16th International Symposium on Boat & Ship Archaeology

142 16 th International Symposium on Boat & Ship Archaeology Zadar County Zadar County is one of seven Croatian littoral counties situated at the very centre of the Adriatic coast. Geographically, it includes the northern Dalmatian coast and the hinterland of Ravni Kotari and Bukovica. Zadar County therefore has a key po- sition in linking the northern and southern parts of Croatia. There are 6 towns and 28 municipalities in Zadar County, with 179.186 inhabitants (according to the 2011 census). The largest city and administrative centre of the county is Zadar- 3.000 years old, and currently the fifth largest city in Croatia. Zadar is also the educational and economic centre of the region. Three millennia of history are evident in the city’s cultural heritage, which has contributed significantly to the understanding of Croatian history as a whole. The University of Zadar testifies to that, as it was estab- lished as a successor to the Dominican University founded in 1396. The total area of the county consists half of land and half of sea. That is an undeniable indicator of the maritime importance of the region, primarily in economic terms. Two national parks, three natural parks, and numerous protected natural areas surround Zadar County. Due to its natural and cultural richness, the main economic developments in Zadar County relate to tourism and its complementary activities. https://www.zadarska-zupanija.hr/ Pakoštane Municipality The Municipality of Pakoštane is situated in the heart of Dalmatia in Zadar County. It consists of four settlements with 4123 inhabitants – Pakoštane, Drage, Vrana, and Vrgada Island. The Municipality of Pakoštane boasts outstanding natural and cultur- al heritage and a rich tourist tradition. Notable among many archaeological sites in the region is a submerged Neolithic settlement discovered in the Pakoštane Roman harbour in Janice Cove. In the vicinity of Pakoštane is the Lake Vrana Nature Park, designated as an ornithological reserve in 1983 and distinguished by its wealth of living bird species. The area in and around Lake Vrana is the ideal place for anyone who loves the great outdoors, and there are plentiful cycling opportunities. One of the most important monuments of the Turks period in all of Croatia is the well-pre- served Han of Jusufpaša Mašković ( caravanserai ) in Vrana, built in 1644. The ren- ovation of the Maškovića han (Heritage Hotel) and the economic revitalization of Vrana received significant funding from the European Union. https://www.opcina-pakostane.hr/