By: Emir Medanhodžić
The Church of St. George and the surrounding necropolis of stećci were declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007. They represent a unique heritage site, but are now completely neglected and ruined.
The complex consists of around twenty rounded stećci slabs bearing symbols of lilies and crosses, as well as a particularly significant inscription with the name +Ostoja+Ostojić written in Glagolitic script, considered the second oldest Glagolitic inscription in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Most of the stećci have sunk into the ground and are severely damaged.
The Kolunić site itself is located about 3 km from the town center and in the Middle Ages belonged to the parish of Pset, inhabited by members of the Kolunić clan.
The early Christian Romanesque-style church is believed to have been built in the 13th/14th century and changed rulers until the Ottoman conquest. Because it is surrounded by stećci and features a tall tower of about 13 meters without internal stairs, it is assumed to have been an Arian Bosnian church, although both the Orthodox and Catholic churches claim its ownership.
This area was also linked to Roman roads such as the Via Ester, which ran from Salona through Drvar, Oštrelj, and Bosanski Petrovac. Several Roman milestones were found here; I managed to locate and photograph one, while others have been moved to museums, and some were unfortunately destroyed and used as construction material.
I would like to thank my friend Elfiraz, who guided me through the sites in Bosanski Petrovac.
