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© aut hor/aut horsht t ps://doi .org /10. 26493/2350-54 43.12(1)13-34
Death in Osor: Rituals and Practices of Prehistoric Burials 
Smrt v Osorju: obredi in prakse prazgodovinskih pokopavanj
Martina Blečić Kavur
University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities, Slovenia 
martina.blecic.kavur@upr.si
Boris Kavur
University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities, Slovenia 
boris.kavur@upr.si
Abstract
Osor, a town at the junction of the Kvarner islands of Cres and Lošinj, is one of the most important ar-
chaeological sites in the northern Adriatic, dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Its historical role 
and importance are undeniable, as it is mentioned in almost all ancient historical sources that addressed 
the Caput Adriae area. In archaeological discourse, it is mainly known for its representative material 
culture, which has been discussed in detail. Most of these artefacts come from various graves and ne-
cropoles, although there was much less information about these contexts. This paper presents for the 
first time a complete concept of the archaeology of death in Osor. It is based on archive records and re-
sults of new archaeological investigations gathering all the available data. They are presented with a top-
ographical overview and the location of the graves in their chronological order, with the typology of the 
burials and their contextualization in relation to their positions inside and outside the urban space. Al-
ready known, but also unknown or less available data were analysed in order to create, as far as possible, 
a well-rounded knowledge of this extremely important social and cultural aspect of life (and death) in 
prehistoric Osor.
Keywords: Osor, Bronze Age, Iron Age, type of burials, rituals, material culture
Izvleček
Osor, kraj na stičišču kvarnerskih otokov Cresa in Lošinja, predstavlja eno izmed najpomembnejših naj-
dišč bronaste in železne dobe na severnem Jadranu. Njegova zgodovinska vloga in pomen sta nedvom-
na, saj je zapisan v skoraj vseh antičnih zgodovinskih virih, ki so obravnavali območje Caput Adriae. V 
arheološkem diskurzu je prepoznaven predvsem po reprezentativni materialni kulturi, o kateri je bilo že 
veliko razprav. Večina teh predmetov izvira iz različnih grobov in grobišč, čeprav je bilo prav o teh kon-
tekstih veliko manj znanega. V razpravi je, na podlagi arhivskih virov in rezultatov novih arheoloških 
raziskav, prvič predstavljen celovit koncept arheologije smrti na območju Osorja z zbranimi vsemi do-
stopnimi podatki. Zasnovani in predstavljeni so s topografskim pregledom in z razporeditvijo grobov 
v kronološkem zaporedju, s tipologijo grobnih celot in kontekstualizirani glede na svoj položaj znotraj 
ter zunaj mestnega območja. Da bi ustvarili čim bolj zaokroženo celoto znanja o tem izjemno pomemb-
nem družbenem in kulturnem vidiku življenja (in smrti) v prazgodovinskem Osorju, so bila analizirana 
že objavljena in neznana ali manj dostopna dejstva.
Ključne besede: Osor, bronasta doba, železna doba, način in vrsta pokopa, obredi, materialna kultura
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Introduction
Osor, one of the most prominent plac-es in the Kvarner region and the saf-est city on the eastern Adriatic coast 
in ancient times, is situated on a low isthmus 
at the meeting point of what was once the uni-
fied island of Cres-Lošinj. Through tradition 
and mythic past, this northernmost Adriatic ar-
chipelago is clearly defined in geographical and 
epic literature as Aspirtides (Apsýrtides Nêsoi or 
Osor Islands), with the central settlement called 
Apsor (Apsoros or Osor), and its inhabitants re-
ferred to as Apsirtes or Apsirtians. In front of 
the Aspirtides lay the Histrian, and later, the 
Liburnian coast with its islands. The origins of 
these names are deeply rooted in legendary his-
tory, and many writers (and copyists) in antiq-
uity connect them to Greek mythology, inter-
preting them through the legend of the famous 
Greek sailors, the Argonauts, and their quest 
for the Golden Fleece (Katičić 1995, 184–187; cf. 
Mori 2008; Blečić Kavur 2015, 15–18). The im-
portance of both the place and the broader re-
gion is emphasized by the phrase ‘Tin Islands’, 
used by several sources to describe the Cres-
Lošinj archipelago with Osor, located near the 
Histrian coast (Imamović 1972; Kozličić 1990, 
150–151). Although tin is not naturally found in 
this area, the name likely metaphorically refers 
to a trading hub involved in the redistribution of 
bronze and bronze objects, along with the cru-
cial tin needed for bronze production (Blečić 
Kavur 2014a, 161).
Despite existing studies, primarily focused 
on the material culture of this period, the last 
prehistoric millennium in Osor has not been 
extensively written about from other perspec-
tives, especially considering the city's vital role in 
the region. This is partly due to insufficient re-
search over the past century and the lack or in-
accessibility of documentation from early cam-
paigns of investigation. Despite the efforts of 
individual scholars (Benndorf 1880; Klodič 1885; 
Marchesetti 1924; Mladin 1960; Faber 1980; 
Glogović 1989), this part of Osor's history has 
been uncovered slowly and painstakingly, a pro-
cess that is far from complete. In recent times, 
the picture has radically changed, especially 
with the implementation of systematic and res-
cue archaeological excavations (Baričević n.d.; 
Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017; Los 2018; Bully et al. 
2024) and extensive scientific research projects 
(Doneus and Blečić Kavur 2023; Blečić Kavur 
et al. 2024; Fera et al. 2024). These efforts have 
provided not only new spatial data and re-eval-
uations of existing or enigmatic archaeological 
structures but also essential contexts that offer 
valuable insights for reinterpreting the material 
culture within the broader cultural and histori-
cal circumstances of the time. This study focus-
es on a comprehensive analysis of burial practices 
during the Bronze and Iron Ages, as necropoles 
and graves provide the largest collection of pre-
served artefacts. 
The concept of the archaeology of death, in 
connection with previous research in the Osor 
area, is introduced. This is followed by a topo-
graphical review and chronological ordering of 
grave locations, along with their contextualiza-
tion in relation to burial practices both with-
in and outside the urban area. Published and 
known data, as well as previously unknown or 
less accessible information, are analysed to cre-
ate, as much as possible, a comprehensive under-
standing of this crucial social and cultural as-
pect of life in Osor. The concluding discussion 
interprets the current state of knowledge about 
‘death in Osor’ and highlights the importance of 
archival research and the results of new system-
atic investigations, which, with each new effort, 
confirm the prominence and status of this place 
in the last millennium BCE.
Archaeology of Death and Excavations  
in Osor
The historic area of Osor, along with nearby Pun-
ta Križa, stands out as a distinct, geographically 
well-defined environment at the southernmost 
tip of the island of Cres (fig. 1). The Lošinj Chan-
nel connects it directly with Kvarnerić and the 
Lošinj archipelago, which in turn links to the 
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northern Dalmatian islands and the Liburnian 
coast. From the northwest, it opens towards the 
Kvarner Gulf, with a diagonal connection to the 
eastern Histrian coast and Nesactium, the sec-
ond most important metropolis of the northern 
Adriatic. Thus, Osor emerges as a centre – sur-
rounded by the sea, fortified with strong walls, 
and equipped with port infrastructure. During 
this time, a canal was likely improved along the 
western part of the isthmus, which granted the 
city its strategic position at the dawn of mari-
time and coastal navigation (Blečić Kavur 2015, 
49–50). According to current understanding, 
based on numerous archaeological studies (Faber 
1972; 1974; 1976; 1980; 1982; 2000; cf. Blečić and 
Sušanj 2007; Blečić Kavur 2014a; 2014b; 2015; 
2020; 2021; Blečić Kavur and Kavur 2013), Osor 
had a clear proto-urban character. It played a key 
role in shaping and filtering economic and cul-
tural trends, becoming an essential transporta-
tion hub in the northern Adriatic and overseeing 
a crucial communication route from continen-
tal Europe to the Mediterranean (Blečić Kavur 
2014b; 2015, 11–21).
In these circumstances, the city's infra-
structure likely included various systems to sup-
port and facilitate daily life in Osor. Commu-
nal infrastructure was vital, especially in how 
the dead were treated and buried, through sys-
tems of necropoles and individual graves where 
the population was laid to rest over a millen-
nium. The ‘archaeology of death’ in Osor dur-
ing this period exhibited a dual nature: on the 
one hand, there was a wealth of artefacts, and 
on the other, a complete lack of contextual un-
derstanding of their discovery. Statistically, the 
largest number of artefacts have been recovered 
from graves and necropoles, where they were 
placed as grave goods. Thanks to these objects, 
certain, often very limited, information was ob-
tained about the society, individual status, the 
origin and import of certain items, and, to a 
limited extent, the burial customs and rituals 
conducted in relation to death and commemo-
ration. However, the lack of archaeological re-
cords, documentation from excavations, and 
contextual data regarding existing necropo-
les, particularly Kavanela, or older excavations 
within and outside the city area, made it diffi-
cult to understand the broader picture of funer-
ary protocols and the archaeology of death. De-
tailed analyses were not presented even during 
research in the second half of the 20th century, 
not comparing the spatial layout and relation-
ships between necropoles and graves, grave ar-
chitecture, and other material remains connect-
ed to burial rituals and everyday operations. 
The absence of literary contexts that might of-
fer a broader understanding of this significant 
aspect, as part of the universal experience of 
death, its perception, and commemoration, 
forces us to rely solely on archaeological evi-
dence and comparative insights from synchro-
nous, interconnected, and more fully interpret-
ed cultural communities.
The opulent archaeological heritage from 
Osor, most of which comes from graves, such as 
various items of attire and jewellery of local and 
imported origin, as well as lavish items of sym-
bolic and ideological value and prestigious exot-
ic materials, directly indicates that Osor socie-
ty was highly developed and played an equal role 
on the historical stage of the Adriatic and broad-
er European areas. Analysis of these objects has 
shown a variety of influences reflecting con-
tacts with numerous economic and cultural net-
works, primarily from the Adriatic, Alpine, and 
Italian regions, followed by influences from the 
Greek-Macedonian milieu and, finally, from the 
Celtic cultural sphere of Central Europe during 
the Iron Age. On the other hand, certain dis-
tinctive and unique forms of jewellery and cloth-
ing suggest that some of these items were likely 
produced in local workshops, further confirm-
ing Osor's role in important economic activities, 
particularly production (Blečić Kavur 2014b; 
2015; 2021; 2022).
Topography and Typology of Osor Graves
The topography and typology of necropoles and 
graves are important for understanding how 
these structures were integrated into the living 
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space of Osor and how its inhabitants interact-
ed with them. This is most clearly reflected in 
their classification based on various criteria. A 
topographic approach focuses on the location 
of graves and necropoles in relation to the settle-
ment, their strategic position, and the terrain's 
morphology. Within individual necropoles, the 
arrangement and orientation of graves, their po-
tential hierarchy, and their relationships or dis-
tances from one another are of great importance. 
Whenever documentation allows, the types of 
graves and their possible social or ritual func-
tions will be highlighted, providing insights into 
grave typology and burial rituals. Thanks to past 
and modern archaeological research, necropoles 
and individual graves from the Bronze and Iron 
Ages have been documented in several different 
locations both inside and outside Osor’s perime-
ter, which guides the analysis of burial practices 
in this discussion.
Within the City Walls
Burials within the city were known in the north-
ern extension of Osor as early as the 19th century. 
However, no detailed records exist about these 
burials, their precise topographical positions, or 
other specifics, except for critical notes (Benn-
dorf 1880; Marchesetti 1924, 141; cf. Faber 1974, 
80; 1980; Mihovilić 2013, 215). More recent re-
search has provided direct evidence of individu-
al graves located from the Chapel of Sv. Katarina 
(St. Catherine) to the monastery of Sv. Petar and 
its surrounding areas (fig. 1). In total, nine graves 
were discovered, displaying different burial 
methods and rituals. These findings significantly 
contribute to the understanding of funeral cus-
toms within the city’s living perimeter. Unfortu-
nately, the minimal preservation of osteological 
material prevents a more detailed analysis, and 
interpretations, for now, rely heavily on materi-
al culture artefacts.
Figure 1: Topography of Osor graves and necropoles (Google Earth, elaborated by Martina Blečić Kavur, 2024)
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Sv. Katarina
At the northernmost part of what is believed to 
have been Osor's urban space, the oldest buri-
al from the Bronze Age has been partially exca-
vated (fig. 1). The grave was found beneath the 
collapsed Chapel of Sv. Katarina, near the city 
walls and in close proximity to the Bijar mon-
astery (Sv. Marija od Anđela). Excavations were 
conducted in 1962, although more detailed doc-
umentation has not been preserved. However, 
records indicate the discovery of a skeletal bur-
ial in a crouched position, preliminarily dat-
ed based on material culture analysis, includ-
ing fragments of pottery and a bone awl handle, 
placing it in the Early Bronze Age (Mihovilić 
2013). Although the grave seems to have been lo-
cated within the prehistoric planned settlement, 
it was likely much farther from the centre of the 
settlement at that time, then latter located in its 
southern part. The grave’s position on the edge 
of the perimeter, near the important Bijar Bay, 
and at the northern exit of the city is intriguing, 
particularly given the presence of thick prehis-
toric cultural layers over 4 metres deep.
Sv. Petar
At the northernmost and highest position with-
in the city area, the medieval site of the Bene-
dictine Church and Monastery of Sv. Peter (fig. 
1) has yielded seven new burials (Čaušević-Bul-
ly et al. 2014; Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017; Bul-
ly et al. 2018; 2019). These graves, dated to the 
Iron Age through radiometric analysis and ma-
terial culture, have provided significant in-
sights into the burial rites. A particularly valu-
able find was the so-called Osor urn, discovered 
in the foundational structures of the complex 
outside the Church of Sv. Petar in 2009 (fig. 2). 
Figure 2: Floor plan of the monastic complex at Sv. Petar with marked Iron Age grave locations (Bully et al. 2024,  
fig. 8, by Matthieu Le Brech and Laurent Fiocchi, adapted with permission by Martina Blečić Kavur, 2024)
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Morphologically and stylistically, the urn was 
compared to amphorae from Phase II of the Ruše 
cultural group, related to the continental phase 
of the Urnfield culture, dating from 950 to 900 
BCE. This positions the urn within Phase I.C of 
the Kvarner chronology, marking the transition to 
the Iron Age, and it was the first discovery of such 
a burial type in Osor. Alongside the identification 
Figure 3: Urn grave 6.115 and skeletal graves 8.105, 5.185, 5. 184 from Sv. Petar (Bully et al. 2010, fig. 1; Marić et al. 2014,  
fig. 3; Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017, fig. 14–15, by Sébastien Bully and Adrien Saggese, adapted by Martina Blečić Kavur, 
2024)
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of other similar cremation graves within the me-
dieval architecture, the discovery suggests the 
existence of a small cremation cemetery, con-
firming for the first time the practice of crema-
tion burials in this part of Osor (Blečić Kavur 
and Kavur 2013; Blečić Kavur 2014a, 110–111, fig. 
64; 2021, 542–543).
Further discoveries include younger buri-
als, dated to the Early Iron Age, based on pre-
served architecture and accompanying grave 
goods. During excavation campaigns in 2013, 
2016, and 2017, a total of five graves were docu-
mented outside the church and along the mon-
astery's vestibule, located in the deepest layers 
beneath medieval structures, some of which had 
partially destroyed them (Bully et al. 2017, 17–
20, fig. 20–21; Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017, 807–
808, fig. 14–15; Bully et al. 2024) (fig. 2–3). The 
grave architecture varies: four of the graves fea-
ture a standard rectangular stone chest con-
struction, made of four vertically placed lime-
stone slabs, though their covers were not 
preserved (5.185, 5.285, 4.232, 8.105) (fig. 3). One 
grave (5.285), located in the southern nave of 
the Romanesque vestibule and beneath a medi-
eval baptismal font, had already been emptied 
during antiquity or the Middle Ages (Bully et 
al. 2018, fig. 2–3). Despite the absence of grave 
goods, the grave’s north-south orientation re-
mains a significant novelty. The graves were 
generally placed directly on the limestone bed-
rock or carved into it (Bully et al. 2018, 3, fig. 
3), while the smallest of them, almost square in 
shape (4.323), was pressed into a layer of com-
pacted clay. Given the few delicate bone remains 
and amber beads, this grave is presumed to have 
been that of a small child (Čaušević-Bully et 
al. 2014, 8, fig. 4; Marić et al. 2014, 463, fig. 2). 
The remaining graves contained individual bur-
ials in crouched positions, with heads placed at 
the southern side or in the corner of the grave 
(Bully et al. 2017, 5, fig. 2; Čaušević-Bully et al. 
2017, 807–808, fig. 14–15). Attire and jewellery 
were mostly placed around the deceased's head 
or upper body, suggesting that during the funer-
al ceremonies, the positioning of grave goods re-
flected their original placement among the de-
ceased’s attire.
In addition to the osteological material, 
these graves provide inventories of new, previ-
ously unknown objects from the Osor archive 
of material culture, as well as finds that, though 
previously known, have now been documented 
in their specific archaeological context. Notably, 
the grave of a young person from the southern 
nave of the church’s forecourt (5.184) (Bully et al. 
2017, fig. 2, 5; Čaušević-Bully et al. 2017, fig. 14) 
stands out for being quite different from others 
(fig. 2–3). This individual was buried in a semi-
flexed position, surrounded by large unworked 
stone blocks, and oriented northwest-south-
east. With a rich array of jewellery and attire, it 
represents the most affluent grave in that area. 
The various items reflect the female attire of the 
higher social strata in Osor society. Instead of 
the anticipated imported goods, the individual 
is represented by locally crafted objects, such as 
a multi-part spectacle fibula, bracelets, 3 amber 
beads, 8 glass beads, and 12 bone beads (Blečić 
Kavur 2021, 543, fig. 6). This substantial invento-
ry mirrors the typical ensemble of Osor commu-
nity attire, previously known only from tumu-
lus graves near the Church of Sv. Marija (Mladin 
1960). The grave is tentatively dated to the sec-
ond half of the 9th century, with potential con-
tinuity into the early 8th century BCE, corre-
sponding to the II phase of the Kvarner cultural 
group. The discovery of a simple serpentine fibu-
la with a disc on the bow from the southeastern 
grave (8.105), also with a regular orientation, in-
dicates that burials continued there until the 7th 
or even 6th century BCE (fig. 3).
These seven graves were located at the high-
est point in Osor’s urban space and are likely part 
of a larger cemetery complex, where burials took 
place over a longer period from the tenth to the 
7th/6th centuries BCE. Given their distribution 
around the church’s northern and southern pe-
rimeter, it is plausible that the complex medie-
val architecture significantly destroyed or over-
laid much of the necropolis. Nonetheless, each 
grave has provided new, reliable data not previ-
st
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ously recorded in Osor's graves, relating both to 
the different burial rites and the varied architec-
tural design. The very fact that a monastic com-
plex with a mausoleum and a large cemetery was 
built on a prehistoric necropolis (Čaušević-Bully 
et al. 2014; Bully et al. 2024) underscores the im-
portance and perhaps the memory of that space 
within the town’s structure, extending through 
a truly remarkable historical continuum.
Osor
South of the monastery of Sv. Petar, in the town 
itself, along the existing route leading from the 
monastery to the southern perimeter of Osor, 
a new Iron Age grave was uncovered in exten-
sive rescue excavations in 2022/2023 (fig. 1). This 
grave also contained a skeletal burial with a two-
part spectacle fibula and amber beads (Baričević 
n.d.), closely linking it with the graves at Sv. Pe-
tar, both temporally and spatially. Since the bur-
ial was made without a stone chest, it is likely 
a single burial. The possibility of considering it 
in the context of the northern graves cannot be 
ruled out, opening up the potential for a larger 
necropolis that extended across the wider north-
western urban area of Iron Age Osor.
Outside the City Walls
Burials outside the city walls likely took place 
at three strategic locations (fig. 1). Following the 
natural terrain and its practical use, the necropo-
les were situated on the landward sides near the 
main approaches to the town. The larger one was 
located along the southwestern side of the city 
wall, at the entrance and on the Kavanela isth-
mus from the Lošinj side. Another necropo-
lis was established near the eastern extension of 
the city wall, close to the current cemetery and 
the Church of Sv. Marija, at the approach to the 
town from the Cres side.
Kavanela
On the southwestern approach to the town, at 
the once continuous but later canal-cut isth-
Figure 4: Iron Age grave during excavation of the Kaštel in 1953 (©Archive of the Archaeological Museum of Istria, 
Pula, OK 1953 – FN 1938) 
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mus of Kavanela, lies Osor's so-called western 
necropolis (fig. 1). This location, surrounded on 
two sides by the sea, is quite strategically posi-
tioned. The isthmus itself is about 350 metres 
wide, with the canal now 10.2 metres wide and at 
least 3.5 metres deep (Draganits et al. 2019, 14–
15). Based on the length, width, and geological 
structure of the canal’s cross-section, which in-
cludes some smaller deposits of sediment, it is 
likely that the entire isthmus has the same lime-
stone structure with a red soil cover. Major exca-
vations of the prehistoric and Roman necropolis 
began at this site in the 19th century, continu-
ing to the south up to the chapel of Sv. Stjepan. 
Unfortunately, these excavations were conduct-
ed in a non-professional and methodological-
ly inadequate manner by the parish priest Ivan 
Kvirin Bolmarčić. Archaeologists and conser-
vators who occasionally supervised noted that 
an enormous number of various, but ‘extreme-
ly poorly preserved’, items were unearthed. Re-
ports about the findings were brief, with limited 
descriptions of selected artefacts (Burton 1877; 
Sacken 1879; Benndorf 1880; Klodič 1885). Doc-
umentation regarding burial methods, funerary 
practices, grave constructions, and overall burial 
contexts was very superficial (Milčetić 1884, 83–
85; Marchesetti 1924, 140–141). Regarding the 
prehistoric graves, based on the material culture, 
systematic burials during the Late Bronze and 
Iron Ages were established. The most compre-
hensive report was published by Otto von Benn-
dorf, detailing different burial types and practic-
es, while Anton Klodič wrote extensively about 
the more intriguing items (Benndorf 1880, 73–
82; Klodič 1885, fig. 1; 4–5; 13–14; 16). By the end 
of the century, conservator Stefano Petris also 
contributed with limited reports and lists of ma-
terials (Petris 1895; 1897).
According to their records, various types of 
burial practices must have been carried out in 
the Kavanela necropolis, including both skele-
tal and cremation burials. These were placed in 
pits, urns, or stone chests. However, it remains 
unclear which periods these practices belonged 
to, though the material culture has mostly been 
contextualized within a broader cultural frame-
work (cf. Faber 1980; 1982; Glogović 1982; 1989; 
2003; Blečić Kavur 2014a; 2014b; 2015; 2017; 
2020; 2021; 2022).
The only data that can be linked to the Ka-
vanela necropolis comes from archival docu-
mentation regarding excavations near the site, 
specifically within the Kaštel and Venetian walls 
in 1953 (Baćić 1953). At depths of nearly 5 metres, 
several prehistoric graves with clearly recogniz-
able architecture, made from unworked stone 
blocks and covered with semi-finished lids, were 
documented. These were Late Iron Age graves, 
only one of which was fully explored (Mladin 
1960, 212) (fig. 4). Perhaps from this grave came 
a silver plate fibula (Vinski 1956, 26, fig. 5; Blečić 
Kavur 2015, 172–173, fig. 62) and fibulae of Mid-
dle La Tène scheme, as also noted during recent 
investigations of graves at Preko mosta.
Alongside this necropolis, near the city wall 
and the western entrance to the town, there was 
also a cremation site confirmed during the 1953 
Kaštel excavations (Baćić 1953). It is not clear 
when the cremation site was used and for what 
purposes, but it likely dates back to the Iron Age, 
considering the graves and significant quanti-
ties of ceramics from that period (Baćić 1953; 
cf. Močinić and Zubin Ferri 2013). The site may 
have served as a ritual cremation area for the cer-
emonial destruction of valuable items, honour-
ing ancestors and preserving memory. This could 
explain the extensive destruction and poor pres-
ervation of many artefacts, accelerated by the 
high salinity of the area. The existence of the ne-
cropolis and further confirmation of earlier in-
terpretations were achieved through recent res-
cue excavations. These investigations primarily 
confirm the earlier hypothesis of the necropo-
lis’s spatial spread toward the south, where the 
Roman necropolis extended much further along 
the Lošinj side, following the road to Nerezine 
(Los 2018; Janeš n.d.).
Preko mosta
During rescue excavations in 2018 on the Lošinj 
side of Kavanela, at the so-called Preko mosta 
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location (fig. 1), within the Roman necropolis, 
three more Iron Age graves were documented. 
These were skeletal burials, although the osteo-
logical remains were barely preserved due to the 
high salinity of the limestone substrate, as the 
graves were located right above the sea. Given 
the small size of the burial pits, it is likely that 
the deceased were buried in a crouched position. 
Despite the poor preservation, these graves are 
extremely valuable, providing new insights into 
burial customs. For the first time, smaller grave 
pits, dug directly into the bedrock, were docu-
mented, with the deceased placed in the pits 
along with grave goods (Los 2018, 12–14). The 
grave goods included known items from the 
Osor repertoire, such as a spectacle fibula from 
grave 8, a Baška-type fibula, fibulae of Middle La 
Tène scheme, a silver plate fibula, bronze and sil-
ver earrings of the Kvarner type, as well as other 
jewellery pieces. The richest of these graves was 
grave 1 (fig. 5). Unlike previous graves from the 
urban area, these graves allow for a reassessment 
of the material culture from the Late Iron Age 
to the 4th/3rd century BCE (Blečić Kavur 2015, 
158–177; 2021, 545). In this context, the discov-
ery of a third silver plate fibula is significant, es-
pecially given that it represents the first archae-
ological record of such an item in Osor and may 
lead to the re-evaluation of older findings.
Sv. Marija
East of the city walls, near today’s cemetery and 
the church of Sv. Marija, a large tumulus was 
partially excavated. Based on the gathered arte-
Figure 5. Graves 1 and 8 dug into the bedrock at the Preko mosta site (Lošinj) (Los 2018, elaborated by Martina Blečić 
Kavur, 2024) 
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facts, the burials were reliably dated to the ear-
ly phase of the Early Iron Age (Mladin 1960; 
Glogović 1989, 6, fig. 3, tab. 3; Blečić Kavur 2010, 
134–135, fig. 93; Teržan 2013, fig. 3). Research also 
confirmed that there were likely multiple fami-
ly tumuli in the area (Baćić 1959; 1964a; Mladin 
1960; Faber 1982, 68–69, fig. 8; cf. Blečić et al. 
2006, 19–23, 56–57). These tumuli, located in a 
low-lying area connected to the Jaz bay shallows, 
marked the eastern approach to the urban cen-
tre and connected to the southern part of the is-
land of Cres (fig. 1). During infrastructure work 
Figure 6: Plan of the graves in the tumulus near the cemetery and church of Sv. Marija (Mladin 1960, pl. IIA, elaborated 
by M. Blečić Kavur, 2024) 
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in 1959, only part of the tumulus was excavated, 
revealing 10 burial units, most of which had not 
been destroyed or looted. Seven graves with eight 
burials were uncovered in the southern part of 
the tumulus (fig. 6–7), while three graves were 
destroyed during earthworks (Baćić 1959). The 
graves were constructed using the classical dry 
stone technique, with rectangular stone slabs 
and irregular stone lids, many of which were pre-
served. The graves, along with a cremation site 
for special funeral rituals and ceremonies, sur-
rounded by numerous ceramic fragments, were 
enclosed by a dry stone wall up to 0.40 m high. 
The tumulus was about 6 m in diameter and 
0.80-0.90 m in height, with a mound made of 
mixed soil, stones, ash, ceramic fragments, and 
animal bones. The area where the graves were ex-
cavated measured about 17 m². Initially, a layer of 
0.50 m of anthropogenic deposited soil, contain-
ing numerous ceramic fragments, was laid down, 
into which the graves were dug. The boundary 
wall was then constructed using the classical dry 
stone technique, with worked stone blocks on 
the outside and smaller unworked stones on the 
inside. It is assumed that the lack of a wall on 
the southern side suggests that the tumulus had 
an open access for future burials (Mladin 1960, 
212–214, pl. IIA). The graves, dug and placed in 
the bedrock at a depth of about 1 metre, were 
aligned north-south. Their arrangement follows 
a specific layout, suggesting that grave 6, the rich-
est in terms of grave goods, was centrally located, 
while the other graves (1, 2, 3 on one side and 4, 5 
on the other) formed a rectangular space around 
it, closing it off from the west and north (fig. 6).
Among the entire assemblage of graves, the 
osteological material was extremely poorly pre-
served, but graves 6 and 5 turned out to be the 
Figure 7: View of partially excavated stone grave chests and grave 5 during the opening  
(©Archives of the Archaeological Museum in Pula) 
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most interesting. Grave 6, as mentioned, was 
the richest grave, featuring characteristic grave 
goods of jewellery and attire associated with 
aristocratic female burials, such as a two-part 
spectacle fibula, Osor-type fibula, or fibula with 
amber on the bow, along with numerous amber 
beads, bracelets, rings, buttons and a ceramic 
spindle whorl (Mladin 1960, 222; Blečić Kavur 
2010, tab. 40). These grave goods are similar to 
those found in the grave at Mala Prepoved and 
closely resemble the grave goods of the deceased 
(5.184) at the site of Sv. Petar. In close proximity, 
with an irregular northwest-southeast orienta-
tion, was grave 7, a small rectangular chest, like-
ly the burial of a younger person/child, with a 
bow-shaped fibula with amber on the bow (Mla-
din 1960, 222). A similar burial method is doc-
umented at the site of Sv. Petar in grave 4.323. 
It is interpreted in a closer context with the fe-
male individual from grave 6, suggesting a possi-
ble familial relationship (Mladin 1960, 214–215, 
pl. IIA).
Grave 5 is unique as it is the only example 
so far of a so-called secondary burial recorded in 
Osor graves (Mladin 1960, 221–222) (fig. 6–7). 
In this grave, a primary male individual was bur-
ied in the eastern corner of the chest, followed 
by a secondary female individual. Grave goods 
included a large spectacle fibula under the head 
of the female deceased and a bow-shaped fibu-
la with amber on the bow near her left shoul-
der, dating the secondary burial to the same pe-
riod as the woman from grave 6 and possibly 
the younger individual from grave 7, around the 
9th and 8th centuries BCE (Blečić Kavur 2010, 
127–130).
Besides these graves, which have already 
been published for a long time, two addition-
Figure 8: Excavated grave in the apse of the ‘north church’ at the cemetery near Sv. Marija (Čaušević 2003, fig. 7; Blečić 
et al. 2006, by Morana Čaušević and Damir Krizmanić, adapted with permission by Martina Blečić Kavur, 2024)
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al discoveries from archival records ought to be 
included. First, another prehistoric grave was 
excavated during rescue works in 1964 along 
the road, in front of the modern cemetery and 
the tumulus investigated in 1959 (Baćić 1964a). 
Aside from descriptions in field reports by Boris 
Baćić, who conducted the excavation and trans-
ferred the material to the Osor Archaeological 
Collection, no detailed information on the type 
and method of burial is available, but it likely 
did not contain a representative inventory that 
would attract more attention from researchers. 
Due to the lack of documentation, the items in 
the Osor Archaeological Collection cannot be 
closely associated with this grave.
Further, during rescue archaeological and 
conservation research on the enclosure wall and 
the church of Sv. Marija at the cemetery, specif-
ically the early Christian episcopal complex, a 
rectangular stone chest grave was also excavat-
ed in 2001 (fig. 1, 8). The grave was located at the 
base beneath the altar in the late chapel of the 
‘northern church’. It was interpreted as a medi-
eval grave with a reduced burial and remnants 
of a wooden coffin, possibly connected to the 
veneration of St. Gaudentius (Čaušević 2003, 
209, fig. 6–7). However, given the location, bur-
ial method, and type, it seems unlikely to be a 
medieval grave. The early Christian architectur-
al complex was built on an Iron Age burial site 
with tumuli, a practice not uncommon along 
the Adriatic coast and beyond, as seen in the Sv. 
Petar monastery complex, which was also con-
structed on an older Iron Age burial site. Grave 
architecture constructed from four rectangular 
slabs, one of which was cracked, and the miss-
ing lid, is typical of Iron Age burial practices. 
These factors suggest that the grave, located 
near the previously investigated tumulus be-
hind the cemetery wall at Sv. Marija (fig. 1, 6–7), 
could not belong to the medieval episcopal com-
plex. The skeletal remains, while possibly dating 
to the Iron Age, might perhaps represent a sec-
ondary medieval burial, given the evidence of 
wooden coffin remains. Nonetheless, the grave 
architecture points to a once much larger Iron 
Age cemetery under tumuli, extending to the 
north and northeast, where the terrain rises 
significantly.
Mala Prepoved
In the area above and east of the Bijar cove, at the 
site of Mala Prepoved, behind the old military 
barracks, more than six tumuli were identified in 
the 1960s, indicating the presence of a necropo-
lis in the wider area of Osor (fig. 1). This strategic 
position at the approach to Osor likely connect-
ed with the settlement on the hill above Bijar, 
where two large tumuli were also recorded (Baćić 
1967, 3–4). Rescue excavations were carried out 
in 1963 on one tumulus, significantly damaged 
during stone crushing. The grave, carved into the 
bedrock to a depth of 20 cm, was then covered 
with nearly 50 cm of soil and covered with a stone 
tumulus mound measuring about 7 metres in 
width and 2.5 metres in height (fig. 9). The grave 
architecture was defined by stone slabs forming a 
rectangular chest containing a single skeletal in-
dividual in a crouched position (Baćić 1963, 1–2; 
1967, 3–4). A similar situation is known from 
the tumulus near the cemetery and church of Sv. 
Marija, except that this tumulus was intended 
for multiple, likely family, burials. The grave con-
tained some of the largest examples of two-part 
spectacle fibulae and ornate Osor-type fibulae 
found to date (Glogović 2003, pl. 26: 175, pl. 45: 
342; Blečić Kavur 2010, pl. 43: 579, pl. 44: 585), 
a ceramic spindle whorl, and ceramic fragments 
(Baćić 1963, 1). This individual grave can be con-
fidently dated to the Early Iron Age, specifically 
the 9th and early 8th centuries BCE. The items 
found in the grave, as well as the burial method 
and grave architecture, align with practices com-
mon in the Early Iron Age of the region.
Konopičje
Opposite and slightly to the east of Mala Pre-
poved, at the location of Konopičje, a larger ne-
cropolis was discovered during field surveys, lo-
cated in a saddle, i.e. a depression between two 
larger ridges (fig. 1). There were two burial prac-
tices observed: flat graves and those under tumuli. 
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Figure 9: Excavation of the tumulus at Mala Prepoved above Bijar  
(©Archive of the Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula, FN 23756, 23757) 
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The flat graves were located in a sinkhole, while 
to the west and north of the sinkhole stretched 
graves under tumuli. The entire necropolis was 
partially destroyed by unprofessional excavations 
and digs during World War II (1941?), reported-
ly conducted by an officer named Mario Botter, 
though without any professional publications or 
documentation (Baćić 1951; cf. Botter 2020). It is 
assumed that burials were carried out here dur-
ing the Bronze Age, based on the fragments of 
pottery found in the area. Despite cautions from 
Boris Baćić, who attempted to document the site 
as thoroughly as possible during the 1960s, no re-
cent research or revisions of the site have never 
been conducted (Baćić 1960, 2; 1964b, 1). Nev-
ertheless, this site offers significant potential for 
understanding the funerary archaeology of the 
Osor society and its wider surroundings, in con-
nection with the settlements on nearby hillforts 
and the evaluation of the entire cultural space 
during the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Discussion
‘Death in Osor’, or the methods, practices, and 
burial rituals during the Bronze and Iron Ages, 
is an extensive and immensely important topic, 
which has only been briefly presented through 
this synthetic review. Knowledge of this seg-
ment of social life in ancient Osor had been con-
siderably modest, with the exception of the pub-
lished excavation of the tumulus near Sv. Marija. 
Due to the lack of documentation from older 
excavations, scientific discussions over the past 
fifty years have focused on analysing numer-
ous finds of material culture, the vast majority 
of which came from graves or from the sacrifi-
cial site of the western necropolis at Kavanela. 
These finds represent a wealth of potential for 
understanding and interpreting this exception-
al part of Osor's cultural history (Glogović 1982; 
1989; 2003; Blečić Kavur 2014b; 2015; 2020; 
2022). Thanks to archival resources and the re-
sults of new systematic and rescue excavations, 
a significant amount of new data regarding the 
topography and typology of graves has been ob-
tained, which is now being fully evaluated and 
interconnected.
It has been confirmed, through the exca-
vation of new burial complexes, that larger ne-
cropoles existed along the eastern and south-
western approaches to the settlement, near the 
still-active land routes. Now, a northern necrop-
olis has also been confirmed, which was not 
outside the urban fabric but within it, assum-
ing that the prehistoric settlement followed the 
terrain configuration and existing walls to the 
greatest extent. Given the thick cultural layers in 
the northern stretch of the settlement, especially 
from the prehistoric period, and the Bronze Age 
grave excavated near Sv. Katarina, this thesis re-
mains credible, though still under-researched. 
Certainly, these three necropoles testify to a sig-
nificant population during the beginning and 
early phases of the Iron Age, and their need to 
be buried in various, but strategically important, 
places. All of them were partially destroyed and 
only partially excavated, although the preserved, 
albeit small, sample points to certain peculiari-
ties as well as many similarities.
Thus, the necropolis near the cemetery and 
Sv. Marija has been classified as tumulus burials 
and the one at Kavanela as a flat grave necrop-
olis, while the necropolis at Sv. Petar, based on 
available data, cannot yet be clearly classified in 
terms of burial methods, with no approach be-
ing ruled out. These findings reveal different fu-
nerary practices reflected in graves with varying 
principles of grave architecture: from urn and 
simple grave pits and graves carved into bedrock 
at Kavanela and Sv. Petar, to those surrounded 
by unworked stone blocks and possibly covered 
with slabs, and more complex stone chests at Sv. 
Petar and Sv. Marija.
It is noticeable, however, that the wealthi-
er graves, with a greater number and variety of 
grave goods, are typically those found in stone 
chests, primarily documented at Sv. Marija, fol-
lowed by Sv. Petar and Mala Prepoved. Multiple 
burials are known so far only from one exam-
ple of a grave in the tumulus at Sv. Marija, sug-
gesting its use over a longer period, but within at 
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most two generations. This was a place of fam-
ily burial, where graves were regularly revisited 
and maintained, and possibly, given the crema-
tion site and existing architecture, a place of an-
cestor worship. The wealthiest graves from this 
period, with one example each at Sv. Marija, Sv. 
Petar, and Mala Prepoved, further testify that 
the aristocracy of the Early Iron Age was bur-
ied in a structured and specifically designated 
manner, likely in separate funeral ceremonies 
and at precisely determined locations. All this 
data indirectly points to the social community 
and clans that performed such rituals, their sta-
tuses and positions within it, their beliefs and 
customs, and even possible kinships and hierar-
chies within the broader community. This soci-
etal and ideological concept, as well as the prac-
tice of burial protocols, will fit fully into the 
newly investigated grave in Osor, as well as the 
older grave from Mala Prepoved. A total of 17 
graves classify and confirm that the most accept-
ed burial method was in stone chests, with some 
evidence of urn burials (fig. 1). The transition 
to higher ontological spheres was carried out 
through skeletal and cremation burial rituals, 
which may have reflected cultural or even reli-
gious significance, as well as a chronological dis-
tance. In skeletal burials, the prevalent position 
was the so-called crouched or, considering the 
arrangement of bones, more precisely the seat-
ed and bound, position, which was the only one 
possible in such small rectangular chests. For 
now, it is impossible to discuss pre-burial ritu-
als, although they undoubtedly existed. Howev-
er, the rituals that took place during and after 
burial are certain, as evidenced by the position 
and architecture of the graves, and the grave 
goods themselves, including post-mortem cere-
monies such as the breaking of ceramic vessels 
at Sv. Marija, sacrificial acts, and the intentional 
destruction or ritualization of objects at sacrifi-
cial sites, which were likely accompanied by cer-
emonial feasts, most clearly evidenced by luxuri-
ous bronze vessels such as cists or situlae and lids 
decorated in the Situla art, as well as many im-
ported prestigious ceramics from the entire Iron 
Age (Blečić Kavur 2014b; 2015, 179–211; 2020; 
2021, 541–542).
Lastly, it seems that the graves at Sv. Katri-
na, Sv. Petar, and Sv. Marija represent the earliest 
phase of burial from the Bronze and Early Iron 
Age, which were, evidently within the urban 
space, all covered by medieval sacred and memo-
rial monuments. This same time frame includes 
the graves at Mala Prepoved and, most likely, 
Konopičje (fig. 1). The graves at Kavanela, on the 
other hand, are linked to the later phase of the 
Early and Late Iron Age, where continuous bur-
ial practices persisted even with the transition to 
the new socio-political regime of Roman rule. 
Although burial practices evolved or were sup-
plemented by new protocols over time, in certain 
examples, the funerary archaeology of Osor re-
flects consistency and a long tradition, and thus 
indirectly the collective memory of the inhabit-
ants of that area.
The current analyses and interpretations of 
items recovered from these contexts also reflect 
and directly confirm the status of Iron Age in-
habitants of Osor. One can read many complex 
socio-economic relations, a remarkable range 
of cultural contacts, and their active participa-
tion in cultural processes occurring in the Caput 
Adriae area and this part of Europe can be dis-
cerned, which is why they deservedly earned 
their recognizable position in literary sources, 
whether in connection with mythological tra-
ditions or with the inevitably important metals.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our deepest grati-
tude to Zrinka Ettinger Starčić, Director of the 
Lošinj Museum and Archaeological Collection 
of Osor, and Katarina Zenzerović, Head of the 
Documentation Department of the Archaeo-
logical Museum of Istria in Pula. Their invalu-
able help in providing archival documentation 
was of great importance to our research. We 
would also like to thank our colleagues Mora-
na Čaušević-Bully (University of Bourgogne 
Franche-Comté, Besançon) and Sébastien Bully 
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 
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3030
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Kvarner Region.’ PhD diss., University of 
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Blečić Kavur, M. 2014a. At the Crossroads of 
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during the Late Iron Age. Koper: 
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centar za kulturno nasledstvo 5:125–149.
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Arheološki vestnik 72:57–74.
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Fusion: Fibulae from Crikvenica.’ In 
Roman Pottery and Glass Manufactures: 
Production and Trade in the Adriatic 
Region and Beyond, edited by G. Lipovac 
Vrkljan, A. Konestra, and A. Eterović 
Borzić, 3–19. Oxford: Archaeopress.
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Amphora from Osor.’ Hortus Artium 
Medievalium 19:209–214.
Blečić Kavur, M., B. Kavur, N. Doneus, and 
M. Fera. 2024. ‘Osor u matrici proteklog 
vremena.’ In Vrata Jadrana kroz stoljeća: 
arheologija južnog Jadrana, edited by J. 
Dijon), Đeni Los and Josip Burmaz (Kaducej, 
d.o.o.) for their kind support and for permission 
to publish newly researched burials.
The authors acknowledges the financial 
support from the Slovenian Research Agency for 
the ‘Osor beyond the myth (N6-0292)’ project. 
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crtice s hrvatskih otoka III. B. Otok Cres, 
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of the city wall, at the entrance and on the Kavanela 
isthmus from the Lošinj side. Another necropolis was 
established near the eastern extension of the city wall, 
close to the current cemetery and the Church of Sv. 
Marija, where a tumulus was located at the approach to 
the town from the Cres side. In the area above and east 
of the Bijar cove, at the site of Mala Prepoved, tumuli 
were identified in the 1960s, indicating the presence of a 
necropolis in the wider area of Osor. This strategic posi-
tion was likely connected with the settlement on the hill 
above Bijar and the necropolis at the location of Kono-
pičje where flat graves were located in a sinkhole and to 
the west and north stretched graves under tumuli.
‘Death in Osor’ or the methods, practices, and 
burial rituals during the Bronze and Iron Ages, is an ex-
tensive and immensely important topic, which has only 
been briefly presented through this synthetic review. 
It has been confirmed, through the excavation of new 
burial complexes, that larger necropoles existed along 
the eastern and southwestern approaches to the settle-
ment, near the still-active land routes. Now, a northern 
necropolis has also been confirmed, which was not out-
side the urban fabric but within it, assuming that the 
prehistoric settlement followed the terrain configura-
tion and existing walls to the greatest extent. Thus, the 
necropolis near the cemetery and Sv. Marija has been 
classified as tumulus burials and the one at Kavanela as 
a flat grave necropolis, while the necropolis at Sv. Petar, 
based on available data, cannot yet be clearly classified in 
terms of burial methods, with no approach being ruled 
out.
It is noticeable, however, that the wealthier graves, 
with a greater number and variety of grave goods, are 
typically those found in stone chests, primarily doc-
umented at Sv. Marija, followed by Sv. Petar and Mala 
Prepoved. All this data indirectly points to the social 
community and clans that performed such rituals, their 
statuses and positions within it, their beliefs and cus-
toms, and even possible kinships and hierarchies with-
in the broader community. This societal and ideologi-
cal concept, as well as the practice of burial protocols, 
currently suggests that the graves at Sv. Katrina, Sv. Pe-
tar, and Sv. Marija represent the earliest phase of burial 
from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, which 
were, evidently within the urban space, all covered by 
medieval sacred and memorial monuments. This same 
Commission für Erforschung und Erhaltung 
der Kunst – und Historischen Denkmale 
23:176.
Sacken, E. 1879. ‘Neuere Erwerbungen der 
Antikensammluug des A. h. Kaiserhauses: 
Von Ossero auf der Insel Cherso.’ 
Archeaologisch-epigraphische Mittheilungen 
aus Österreich 4:150.
Teržan, B. 2013. ‘Liburnian Two-Part Fibulae 
with Conical Helices: Identifiers of Status 
and Affluence.’ Diadora 26/27:241–266.
Vinski, Z. 1956. ‘Ein Liburnischer Depotfund 
aus Baška.’ Archaeologia Iugoslavica 2:27–
52.
Summary
In previous studies, focused on the material culture of 
this period, the last prehistoric millennium in Osor has 
not been extensively written about from other perspec-
tives, especially that considering the concept of the ar-
chaeology of death. To do so, we have to present a top-
ographical review and chronological ordering of grave 
locations, along with their contextualization in rela-
tion to burial practices both within and outside the ur-
ban area. The topography and typology of necropoles 
and graves are essential for understanding how these 
structures were integrated into the living space of Osor 
and how its inhabitants interacted with them. This is 
most clearly reflected in their classification based on 
various criteria. A topographic approach focuses on 
the location of graves and necropoles in relation to the 
settlement, their strategic position, and the terrain's 
morphology.
Burials within the city were known in the north-
ern extension of Osor as early as the 19th century and 
more recent research has provided direct evidence of in-
dividual graves located from the Chapel of Sv. Katarina 
to the monastery of Sv. Petar and its surrounding areas 
where in total nine graves were discovered, showcasing 
different burial methods and rituals.
Burials outside the city walls likely took place at 
three strategic locations – following the natural terrain 
and its practical use, the necropoles were situated on the 
landward sides near the main approaches to the town. 
The larger one was located along the southwestern side 
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Smrt v Osorju ali metode, prakse in pogrebni ritu-
ali v bronasti ter železni dobi so obsežna ter izjemno po-
membna tema, ki je bila le na kratko predstavljena skozi 
to sintetično razpravo. Z izkopavanjem novih grobišč-
nih kompleksov je bilo potrjeno, da so večje nekropo-
le obstajale vzdolž vzhodnih in jugozahodnih dosto-
pov do naselja, blizu še vedno aktivnih kopenskih poti. 
Zdaj je potrjena tudi severna nekropola, ki ni bila zunaj 
urbanega tkiva, temveč v njegovi notranjosti, kar naka-
zuje, da je prazgodovinsko naselje v največji meri sledi-
lo konfiguraciji terena in obstoječim obzidjem. Tako je 
bilo grobišče blizu cerkve sv. Marije klasificirano kot go-
milno, na Kavaneli pa kot plano, medtem ko nekropola 
pri sv. Petru, glede na razpoložljive podatke, še ne more 
biti jasno opredeljena glede metod pokopa, pri čemer 
noben pristop ni izključen.
Opazno je, da so bogatejši grobovi z večjo količi-
no in raznovrstnostjo grobnih pridatkov običajno tis-
ti, ki jih najdemo v kamnitih skrinjah, predvsem doku-
mentiranih pri sv. Mariji, sledita pa jim sv. Peter in Mala 
Prepoved. Vsi ti podatki posredno kažejo na družbeno 
skupnost in klane, ki so izvajali take rituale, njihov status 
in položaj v njej, njihova verovanja in običaje ter celo mo-
žna sorodstva in hierarhije v širši skupnosti. Ta družbeni 
in ideološki koncept, kot tudi praksa pogrebnih proto-
kolov, trenutno nakazuje, da grobovi pri sv. Katarini, sv. 
Petru in sv. Mariji predstavljajo najzgodnejšo fazo poko-
pa iz bronaste dobe ter starejše železne dobe, ki so bili, 
očitno znotraj urbanega prostora, vsi pokriti s srednjeve-
škimi sakralnimi in spominskimi objekti. V to časovno 
obdobje sodijo tudi grobovi pri Mali Prepovedi in Ko-
nopičju. Grobovi na Kavaneli pa so povezani s kasnej-
šo fazo starejše in mlajše železne dobe, kjer so se konti-
nuirane pogrebne prakse nadaljevale tudi ob prehodu v 
novo družbeno-politično ureditev rimske vladavine.
time frame includes the graves at Mala Prepoved and 
Konopičje. The graves at Kavanela, on the other hand, 
are linked to the later phase of the Early and Late Iron 
Age, where continuous burial practices persisted even 
with the transition to the new socio-political regime un-
der Roman rule.
Povzetek
V predhodnih raziskavah, osredotočenih na materialno 
kulturo zadnjega prazgodovinskega tisočletja v Osorju, 
ni bilo obširno pisano z drugih perspektiv, zlasti s per-
spektive koncepta arheologije smrti. Da bi to storili, 
moramo predstaviti topografski pregled in kronološko 
ureditev lokacij grobov ter njihovo kontekstualizacijo v 
povezavi s pogrebnimi praksami znotraj in zunaj urba-
nega območja. Topografija in tipologija grobišč ter gro-
bov sta bistveni za razumevanje, kako so bile te struk-
ture integrirane v življenjski prostor Osorja in kako so 
njegovi prebivalci z njimi sodelovali. To je najjasneje raz-
vidno iz njihove razvrstitve glede na različna merila. To-
pografski pristop se osredotoča na lokacijo grobov in 
nekropol glede na naselje, njihovo strateško pozicijo in 
morfologijo terena.
Pokopi znotraj mesta so bili v severnem podaljšku 
Osorja poznani že v 19. stoletju, novejše raziskave pa so 
zagotovile neposredne dokaze o posameznih grobovih, 
ki so bili odkriti od kapele sv. Katarine do samostana sv. 
Petra in njegove okolice, kjer je bilo skupno odkritih de-
vet grobov, ki prikazujejo različne pogrebne metode in 
rituale.
Pokopi zunaj mestnih obzidij so verjetno poteka-
li na treh strateških lokacijah – po naravnem terenu so 
bila grobišča postavljena na celinskih straneh blizu glav-
nih dostopov do mesta. Večje je bilo postavljeno vzdolž 
jugozahodne strani mestnega obzidja, na vhodu in na 
Kavanelskem prehodu z lošinjske strani. Drugo grobi-
šče je bilo blizu vzhodnega podaljška mestnega obzidja, 
do trenutnega pokopališča in cerkve sv. Marije. Na ob-
močju nad in vzhodno od zaliva Bijar, na lokaciji Mala 
Prepoved, so bile v 60. letih prejšnjega stoletja identifi-
cirane gomile, kar kaže na prisotnost grobišč na širšem 
območju Osorja. Ta strateška pozicija je bila verjetno 
povezana z naseljem na hribu nad Bijarjem in grobiščem 
na lokaciji Konopičje, kjer so bili plani grobovi locirani 
v vrtači, proti zahodu in severu pa so se nahajale gomile.