Original scientific paper
Confines and Boundaries: Marks of Frontiers and Borders in Istria from the Middle Ages to the Present Period
Slaven Bertoša
orcid.org/0000-0003-4610-5417
; University of Juraj Dobrila, Pula Liberal Arts Section History Department Matetića Ronjgova 1, Pula
Tatjana Bradara
; Archaeological Museum of Istria Carrarina 3, Pula
Nenad Kuzmanović
; Šetalište V. Nazora 21, Rijeka
Abstract
This work brings the basic data about a project planned
by the Archaeological Museum of Istria at Pula, which
regards boundary lines on the Istrian Peninsula in the
course of past centuries. Through field work and based
on the still existent border marks we shall endeavor to
reconstruct the exact course of the state frontier line
between Venetian and Austrian possessions, individual
communes, and territories of special importance to
the state, as were forests. We plan to end the project
with a publication of a detailed catalogue enriched
with numerous photographs, as well as precise general
information regarding border marks (locality, dimensions,
state of preservation, etc.). A whole series of historians and
explorers were busy studying border marks from Istria,
amongst them: Danilo Klen, Vjekoslav Bratulić, Miroslav
Bertoša, Anton Meden, Marino Budicin, Christian Gallo
and Slaven Bertoša. So-called differences, i.e. not yet
divided plots of land that became contentious points
and sources of conflict, proved to be of momentous
importance for questions regarding borders: for example,
Dober Dol, Mune, Šumber, Semić, Grimalda, Zamask,
Kašćerga, Muntrilj and Sv. Lovreč. The conflicts on
these territories did not cease until the downfall of the
Venetian Republic, which can be clearly seen on the
basis of numerous reports compiled by diverse Venetian
priors in Istria.
The final goal of this project is, primarily, to save from
oblivion and to facilitate the preservation from devastation
of those stone border marks that were to date completely
forgotten and neglected, and remained thus unknown
and insufficiently studied. Our wish is to document every
available and preserved border mark. Unfortunately, some
were ruined by weathering factors, but the majority was
ruined during road building and earth-moving activities
in conjunction with the amelioration of the Mirna River
course, and as a result of other earth works on fields and
in forests, or as a consequence of urbanization. Nowadays
many of them are found built into diverse structures,
serving as thresholds and door-posts, we find them on
façades, and they also serve as benches in front of houses
and on the streets.
Keywords
Istria; the Modern Age (16th - 19th century); frontiers; contentious points; stone boundaries
Hrčak ID:
63743
URI
Publication date:
19.11.2010.
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