In April, the last activity of the project was carried out: “Archaeological Treasure of Colentum 6 – encouraging community participation in the sustainable development of local cultural and historical heritage resources” submitted under the Call for projects of island associations aimed at the sustainable development of islands, within the funds available from the 2017 State Budget of the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. The last activity of the project was an inventory of plant species at the Colentum archaeological site.
In cooperation with agro-ecology engineer Maja Barešić, MEng, from LAG More 249, and biologist of the Murterski škoji Primary School Asst. Prof. Marija Pandža, PhD, the area by the Roman villa and the olive grove vegetation of the Colentum archaeological site on Gradina hill in Murter were surveyed. The research by Asst. Prof. M. Pandža, entitled “Floristic and vegetation values of the Colentum site (island of Murter)”, placed special emphasis on endemic, endangered, protected and invasive taxa and protected habitat types. In the halophytic zone by the Roman villa, 25 taxa were recorded, and in the grassland vegetation of the olive groves, 119 taxa. As the research was carried out over only one month, the list of Colentum's vegetation is not complete. The research concluded that as many as 11 taxa of the Colentum site's flora belong to one or more categories of special interest (endemic, endangered or strictly protected species).
The aim of this research was to at least partly complete our knowledge of the floristic and vegetation values of the Colentum site. This research forms the basis for future research and for planning the development of the Colentum Archaeological and Recreational Park and arboretum, and recording categories of flora of special interest is yet another confirmation of the value and importance of preserving the Colentum archaeological site.
The Argonauta association would especially like to thank Asst. Prof. Marija Pandža, PhD, and Maja Barešić, MEng, for their expert help and the valuable research carried out.
