Arheološka istraživanja srednjovekovne crkve u Omoljici - preliminarni rezultati

Abstract

Prilikom arheoloških iskopavanja obavljenih tokom leta 2005. u ataru sela Omoljica kod Pančeva, u celini su otkriveni temelji jednobrodne crkve sa dubokom, više potkovičastom nego polukružnom apsidom na istočnoj strani. U zapadnom delu crkve delimično je očuvana pravougaona konstrukcija. Osim crkve, istom prilikom su, delimično, istraženi i ostaci još jedne građevine neposredno uz crkvu, kao i deo nekropole sa zapadne i južne strane crkve. Na osnovu preliminarnih rezultata prve obimnije istraživačke kampanje, ostaci crkve bi se okvirno mogli pripisati razdoblju XII-XIII v.

The village of Omoljica lies in south-western Banat, 12 km south-east of Pančevo. The archaeological site is located some 5 km north-east of the centre of the village, on the right bank of the Slatina watercourse. In 2005 the foundations of a church were completely uncovered and another building in the immediate vicinity of the church was partially investigated as was part of a cemetery to the west and south of the church (fig. 1; pl. I/1). The foundations uncovered measure 12 x 6.4 m and are of a single nave church with a deep apse. They are made of beaten earth, and measure from 1.1 to 1.3 m in width. They were dug through an older layer belonging to late antiquity, in the fertile soil to a depth of 1.7 m. Above ground the church was built of brick and lime mortar. In the western part of the church the remains of a rectangular structure made of brick were discovered. To the south and west of the church 16 burials were excavated. When the foundation of the western wall was dug three older graves were disturbed and in the southern part of the cemetery the existence of at least two further levels of burials was detected. Grave finds can mostly be connected with the older levels of graves. Four 'S' earrings of twisted silver wire were discovered, two individually and two threaded one through the other (pl. II/1), a necklace of various glass paste beads (pl. II/2) a banded ring of bronze foil (pl. II/3) and four Hungarian silver coins, one of which was illegible; the three others (pl. II/4-6) resemble examples dated to the second half of the 12th century. At the south side of the church the foundations of another building were discovered which made partial contact with the south wall of the church. South of these a rectangular structure of stone, brick and lime mortar in the shape of a basin was found (pl. I/2). The most recent traces of habitation in the area examined were two pits, one of which was dug in the north-western corner of the church and the other outside it. Several small fragments of pottery were discovered in these which cannot be dated earlier than the 14th-15th century. On the basis of this first excavation campaign, the church can be dated tentatively to the 12th to 13th century, and belonged to the surrounding settlement.