Original scientific paper
RUINS OF THE ST JOHN 'S CHURCH IN UZDOUE NEAR KNIN
Ljubomir Gudelj
; Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika
Abstract
The author presents results of researches made at the hilltop above Čenići and Treskavice hamlets in Uzdolje, near Knin. The site is situated at the southern side of Kosovo Field, al battom of the northern slopes of Mount Promina, in the area of Uzdaije village, in the medieval Knin DistriCI (županija), the name of which (Vzdolye, Vsdoglie, Ozdolya, Usdolia, Susdoglie) was mentioned in several late-medieval documents. In the archaeological literature it has also been often referred to as the cemetery and church of St Luke, this because of the found and partly reconstrucred altar screen trabeation reading the year 895 and the name of the Croatian prince Mutimir-Muncimil; deemed 10 have originared from here, and because of rhe found group of fragments of various pieces of pre-Romanesque church furnishings. Based upon the dara found in writen historic Sources and upon identification of works of late-medieval artisis on the found remains, the paper refers to the church of St. John, reconstructed in 1458. Nowadays, remains of this medieval church are surrounded with an Orthodox cemetery, formed in the last alte hundred years or so, during which period of time the site was dug up, several medieval monuments were damaged and a number of the monumental stećak tombstones were broken Or removed from their genuine locations. Several such tombstones and tomb slabs scattered over the hillside indicate that the archaeological site spreads beyond the present-day cemetery fences. In 1993-1994, in a then occupied part of the Republic of Croatia, the site was excavated by the Belgrade University professor, Đorde Janković, with his assistants, who removed several Stone monuments to a nearby hamter where they were subsequently found. More detailed data on these excavations and other possible finds are not available to the author of this paper. In 2001-2002, there were studied interior and a part of surroundings of the medieval church, to be conserved again. Below its, partly preserved, floor there are a few remains of an older structure of undefined ground plan and purpose, and a built grave situated in the centre of the western part of the cella. The found fragment of a Roman milestone from the time of the joint rule of the emperor Valentinian l (364-375) and his brother Valens (364-378) and Gratian (367-383), and the double-pitched sarcophagus cover indicate the importance of this locality in the classical and the late classical periods. This Single-vessel church with a semicircular apse at the eastern end was erected in the pre-Romanesque period, as indicated by two fragments of various pieces of stone furnishings and by the way it was built, of scarcely dressed stones connected with large quantities of mortar. From its facade to the outer apex of the apse, the church is 12.20 m long, and 6.5 m wide. The interior width is 5 m, and the semicircular apse radius 3.8 m, narrower than the cell. The cell and the risen presbyterium were partition ed by a Stone column with groves for inserting the oltar screen plates. found in situ. The lateral walls inner surfaces were each covered with three pairs of blind arches of T ground plan, whose protruding formerets supported the assumed vault, dividing the cell interior into three equal traves. Besides the dominating local limestone, the builders also used tufa and blocks of marl. Because of its disrepair and partial caving in, the church was reconlstructed by brothers Ivan and Luka Hrel(j)ić of Šibenik in 1458. Its outer facades were supported with three pairs of bultresses, the genuine floor was replaced with a rustical paving, the northern side of the apse was reconstructed in full, in the lateral niches there were built altar consoles, and opening in the sourhern wall was closed with stone and spolia. Besides the above mentioned fragments, in the collection ofmonuments stand out a complete anephigraphic beam and a beam with the engraved name ofthe district prefect (župan) Ivan, and the relief-decorated ambo plates. Made of marble, limestone and mari, the collected fragments do not provide for reconstruction of any of the four pre-Romanesque ensembles. This indicotes several interventions in the interior during the Middle Ages, but also opens the issue of origin of the trabeation reading the name of the prince Mutimir. The local tradition on destruction of the St. John 's Church before the Turkish conquest has been supported by no firm evidence. ln and around this medieval church, thirty graves, distributed densely and in two layers, have been excavated. Most of them were made of drystone and stone plates, two of roughly dressed stone bound with mortar, and afew with no archileclure.ln and around Ihe graves, Ihere have been found coins of the CroatoHungarian king Ludovic d 'Anjou, a silver ring decoraled wilh incisions, gilded Iree-bead earrings, copper earrings and a silver ea/Ting with coiled thickel1ings, and fragments of majolica and rough, locally produced, vessels, evidencing late-medieval dates of burials here (13th-15th centuries). The same dates are confirmed by stećak tombstones, distributed at the crest of the hill, a number oft hem decorated with relieves of cross and lily as well as combinations of the two motifs. In the catalogue there are also fragments of a pluteus, formerly built in the porch of the Pločaš wel/, at the western end of Uzdolje village that, for their damages and possibility of jurther decay, have been taken to the Croatian Archaeological Monuments Museum in Split. Translated by: D. Kečkemet
Keywords
Uzdaije, hilltop, church, cemetery, St. Luke, Sr. John, Murimit; Pločaš, earring, stećak, conservation
Hrčak ID:
81796
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2005.
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