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Sight-seeing
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Natural heritage
Spila Nakovana
One unusual finding has recently turned the public eye to the historic heritage of the Pelješac peninsula.
Above the Nakovana, village. in a cave called "Spila", archaeologists have found and explored Illyric shrine
from hellenistic period (4-1 century BC). Entrance to the shrine was close by plie of rocks so it was left intact
since it's abandonment two thousand years ago.
After removing the rock piles and crawling through the narrow hallway, archaeologists entered in spacious cave hall. On the
cave floor were scattered thousands of fragments of fine ceramic cups, jugs, plates and
amphoras. That precious, luxury dishes were made in workshops in greek colonies in southern Italy and on Adriatic, and on
mainland Greece. Illyr's from Pelješac were acquieing it through trade or piracy. Nearly all vessels were left in front of
the lone 60 cm high stalagmite of falusoide shape.
Numerous fine dishes for serving food and drink and bones from goat and sheep hams, witness of ritual feasts that were held here.
Covenant gifts are placed at the foot of the stalagmite, striking symbol of a supernatural being that was worshiped in the cave.
About the attributes of this "deity" wa can only guess for now, but the very shape of the stalagmite suggests a cult related to
fertility, potency or warrior sttrenght and bravery. Those characteristics were in high regard in
those turbulent centuries of prehistory.
Spila kod Nakovane is the only preserved and explored Illyric shrine that we know of. It is also the only sealed
cave finding site in Croatia found by archaeologists and not by accidental passers so it's science potential has remained
completely intact. Because of this we expect that the analysis will give new insight about the Illyric spiritual life and their
assimilation into the classical mediterranean civilisation.
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