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A few days ago, they discovered a mysterious building from Stefan Dečanski’s time, suggesting that the medieval people of Rudnik may have had central heating in the multi-story buildings. Ingenious archaeologists speculate if these may be the remains of the despot Djurdj’s brewery, which existed here.
The head of the research, archaeologist Dr. Dejan Radičević, assistant professor at the Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, found the right access road to Ostrvica, which solves the riddle of how one of the most important Serbian fortresses was built on a mountain inaccessible “needle” at 758 meters above sea level.
From the time of Nemanja until the fall of the despot, the island city of Ostrvica was the most important defensive point on the northern border of Serbia. Its walls were a refuge for the population of numerous mining and artisanal settlements, which gravitated around the great Rudnik square, the remains of which are located on the site of Drenje, not far from the present city.
Photo: B. Subašić
In previous years, archaeologists excavated the remains of luxurious multi-story buildings decorated with frescoes and the seal of Prince Lazar from the local government office, who did business with foreign consulates in the mining and commercial metropolis. Last year’s discovery of the sewage sewer system showed how urbanized it was. The latest discovery at the building complex has researchers baffled.
MINE URBANIZATION
In the Middle Ages, RUDNIK was much more populated and industrialized than today, says Ana Cicović from the Museum of the Rudnik-Takovo Region, who is the bearer of the research with the help of the Ministry of Culture: “The square we excavated in Drenje was an administrative and commercial center, blacksmiths and other artisans were scattered throughout the mountain. “
– We discovered something exceptional, a huge room with a system of channels through the walls, but we don’t know what they were used for – says Dr. Dejan Radičević, who is leading the research. – Until now, nothing similar has been seen anywhere, we have nothing to compare our discovery with. A series of vertical channels plastered with waterproof plaster is poured into the horizontal water catchment at the base of the wall, making the entire system resemble a central steam wall heating, similar to the Roman hypocaust. To prove it, we would have to find a combustion chamber, which is not there yet. Only further research can provide answers.
The mystery for investigators is also a large niche in the wall with a domed vault, as well as the fact that the room below the wall had two closed drainage channels through the floor. They lead to a large culvert drained into the rock and covered with stone slabs. This construction is reminiscent of the Roman water supply and sewerage system.
Many archaeologists these days come to see this unusual discovery and develop their hypotheses, including that it may be the Despot Djurdj brewery in Rudnik, which is mentioned in medieval documents. Because how could Saxons, Saxons, live without beer?
The entire “Rudnička planina”, famous for its silver and lead mines, was protected by a ring of fortifications in the Middle Ages, the most important of which was Ostrvica, under which there was a large civil settlement, Podgrad square. Although the importance of this area is well known from historical documents, it has never been investigated in a systematic way. This year, the bad tradition was interrupted by the Ministry of Culture, which provided funds for the start of archaeological research. The remains of the church, which was first excavated in 1985 and soon re-buried in the ground, came to light again, because the investigation was stopped.
STEFAN DEČANSKI’S TIME
NOVČIans by Stefan Dečanski points out that the building with the mysterious wall was made in his time, as well as the frescoed multi-story building that archaeologists excavated a few years ago. Later it changed its purpose, because traces of extension can be seen.
– The luxurious construction of the temple indicates without a doubt that it is a donation from a nobleman, but it is certainly not the only church under Ostrvica – says Dr. Radičević. – The settlement was very large and it is logical that it had a large cathedral, which we hope to find in the future.
Today’s steep and narrow tourist trail leading to the Ostrvice dungeon tower island in the rock of the vertical edges does not give an explanation of how it could have been built here at all. During the reconnaissance of the terrain, Dr. Radičević and the reporter “Novosti” discovered an easier access path to the tower, from the side that is said to be inaccessible in the literature.
– The correct access, it seems, was on this gentle slope, judging by the carved path and several plateaus and deep dry trenches that stopped the attackers. Observed from here, you can see the royal route of the medieval road to Rudnik, which is a very important fact, says Dr. Radičević.
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