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Archaeological researches of the interior of Saint Peter Chapel in Novo Mjesto
ANA AZINOVIĆ BEBEK
TAJANA PLEŠE
Sažetak
In 2002 the interior of late Romanesque chapel of St Peter in Novo Mjesto was investigated(around 60 m2), works being carried out by stagesas the very statics of the chapel walls was in a bad condition. It was found out that the foundations and walls were made of bricks with a lotof linking material. Besides that, the existence ofthree walking layers was confi rmed . These layers correspond to the chapel restauration periods.Also, foundations of choir fl oor and of three altarswere discovered, as well as an earlier woodenchoir, before known only from canon visits in 18thcentury.
The nave hid a lot of scattered bones withpostmortal damages while undisturbed graveswere discovered in the shrine. All seven gravesfall in 15/16th centuries. Levels of interment correspond to the levels recorded in archaeologicalexcavations conducted around the church by theZelina museum which confirmed a mediaevalcemetery.
The examined part of the nave also displayedfour mediaeval coins-golden forint of king Sigismund (1387-1427), silver obol from 15th century, one silver (15th cent.) and copper pfennig(16th cent.). A copper cross was found in thedust- pectoral with silver crucifi edChrist and theaccompanying chain. Given the stylistic features,this Christ fi gure may be dated as belonging tothe 14th century, while the cross may have beenmade later ( the form became widespread only in15th cent.). It may be assumed that Christ fi gurineoriginally belonged to some other object and thisone was its secondary purpose.
There were also two medallions: one withZachary’s invocation and St. Benedict’s cross (17thcent.), and one with St. Cayetan’s image (17/18 thcent.). Both of them are common fi ndings in modern history graves but may as well be just accidental fi ndings. St. Benedict’s medallion or Benedict’spfennig is extremely popular with ordinary peoplebecause it is universal protection against diseases,plague, and trouble, even against witches, spellsand bad weather. It protects homes, stables andfi elds. St. Cayetan’s medallion is interesting as itrepresents the saint with saintly attributes soon after his canonisation. Cayetan was proclaimed saintin 1671, and the medallion dates 17-18th cent.
The shell discovered belongs to Jacob’s scallop, Pecten maximus, specific of Spanish andFrench parts of the Mediterranean. One of NovoMjesto parishioners may have gone on pilgrimageto Santiago de Compostela, which, along with theHoly Grave in Jeruzalem and St. Peter’s tumb inRome, used to be the most signifi cant place ofpilgrimage in the Middle Ages.
Other fi ndings include three pieces of yarnand textile fragments with gold fi bres and a considerable quantity of mediaeval pottery and studsand nails. The pottery could have originally beenin the dust outside the chapel and got inside as thewalking layer was raised.
It was possible to restore only two dishes.Most fragments were parts of everyday kitchenutensils like bowls, plates and lids. Some of thesefragments are decorated by cuts and punctures orwavy lines.
Ključne riječi
Novo Mjesto; late Romanesquearchitecture; St. Peter’s chapel; modern historygraves
Hrčak ID:
52038
URI
Datum izdavanja:
10.2.2010.
Posjeta: 2.022 *