Ceramic Evidence for Multi-period Occupation in the Visoko Region (Bosnia and Herzegovina): A Synthesis of Archaeological Investigations, 2010-2025

Abstract

Archaeological work carried out in the Visoko region between 2010 and 2025 has produced a large and consistent body of ceramic material across multiple investigated locations, including subterranean contexts, surface excavations, and stratified sondes. Ceramic fragments represent the most common class of finds and occur in association with architectural features, organic material, and anthropogenic layers. The assemblage spans several chronological periods. Based on typology and context, the material includes ceramics from the Neolithic, Roman, and early medieval phases. These finds are documented across different sites within the region, including the Ravne tunnel system, the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon, Vratnica, and associated locations. In a number of excavation units, ceramic fragments are recovered from clearly defined stratigraphic layers, providing evidence for repeated use of the same locations over extended periods. In contrast, other finds derive from mixed and redeposited contexts, reflecting later processes such as collapse, backfilling, and surface disturbance. Taken together, the evidence does not indicate a single phase of occupation. Instead, it points to long-term continuity of human activity across the Visoko region. The ceramic record provides the most consistent line of evidence for this sustained presence and for the repeated reuse of the landscape through time