Archaeological find in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park

The public institution Lonjsko Polje Nature Park announced to the media information about the historical find in the village of Krapje.

"The accidental discovery of archaeological finds on a Polish road in the village of Krapje, which the finders brought to the Krapje Visitor Center, prompted an expert team of archaeologists from the Museum's Native Collection of the town of Novska and conservators from the competent Conservation Department in Sisak to conduct a detailed inspection of the said location with the aim of collecting surface finds and defining the limits of distribution. In total, over 400 pieces of metal balls were collected, and it is rifle ammunition of 20-30 mm caliber, which is preliminarily dated from the 16th to the 19th century. A tentative archaeological investigation will follow to determine the context of the finds and the eventual need for more extensive archaeological research that could complete the archaeological picture of the Lonjsko polje, i.e. military activities from the period of the Military Frontier in this area", the words of an archaeologist Luke Stefan.

"We are proud of how much information the archaeologists have gathered based on the find. It is the first material evidence of the history of the Military Frontier in the area of ​​the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. Krapje is now on the archaeological map of Croatia, which entails further research. With this find, we will complete the Park's tourist offer nature of Lonjsko polje, which creates solid foundations for the development of cultural tourism", said the director of the Public Institution Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, Domagoj Šejatović.

"The accidental archaeological find from Krapje is an excellent example of how the archaeological profession works. The find was reported and handed over to the Public Institution Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. The find encouraged the cooperation of several institutions dealing with the protection, research and presentation of cultural heritage. The objects found will be restored and then handed over to the competent institution for storage. This will be followed by a presentation of the findings in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, but also in the future Interpretation Center of Vojna Krajina in Novska. This is an excellent example of how scientific research can be started from an accidental archaeological find, enrich the existing cultural and tourist offer and complete knowledge about the history and heritage value of a region", explained the head of the conservation department in Sisak, Ivana Miletić Čakširan.

The Lonjsko Polje Nature Park public institution would like to thank the Museum's Native Collection of the City of Novska and Mr. Sajko, the Head of the Sisak Conservation Department Ivana Miletić Čakširan, the archaeologists Marina Matković Vrban and Luka Štefan for their participation in this research, and the visitors who found the archaeological object and handed it over to the Public Institution started this research.

Along with an extremely valuable cultural landscape, the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park presents the history of this region. Until now, knowledge was transmitted only from historical sources, but now there is historical evidence about the Military Border. This finding enriches the offer of the Park and the heritage of the Posavina region.

Photo author: Željko Sajko, source: PP Lonjsko polje