Who built the big drystone wall in the east of Bukovica?

Abstract

This paper presents the discovery of the big drystone wall whose remains are located in the area of the villages of Ervenik, Mokro Polje and Radučić in Bukovica. The remains of the drystone wall were noticed on aerial photos and satellite images. Field surveys of limited scope have been conducted confirming its existence in length of 9 km so far. In all likelihood the wall measured about 14 km in length and it spread continuously from the slopes of south-eastern Velebit on the right bank of the Zrmanja River to the canyon of the Krka River. The drystone wall was built for the most part on the eastern slopes of various elevations, indicating to its military-defensive character. The author assumes that the big drystone wall was built in the 1st century BC with aims of surveilance of the Liburnian border area and prevention of possible plunders or invasions of the members of the Delmatean alliance on regions of Bukovica and Ravni Kotari.