An integrated geoarchaeological approach to late Iron Age settlement at Haštelina hillfort (Lopar, Island of Rab, Croatia) using Amplitude Data Comparison (ADC) method and trial excavation

Abstract

Geophysical prospection and small-scale archaeological excavation were undertaken on the site of Kaštelina, Late Iron Age hillfort settlement located on a small coastal promontory of Stolac in the east part of the Rab island (Kvarner gulf, Croatia). Carried out by a Polish – Croatian team within the “Archaeological topography of the island of Rab” programme, the aim of this research was to obtain preliminary information relevant to determining the periods of occupation, degree of preservation, nature of the selected site features and potential of this site for further investigation. Multidisciplinary methods of research included ground penetrating radar and magnetometer together with the implementation using Amplitude Data Comparison (ADC) method which resulted in detecting remains of Late Iron Age building structures distributed over the northwest side of the Stolac promontory. Archaeological excavations that followed the geophysical survey resulted in unearthing remains of a dwelling together with its associated outdoor facilities. Benefits of multidisciplinary approach on the site of Kaštelina will be preliminary presented, stressing out the importance of gathered data for the general understanding of Late Iron Age settlements and their internal organisation in a wider context.