IKONOGRAFIJA STEĆAKA − REVIZIJA TERENA PODRUČJA ZAPADNE HERCEGOVINE
ICONOGRAPHY OF THE MEDIEVAL TOMBSTONES (STEĆCI) − REVISION OF THEIR LOCALITIES IN WEST HERZEGOVINA

Summary/Abstract: This paper is the result of the field research, i.e. of a revision of the localities of the mediaeval tombstones (stećci) in West Herzegovina. When selecting the necropolises for archeological research in the 60’s of the 20th century, only those „representative“ ones were taken into account. So far a multitude of articles on the subject of medieval tombstones’ iconography have been published. The complexity of the problem depends on the approach to the study of every motive whether as a separate organism or a combination of more of them. The correlation of these motives depends on space, time and sociological circumstances, as well as on religious understanding. The interpretation deviates from paradigms and arises from the fact that there are no general rules and no single approach in interpreting every scene and motive separately. Studying the plastics of tomb monuments, many scientists try to establish social, ethnic and national constructs by incorporating contemporary traditions into the historical past. The interdisciplinary approach requires the rejection of old concepts along with the awareness of the local art being as valuable as the West European one.

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