The uncovering of forgotten fortifications and other findings fromrecent field surveys and archival research of the frontiers of Šibenikdistrict (2018-2021)

• Josip Pavić ^[1] ; Andrija Nakić ^[1]
  1. [1] Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture, Šibenik, Croatia
• Localización: FORTMED2023. Defensive architecture of the mediterranean : vol. XIII, XIV, XV / Marco Giorgio Bevilacqua (dir. congr.), Denise Ulivieri (aut.), 2023, ISBN 978-84-1396-129-3, págs. 231-238
• Idioma: inglés
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  • This paper provides an overview of historical and archival research, as well as numerous field surveys made by the Heritage Department of public cultural institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik from 2018 to 2021. The recently awakened interest for late medieval and early modern fortifications in the wider Šibenik area has resulted in the discovery of several sites with traces of earlier (15th-17th century) fortifications are still visible today. These fortifications, scattered on the borders of former Šibenik district, were built for the defence against the increasingly frequent incursions of the Ottoman akinçi troops that were ravaging the Dalmatian hinterland since mid-15th century. They were set on dominant positions, which were not only excellent defensive points, but also had a visual control of wider surrounding areas. The strategic importance of these positions has been recognized in earlier times, as most of them were used in prehistoric times or antiquity. Some of the forts were made by noble families of Šibenik, as peasant refuges near their estates. Other were made by districtual or Venetian government in hope of containing the Ottoman threat. They usually had a plain rectangular shape, with towers on two or all four corners. Even more rudimentary fortifications were ramparts built as barriers over peninsulas or on the edges of mountain cliffs which enclosed a certain area where the local population would take refuge when in danger. One particular example are the traces of large building in the hinterland of Šibenik, for which archival sources indicate that it was a fortified residential complex.