ANTIC KOPAONIK
The cultural heritage of Kopaonik is intricately linked with the mineral wealth of the mountain. As mineral resources dictated the political strategies of the Roman Empire, Kopaonik (as a significant Dardanian mining region) became part of the metalla dardanica. Products from these mines were distributed throughout the Empire (from the Tiber in the west to Cappadocia in the east). Despite the limited scope of archaeological research thus far, significant data about ancient sites on Kopaonik have been uncovered, including notable locations such as Nebeske Stolice, Suvo Rudište, and Metođe. The remains of an early Christian church at Nebeske Stolice are the most prominent example of the mountain’s cultural heritage. Although the ruins have been buried for centuries, the collective memory of the local population still preserves the legacy of the Church of St. Procopius, not only a great martyr who suffered during the reign of Emperor Diocletian but also the patron saint of miners. Archaeological investigations at Nebeske Stolice have revealed that the Church of St. Procopius, dating from the 5th-6th centuries, and a late antique structure from the 3rd-4th centuries were located here. The representative nature of the early Christian church, preserved only in its foundational zone and lower wall levels, is evidenced by fragments of frescoes discovered in the destruction layer at floor level, as well as remnants of a polychrome floor mosaic. The mosaic, created using the opus tessallatum technique, featured geometric and zoomorphic motifs. Additionally, floor-level fragments of painting and window glass were found, through which light once penetrated, playing a significant role in the overall sacred experience in Christianity. The attention to liturgical detail is further demonstrated by a perforated cross that once belonged to a chandelier (5th-6th century).
Archaeological research at this site has also revealed an earlier phase of occupation, as evidenced by late antique structures where Roman imperial coins from the 3rd and 4th centuries, as well as fragments of ceramic and glass vessels, jewelry, tools, slag, and other utilitarian objects have been discovered. Notably, the most prevalent movable artifacts are jewelry pieces, particularly various types of fibulae, dated to the 4th to 6th centuries. Based on the recovered movable archaeological material, it is hypothesized that the site functioned as a smaller military or administrative outpost within the mining district of Suvo Rudište, which administratively falls under the ancient mining domain of metalla dardanica. The site is now easily accessible via a well-trodden hiking trail from the center of Kopaonik to Nebeske Stolice, where an exceptional view of the Šar Mountains can be enjoyed. The broader vicinity of Nebeske Stolice also includes the archaeological sites of Suvo Rudište and Suva Ruda. Archaeological remains of ancient mining operations have been recorded across the entire mining district. To the east and southeast of Suvo Rudište, a broad ore-bearing region is covered with numerous ancient workings, grouped around Caričina Strana, Vojetina, Kamenica, Belo Brdo, Marušići, and Zaplanina. The highest concentration of mine shafts, numbering in the hundreds, has been recorded southeast of Nebeske Stolice and is easily discernible in the landscape. Regarding the geocultural heritage of Kopaonik, the site of Metođe, located on the eastern slopes of the national park and integrated into a designated hiking trail, must also be highlighted. This site includes mining shafts, parts of an old mining road, and potential positions for ore processing and smelting, based on slag findings. Additionally, several other sites with remnants of ancient mining and metallurgical activities have been uncovered in this high-altitude zone of Kopaonik. Consequently, archaeologists anticipate further discoveries, such as ancient mining settlements (vicus metallorum) or villa rustica.
