Bassana - Roman villa  rustica and harbor

The "Bassana Roman villa and port" project was created out of need to preserve the archaeological site Bošana and save the natural belt of fertile land between Biograd and Sv. Filip i Jakov.

One of the goals set by the project is to protect the cultural heritage and associated strip of nature from devastation by employing the active protection. We are witnessing a process of devastation of the Croatian coast, excessive and inappropriate construction of apartment buildings and resorts that irreversibly destroy the resources and character of the local community. Paradoxically, major comparative advantages of the Croatian Adriatic coast are preserved nature and moderate urbanization, which are now being lost to the community for the benefit of individuals and their profits. In this aggressive process of devastation, archaeological sites do not fare any better than their natural surroundings, and are often destroyed before the professionals get the opportunity to properly research them.

The goal of this project is to make the archaeological site functional within the offer of cultural tourism and to develop activities that will provide the means for its existence. Development of cultural activities related to such an organized archaeological site will contribute to the cultural and economic welfare of the local community, as well as to the promotion of Biograd and the wider region.

The "Bassana Roman villa and the port" project has a mission to establish relationships with universities that would be interested in participating in the study of the site Bošana, designing plans for archaeological schools, and activities that can be performed on site, both for their students and other interested participants. Studies that can be carried out include the land part which has not been systematically investigated yet, and the submerged part of the site which has been researched on several occasions so we have a lot more knowledge about it. It is possible to achieve all logistics requirements for the organization of such collaboration within the scope of the project and in cooperation with the local community.

The project is carried out with the participation and support of the Regional Museum in Biograd n/M, which will be involved in the implementation of the project as a venue for workshops, lectures and seminars for the participants of the project and interested public. Every season, the museum will organize exhibitions about the site Bošana and the achievements of the project, which will further promote the town of Biograd and this valuable project. The museum will organize publication of editions related to the excavations in Bošana, both expert and popular, in order to better educate the public on the actions of the project.

In addition to the excavations, the project will offer courses in experimental archeology and practical skills of using a variety of old techniques and crafts to the interested attendees. These activities will be lead and taught by experts who have had previous experience in dealing with the specific areas. As this part is not exclusively dealt with by archaeologists, lectures will be offered to interested lecturers from various sectors to participate and develop this part of the project.

Equally important are the activities that will be carried out by the Regional Museum of Biograd, workshops, lectures, and courses, as would, for example, be a course in Glagolitic alphabet, old Croatian script that was, thanks to the Benedictines, preserved in the Biograd area for many centuries.