Several sites with Neolithic finds were recorded during the 1997 survey, and two of them investigated during the 1998 and 2000 seasons (Figure 2).

The following discussion serves only as a preliminary presentation of the material. Further research and publications concerning these materials are forthcoming.

SU027
Although this site was documented during the 1997 season, the Early and Middle Neolithic element did not come to light until the test excavations of the 1998 season. The site is situated on a small rise near the modern farmstead and consists of an extremely dense artifact scatter that extends beyond a few hundred square meters. At the center of the site, the surface scatter contains a maximum of 40 flint finds (debitage, tool fragments) and at least 140 fragments of prehistoric pottery per sq m. Numerous complete tools were found, including one polished axe (so called "green stone"). Eight obsidian fragments were also sampled on the surface of the site and examined for provenience by Robert Tykot (University of South Florida).

Dry stone walls run around the central part of the site creating an artificial terracing towards the sea side and some sort of delimitation or fortification on the inland side (figure 3).

As ascertained by the 2000 test excavations, the oldest of these stone walls belong to the Neolithic period, while later structures might be of Roman or later date.

Surface artifacts contain diagnostic elements from the Early Neolithic, Middle Neolithic, Copper Age, Bronze Age, and local Iron Age. The mixed nature of the surface finds suggests that the site has deflated. Test excavations during 1998 support this theory, as the deposit with similar multi-period artifacts proved to be extremely shallow and poorly stratified in unprotected zones of the site. However, the sub-surface tests in 2000 led to the discovery of reasonably stratified deposits under the tumble of an ancient wall structure, containing a mixture of terrestrial and marine shells, animal bones and diagnostic artifacts (Trichromatic Painted pottery, flint and obsidian tools) that relate to Middle Neolithic contexts in Korcula (Vela Spilja; see Cecuk and Radic 1995), in Italy and Greece, as well as some Early Neolithic Impressed Ware sherds (figure 4).

This primary midden deposit (or stratified secondary deposit) is dated to around 4800 Cal BC by radiocarbon (5895±65 BP).

Animal bones from the Middle Neolithic deposit comprise both domesticated species (sheep and/or goat) and sea mammals such as otter and seal along with sea birds and fish. There is a broad variety of mollusc remains (Patella coerulea, Monodonta, Cepaea nemoralis, Theba pisana).

SU002
Contrary to the situation at SU027, the integrity of the Early Neolithic evidence at this site appears reasonably secure. The pottery assemblage relates to the earliest phases of the so-called "Adriatic variant" of the Early Neolithic impressed pottery cultures, correlating to a radiocarbon date of around 5800 Cal BC (6925±65 BP) from one of the test units. Finds from other periods (i.e. later prehistoric, Greek, Roman, or Medieval) were not detected in the immediate vicinity.

The site is positioned in a watershed that slopes down to the western end of Uvala Duga (figure 5).

The eastern limits of the site are ca. 50 meters from the high tide mark. Limestone breccia is scattered throughout the area and recent pedologic transport does not appear to be dynamic. Goat grazing seems to have had an impact on some of the artifacts, as indicated by freshly broken sherds. During the 1997 season, a grid was laid across the surface scatter and individual artifact positions were plotted. Pottery that did not appear to be directly threatened by trampling was left in context.

During the 1998 and 2000 seasons, test units were excavated to investigate the subsurface integrity of the site. Only one unit contained evidence of a primary deposit, and it appears that a proportion of the site is in an erosional deposition within the gully. Charcoal, marine shell and land snail, along with an abundance of Impresso sherds, debitage, and tool fragments, were also sampled in the excavations.

The wares present at SU002 all fall into the "A" phase of the chronology developed for East Adriatic, Early Neolithic impressed pottery by Mueller (1988 and 1991; 1994). Numerous motifs have been assigned to the A1, or earlier phase (figure 6).

Fingernail and pinched impressions, arranged in either wide or narrow horizontal patterns, are common. Impressions from the wavy edges of Cardium shells (so-called Cardial Impressed Wares) and the smooth arched edges of Pectunculus shells (Glycimeris glycimeris), usually arranged in single and double rows covering most of the exterior surface of the vessel, are found. Triangular, circular, and semicircular stamped impressions, arranged in rough rows and applied with the tips of lithic, wood, and bone implements, are frequent. In many examples, especially the earliest wares, the impressions have been applied to the surface of the vessel in a random manner.

Classification of the sherds by fabric generally corresponds with the three categories noted at the Early Neolithic site at Tinj-Podlivade
(Chapman and Mueller 1990; Chapman et al. 1996). Numerous base and rim fragments were sampled, including thin-walled sherds and rims with lip impressions. A few monochrome sherds are also present, but these form a small minority of the SU002 assemblage. The fragments are from recognized Dalmatian Early Neolithic forms such as dishes, bowls, globular vessels, straight-sided vessels, and miniature vessels (Mueller 1991 and Chapman et al. 1996). A few lug fragments are found in the assemblage.

The lithics from SU002 form an interesting and broad Early Neolithic "tool kit" (figure 7).

Retouched primary and secondary flakes are present. As noted at other Early Neolithic sites in Dalmatia, the assemblage does have a strong tendency towards blades. Examples occur with and without retouch, and some of the final products appear as blade-based end scrapers. Two sickle blades and two small polished river pebbles were also collected at the site. Finally, bilaterally retouched or damaged points, possibly used for opening molluscs (somewhat reminiscent of the Sipontian assemblage from Coppa Nevigata [Puglisi 1955]), are present.

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