Fishponds as Indicators of Freshwater Aquaculture in the Medieval and Early Modern Croatia: A Preliminary Historical Survey

Freshwater aquaculture in Europe has a history spanning over 1,000 years, with its development primarily based on pond culture of common carp. During the Middle Ages, monastic orders and the aristocracy played a key role in the construction and operation of fishponds, as well as in the continuity and dissemination of pond management and husbandry practices. The history of freshwater aquaculture in the territory of present-day Croatia has not been systematically studied, and key aspects, including its origins, spatial distribution, social actors, purposes, management and husbandry practices, and cultured species, remain insufficiently explored. This paper draws on a broad range of historical sources, including archival, statistical, and normative materials, to identify the temporal and spatial distribution of fishponds. Fishponds are used as indicators and are analysed through an interdisciplinary approach incorporating archaeozoological evidence in order to reconstruct the development of freshwater aquaculture in Croatia during the medieval and early modern periods. The results indicate that fishponds can be traced back to at least the 11^th century, with ecclesiastical institutions representing the earliest social groups involved in their construction and ownership, followed by the nobility. During the Middle Ages, fish production in fishponds primarily served to meet the dietary needs of the Church and the nobility, while in the early modern period, indications of market-oriented production began to emerge. Data on management and husbandry practices are scarce, but they allow for a partial reconstruction of production and organisational patterns. Information on cultured fish species is also limited; however, the most frequently mentioned species include common carp, northern pike, tench and crucian carp. The main limitation of this preliminary study lies in its reliance on general administrative and legal documents, and the lack of systematic analysis of archival materials related to noble families, monastic orders and other ecclesiastical institutions, highlighting the need for further research based on a wider range of sources.