FortiFications, deFence systems, structures and Features in the past, ZBorniK instituta Za arheoLoGiJu serta instituti archaeoLoGici KnJiGa / VoLume 13, 2019
Late Antiquity hilltop fortress Crkvišće Bukovlje is being excavated since 2012. The site is loca... more Late Antiquity hilltop fortress Crkvišće Bukovlje is being excavated since 2012. The site is located on a naturally protected elevation on
the Mrežnica River bend. The shape of the plateau that is slightly inclined towards north is of an irregular tringle (the length of the southwestern side is about 110 meters, of the north-eastern about 80 meters and of the south-eastern about 85 meters) and on the western
side is naturally protected by the steep slope descending to the Mrežnica River canyon. Presumably, the Roman road Romula – Senia
was passing somewhere in vicinity. On the northern, the highest and most dominant part of the plateau there are remains of a singlenave church with a semicircular apse. It is dated to the 5th and 6th centuries, which was confirmed by the radiocarbon analysis. Next to
the southwestern defensive wall, two buildings, of 8 x 8 meters and 8 x 5 meters, were explored. They probably were used for dwelling
and accommodation of a military garrison. Based on the current degree of research and numerous analogies it can be concluded that
it is a hill military fort built in the second half of the 4th century, which during the 5th century became a local administrative center with a
church of a simple disposition.
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Papers by Petar Sekulic
During 2015 and 2016, archaeological excavations were conducted in the area of the Chapel of the Magi, in Gorjani. They revealed that the present-day chapel was originally constructed as an Ottoman tower during the second half of the 16th century. The material used for construction was medieval brick, probably brought from the ruins of medieval Gora/Gara. The tower, used as a residential and defensive unit, originally comprised a ground floor and probably two upper floors. The area archaeologically excavated was the inside of the building and a sizeable area south and southwest of the tower, revealing a large sewage/waste pit connected to the tower by a brick canal. Rubble layers that covered the original floor layer inside the tower yielded only one bronze find: a ring dated to the late 18th or early 19th century. An interesting, numerous and diverse group of metal finds stands out among the movable finds from the archaeological contexts connected to the sewage/waste pit from the time of Ottoman rule over Gora/Gara. The most numerous ones are iron fittings for footwear, followed by knives, several tools, a razor, a firearm fragment, etc., as well as damaged pieces of bronze kitchenware. The metal finds give us insight into the wardrobe, some customs, and activities of the Ottoman crew, or the tower keepers.
the Mrežnica River bend. The shape of the plateau that is slightly inclined towards north is of an irregular tringle (the length of the southwestern side is about 110 meters, of the north-eastern about 80 meters and of the south-eastern about 85 meters) and on the western
side is naturally protected by the steep slope descending to the Mrežnica River canyon. Presumably, the Roman road Romula – Senia
was passing somewhere in vicinity. On the northern, the highest and most dominant part of the plateau there are remains of a singlenave church with a semicircular apse. It is dated to the 5th and 6th centuries, which was confirmed by the radiocarbon analysis. Next to
the southwestern defensive wall, two buildings, of 8 x 8 meters and 8 x 5 meters, were explored. They probably were used for dwelling
and accommodation of a military garrison. Based on the current degree of research and numerous analogies it can be concluded that
it is a hill military fort built in the second half of the 4th century, which during the 5th century became a local administrative center with a
church of a simple disposition.
Poster by Petar Sekulic
Fortifications, defence systems, structures and features in the past, Zagreb, 7—9 June 2017
The Grižane castle is situated on the ridge of a steep slope dividing the regions of Gorski kotar and Vinodol, above the village of the same name. The today visible remains of the castle, situated on the eastern, highest, side of the ridge, consist of two round towers that are connected by the walls. Walls of the habitations are preserved on the western edge of the ridge, over a deep precipice.
The local freemen were mentioned in written sources in the Law Codex of Vinodol from 1288. It was in the possession of the Counts of Krk (later Frangipan) till the 16th century. Till the end of the 17th century it belonged to the Zrinski kindred.
It was presumed by the historical data that the castle was built during the 13th century. From 2015 the Croatian Conservation Institute began documentation works on the still standing architecture. After a 3D laser scan and the analysis of the remaining walls it can be concluded that the architectural remains above Grižane village were built during the 15th century. The main features being the round towers provisioned with loops for cannons and walls provisioned with gunloops.
A reassessment of historical and archival data indicates that a castle (castrum) in Grižane is first mentioned in 1449 and that all the older references can be ascribed to a settlement. Also the nearby fort/castle of Badanj could be recognized as the predecessor of Grižane castle.
Books by Petar Sekulic
During 2015 and 2016, archaeological excavations were conducted in the area of the Chapel of the Magi, in Gorjani. They revealed that the present-day chapel was originally constructed as an Ottoman tower during the second half of the 16th century. The material used for construction was medieval brick, probably brought from the ruins of medieval Gora/Gara. The tower, used as a residential and defensive unit, originally comprised a ground floor and probably two upper floors. The area archaeologically excavated was the inside of the building and a sizeable area south and southwest of the tower, revealing a large sewage/waste pit connected to the tower by a brick canal. Rubble layers that covered the original floor layer inside the tower yielded only one bronze find: a ring dated to the late 18th or early 19th century. An interesting, numerous and diverse group of metal finds stands out among the movable finds from the archaeological contexts connected to the sewage/waste pit from the time of Ottoman rule over Gora/Gara. The most numerous ones are iron fittings for footwear, followed by knives, several tools, a razor, a firearm fragment, etc., as well as damaged pieces of bronze kitchenware. The metal finds give us insight into the wardrobe, some customs, and activities of the Ottoman crew, or the tower keepers.
the Mrežnica River bend. The shape of the plateau that is slightly inclined towards north is of an irregular tringle (the length of the southwestern side is about 110 meters, of the north-eastern about 80 meters and of the south-eastern about 85 meters) and on the western
side is naturally protected by the steep slope descending to the Mrežnica River canyon. Presumably, the Roman road Romula – Senia
was passing somewhere in vicinity. On the northern, the highest and most dominant part of the plateau there are remains of a singlenave church with a semicircular apse. It is dated to the 5th and 6th centuries, which was confirmed by the radiocarbon analysis. Next to
the southwestern defensive wall, two buildings, of 8 x 8 meters and 8 x 5 meters, were explored. They probably were used for dwelling
and accommodation of a military garrison. Based on the current degree of research and numerous analogies it can be concluded that
it is a hill military fort built in the second half of the 4th century, which during the 5th century became a local administrative center with a
church of a simple disposition.
Fortifications, defence systems, structures and features in the past, Zagreb, 7—9 June 2017
The Grižane castle is situated on the ridge of a steep slope dividing the regions of Gorski kotar and Vinodol, above the village of the same name. The today visible remains of the castle, situated on the eastern, highest, side of the ridge, consist of two round towers that are connected by the walls. Walls of the habitations are preserved on the western edge of the ridge, over a deep precipice.
The local freemen were mentioned in written sources in the Law Codex of Vinodol from 1288. It was in the possession of the Counts of Krk (later Frangipan) till the 16th century. Till the end of the 17th century it belonged to the Zrinski kindred.
It was presumed by the historical data that the castle was built during the 13th century. From 2015 the Croatian Conservation Institute began documentation works on the still standing architecture. After a 3D laser scan and the analysis of the remaining walls it can be concluded that the architectural remains above Grižane village were built during the 15th century. The main features being the round towers provisioned with loops for cannons and walls provisioned with gunloops.
A reassessment of historical and archival data indicates that a castle (castrum) in Grižane is first mentioned in 1449 and that all the older references can be ascribed to a settlement. Also the nearby fort/castle of Badanj could be recognized as the predecessor of Grižane castle.