MAJDAN ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE

Sacral complex in Majdan is extremely valuable archaeological site, which is, as a cultural monument under the state protection. It is associated with a Christian monastery of Saint George from the legends about St. Gerhard. In a text from the beginning of the 14th century, an anonymous scribe talks about the monastery and the battle between the military leader of Hungarian King Stephen I (997-1038) Čanad, and the Bulgarian Prince Ahtum. During the 10th, 11th and 12th century Byzantine church in south of Hungary had direct authority over many monasteries such as Majdan, Sremska Mitrovica, Arača, Titel, Bač and many others.

The construction year of the monastery in Majdan can be determined on the basis of Gerhard᾽s biography. Gerhard was Venetian, the Bishop set in Morisena (Čanad) in 1030, who then visited the newly built monastery in Oroslanoš- Majdan. Based on these data, it is assumed that the monastery was built before the schism of churches between 1016-1030.

Sources say that about ten Greek monks lived in ancient Oroslanoš (Maidan) at that time. The official historical science considers that the monastery was partially destroyed and abandoned by Greek monks after the Mongol – Tatar invasion in 1241. However, it continued to be renewed and it existed until the Ottoman conquest.

Portable archaeological findings prove the continuous life from the 11th to the 15th century. So far, the archaeological researches have not been in contrast to the historical records and legends.

After seven years of research the following results were gained: the foundations of three churches were completely discovered . The churches are with east-west orientation (altars to the east, enters in the west). Near the largest church, fragmented floor and wall of bricks decorated with embossed representations of the cross, the lion, the model monasteries and various meshes in a medallion (Romanesque elements) as well as the series of pseudo granulation (elements of the Byzantine Empire) were found. The large church itself is basically built from the remains of the previous fourth church which has not been identified yet in the archaeological excavations. Ceramics from the church dates from the 11th / 12th century. At the entrance of the church there were two towers.

The necropolis – a cemetery with 460 skeletal graves and over 1000 graves of secondary buried deceased were discovered in Majdan. Orientation of the graves is west-east (head to the west, feet in the East). According to the donations and money found in the graves, the cemetery dates back to the 11th and 12th century. Lots of donations found in the graves are the ‘S’ anklets, rings of braided and twisted wire, rings of strip sheet and necklaces. The money is mostly located in the mouth of the deceased. The most commonly found money belongs to King Solomon (1063 -1074), Koloman (1095-1116) and Bela II (1131-1141).

The most important tomb was discovered in 2006, and it represents a unique discovery. It is built of bricks. It is larger in size than the others, and foundation, that is, the ground of the tombs, is in two domes and it is perforated. The only logical explanation is that it served as a tomb for preparing the deceased for ossuary.

Source: Vojvodina travel