This project proposes to combine archaeology and physical anthropology in order to expand the current knowledge of Late Bronze Age (LBA) mortuary practices and society in Carpathian Basin. It will integrate analyses of burial features and associated artifacts with analyses of cremated human remains from at least seven urnfield cemeteries in northern Croatia, dated between 13th and 9th century BC. We shall seek correlations between skeletal and artifactual evidence, which should allow us to recognize regularities and possible discrepancies linked to a specific gender or age group. Our primary aim is to investigate the variability of mortuary practices as reflected in modes of corpse treatment and disposal. At a more general level, we shall combine our data in order to investigate LBA social identities in southern Carpathian Basin.

The aim of the proposed Iron Age project, conducted by archaeology in collaboration with anthropological and archaeometallurgical researches, puts the emphasis on the study of different aspects of the Iron Age female social identities, which can be reconstructed from the archaeological record. The project represents a complex study of female burials from six cemeteries in northern Croatia based on analyses of gender, sex, age and grave goods, with special attention to the functional analysis of the grave assemblages which reflect different local communities and shared identities of single individuals. The functional analysis, the manner in which different costume and jewellery elements are composed and associated in various assemblages, provides relevant information regarding the ways in which various individuals and/or different communities chose to visually express their identities and social relationships.

Landscape archaeology is developing slowly in Croatia. It is of great importance to speed up this process and to connect the available data to other regions in central-eastern Europe. It is especially important to connect central Balkan regions with Carpathian basin for better understanding of emergence and development of societies in various prehistoric periods. So far, the ways of communication between these regions were not of primary interest of archaeological scientific work. The complete work in defined area, combining field survey, trial excavations and data concerning natural resources, hasn’t been done. The goal of this project is the recognition of strategic points of settlement in prehistory and later periods and reconstruction of ways of communication. The project will concern itself with the area of municipalities Našice, Podgorač, Drenje and Koška (Drava region). This area is recognized as a potential crossroad of ways of communication of our interest. The work will be divided into 4 stages including field survey, trial excavations, data collection from geological maps and satellite images, combining data, web site construction and presenting the results in form of exhibitions, conferences, lectures etc. The final publication will be made presenting goals, collected data, the final results and list of museum activities. The results will also be available on-line in the form of a web site. The project is planned in collaboration with Našice Local History Museum.