1 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Over 7,000-Year-Old Traces of Life Discovered in Ratina Cave on Šćedro Island, Croatia

Recent archaeological excavations on Šćedro Island, located south of Hvar, have unveiled significant findings that challenge previous understandings of the island’s prehistoric past. The Ratina Cave, a site of interest since the early 20th century, has revealed evidence of human activity dating back to the late Neolithic period, approximately 3000 years earlier than previously believed.

In 1923, renowned archaeologist Grga Novak first identified traces of human presence in Ratina Cave, discovering ceramic fragments from the Iron Age. However, a recent excavation led by the company Kantharos doo, in collaboration with the Friends of the Island of Šćedra Association and the Municipality of Jelsa, has dramatically altered the narrative surrounding the island’s history.

During a focused excavation of just 1.5 x 1.5 meters, researchers uncovered an impressive array of artifacts, including 250 ceramic fragments, 97 animal bone fragments, 109 shells and sea snails, and four flint tools. Charcoal samples have been collected for radiocarbon dating, which will help confirm the age of these significant finds.

Among the most remarkable discoveries are the ceramic fragments, with 67 pieces exhibiting distinctive features indicative of hemispherical bowls with ring-shaped rims and partially smoothed walls. These vessels, adorned with incised geometric designs, are linked to the Hvar culture, specifically dated to the 5th millennium BC (between 5000 and 4300 BC).

Ratina Cave. Credit: Friends of Šćedro Island
Ratina Cave. Credit: Friends of Šćedro Island

The Hvar culture refers to a prehistoric cultural group that thrived on the island of Hvar and surrounding areas in the eastern Adriatic during the Neolithic period, particularly between 5000 and 4300 BC. This culture is characterized by its distinctive pottery, which often features geometric decorations and specific vessel shapes, such as hemispherical bowls with ring-shaped rims.

Archaeological findings associated with the Hvar culture include not only ceramics but also tools made from stone and flint, as well as evidence of early agricultural practices. The Hvar culture is significant for its role in the development of trade networks in the region, as it indicates interactions between various communities across the Adriatic Sea. The Hvar culture is considered an essential part of the broader prehistoric narrative of the Adriatic region.

The shapes and decorations of these ceramics closely resemble those found in the Grapceva caves on Hvar, a key Neolithic site in the eastern Adriatic. This connection suggests that Ratina Cave was inhabited concurrently with some of the most important prehistoric settlements in the region, raising questions about its role in the broader network of trade and habitation.

Credit: Friends of Šćedro Island

Another intriguing aspect of the research is the origin of the materials used for the lithic artifacts. Preliminary analyses indicate that the stone and flint tools were likely sourced from other Adriatic islands and mainland areas, hinting at established trade and maritime networks that connected Hvar, Korčula, Pelješac, and the wider eastern Adriatic region during the Neolithic era.

Šćedro’s strategic location along vital maritime routes positions it as a significant hub for communication and trade among prehistoric communities. Although the current excavation has only explored a small section of the cave, the volume and importance of the findings suggest that the site was either continuously inhabited or utilized as a seasonal shelter and workspace.

Ratina Cave. Credit: Friends of Šćedro Island
Ratina Cave. Credit: Friends of Šćedro Island

Future research will focus on expanding excavations to the surrounding plateau, which, along with the cave’s proximity to the sea and fertile soils, presents an ideal environment for prehistoric life. Additional studies may also uncover evidence of a later phase of the Hvar-Nakovan culture, which remains insufficiently explored.

This archaeological work not only enhances our understanding of Hvar culture but also offers valuable insights into the lives of prehistoric communities along the eastern Adriatic coast.

Prijatelji otoka Scedro / Friends of the Scedro island 

Cover Image Credit: Friends of the Scedro island 

Related Articles

2,300 Years Old First Complete Ancient Celtic Village and Roman Settlement Discovered in Munich

22 October 2023

22 October 2023

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Celtic village and evidence of a smaller Roman settlement in Munich, Germany. The 2,300-year-old Celtic...

The Temple of Persian Water Goddess Anahita Discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan

8 March 2024

8 March 2024

Archaeologists excavating the Rabana-Merquly mountain fortress in what is present-day Iraqi Kurdistan suggest that it may also have served as...

1300-year-old stone sculpture from the ancient Turkish era found in Kazakhstan

3 August 2021

3 August 2021

A 1,300-year-old stone sculpture from the early Turkish period was discovered in Kazakhstan’s south, around 250 kilometers (155 miles) from...

Cave paintings discovered in western Turkey carry the region’s past back to prehistory

18 December 2021

18 December 2021

During the archaeological survey carried out in and around the ancient city of Alinda in Aydın province in western Turkey,...

Archaeologists uncover a 1,500-year-old Lost Mayan city in the Yucatan

28 May 2022

28 May 2022

Researchers have presented their findings after discovering the remnants of an ancient Mayan city on a building site in Mexico....

The Bronze Sacred Sanxingdui Tree Number 3 is Being Restored

9 April 2021

9 April 2021

According to the announcement of the Sanxingdui Museum, archaeologists have begun to assemble and restore the No. 3 bronze sacred...

Naked Venus statue discovered in a Roman garbage dump in France

29 March 2023

29 March 2023

Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (Inrap) has been uncovered a trove of artifacts, including two...

World’s Smallest Stegosaurus Track Found

14 March 2021

14 March 2021

The smallest trace of stegosaurus in the world that lived 155 million years ago was found. Stegosaurus, a herbivorous dinosaur,...

Mysterious and Life-size camel carvings have been found in Saudi Arabian desert

4 October 2023

4 October 2023

Archaeologists have found life-size camel carvings on a rock near the southern border of Saudi Arabia’s Nafud desert. The Neolithic...

Female pharaoh’s temple reveals teamwork of Egypt’s ‘ancient masters’

18 November 2021

18 November 2021

Despite the widely acknowledged monumentality and durability of ancient Egyptian sculpture, carved reliefs, and paintings the makers of these works...

4,000-year-old War Memorial of Banat-Bazi in Syria

28 May 2021

28 May 2021

Archaeologists have identified a memorial monument built before 2300 BC in the Banat-Bazi region in Syria. Known as the “White...

16 New Ancient Rock Art Sites Discovered In Jalapão, Brazil

13 March 2024

13 March 2024

Archaeologists at Brazil’s National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) discovered 16 new archaeological sites while surveying a large...

Archaeologists Discover a New Pyramid from the Caral Culture, Known as South America’s Oldest Civilization

4 February 2025

4 February 2025

The team from the Caral Archaeological Zone has discovered a new pyramidal structure in the “Sector F” of the Chupacigarro...

Unique ‘Excalibur’ Sword Found Upright in Ground Unearthed in Spain Holds Islamic Origins

26 April 2024

26 April 2024

Researchers have finally unraveled the mysteries of the historical sword discovered in Spain 30 years ago, which they named ‘Excalibur’...

The altar of Zeus Temple discovered in western Turkey

1 September 2023

1 September 2023

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Magnesia, located in the western province of Aydın’s Germencik district, have uncovered the...