MONUMENTAL MEDIEVAL SITE DISCOVERED IN NORTHERN BOSNIA

MOSTAR, Jan 4 (Hina) - Over the past three days Bosnian archaeologists have discovered 17 tomb-stones and the ruins of a magnificent building on the site of Atik mosque in Bijeljina in the northern part of the country. Some experts say this represents the biggest medieval archaeological site in Bosnia-Herzegovina. #L# The 17 tomb-stones date back to the 13th and 14th centuries, Aleksandar Ratkovic, an archaeologist and representative of the Bosnian Serb entity's Institute for the Protection of Monuments, said on Saturday. The Cyrillic epitaphs, drawings and decorations appear to indicate the tomb-stones were erected in memory of one priest, four monks, two warriors, and the man who built the imposing building on whose foundations Atik mosque was later erected. One tomb-stone bears an anthropomorphic cross "which is very rare and which cannot be found in any other location in Bosnia, while two other tomb-stones bear a sword, typical on tomb-stones in Bosnia, which says these tomb-stones belonged to warriors," said Ratkovic. The type of building underneath Atik mosque has not been ascertained, although it is assumed it was a Christian religious facility whose foundations the Turks frequently used to build their own places of worship. A geologist joined the team of archaeologists examining the site today to shed light on the origin of the various types of stone which were used to erect the tomb-stones and the monumental building. (hina) ha