Radimlja Necropolis

This necropolis dates mostly to the 15th and 16th century. The stones are markers, not sarcophagi: the stones are solid and the bones are buried beneath. A number of smaller sites with similar stones are found around the region, suggesting that this was a typical burial custom of the people who lived here. It seems that this practice faded as the Ottoman empire took control.
The 1st picture looks at a section of the necropolis. There are 133 of these stećci as these gravestones are called in this cemetery. Almost half are decorated with bas relief images, some of which are shown in the rest of the pictures. Some have the inscriptions of the name of the deceased, who ordered or carved, etc.
There are carvings of men with raised hands, hunting or military scenes, even some dancers, suggesting that part of the burial ritual may have included dance. There are some indications of weaving together pagan and Christian imagery.Читать далее