Papraća, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 14, 2022
Photo: rtrs.tv
Archaeologists have uncovered remains of a church dating to the time of the Nemanjić Dynasty in the 13th-14th centuries during work at the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery in the village of Papraća, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The discovery represents the oldest known church in the area, found under the floor in the nave of the existing monastery, reports rtrs.tv.
A number of graves were also found in the small vestibule under the foundations of the existing church, which is believed to have been built in the 16th century.
Photo: rtrs.tv
The head of the archaeology team Aleksandar Jašarević explained that the discoveries show the monastery complex to be even more important than previously thought. In the middle of the nave, a vaulted tomb—the founder’s mausoleum, was found, while the remains of the older church were adorned with high-quality Serbian-Byzantine frescoes.
“The tomb itself was robbed in the 19th century, but the remains of at least three deceased people were discovered with traces of gold embroidery on the bones, which all supports the fact that the most prominent members of society and their founders were buried here,” Jašarević said.
Excavations will continue at the monastery next year.
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