Vojnik: Archaeological Sites in the Surrounding Area

• About 500 metres north lies Petriškovo, a Roman settlement and necropolis in the area of the Makreški Bridge over the Petrošnica.
• About 500 metres south, present-day cemeteries are located on a terrace above the Pčinja riverbed. An Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis are associated with the area.

Petriškovo lies about 500 metres north of Vojnik, near the Makreški Bridge over the Petrošnica. The site is a Roman-era settlement and necropolis. Two grave stelae were found there: one bears a Latin inscription from the 2nd century, and the other a Greek inscription. The two stones connect the Roman site with different inscription languages; only the Latin inscription is dated here.

About 500 metres south, the present-day cemeteries lie on a raised, levelled terrace on the left bank above the Pčinja riverbed. An Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis are associated with this area. The name Grobišta (Groblje) near Vojnik refers to an Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis. This makes it possible to distinguish the two local focal points: the Roman settlement and necropolis to the north, and the older and medieval burial sites to the south.

To understand their chronology, it is useful to look at the types of finds rather than at a single name. The southern area represents an Iron Age burial mound and a medieval necropolis. Petriškovo points to the Roman period; the Latin grave stele is dated to the 2nd century, while the second stele bears a Greek inscription. Together, the archaeological themes mentioned at Vojnik span the Iron Age, the Roman period and the Middle Ages.

This offers travellers interested in ancient settlements, burial sites or inscriptions a clear thematic overview. The specific differences lie in the periods and the types of finds described: Petriškovo is classified as a Roman settlement and necropolis, while the southern area is characterised by a burial mound and a medieval necropolis. This context helps you include the local sites in your travel plans with a clear focus.

In the wider destination of Staro Nagorichane, Kokino adds a distinct archaeological theme. The ancient observatory is located on the prominent rocky hill of Tatichev Kamen at an elevation of 1,013 metres. Its two platforms are separated by a height difference of 19 metres. Two markers were used to measure the length of the lunar months and to create a calendar based on a cycle of 19 lunar years. Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List; this status is distinct from inscription on the World Heritage List.

The Church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane adds to this cultural and historical focus. Its frescoes date from 1318 and were created by the Thessalonian painters Mihailo Astrapa and Evtihij. The church holds one of the most important places in the history of medieval Byzantine art in Macedonia.

Other themes in Staro Nagorichane offer a different perspective: the church of Karpino Monastery in Suv Orah dates from 1592; the monastery was an important cultural and literary centre with an extensive library. The Zebrnjak ossuary monument in Mlado Nagorichane commemorates the victims of the First Balkan War who died in 1912 at the site of the Battle of Kumanovo. It was built from grey basalt in 1937 and is considered unique in the Balkans for its architecture.

If Vojnik is the main focus of your trip, you can search specifically for a hotel in Vojnik.

What inscriptions were found at Petriškovo?

Two grave stelae were found: one with a Latin inscription from the 2nd century and one with a Greek inscription.

Is Kokino inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. This is not the same as being inscribed on the World Heritage List.

What should you keep in mind when searching for a hotel?

Base your search on whether Vojnik itself or other cultural destinations in the wider destination of Staro Nagorichane are part of your travel plans. Check that the location of a specific offer suits these destinations.

To the wider travel overview: Staro Nagorichane.