Archaeological excavations of the prehistoric hillfort Gračišće in Starigrad plain

During the second half of April and the beginning of May 2021, the first archaeological excavations were carried out on the prehistoric hillfort Gračišće, which is located in Starigrad plain, between Hvar’s settlements of Vrbanj and Svirče. The research was conducted as a part of the activities of the HRZZ AdriaCos project and in the framework of cooperation between the Institute of Archeology, the Museum of Stari Grad and the Agency for Stari Grad Plain Management – a Public Institution. Along with the project leader, Dr. Marina Ugarković (IARH), Dr. Sara Popović and Andrea Devlahović (MSG) led the field research, with the participation of Antonela Barbir (IARH), and the support of Dr. Aldo Čavić and mr. sc. Vinko Tarbušković. On this occasion, the hillfort was documented from the air with the help of a drone, and two probes along the fortification wall were excavated, during which a part of the prehistoric rampart that lies on the bedrock was discovered, along with fair amount of prehistoric ceramic material and animal bones, whose analysis in ongoing.