Two-week excavations on the island Babuljaš just ended

From 2. -14. July 2013 International Centre for Underwater Archaeology conducted systematic research on the site of ancient shipwrecks in the waters off the islet Babuljaš at Pakoštane. During the two-week excavations, the area of 4x4 m has been investigated and a number of interesting findings have been discovered. According to preliminary results, we have discovered remains of a shipwreck with a cargo of pottery and amphorae which travelled from the territory of North Africa at the end of the 4th or during 5th century. In this year's survey, along with the ICUA staff, underwater archaeologists from the University of Zadar, the director of public institution agency Han-Vrana Marko Meštrov, who discovered the site, joined the excavations. During these two weeks, UNESCO/ICUA Basic course on underwater archaeology took place for students from Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Croatia. After everyday series of theoretical lectures in Zadar, students had the opportunity to learn basic ways to search the field, document findings and sites, and they have also been involved in excavation of archaeological trenches.