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The submarine world of the Pakleni Islands is one of the richest and most attractive marine archaeology zones along the whole of the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Not only have academic papers given evidence of this, but so, and even more, have the numerous newspaper articles, appeals, and interventions of the security and conservation services, that have in the last thirty years or so accompanied the unbridled interest of illegal foreign and local divers in this area of our coastline.

Even so, the understanding of the marine archaeology topography of the Pakleni Islands is quite inadequate from a scientific point of view, because it relies on the rare well-informed recognisance and data from amateur divers, which are often unusable from a serious professional point of view.  On the other hand, the archaeological treasure, which has for decades been removed without any checks from its underwater resting places is today scattered around many private and publicly owned collections at home and abroad, and so there can be no complete overview of the variety and quantity of the material that has been brought up. We might mention just a few of the most important collections: of Vlado Silvarić in Zagreb, Juraj Toto Meneghello at Palmižana, Drago Ružić in Split, Tonči Miličić in Hvar, the Archaeological Museum in Zadar, the Archaeological Museum in Split, and the Centre for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage in Hvar.

One of the most complete and, in terms of number, one of the richest collections is that of Juraj Toto Meneghello. Until recently it was unknown to the general public, but an inventory was made of it in 1983 by the Centre for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage, and it was entered into the register of monuments of culture of the island of Hvar. The collection was put together during the fifties and sixties by that devoted lover of the sea around his own rocky island, the late Juraj Meneghello, partly from his own dives, partly by purchase from other divers.

It consists of over 150 items of ancient ceramic vessels (amphorae, bowls, plates, cups) ranging in age from the 3rd century BC to the 6th or 7th century AD. The bulk of the collection (over 100 items) belongs to the freight of a Roman merchantman that at some time in the first or second century AD went down close to the bay of Palmižana. There are goblets, pots, small pots, jugs, bowls and lids, simply made of clay of a reddish-brown colour, and plates and bowls of a somewhat better quality workmanship, all of the 1st or 2nd centuries.

The amphorae are more modest in numbers (a total of 56 items, including whole items and fragments), but then they are more diverse in their age and forms. The places of the finds are not known, but I would assume that they mostly belong to the sea area of the island of Hvar.
They are Greek-Italic amphorae of the 3rd to 1st century, then amphorae that during the 2nd or 1st century were produced on this side of the Adriatic, small Roman amphorae of Greek make, and several items from the period of the later Roman Empire.

Thanks to the cultural interest and the no small financial sacrifices of Meneghello’s wife, Dagmar Meneghello, this collection has been arranged and opened to the public this spring. It is located within the framework of the Meneghello guesthouse, next to the Skorpion Gallery, and hence enriches the already acclaimed nucleus of the cultural life of Palmižana. The plan of arrangement was worked out by Hvar artist Nikša Barišić in a well-thought-out conception for the display, not over-official, and not burdened by classical museological systematisation. This is fitted in excellently with the leisured holidaymaking atmosphere of this Hvar resort. The collection is furnished with maps, captions, drawings and photos of amphorae, as well as with documentation about the other cultural and historical mementoes of the rocky island, old photos of Palmižana, family photographs, and is hence a real little local museum.

Also being prepared is a special publication about the archaeological seabed of the Pakleni Islands, with a small manual about amphorae, especially about those types that are characteristic of the seabed of the eastern Adriatic.

The Palmižana Marine Archaeology Collection is dedicated to the memory of the late Juraj Meneghello, and is meant for all those who love and make their pilgrimages to these Hvaran islands.  Although modest and still not completely worked out, in its direct way, in its original setting, it bears witness to the ancient importance of the rock in the regional and global voyages on the Adriatic Sea, and with its material and documents about the prehistoric, Roman, medieval and more recent past of the island, also about the cultures that in a period of over 4000 years continued to impinge upon this marginal and indeed hardly existent soil. Like some kind of ID, it reveals to us the historical identity and individuality of these surrounds, which in the onslaught of superficial and restricted exploitation by the tourist industry has been practically forgotten today.

Finally, it should be said that this is the first private collection to have been made truly public, and that except for the professional assistance of the Hvar Cultural Heritage Protection Centre, has been put in order without any help from society at large. An endeavour worthy of absolute commendation.