Summary
Bunje is the remains of a large Roman rural villa with separate residential and production areas. The site links habitation, olive and wine processing, water supply and Late Antique burials.
Protected cultural property Z-4929; archaeological research and conservation work continued in 2026.
History and context
At the northeastern edge of the Vejak field, below the prehistoric hillfort on Velo Gračišće, lie the remains of a Roman villa rustica. It is protected as cultural property Z-4929. Surveys began in 2012, and systematic archaeological excavations were carried out from 2015 to 2022. Croatian and French teams identified several building and use phases: a smaller agricultural building in the 1st century, a large villa in the 2nd century, a period when the site fell out of use, and renewed Late Antique use from the 4th century onwards.
What the site reveals
The architectural complex includes a residential area with small baths, a production area with presses and basins for processing oil and wine, cisterns and an enclosed pond. Finds include mosaics, frescoes, amphorae, ceramic beehives and Late Antique sarcophagi. They provide evidence of agricultural production, trade and daily life over several centuries, rather than a single brief Roman phase.
Location and visiting
The site is within a protected complex, and conservation and protective work resumed in October 2026. The map point approximately marks the area based on municipal and scholarly descriptions; because of active work, vegetation and private land, it should not be used as an invitation to enter independently. Request current guidance from the Municipality of Selca or the research institutions before visiting. Photographs from scholarly and tourism websites have not been used because a free licence has not been confirmed.
