Spatial development of the eastern part of Pustijerna's fortification system in Dubrovnik until 16th century/Prostorni razvoj istocnog dijela obrambenog sustava Pustijerne u Dubrovniku do 16. stoljeca

• Published in: Prostor (Zagreb, Croatia) Croatia), 2013-07, Vol.21 (2), p.236
• Main Author: Pekovic, Jelica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Archaeology
• ISSN: 1330-0652

DUBROVNIK CITY PORT FORTIFICATION SYSTEM PUSTIJERNA ST IVAN'S FORTRESS/ DUBROVNIK GRADSKA LUKA OBRAMBENI SUSTAV PUSTIJERNA UTVRDA SV. IVANA Historical research on Dubrovnik as well as the public archives provide ample evidence of the town's history. Archaelogical research conducted in Pustijerna (the south-eastern part of Dubrovnik's historic nucleus) and the analysis of the remains of earlier structures offer a solid foundation for a study on the development stages of the eastern part of Pustijerna's fortification system until the 16th century. Zahvaljujuci rezultatima istrazivanja iz podrucja povijesti Dubrovnikc i arhivskim dokumentima poznati su mnogi podatci koji tumace povijest grada. Temeljem arheoloskih istrazivanja koja su provedena na prostoru Pustijerne (jugoistocni dio gradske jezgre Dubrovnika) te proucavanja i dokumentiranja danas vidljivih ostataka ranije gradnje mogu se pretpostaviti razvojne etape izgradnje obrambenog sustava istocnog dijela Pustijerne do 16. stoljeca. SAZETAK SUMMARY By mid 9th century Dubrovnik was a strongly fortified and defended port town that withstood a long siege by the Saracens between 866 and 867. In 871 the joint navy forces of Dubrovnik and the Byzantine fleet defeated the Saracens and liberated Bari. From the early days the construction of its fortification system followed the expansion of the city which, due to its convenient position on the main shipping route, grew into a major trade junction between the Mediterranean and the hinterland as well as a safe place for seamen and traders. Improvements, additions and changes of the fortification system went parallel with the development of warfare techniques in different periods. They can be seen as a reflection of the historical and political circumstances in the region and at the same time as an investment in the trade and maritime security as an economic basis of the town's prosperity and the well-being of its residents. Pustijerna, which was mentioned in the context of the third city expansion in the book De administrando imperio written in 949 by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, was an urbanized area inhabited by traders, shippers and seamen. Lokrum island provided a natural protection of the maritime port zone from crashing waves while the rocky cape of Pustijerna shielded the safest part of the historic city port. This well protected zone in the 12th and 13th centuries served as a convenient location for the arsenals built along the n