Begović V., Kereković D., Schrunk I. (2009). The Archaeological topography of Croatia in Classical Antiquity, Roman villas in Croatia (part of Roman Pannonia, Histria and Dalmatia). In: D. Kereković (ed.). Time, GIS & Future. Hrvatski Informatički Zbor – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 131-142. THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF CROATIA IN CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY, ROMAN VILLAS IN CROATIA (PART OF ROMAN PANNONIA, HISTRIA AND DALMATIA) Vlasta Begović Institut za arheologiju Ul. Grada Vukovara 68, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia Davorin Kereković GIS Forum Ilica 191 e, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia Ivančica Schrunk University of St. Thomas St. Paul; Minnesota 55105, USA The project of establishing the archaeological topography of Croatia has been ongoing for years. It is the basis for a future archaeological map of Croatia. The marking of a topography is a basis for knowing the total number of localities, their type, degree of preservation and value, as well as their spatial setting and precise position. The data refer to the entire Croatia (land, underground, and underwater), with a special emphasis on the architecture heritage of both urban and rural character, as well as archaeological finds and the registered historical road network (hodology), the limes on the river Dunav, along with consultation of historical sources and toponomy. As a supplement to data from the existing literature and reports on archaeological excavations, non-aggressive archaeological methods are also used – interpreting satellite and aerial photographs and the results of electromagnetic detection (following the recommendations of the European convention on protection of the archaeological heritage). A data base is formed (data in computer analysis) and mapping is performed on a topographic map and on a digital map of Croatia. Their inscription in the computer database will enable fast search and easy access to information. These data are very important for researchers, students, public institutions, various offices in state administrations, ministries, and all other potential users. Keywords: archaeological topography, remote research and photographic interpretation, geographical coordinates, limes, hodology, Roman villas Determination of geographic coordinates (geocode) are done on the basis of topographic maps in the scale of 1:100 000 and town plans (Great Atlas of Croatia, published in 2002) and by GPS (Global Positioning System) by direct readings on the archaeological sites. Satelite and aerial images are used. For each archaeological site a series of 10 data entries are given – 1. site; 2. name; 3. geocod; 4. identification data; 5. type; 6. conducted archaeological excavations; 7. spatial division in classical antiquity; 8. county; 9. municipality; 10. bibliography. For requirements of mapping topographic data a printout was acquired from the graphic base of the registry of spatial units in the digital record in the DWG format. Each attribute card receive its datum on the digital map of Croatia. The consultation of the historical sources and toponymy, such as checking the sites on Tabula Peutingeriana and Tabula Imperii Romani. The aim was to form an information and documentation data base. On the base of archaeological topography it was able to determine the number and sites of Roman villas in Croatia. Country villas as historical testimony of Roman civilization show the traditional ties between the Romans and their land. The Roman ideal of a gentlemen's life in the countryside put equal value on the agriculturally productive landscape, as on the harmonious architecture of villas, which were built to provide maximum enjoyment of that countryside. The villas had both economic and residential functions and they were the centres of properties. In the time of the late Republic and Early Empire Pannonia, Histria and Dalmatia were a notably productive region planted with in Histria and 131 Begović V., Kereković D., Schrunk I. (2009). The Archaeological topography of Croatia in Classical Antiquity, Roman villas in Croatia (part of Roman Pannonia, Histria and Dalmatia). In: D. Kereković (ed.). Time, GIS & Future. Hrvatski Informatički Zbor – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 131-142. Dalmatia with vineyards and olive groves and in Panonia with wheat fields (and other cereals). Local manufacturing was producting ceramic goods, wool, wood and quality building stone. The Roman beginnings of the settlement have the roots in the commercial and strategic needs of the expanding power in the eastern Adriatic therritory and Pannonia region and the exploatation of the local goods. On the base of archaeological finds we can determinate the building fase of the Roman villas in Dalmatia and Histria started from 2-1 century BC and in Pannonia from 1. century AD. The grand villas were still central in the landscape in the sixth century when Cassiodorus wrote in a leter how they glistened far and wide, like a line of pearls (Variae XII, 22). On the territory of Roman Pannonia – Roman villas on the river Drava - Batina Gornja east of Belec the fundations were found; Nova Gradiška mosaic with the motiv of palms was found; Novigrad Podravski east of Koprivnica Roman villa with the bath; Rimske toplice the luxury villa; Središće south of Ptuj (Poetovio) Roman villa with bath; Tuhovec near Varaždinske toplice (Aquae Jasae) Roman villa with the remains of mosaics and frescoes; Benkovac Okućanski near Okućani, near Nova Gradiška, Roman villa with polihrome mosaics; Klanjec on the river Sutla Roman villa with frescoes in red, green and grey colour; Gornji Stenjevec today the part of the town Zagreb, the remains of water pipes and Diocletian coin were found (Thomas 1964); Bapče, Novo Čiće near Velika Gorica; Roman villas on the river Sava – Osekovo Roman villa with mosaics floors and the bath, the hypocaust was found (Bobovec 2002) Fig 1 Andrijaševci, Fabrički gaj; Gradište, Kamenište; Petrovci, Bogdanovci; Sotin, Zlopolje near Vukovar; Kamenac, main street, Roman necropola and Roman villa; Cerić, Plandište near Vinkovci architectural remains, brick with insription, coins, fibula (Dimitrijević 1979); Cage near Okućani, walls, floors, coin of Valentianus; Veliko Korenovo near Bjelovar; Velika Mlaka near Zagreb, foundations and walls; Ostrvica near Gospić; Orljavac near Požega, Striježevičke njive, the remains of architecture, tegulae, bricks, porttary (Mirnik 1972, 20-22); Imbrijevci near Požega, walls, bricks with the circles (Sokač Štimac 1983) ; Orešac near Virovitica, foundations, bricks, porttary, coins; Letičani near Bjelovar, Veliko trojstvo, foundations, walls, coin of the imperor Probus ?(Lovrenčević 1980); Laduč near Zaprešić and Zagreb (Koščević 2004); Kupinovac near Bjelovar, Ljutica forest (Lovrenčić 1980); Kravarsko near Velika Gorica and Zagreb close to Roman Andautonia (Klemenc 1938); Šimunčevec near Sesvete, Zagreb, the remains of architecture, bricks, grave; Donja Glavnica , Sesvete, Zagreb, the remains of luxury architecture with bath, three semicircular pools, import fine porttary (Sokol 1981); Rečice near Letovanić and Sisak (Siscia), the remains of architecture and the road (Klemenc 1938); Remetovac near Bjelovar (Lovrenčić 1969); Trnava Resnička, Dubrava, Zagreb, foundations, walls, bricks, tegulae, porttary (Klemenc 1938); Miljana near Klanjec, the remains of the architecture close to the castle Miljana; Mlinovac near Bjelovar (Lovrenčević 1966); Ivanovčani near Bjelovar, bricks, the remains of the bath, porttary (Lovrenčić 1960); Horvati near Zagreb, bricks; Gornji Miklouš near Čazma ? (Lovrenčević 1980); Gornji Križ near Bjelovar (Lovrenčević 1980); Gornji Andrijevci near Slavonski Brod (Salaić 1981); Gornje Plavice near Bjelovar, the remains of architecture with the bath, tegulae, porttary (Lovrenčević 1980); Dužica near Sisak (Siscia) the remains of architecture, bricks, coins, gold ring with lapis lazuri from 4. century (Klemenc 1938). In Histria the grand maritime villas were built on the peninsula of Catoro (Ca d'oro – Domus Aurea) near Umag; Fig 2 peninsula of Sorna near Poreč with panoramic views; Fig 3 Loron near poreč large villa with a figuline; Červar Porat, villa with a brick kiln; Barbariga, villa with two separate complexes; Fažana, villa with a figuline; on the islands of Brioni several villas, one of them maritime villa in Verige bay with residential block, temles and bath. Fig 4 (It is interesting that the economic capacity of the villa in Madona Bay was growing in the Early Empire at the same time that the level of luxury building was growing on the maritime villa in Verige Bay. The same owner, the family of Laecanius Bassus more likely than not, was responsible for the development and prosperity of both sites during the Augustan and Julio-Claudian times (Bezeczky 1998; Begović and Schrunk 2007). There is no clear evidence that the Brioni estate came into the imperial possession together with Laecanius' figlina in Fazana during the Flavian rule. However, the commercial and defensive developments on Brioni in the Late Empire give indication of some state involvement on the island); Valbandon near Pula, luxurious villa with semi-round rooms and pavement designed in opus scutulatum; Fig 5 Vižula , Medulin, villa on peninsula, luxurious villa on terraces with porticoes built on the shore; Banjole, villa with panoramic views. 132 Begović V., Kereković D., Schrunk I. (2009). The Archaeological topography of Croatia in Classical Antiquity, Roman villas in Croatia (part of Roman Pannonia, Histria and Dalmatia). In: D. Kereković (ed.). Time,