Vojnik: Archaeological Traces in the Surrounding Area

The area around Vojnik contains archaeological sites that reveal different historical periods. About 500 metres to the north is Petrikovo, a Roman settlement and necropolis in the area of the Makreški Bridge over the Petrošnica. South of the village is Grobišta (Groblje) near Vojnik, an Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis. The nearby area thus brings together Roman settlement history and different burial contexts.

Roman Settlement and Grave Stelae

Two grave stelae were found at the Roman settlement and necropolis of Petrikovo. One bears a Latin inscription from the 2nd century, while the other has a Greek inscription. In addition to its character as a settlement and necropolis, inscribed funerary monuments thus shape the archaeological significance of this site. The stelae differ in the language of their respective inscriptions; a century is also specified for the Latin one.

Another Historical Period South of Vojnik

Grobišta (Groblje) near Vojnik represents a different historical context: it brings together an Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis. By comparison, Petrikovo points to the Roman period and connects a settlement and necropolis with the two grave stelae. The sites therefore offer different answers to the question of which periods and archaeological themes interest you in the area around Vojnik: Roman settlement and inscription traces, or Iron Age and medieval burial sites.

Additional Cultural Context: Staro Nagorichane

The wider Staro Nagorichane destination offers further distinct archaeological and art-historical themes. Kokino is located on the prominent rocky hill of Tatichev Kamen at an elevation of 1,013 metres. The ancient observatory consists of two platforms separated by a height difference of 19 metres. Two markers were used to measure the length of lunar months and to create a calendar based on a periodic cycle of 19 lunar years. Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, not on the World Heritage List.

The Church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane was renovated in 1313 by the Serbian king Stefan II. Its frescoes date from 1318 and were created by the Thessalonian painters Mihailo Astrapa and Evtihij. The dates mark two different milestones in the history of the same church: its renovation and the creation of the frescoes.

The Church of St. Petka in Mlado Nagorichane has a distinctive architectural feature: it has no eastern apse, making it the only example of its kind in Žegligovo. The church’s frescoes and architecture were conserved in 2003. Here, a clearly identified architectural feature stands alongside a specific date of conservation.

The history of monasteries is also part of the cultural heritage of the Staro Nagorichane destination. The church of Karpino Monastery in Suv Orah dates from 1592. The monastery was an important cultural and literary centre with an extensive library. This combination of architectural history and literary significance adds another perspective on the region’s history to the archaeological connections around Vojnik.

For the wider travel overview: Staro Nagorichane.