Barilović, Old Town Barilović, April, 27th 2018, 12:00
During the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the results of the research and restoration of the Old Town Barilović, carried out by the Croatian Conservation Institute, will be presented. Special attention will be paid to archaeological research of the entire complex, making Barilović one of the few fully excavated old towns in Croatia.
Supervisor: Ana Azinović Bebek, PhD
The key element for the reconstruction of everyday life and construction phases of castles are archaeological excavations. The evaluation of archaeological artifacts gives a better insight into the everyday life of old towns, while proper documentation and interpretation of stratigraphy allows for a complete understanding of architectural development and purpose of individual structures. Until recently, it was believed that Barilović Castle was an example of a 16th-century fortress in the Military Frontier. Through archaeological excavations, interpretation of artifacts, and the relationship between buildings, the dating of the site was pushed back to the 15th century identifying three historical periods of life in the Castle.
Archaeological finds from the feudal phase of Barilović Castle give insight into the everyday life of the gentry. In most cases, the finds from this phase are luxury products from European workshops, which confirm the lively and well-organized trade in the 15th and 16th century. Everyday objects, the product of local workshops, have also been found. At the beginning of the 17th century, a military unit of the Military Frontier was stationed in the castle, and it remained there until the Military Frontier was abolished in 1881. By changing its basic function, the castle was architecturally adapted to a new, military purpose. Archaeological finds from this phase differ greatly from those of the previous phase. After the abolition of the Military Frontier, the castle was under civilian rule. The district administration and school were housed in several structures that were still standing, and the rest of the complex started to slowly deteriorate. Barilović Castle was finally abandoned after the Partisans set it on fire during World War II.
Croatian Conservation Institute started the conservation of the remains of the castle in 1998. The work, funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, is being carried out in cooperation with the Conservation Department in Karlovac and the Municipality of Barilović.
Photo album
In 2014, the “Castle Barilović - 10 Years of Archaeological excavations” monograph was published and two exhibitions of the same name were held at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb and the Karlovac City Museum. With the funds from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia and the support and understanding of the Municipality of Barilović, archaeological excavations in the interior of the castle, that will help paint a complete picture of life from prehistory to the present day, will be finished this year.