It took almost two hundred years for the Romans to conquer the Balkans where they built several settlements whose remains are still visible until today.
By building settlements in the fertile Balkan, which is rich in natural resources, the Romans discovered the only BH city at the sea shore. The Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and short and mild winters, pleased the robust legionaries from the Apennine Peninsula, and two kilometers from the sea and Neum bay, they started building an entire village.
“Vranjevo village, in the 1st century BC, was an important Roman settlement that continuously lasted until the 6th century BC,” said from the Commission for Preservation of National Monuments of BiH, which declared this archaeological site and necropolis with tombstones as a national monument by a decision in 2004.
The village was located along the road which led to the ancient Diluntum (Stolac) and connected on to the road Narona-Epidaurum or Narona-Leusinium. What was the name of the village is unknown.
The remains of the settlement were actually first mentioned in archaeological excavations in 1984 when it revealed the remains of a building of this village – a sacral, pillar-shaped object with a cross, and the remains of the walls. With the remains of the settlement was found the necropolis with 66 tombstones. Most of these tombstones belong to a princely family Nikolic.
“In the 14th century, Nikolic’s were masters of feudal power, the sole holders of political and cultural activities of Zapska parish and members of the Bosnian Aristocratic Assembly (Barones regni),” as said from the Commission for Preservation of National Monuments.
It is certain that the approach to this old village near Neum would significantly contribute to the promotion of the tourism of BiH and our only city on the sea and its environment, from which could be organized historical lessons and visits with a tourist guide.
While it is clear that our cultural and historical riches, especially from ancient times, are very attractive to tourists around the world and important for the preservation of our history, there is small interest for them in BiH.
(Source: radiosarajevo.ba)
