Stećci are unique stone grave markers from the Late Middle Ages that can be found in the Western Balkans. These stone markers usually mark only one grave, but sometimes multiple graves. Stećci are found in the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the western Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo and in the central and southern Croatia. It is assumed that to date there are approximately 70,000 stećci preserved on about 3300 locations, though the number of locations may be higher since this data is derived from the most recent inventories of stećci taken in the 1970s and 1980s.
In Croatia, the highest concentration of stećci can be found in Dalmatinska zagora, the area surrounding the Neretva valley and in the region of Dubrovnik. Isolated specimens are also present in Lika, Kordun, Banija and Slavonija. It is important to note that stećci are never found within the perimeters of cemeteries of urban centers (such as Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir), but rather in rural environments. 115 sites have been identified in the territory of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, containing a total of 1428 stećci, and of this number, 48 sites are in the Croatian part of the Upper Neretva region, 29 are in Dubrovačko primorje, along the Dubrovnik coast, 10 in the area that administratively belongs to Dubrovnik, 4 in Župa Dubrovačka, and 24 in Konavle.
Stećci appeared as headstones in the second half of the 12th century but were most common in the 14th and 15th centuries, when we can find references to the term "classical art of stećci". As a result of the Ottoman conquests their sepulchral use ceased in the late 15th and early 16th centuries though some forms and motifs continued to be present afterwards..
The motifs on the stećak tombstones are shown in photographs, drawings and 3D models of stećak from the Dubrovnik littoral, parts of the city of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik and Konavle parishes.
Author of the exhibition: dr. sc. Domagoj Perkić
Exhibition coordinator: Zrinka Lucianović
Visual set up: Ivona Michl
Graphic design and hologram design: Studio m & m
Author of drawings of stećci: Marta Perkić
3D models of stećci were made by Lupercal j.d.o.o. and Neir d.o.o.
The exhibition is organized by the Dubrovnik Heritage and Dubrovnik Museums, with the support of the City of Dubrovnik