The Foundation “Heritage Watchdogs – Bassania” organized a major cleanup action for the Crkvine necropolis in the village of Razići, Glavatičevo Local Community, Konjic, on Saturday, June 6. The action gathered fifteen participants, including Foundation members and local residents of Glavatičevo, who worked together to contribute to the preservation of this valuable cultural and historical site.
Upon arriving at the site, we found the necropolis almost entirely overgrown with dense vegetation, making access to the medieval tombstones exceptionally difficult and leaving a large portion of the monuments invisible. The hardworking team, led by Emin and Mahir, used saws, trimmers, shears, machetes, and rakes throughout the day-long action to completely clear the necropolis grounds, allowing this unique site on the banks of the Neretva River to shine again in its full beauty.
During the field work, 85 medieval tombstones were recorded, although earlier documentation noted 104. It is assumed that over time, a portion of the monuments sank into the ground or was displaced and damaged by the action of the Neretva River. Particular attention was drawn to numerous decorative motifs and symbols on the medieval tombstones, outstanding among which are depictions of crescent moons, crosses, human figures, and other decorative elements characteristic of medieval Bosnian sepulchral art.
As part of documenting the site, the orientation of the medieval tombstones was also recorded, establishing a dominant northwest–southeast orientation. These findings represent a significant contribution to further research and interpretation of the Crkvine necropolis and will be the subject of additional expert analysis.
The Foundation “Heritage Watchdogs – Bassania” thanks all action participants for their dedicated work, enthusiasm, and collective contribution to protecting the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We extend special gratitude to our host Denis for his warm hospitality and support, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation on projects aimed at developing cultural tourism in Glavatičevo and the broader Konjic area.
Furthermore, we thank the European Union for its financial support of the project for cleaning necropolises in the Bjelimići and Glavatičevo areas, as well as for installing information boards and directional signs that will contribute to the better presentation and protection of these significant sites.
