Conservation Department in Požega

"ČAGLIN – MEDNJAK: A REVIEW ON THE PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS

The first archaeological finds at the Mednjak site near Čaglin in the eastern part of Požega valley were discovered by chance in September of 2008, as the result of machine excavation during the construction of the accumulation by the river Londža. During 2008 and 2009 a field survey was carried out and the boundaries of the new archaeological zone were defined, so it can be preventively protected by law. Archaeological finds are presented by many fragments of pottery vessels, the parts of a pottery kiln or a bread oven, a damaged grindstone, a few microliths and rock cores, a house daub and the bricks. According to these finds, the Mednjak site was populated during the early phase of the Late Stone Age (the Starčevo culture), the Middle Copper Age (the Lasinja culture), the Late Bronze Age and the Early Middle Ages. Before the beginning of the second phase of the construction of accumulation, that is taking place at the south part of archaeological zone, rescue archaeological excavations must be carried out. Therefore in May 2011 appropriate collaboration with investor has been achieved. 
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Due to an extraordinary geological and biological diversity of Papuk Mountain, Croatian Government proclaimed the Law on Declaring Papuk Nature Park in April 1999, and in 2007 it became the first Geopark in Croatia. This Park includes almost the whole area of Papuk Mountain, as well as the western part of Krndija Mountain; this natural unit is adimistratively devided between Požega-Slavonia and Virovitica-Podravina Counties. It occupies 33 600 hectares of land, which is mainly covered with the forests, making home for many plant and animal spacies, but also providing shelters, food, water springs and sources of raw materials for the humans since the 6th millennium BC. This claim is well documented by the archaeological remains of settlements and burial grounds, which are found in Park and its surroundings, i.e. the foothills of Papuk. Beside very impressive and plentiful prehistoric remains, the certain number of the archaeological sites belong to antiquity. In the same area there are also many medieval buildings (fortresses, churches…) of high historical importance, as well as the valuable examples of traditional houses. The main aim is to protect this priceless cultural heritage and to present it to the public.

Due to an extraordinary geological and biological diversity of Papuk Mountain, Croatian Government proclaimed the Law on Declaring Papuk Nature Park in April 1999, and in 2007 it became the first Geopark in Croatia. This Park includes almost the whole area of Papuk Mountain, as well as the western part of Krndija Mountain; this natural unit is adimistratively devided between Požega-Slavonia and Virovitica-Podravina Counties. It occupies 33 600 hectares of land, which is mainly covered with the forests, making home for many plant and animal spacies, but also providing shelters, food, water springs and sources of raw materials for the humans since the 6th millennium BC. This claim is well documented by the archaeological remains of the prehistoric settlements, which are found in Park and its surroundings, i.e. the foothills of Papuk.

During 2010, in the context of examining the condition of cultural properties in the area of the competence of the Conservation Department in Požega, the condition of the archaeological zone of Mednjak by Čaglin, settled at the Požega valley in the Požega-Slavonia County, was ascertained. The first archaeological finds at the site of Mednjak were discovered in September 2008 during mechanical excavation done for the purpose of developing the Londža reservoir. Along with many potsherds, parts of a stone quern were found, parts of the dome of a bread oven or kiln, small stone weapons, flakes and cores, several pieces of large brick blocks. The developer was informed of the finds and protection measures in order to forestall all further earthworks at this site. During 2008 and 2009 a detailed field survey was carried out, the spatial boundaries of the site were determined, and a preventative protection ruling was made. According to knowledge to date, the site of Mednjak was settled during prehistory and the Middle Ages. The finds collected belong to the Starčevo culture of the Late Stone Age, to the Lasinja culture of the Copper Age, to the Late Bronze Age and the early Middle Ages. The area of the zone is threatened by the planned movement of the Čaglin - Zdenkovac road and other earthworks, as well as the drowning of the land as part of the construction of the Londža reservoir. Currently the works are discontinued, and archaeological rescue investigations are envisaged to accompany their restarting.