LATE MEDlAEVAL CEMETERY NEAR THE CHURCH OF ST SA VIOUR AT VRH RIKA - Analyse

Analiza groblja kod Sv. Spasa pokazuje da je ono u najvećem dijelu nastalo tijekom kasnog srednjeg vijeka. Groblje je ustanovljeno u 12. stoljeću, a jezgro mu je obuhvaćalo svega 1000 m četvornih, zajedno s crkvom. Proširilo se u 14. stoljeću i povećalo za nekoliko puta. Od sredine 15. stoljeća naglo opada intenzitet pokopavanja. Novci na groblju, utvrdeni u 28 primjeraka, važan su indikator za dataciju i stoga su posebno valorizirani. Sagledani su u kompleksu ukupnih nalaza novčića na kasnosrednjovjekovnim grobljima Dalmacije i broje oko 190 primjeraka. Njihova pojavnost u grobovima i nekim ostavama 14. i 15. stoljeća indicira na zanimljive zaključke glede njihova opticaja na istočnomJadranu. Nakit iz groblja u kontekstu povijesnih vijesti 13,-14. stoljeća, upućuje na veliku produkciju, stanovitu raznovrsnost i ustanovljenu vrijednost. S izuzetkom srebrnog pojasa i tri zlatna prstena veće vrijednosti, nakit na ovom groblju je standardan, uglavnom kasnogotički, cijenom dostupan najširem sloju pučanstva. Ponajviše su to srebrne naušnice s tri jagode u tehnici filigrana i granulacije, jednostavne vitice, a rjede prstenje od brončanog lima. Posebnu zanimljivost predstavljaju brojni nalazi ostataka tkanja od tanke srebrne niti. Zasebno se raspravlja osrebrnom gotičkompojasu ipo prviput se ukaZUje na neposredne analogije, s datacijom u 14. stoljeće. O takvim proizvodima svjedoče i brojne arhivske vijesti iz Dalmacije i drugih krajeva u kojima su zabilježene i vrlo visoke njihove cij·ene.The cemetery around the pre-Romanesque church ofSt Saviour at the very source ofthe Cetina River was founded somewhere around the 11th -12th century. The prvi cemetery together with the church occupied a surface of lOO0m2 and consisted of about 150 graves. The cemetery suddenly expandedfrom the 14th until the mid 15th century, occupying a much larger area that resulted in as many as 1030 unearthed graves. The late mediaeval stratum is dominated mostly by the late gothic one with characteristic finds such as silver ear-rings with three beads found in 80 graves, iron circlets and buckle~ finger-rings and textile remains ofsilver wire filament. The analysis and dating ofarchaeological finds also considers numismatic finds at the necropolis that yielded issues from the beginning ofthe 12th until the mid 15th century. Comparisons with coins found at other necropolises result in interesting conclusions about the usage of Venetian, Aquileian, Hungarian and communal issues throughout the 14th and 15th century. The circumstances ofthe find indicate that some earlier emisije, those from the end of the 12th century were plC/ced in graves as late as the 14th century. Beneath a large stone tomb-stone (stećak) an elaborate gothic silver belt was found in one grave, together with appliques and an elaborate set of clasps Such precious belts were often mentioned in documents ofcommunes along the Adriatic (century de argento, cingulum de argento) from the 13th until the 15th century, and they were also part of the inventory of goldsmiths\u27 workshops throughout Europe. Such belts were also found in Venice, and are VelY similar by type to the one at St Saviour. This means that they were a common product in towns along the Adriatic coast in the process ofthe expansion of the gothic style that occun\u27ed in the mid 14th c. onwards. They were sometimes referred to as Croatian, Bosnian or Slavic. Uther types ofjeweUery found in graves at St Saviour are evidenced in mediaeual documents as common goldsmiths\u27 product of specific weight and value. This particularly refers to golden and silver ear-rings (cerceUum) and finger-rings (anulus). The considerable increase ofpopulation from the 14th c. may be brought in relation with the Vlachs (gens maharum) that, coming from the greatel-Balkans, inhabited the Croatian regiOns in the hinterland ofDalmatian communes becoming thus significant in the economic and demographic sense in the high Middle Ages. From the 15th c. mediaeval Vrhrika, as the area around the source of the Cetina River and the Church ofSt Saviour was refelTed to, was very much exposed to Turkish invasions, particularly after the faU of Bosnia after which the inhabitants gradually withdrew and the necropolis was no longer in use