Medieval settlement near Žerovinci

Magistrsko delo prikazuje rezultate arheoloških izkopavanj, ki so potekala v Žerovincih, jeseni leta 2013. Tam, v dolini Pavlovskega potoka v Slovenskih goricah, sta bili razpoznani rimska in srednjeveška poselitvena faza, v nalogi pa je predstavljena slednja. V polnilih jam različnih velikosti je bila odkrita večja bera srednjeveške keramike in nekaj kovinskih ter kamnitih najdb. Naselbinske ostanke – vkope, lahko povežemo z zemljankami, ki pa niso bivalne, saj so za to, brž ko ne, premajhne. Verjetneje gre za kmetijsko-gospodarske objekte ter shrambne jame. Tako artefaktni zbir kot vkopi so indikator manjše srednjeveške naselbine podeželskega tipa, ki jo radiokarbonske datacije umeščajo v čas od druge polovice 12. do začetka 14. stoletja. Ti datumi namigujejo na nekakšno kontinuiteto poselitve v Žerovincih in sovpadajo s časom intenzivne kolonizacije okolice Ljutomera, kar se odraža tudi s tipičnimi končnicami krajevnih imen -ovci in -inci. Rezultati arheološke raziskave tako dokazujejo začetek srednjeveške poselitve Žerovincev, kar dodatno potrdijo omembe Žerovincev v salzburških urbarjih iz leta 1320.This master\u27s thesis presents the results of archaeological excavations which took place in Žerovinci in the Autumn of 2013. The research studies the medieval settlement phase, identified alongside a Roman phase in the valley of Pavlovski Potok in Slovene Hills. A sizable collection of medieval pottery along with a few metal and stone finds were discovered in the backfills of varyingly sized pits. Settlement remains, also known as pit houses, are understood to be houses which were too small to be habitable. These were most likely agricultural and storage facilities. Both the extensive artifact collection and the pits are an indicator of a small rural medieval settlement. Radiocarbon dating dates this to a period ranging from the second half of the 12th to the beginning of the 14th century. These dates suggest a continuous settlement in Žerovinci. This period also coincides with intensive colonisation of the larger surrounding Ljutomer area. This is reflected in familiar suffixes of the local names of the settlements, for example ‘-ovci’ and ‘-inci’. Results of this archaeological research prove the beginning of the medieval settlement of Žerovinci, a conclusion also supported by the mention of Žerovinci in the Salzburg land registers from 1320