K. Palágyi Sylvia szerk.: Balácai Közlemények 2005/9. (Veszprém, 2005)
GIRARDI JURKIC, VESNA: Roman Villa rustica in Cervar Porat (Croatia) - Excavation and Presentation
the residential-production complex of Cervar Porat, due to the invasion of the Avars and Slavs (599-611 AD) at the end of the 6 th century AD. The central, western and northern parts of the villa were abandoned, empty. The heating system stopped functioning. The thermal area and the restroom were no longer used. The residential hall was destroyed. There were reconstruction works and smaller adaptations done in the semi-devastated rooms of the buildings, especially in the storage area of the oil mill in the north-western part of the production complex. Square fireplaces were built in the rough mortar floor of the residential part, while shallow Roman stone vessels placed in the rooms of the former oil production facility were used as auxiliary fireplaces for fire burning and food preparation. In conclusion, it must be pointed out once again that the production - residential complex in Cervar Porat was built on the remains of another building dating back to the 1 st century BC; that the complex worked as a ceramic, residential, agricultural and production center from the 1 st century AD to the 6 th century AD; that it had various building phases, and ups and downs in its progress or decadence depending on who the owners and inhabitants of the estate were, and on the social, political and historical changes that influenced the Istrian peninsula as a part of the 10 th Roman region „Venetia et Histria". This archaeological complex represents a clear example of the continuous presence of Roman villas on the western coast of Istria throughout the centuries. The archaeological excavations and research conducted on the remains of the Roman villa rustica in Cervar Porat lasted three years. The existence of two architectural units was established; a ceramic facility with a kiln and the late antique residential part, and the agricultural production complex of the oil mill. Thanks to the full comprehension and collaboration on the part of the investor interested in building a hotel complex 22 , the project for the hotel was modified and relocated. The remains of the Roman villa rustica were incorporated into the spatial planning of the residential, park and marina area, after partial conservation work, reconstruction of the brick-kiln, of the residential part of the building with small private thermae and the conservation of the oil mill remains. The landscaping solutions for the grounds surrounding the archeological complexes were so well designed that Cervar Porat became the model of the successful cultural presentation for tourism of our historical and cultural heritage in 1980. 23 Unfortunately, in the period from 1980 to 1990, due to the enlargement of the marina area and to disputes regarding ownership of the land inside and outside that area, the established archeological park was gradually laid waste. The reason for this lies in the fact that the park was used as a boat and boat material depot, and that it was partially left to deterioration because the conserved parts of the archeological heritage as well as the greenery were not regularly taken care of. Obviously, the exceptionally valuable solution of the presentation of the Roman brick kiln and oil production facility is almost completely useless now, though at one time it was successfully incorporated in the newly built settlement with the marina and it represented an exceptional contribution to the promotion, preservation and presentation of ancient Croatian monuments, at the end of the last century.
