The Late Roman Cemetery at Bencunuše near Manastirine

Arheološkim istraživanjima na predjelu Bencunuša osim kasnorepublikanskih nalaza pronađeni su i grobovi iz kasnoantičkoga perioda najkasnije datirani prilozima zlatnoga novca Justina I. i Justinijana. Uglavnom se radi o pojedinačnim ukopima pojedinaca skromnijega imovinskog statusa. Pronađene zidane grobnice (kosturnice s većim brojem pojedinaca) s prilozima zlatnoga novca predstavljaju nešto luksuznije ukope. Pronađeni grobovi sagledani su u kontekstu dijela sjeverne salonitanske nekropole, čiji nastanak i razvoj uvjetuju cestovne komunikacije i cemeterijalni kompleks na prostoru Manastirina.Archaeological excavations at the locality of Bencunuše revealed various types of Late Roman interments. The appearance of such interments resulted from the proximity of the cemetery complex of Manastirine, an important communicational intersection where a necropolis was created as early as in the 1st century. In the course of its development, especially in the 4th century with the first Christian burials, the Manastirine necropolis gained importance, and while extending it encompassed the locality of Bencunuše as well. The researches at Bencunuše were performed in the western peripheral part of the necropolis, spreading north-eastern. The necropolis is mostly made of single graves of younger individuals of lower property status, with no grave goods. Bodies are buried in amphorae, wooden coffins and earthen graves, and graves covered with tegulae. The amphorae fragments show typologically diverse, mostly north-African, Late Roman production. The earliest dated grave, with numerous grave goods, has been dated by coins to the early 5th century. Two discovered walled graves stand out, besides by the type of internment, also by multiple interments of, mostly, elderly persons and valuable grave goods. Given the specific nature of the walled graves, it is possible that these are central graves, used for a longer period of time. The grave goods found in the walled graves: golden Byzantine coins and amphorae of eastern-Mediterranean origin, confirm the necropolis to have been used also after the mid 6th century. Development of the cemetery complex at Manastirine probably also increased traffic of the northern roads alongside which subsequently appeared later Roman interments, like the ones discovered at Donje Bencunuše. The researched graves have provided new information related to functioning of the Salona\u27s north-western suburbs