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In Search of Lost Space – Contribution to the Knowledge of Archaeological Topography of Kosinj

The Kosinj Valley, the karst region situated in the heart of Lika, is of undisputed importance for Croatian national history: Kosinj has been mentioned in historical sources since the second half of the 12th century and there is no doubt that the valley was of great importance in medieval Croatia. The Kosinj space itself was part of the medieval parish of Bužani, sometimes referred to as the Buška parish: according to the Split transcript of founding charter of Krbavska bishopric (year 1185), Bužani were an integral part of the Krbavska diocese since the foundation. There were three monasteries in the area of Bužani, presumably all located in or near Kosinj. Kosinj is certainly best known for it's famous pressroom, first of it's kind in Croatia, which is sure to have printed the second ever printed book in Croatian, Kosinj breviary from 1491. After the fall of Bosnia, Ottoman invasions intensify in this region, and after the famous and tragic Krbav Battle of 9.9.1493, the whole area falls under Ottoman control. However, the Kosinj Valley is also a kind of rarity: in spite of written evidence, Croatian archaeology has never paid more attention to the research of it's monumental heritage. Thus, no extensive archaeological research has been carried out with the aim of creating new insight into the medieval settlement of this region. This is especially concerning in the light of news that HEP (Croatian electricity provider) will soon start with the constructionof reservoir lake in Gornji Kosinj ; much of the valley will be flooded and that landscape will forever disappear-and along with it, any chance of new research. HEP'S idea is not new-the project was first developed in late 1980ies. It is less known that pilot studies were being carried out by archaeologists Ivan Šarić and Marija Šmalcelj at that time to determine the positions and potential for further research. The goal was to define and protect the archaeological heritage before the devastation of Gornji Kosinj area. The results of these studies have never been fully published ; based on a careful reading of the preserved documentation and analysis of the finds, I will present the results of the research of 5 potential positions of medieval sites: Antun Padovanski-Gornji Kosinj, chapel of St. Ane-Gornji Kosinj, Mlada Nediljica-Mlakva, Mlakvena greda and Krš, Trokutić-Staro groblje.

Kosinj, archaological topography, late medieval and early modern sites

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