CULTURAL HERITAGE: - Macedonian Information Centre

54 - vera Bitrakova - Grozdanova
Fig. 3 – early Christian basilica
In spite of the vicinity of the water, the construction of the cistern by using
the cavity in the rock and with the complex technique of overarching
with tegula and hydraulic plaster made life in the settlement easier.
Some of the houses are erected closer to the cistern that is built near the
plateau. It is clear that rainwater collection know-how was used, with
incorporation of tubes on the northern wall that is leaning on the rock
via which the water drained in the basin. In the Middle Age, when this
construction had lost its role and remained without its roof, but with
still well preserved walls, it was roofed again and transformed into a
church. This might have happened in as early as the 13 th century. The
monks painted the church in the 14 th century, which is indicated by the
remains of the frescoes.
In the late ancient age the population accepted Christianity. The pagan
customs were slowly abandoned, as was for instance the cremation. The
burial is skeleton-like, with the application of the “roof over two waters”
architecture, but with the inscription of Christian symbols on the grave
tegulas. At that time the early Christian one-nave church with modest
dimensions, with narthex and auxiliary rooms, was erected (Fig. 3). Only