Brončano i starije željezno doba na području grada Osijeka

The oldest settlement in the area of today\u27s Osijek originates from older Neolithic (Starčevo culture), and lasts through the whole prehistory, although not always on the same positions inside today\u27s city area. The following findings of Sopot culture from middle and younger Neolithic and Eneolithic cultures originate from Osijek: Baden, Kostolac, Vučedol (Minichreiter, K., 1997., 7-19. Celestin, V., 1896.-97., 104-109. Šimić,J., 1989., 25. Šimić, J., 1994., 16-21.). Findings from Bronze Age appear in its beginning: findings from Vinkovci culture, while from middle Bronze Age exist traces of life of groups with Transdanubian encrusted ceramics and Dalj - Bijelo Brdo group, as well as older Belegiš group. Findings from younger Belegiš group originate from late Bronze Age, then findings of older periods of urn fields culture, and Dalj group, existing in that area till the end of older Iron Age. Very favourable position on the river Drava, at the place of the most suitable crossing across the river toward the worth, was one of the most important factors in establishing the settlement in that area as early as in the earliest pre-history. The second important factor is drained soil with heights over 90 meters, which ensured security from floods and favourable possibilities of acquiring food (Sić, M., 1981., 21-27). Eastern part of the town (Donji grad) and the western part (Retfala) were very suitable areas. Two urn graves of Vinkovci culture originate from the locality Pristanište in Donji grad, although they were earlier thought to belong to Zagreb group of urn fields culture (Bulat, M„ 1977., 11-17, pictures 1,2, T.3, T. 4:4, T. 6:6). Unfortunately, the settlement could not be found. During middle Bronze Age north-east Slavonia and South Baranya were encircled by Dalj - Bijelo Brdo group of complexes with encrusted ceramics, and in some localities appears Southpannonian encrusted ceramics, which lives in this area parallel with Dalj -Bijelo Brdo ceramics. In Osijek, at the locality Prometno skladište, south from Pristanište, remains of Dalj - Bijelo Brdo necropolis or settlement were found. As "excavation" was not performed professionally enough, without documentation, the circumstances of these findings are not precise. A few vessel fragments of the group with southpannonian encrusted ceramics appeared among accidental findings in Retfala in 1987. (Šimić, J., 1989., 25) , as well as in 1994. But, as these findings were not numerous, Retfala can not yet be one of the reliable finding locations of this group. Fragments of bigger vessels with characteristic encrusted ornamentation originate from one of the still unknown finding site in Osijek, although it is probably Pristanište or Prometno skladište. After the groups with encrusted ceramics stopped existing in the area of Eastern Slavonia, especially near the Drava and the Danube, Belegiš group started to develop, the two developing stages of which can be found in Osijek area. The findings of older Belegiš group appear on Krčevine to the east of Donji grad and in Tvrđa, and those of more recent period, Belegiš 2, in Retfala. Those on Krčevine and those in Tvrđa were discovered during archaeological excavation (Minichreiter, K., 1984., 245, picture 6:2; Šimić, J., 1993., 123), and in Retfala both accidentally and during archaeological excavation (Šimić, J., 1989., 25; 1993., 1995., 23-26). Retfala is the most western locality with Belegiš findings, but as a lot of ceramics with characteristics of the Urnfield culture stage Ha A1 were found there, a question of the mutual relation between Belegiš and this group appeared, especially because of the fact that both kinds of ceramics were found in the some pit during excavation in 1994. (Šimić, J., 1998., 235-242). Two bronze decorative pins were also found in Retfala: mace shaped ornamented with a motif of fir-tree branchlet and the one with round, flat top with three ribs (Šimić, J., 1993., 140, picture 13:1.2). Both pins are repertoire of the Urnfield culture, which appear in Northern Croatia from Br D to Ha Al, and in finding sites of Belegiš group in Eastern Slavonia and Voivodina as an import. The Urnfield culture was found in Retfala and in the far east of the town on Zeleno polje, but also on Pristanište (Bulat, M., 1977., 14-16, pictures 1,2). All the finds of this culture belong to the end of Ha A2, i.e. horizon of Zagreb group. Dalj group, the youngest one in the Urnfield culture in northeast Croatia, appears on many places in Donji grad (Schramm, F.F., 1936., 67. Bulat, M., 1962., 364. Šimić, J., 1980., 228-229.). Protective excavation in Clinical Hospital in the eighties of 20th century showed the existence of necropolis from older Iron Age, stages Ha C-D, i.e. horizon of new Dalj group. On that occasion two intact urn burial places were found, together with a number of ceramic fragments (Simic, J., 1992., 58). Material of the settlement characteristic was also found east of the Hospital, showing the position of the settlement. Unfortunately, due to laten, antique and contemporary excavations most of the material was destroyed and its shape, size and location will never be established. As all the finds in necropolis have characteristics of Dalj group, it is not clear where the older necropolis was situated, the one from late Bronze Age. Its position could be the one where the urn with characteristics of the Ha B period was found, east of the Hospital near the tannery (Simic, J., 1980., 228-229). It is interesting that lately no metal objects belonging to Dalj group were found. The only known such find is a group of jewellery, probably originating from the destroyed grave, found near the Hospital in the end of 19th century (Woldrich, J.M., 1881., 332-336, T.7). In spite of numerous signs and finds, knowledge of Bronze and older Iron Age in Osijek area is still inadequate and demands further research. We are aware of the fact that a great number of prehistoric layers is irretrievably destroyed by the construction of the antique, and later on the contemporary town in the place of older settlements, and thus it is hardly possible that we will ever be able to answer all the questions