Works in Salona in 1870s and 1880s

Na osnovi izvornih dokumenata tj. starih spisa konzervatora koji se čuvaju u Konzervatorskom odjelu Ministarstva kulture u Splitu donose se podaci i nepoznate pojedinosti u vezi s istraživanjem spomenika u rimskomu gradu Saloni. U razmatranom razdoblju od dvadeset godina druge polovice XIX. stoljeća izvršena su susustavna iskapanja važnijih arheoloških kompleksa. Obrađuju se društvene okolnosti i stručni problemi u raduSystematic excavations of the Roman Salona, the present day town of Solin, the capital of the large Roman Province of Dalmatia, begun in the early 19th century. They were improved from the mid century when expert and scientific institutions were being established in Vienna, including the Central Board for Research and Preservation of Art and Historic Monuments, followed by the Austrian Archaeological Institute. In the field were active conservators and correspondents, whose service was honorary. In the period of early excavations of Salona, greater attention was paid to pagan secular structures: the city walls and towers, the In Horto Metrodori cemetery, the theatre, the Porta Caesarea city gate, and the amphitheatre. The first major activities dealing with Early Christian monuments were at the baptistery and the locality known as The Sixteen Sarcophagi (Šesnaest sarkofaga). These were followed by the Manastirine, Marusinac and Kapljuč complexes and the city basilicas. Excavations of material remains of Roman edifices performed in the 1970s and 1880s yielded important results. The main excavations took place at the Manastirine necropolis, north of the city, as early as then having been created a pretty clear picture of this intricate and multilayered complex of structures. Excavations continued at the site, led by more experienced conservators and archaeologists. A significant obstacle was acquisition of privately owned land. Among the national experts engaged in the operations were conservators and directors of the Archaeological Museum in Split, the physician Francesco Lanza, the archaeologist Mihovil Glavinić, and the archaeologist Rev. Frane Bulić, the appointment of the latter to the post of the Conservator of Antiquities of the Split Area having brought to new, more numerous, discoveries of the cultural heritage of Salona. Austrian scientists and university professors of Vienna also increasingly participated the excavations, first of all Alexander Conze, Otto Bendorf, and the architect Alois Hauser. With their great erudition and authority they supported excavations in Solin before the Austrian national authorities. The technical documentation of the finds became of better quality, more detailed and precise. Commissioned were civil engineering experts who acted only as draughtsmen, not participating in the excavations. Among them were the engineer Antonio Inchiostri and the building contractor Ante Bezić. Both acquired experience in particular graphical documenting of architectural monuments and assisted the conservators, later on especially Rev. Frane Bulić. The most important events of the time were discovery of two Roman sarcophagi with relieves of the Good Shepherd, and Hyppolite and Phaedra at Manastirine in 1860. These were bought from their owners and transported to the Museum in Split in 1882. Important was finding of a group of 16 Early Christian sarcophagi, north of the city walls, in 1871. Excavations of the Manastirine necropolis intensified in 1874. The city walls were protected at the time of building the railway line in 1875. Walkways through the archaeological area were arranged for the visit of the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I in 1875. Land around the amphitheatre was acquired and land ownership issues at other excavation sites were dealt with