The most important material heritage of Vlachs in Western Balkans are the necropolises with petroglyphs. The Vlach tombstones with petroglyphs appeared in the 12th century, and the apparition ceased during the Ottoman occupation in the 16th century. Marian Wenzel wrote that the tombstones with petroglyphs „were initially erected by feudal aristocracy, and that the custom was later adopted and the decoration much elaborated by certain groups known as Vlachs who were organized on a “cătun”, (small village in Romanian and Albanian), on a tribal, non- feudal basis.”( Marian Wenzel, “Bosnian and Herzegovinian Tombstobes-Who Made Them and Why?” Sudost-Forschungen 21 (1962): 102-143). John Fine wrote that the Vlachs controlled the carrying trade and the protection of caravans from brigands and they became extremely rich and came to dominate Zeta (Montenegro) and Hum (Zachlumia, today in Herzegovina).(John V. A. Fine, The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century, (Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1994), p.19.)) According to a historical tradition in Montenegro, the Vlachs are considered to be the builders of the church of Vlaška Crkva (“The VlachChurch”) in Cetinje . Stećak (Cyrillic: Стећак, [stetɕak]; plural: Stećci, Стећци, [stetɕtsi]) is the name for monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rest of 10,000 are found in what are today Croatia (4,400), Montenegro (3,500), and Serbia (2,100), at more than 3,300 odd sites with over 90% in poor condition. Marian Wenzel wrote that the Romanians/Vlachs of North East of Serbia “still perform “hora” funerary dance (kolo in Serbian) in which three female dancers carry bunches of flowers, while the leader carries a sword, which corresponds to some petroglyphs with hora depicted on some funerary monuments. This particular dance is believed to serve as a soul’s guide to the other world.”Elizabeth Wayland Barber approached the petroglyphs with dancers with flowers and wrote: “The parallels between (Romanian/Vlach) dancers from Duboka in Timok and the depictions on medieval funerary stecci are far too close for accident.” She also made a comparison between male dancers wielding swords from petroglyphs and the Romanian dance“Căluşari”.
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Prenj is a mountain range in the Dinaric Alps of southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in eastern Herzegovina near Mostar, Jablanica and Konjic. The highest peak is Zelena glava at 2,115 m. Prenj massif has at least 11 peaks over 2000 m.
Blidinje Park often called “Herzegovinian Alps” covers an area of 364 km2. The central part is dominated by lake Blidinje. The western border of the park is covered by Vran mountain (2074 m), and in the south, the river Neretva and the mountain Cvrsnica (2228m) complete the impressive combination of natural wonders. More than 300 km of mountain trails and pristine nature are at your disposal.
Alex Imreh 