Prilog proučavanju narodnog graditeljstva na području Ravnih Kotara
A Contribution to the Study of Folk Architecture in the Region of Ravni Kotari

Summary/Abstract: Not long ago lime stone was the only building material used in the region of Ravni Kotari, which is understandable since the area is very rich in it. Apart from stone, wood was an indispensable building material, but it was used very sparingly, only in small quantities. It was made use of for roof constructions, floors, ceilings on houses with more than one story, and for partition walls. Partition walls were also made of wicker work (made by interweaving vine stems between vertical wood stakes). Stone was obtained from trimming (which wasn't always necessary) took place on the building site. It depended on which final dimensions were needed. Due to this practice we find buildings made of irregular pieces arranged one above the other, as well as houses made of almost artistically cut stone pieces. Techniques applied in building were: a) a "suhozid" technique (without the use of connecting material) b) a "živi zid" technique (with the use of connecting material, such as mortar). The oldest reliable evidence of human presence in the region of Ravni Kotari goes back to the Neolithic period. Traces of human accommodation have been discovered but we cannot find out what sort of buildings these were. There are many more finds of Illyric buildings constructed in "suhozid" technique. Croats, after their arrival in these parts, adopted elements of the oldest, pre-Roman construction. Although there are certain references to timber buildings in this region in the Roman times, there are no archaeological finds supporting them.

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