K. Palágyi Sylvia szerk.: Balácai Közlemények 2005/9. (Veszprém, 2005)
GIRARDI JURKIC, VESNA: Roman Villa rustica in Cervar Porat (Croatia) - Excavation and Presentation
poured into three big ceramic containers (dolid). The remains of those containers were found in a lower comer room (A), built into a short pedestal. The level difference between the floor of the room with the presses (D) and the pedestal for vessels in the adjacent room (A) is 1.2 m. The vessels' diameter was 90 cm, while their preserved height is of 50 cm. Presumably these vessels were used to pour out the pressed liquid with the aim of separating water and sediment. 18 This assumption is supported by the fact that in the same room a channel for refuse liquid was discovered. The channel was built in the floor, covered with regular stone slabs, and had a grid (40 cm x 30 cm). Passing through the wall and continuing in a paved channel, the refuse liquid would go directly into the sea. The channel situated in the floor of room A was also connected and proceeded from adjacent room B which was built on the same level. A similar channel was built outside the building starting from the outflow coming out of the western wall of the building and proceeding north-west for about 12.8 m. It was connected by a smaller outflow channel with the press room (D). Presumably this was an outflow channel for refuse liquid, probably the liquid used for extracting oil from ground olives. However, it is certain that the channel had a role in the technological process of the oil production facility. The production complex for processing olives, equipped with four presses, was built in the 2 nd century AD. However, it was surely built on the remains of an older building that was linked with the adjacent ceramic center. During the research work, the presence of traces of later reconstructions carried out on the oil mill building was established. The remains of a wall built over two containers situated in the northern room with presses (E) testifies to that. The different technical workmanship of the two presses found in the two rooms (D, E) also indicates that they were built at different times. In all likelihood, this complex for processing olives was partly converted to new purposes in the 6 th century AD, but was already abandoned in the 7 th century AD. Conclusion The oldest traces of walls on the west coast of the bay of Cervar are dated to the period of the creation of the colony of Porec (Colonia Iulia Parentium), under Caesar in the year 46 BC. The main ground plan of the production building of the villa rustica had its origin in the enlargement and building of the complex in the period of Emperor Tiberius. That was the same period in which Porec and its surroundings, including the field of Cervar, partook in the economic prosperity of the colony with olive growing and viticulture. At that time special attention was given to craftsmanship, agriculture and fishing. It was the time when, most probably, the vast areas of Cervar Porat, Loron and Santa Marina formed a unique complex spreading over 1000 to 1500 hectares. That senatorial estate belonged to Sisenna Statilius Taur in the first part of the 1 st century AD. He was the son of T. Statilius Taur who was a friend of Emperor Augustus, third most powerful politician in the Empire. Sisenna was a consul in the year 16 BC. He was one of the most powerful Istrian estate owners and bestowed on Rome the gift of the first stone amphitheatre.
