated to the second half
of the 4th century. Most of the investigated villas
in Viminacium were also dated to the 4th century
(Map 2). Villas at the sites Na Kamenju,34 Stig35
and Burdelj36 are dated to the middle of the 4th
century. Second phase of Structure 1 at the site
Rudine is dated to the end of the 3rd and begin32 Milovanovi 2009, 127-128.
33 Petkovi 1995, 55-56.
34 Golubovi, Kora 2008, 35.
35 Redi, Raikovi, Mileti 2006, 49.
36 1986, 56, nap. 28.

37 , 1988, 170.
38 Vasi 1995, 335, Map 1; Ili 2012, 101-113.
39 On the site Mediana south of the representative peristyle villa, the remains of smaller villa rustica were found,
that are dated to the 4th century, see: 2006, 24-28; In
the area of Remesiana, a larger peristyle villa was found
in Bela Palanka, while the remains of another villa are in
the village Dol, see: Miloevi 2004, 128; Late Antique
period villas were found during the construction of highway E-75 in 2003. For the villa in Mala Kopanica, see:
, 2005, 67-83, .VI-.XIV.
For the villa in Krince near Vladiin Han see: ,
, - 2005, 203-225.
40 Late Antique period villas were found on the sites
Livade near Sremska Mitrovica, ainci, Dumbovo near
Beoin and Hrtkovci. For villas on the territory of Srem
see: 1995, 137-174; 2008,
287-312.
41 Percival 1981, 46.
42 Percival 1981, 46-49, 166-182; For Pannonia see: Bir
1974, 52.
43 For villa types see: Smith 1997; Bir 1974, 40; Vasi
1970, 54-62.
44 Tomas 1964, 162, Abb.177.

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Archaeology and Science 7 (2011)

found in Serbia. Such villas are Poskurice near

Kragujevac,45 Viesava near Bajina Bata46 and
Krivelj near Bor,47 and the last one is the most
similar to the villa at the site Livade kod uprije
(Fig. 6).
Finds inside the villa, besides the items for
daily use and clothing, indicate craftsmanship and
agricultural labor. Axes, drill and the semi fabricate of a antler suggest an intense woodwork and
bone tools processing, while the whetstone is evidence of agricultural activity. The marble decoration in Room 3 indicates that the villa was also
used for the accommodation of the owner, not just
for economical purpose. However, since remains
of heating, floors or mural decorations were not
found, it can be assumed that it was not a luxurious object. Room 1 with an apse could have been
a receiving room, or dining-room (triclinium).
Villas dated to 4th century often have an apse,
served as so called Late Antique representative
aula which was modeled after the central aula of
imperial palaces.
It is difficult to make any reliable conclusion when it comes to the size of the estate and
the role of this villa mostly because of its level
of investigation. Did this villa have auxiliary objects on the property, or it was itself an auxiliary
object of a larger household? The villas owners
could have been of different social status. During the Roman period there were imperial and
senatorial properties, properties of roman or local aristocracy, and the owners of the villa could
have been veterans, or small landowners.48 Veterans were given property after their service, and
they were owners of smaller and simpler villas.
M. Vasi linked the frequent appearance of villas
on the territory of Moesia Prima with the period
of Valentinian I and his border army, i.e. limitanei.
After the act of Emperor from the year 364 there

was a greater appearance of properties. During

that period emperors were granting to the veterans
considerable estates. Private soldiers were allotted
pair of oxen and 50 modes of wheat, what was
sufficient to plant about 10 to 12 yokes of land.49
Those of higher rank were allotted two pairs of
oxen and twice the amount of wheat. Vasi believes that the colonate was established in the
Iliricum rather late, not before the prefecture of
Anatolius in 371, so most lands were cultivated by
independent farmers, who existed until the end of
the 4th century. These properties had a significant
role in the provinces economy, because the owners supplied the urban settlements with agricultural products and paid taxes regularly. The villa at
the site Livade kod uprije, according to the size
and character of object was just a small property
of a veteran or an independent farmer. The life period of villa confirms this hypothesis.

45 1966, 254, . 5.
46 , 1986, 33, . 11.
47 1996. .1.
48 Begovi, Schrunk 2003, 99.

CONCLUSION
Considering the territory of Viminacium,
the discovery of villa rustica on the site Livade
kod uprije increases the knowledge of this area
of interest in many ways, and contributes to the
research of villas on the territory of Moesia. As it
can be seen the duration of the villa is dated in the
middle and second half of the 4th century, which
coincides with the period of greatest prevalence
of villas on our territory, but also with the situation in other provinces of the Empire. The villa is
made of stone, brick and mortar, techniques commonly applied in building of others objects of the
same period. Typologically, the villa has a rectangular basis with a central corridor or a vestibule.
This type of villa was common on the territory of
Pannonia in the 4th century, but similar villas can
also be found on the territory of Moesia.
The villa at the site Livade kod uprije is
not a residential villa of a big estate but rather of
49 Vasi 1995, 329.

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Jovii, Redi - Late Roman Villa... (369-385)

medium or small farm. In addition to the residential character of the villa, its rooms were places
of economic activities which were characteristic
for daily life in a rural household. The remains of
villa on the territory south of the town, which was
used from the 1st to the 3rd century as a necropolis,
indicate that rural households were formed after
the initial function of southern necropolis was finished. The previously mentioned remains of a rural object at the site Burdelj50 located about 500 m
southeast of the site Livade kod uprije, confirm
this hypothesis. The owner of the property could
have been a veteran or independent farmer who
sold his services and products in the town.

2008
. , -

2005-2006. , 24, 2008, 287-312.

translated by the author

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J. P. Adam, Roman Building Materials and Techniques, London and New York 2005.
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V. Begovi, I. Schrunk, Rimske vile Istre i Dalmacije, II dio: tipologija vila, Pril. Inst. Arheol.
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M. Bir, Roman villas in Pannonia, Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 26,
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S. Golubovi, M. Kora, The Recent Discovery of
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Ili 2012
O. Ili, Poljoprivredna proizvodnja u rimskim
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50 1980, 97; 1986, 51.

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Jovii 2011
M. Jovii, Vile rustike na teritoriji Viminacijuma,
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T. Lelekovi, A. Rendi-Mioevi, Rural Settlements, The Archaeology of Roman Southern
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M. Miki, V. Stojanovi, N. Mri, Primena gradiometra za potrebe zatitnih arheolokih istraivanja na Viminacijumu - lokalitet Rit, Arheologija
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B. Milovanovi, Rimsko olovo u Srbiji eksploatacija, proizvodnja i upotreba, Filozofski
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M. Mirkovi, Inscriptions de la Mesie Superieur,
vol. II . Viminacium et Margum, Beograd 1986.
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S. Petkovi, Rimski predmeti od kosti i roga sa
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A. Raikovi, Keramike posude Zanatskog centra iz Viminacijuma, Beograd 2007.
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S. Redi, A. Raikovi, V. Mileti, Arheoloka
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KASNOANTIKA VILA NA
LOKALITETU ,,LIVADE
KOD UPRIJE PRILOG
PROUAVANJU VILA RUSTIKA NA
TERITORIJI VIMINACIJUMA

2002
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2002.
Thomas 1964
E. Thomas, Rmische Villen in Pannonien, Budapest 1964.
Vasi 1970
M. Vasi, Rmische Villen vom Typus der Villa
rustica auf jugoslawischen Boden, Archeologia
Iugoslavica XI, Beograd 1970, 45-81.
Vasi 1995
M. Vasi, Moesia Prima and Dacia Ripensis in the
time of Valentinian and Valens (364-378 A.D.),
The Age of Tetrarchs (ed. D.Srejovi), Beograd
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XXXI, 1980, 95-128.
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1986, 41-60.
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Tokom dugogodinjeg istraivanja Viminacijuma, iako veoma znaajne za istraivanje

privrede jednog grada, vile rustike nisu dobile
dovoljno naune panje. Vile rustike predstavljaju
model zemljoposeda i poljoprivredne proizvodnje
karakteristian za period kasne Republike i za ceo
period Carstva, odnosno agrikulturno gazdinstvo
sa prostorijama za smetaj vlasnika (pars urbana) koje su odvojene od proizvodnog dela vile
(pars rustice) i u kome su odaje za proizvodnju,
skladitenje, tale, mlinovi, radionice, kao i objekti za smetaj robova i osoblja.
Viminacijum je najvee gradsko naselje u
provinciji Gornjoj Meziji, nastalo u I veku na desnoj obali Mlave u blizini njenog ua u Dunav.
Nakon 86. godine Viminacijum je postao glavni
grad provincije Gornje Mezije (Moesia Superior), a nakon Dioklecijanove reforme provincije
Prve Mezije (Moesia Prima) sa stalnom vojnom
posadom legije VII Claudia. Antiki grad nije bio
ogranien samo na naselje ve je obuhvatao i iri
prostor ager ili territorium, koji se prostirao na
teritoriju Stiga. Tokom dugogodinjeg istraivanja
Viminacijuma na toj teritoriji istraeni su ostaci
vie vila rustika, i to na lokalitetima Burdelj,
Livade kod uprije, Na Kamenju, Nad Klepekom,
Rit, Rudine i Stig.
U radu je predstavljena kasnoantika villa
rustica pronaena na lokalitetu Livade kod uprije
koji se nalazi 650 m juno od Viminacijuma,
u neposrednoj blizini lokaliteta Peine. Vila
je istraena 1983. godine prilikom zatitnih
istraivanja u krugu termoelektrane Kostolac B,
meutim rezultati tih istraivanja do danas su ostali nepoznati naunoj zajednici. Objekat kao i
kasnoantiki sloj na prostoru oko njega naslojavaju
se na sloj iz starijeg perioda, tanije ispod objekta
istraeni su ostaci lonarske pei iz II-III veka.

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Istraeni objekat je pravougaone osnove,

sastoji od 8 prostorija i jednog veeg predvorja u
centralnom delu. Prostorija I u jugozapadnom delu
vile imala je proirenje u vidu polukrune apside
i ova prostorija bi mogla biti prostorija za prijem
ili za obroke (triclinium). Dimenzije istraene vile
iznose 21 x 16,30 m. Temeljna stopa objekta zidana
je u suhozidu od lomljenih komada opeke i lomljenog kriljca, visine do 20 cm. Nadzemni deo zida
zidan je od pravilno reanih veih komada kamena
kriljca i opeke koji su vezani krenim malterom,
a ostaci zidova ouvani su maksimalno do 60 cm.
U kulturnom sloju koji odgovara periodu
ivota vile otkriveno je vie pokretnih nalaza:
svrdlo, gvozdena sekira, gvozdena i bronzana
alka, devet bronzanih novia, bronzana krstasta
fibula, bronzana ivaa igla, olovno ogledalo,
kameni brus, fragment mermerne oplate zida,
sekundarno upotrebljeni deo nadgrobnog spomenika uzidan u zid objekta, i polufabrikat od roga.
Fragmenti keramike pronaeni u prostorijama
vile pripadaju repertoaru IV veka. Pokretni nalazi pored predmeta svakodnevne upotrebe i delova odee predstavljaju i predmete koriene za
zanatske delatnosti i poljoprivredne radove.
Na osnovu pomenutih nalaza pronaenih
u prostorijama vile, objekat se moe datovati u
period sredine i druge polovine IV veka. Upravo
periodu IV veka pripada i najvei broj istraenih
vila na Viminacijumu, na lokalitetima Burdelj, Na
Kamenju, Stig i Rudine. Vila na lokalitetu Livade
kod uprije tipoloki gledano pripada tipu vila
pravougaone osnove sa centralnim koridorom
karakteristinim za prostor Panonije, koji se sree
i na naoj teritoriji. Direktne analogije nalazimo
na lokalitetu Krivelj kod Bora.
Vila Livade kod uprije, prema veliini i
karakteru objekta, moe predstavljati manji posed
nekog veterana ili slobodnog seljaka. Za period
vladavine Valentinijana karakteristino je da je
Imperator veteranima dodeljivao zemlju, a upravo
se i vila sa lokaliteta Livade kod uprije vezuje za
ovaj period.

Ostaci vile rustike na teritoriji juno od

grada, koja je tokom perioda od I do kraja III veka
koriena kao nekropola, govore da su nakon
prestanka prvobitne funkcije, na teritoriji junih
nekropola formirana gazdinstva ruralnog karaktera. Ostaci ruralnog objekta na lokalitetu Burdelj
nalaze se na udaljenosti od oko 500 m jugoistono
od lokaliteta Livade kod uprije to takoe ide u
prilog ovoj tvrdnji.

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