LATE ANTIQUE RESIDENTIAL OBJECT FROM THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE KALE-VINICA

Abstract

The archaeological site Kale is located on a small hill in the south-western part of today’s modern Vinica and it is known mostly because of the exclusive finds from the 5-th and the beginning of the 6-th century - the terracotta reliefs with Christian motifs, known by its popular name as terracotta “icons”.

A section of the ancient traffic network in the Bregalnica River area reached this fortified city, which name is still unknown. The last elation of the Roman Empire in the time of Justinian I (527-565) can be observed in the architectonic remains on the Kale Fortress. The architectonic complex from the 5-6 century consists of objects build in the spirit of the new living philosophy. Justinian renews the city walls, and from the latest excavations (2008-2011) a few houses were discovered on the north-east terrace of the site, as well as the objects for military purpose by the south-west fortification wall.

This article refers on one residential object, which was eventually used as a church residence.

Keywords:

Late antique, residential objects, Kale Fortress, Vinica, episcopalia