Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Middle Ages

A permanent exhibition in the Archaeology Pavilion, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Middle Ages occupies three exhibition halls. On display in the lobby are historical maps showing the emergence of the mediaeval Bosnian state in the middle of the 10th century, its territorial and political set-up, and its shifting borders until its downfall in 1463. The period from the 6th century to the middle of the 12th century is presented in the first hall, the period from the second half of the 12th century to the 15th century is presented in the second, and architectural and sculptural artefacts dating from the 12th to the 15th century are displayed in the third (central) hall.

Especially attractive mediaeval artefacts are the stećaks, or mediaeval tombstones, which are exhibited in the open. Twenty-one of them are displayed in the Botanical Garden, divided into two groups: stećaks from Herzegovina in the northern part of the garden, and those from Bosnia in the southern part. An additional group of stećaks (ten tombstones) are displayed on the green to the left of the museum’s main entrance.

Some of the localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina where the artefacts were found: Bobovac, Jajce, Gomjenica near Prijedor, Grborezi near Livno, Čipuljić near Bugojno, Potoci and Hodbina near Mostar, Batković near Bijeljina, Mušići near Višegrad, Mahovljani near Banja Luka, Vrbljani near Ključ, Brodac and Dvorovi near Bijeljina, Sultići near Konjic, and Humac near Ljubuški.