Mirila

Virtualni muzej

Topography

Above Kruškovac

The site is located northwest of the center of Starigrad on the northern side of the road to Veliki Rujan. The road passes through the sett lement of Brđani and continues northwest above the sett lement of Kruškovac. Above them is the outcrop Mali Vitrenik, with Tikvena dražica below. This point off ers a nice view of Starigrad, the Velebit channel, and the lower-lying areas. People passing by stop beside them, which evokes memories of the deceased. From such visits (pausing/resting) comes the habit of resting with a double meaning, one practical, simply to rest, and the other symbolic, to remember the “eternal” ancestor resting in peace. The site belonged to the families of the following hamlets: Dokoze - Dokozići (Sinokos), Ercezi (Grabov klanac), Katalnići - Katalinići (Dobroselo), Bušljete - Bušljetići (Veliki Vaganac), Ercezi Gornji (Dolac Županov). In 1980, documentation was made of 58 mirilo stones. Some were missing the footstone, and some part of the fl at paving. Arched-rounded types predominated, with the occasional amorphous one. The orientation was west-east. The most numerous decorative motifs were astral (stylized rosett es, swastika – “four-armed element”), solar discs, and a diagonal (St. Andrew’s) cross. Simple symbols of the Christian cross are found on the headstones with inscriptions.

  • † JOSO BUŠLETA DIED 27 Aug. 1936
  • † MARKO ERCEG DIED 6 March 1915
  • † ŠIME DOKOZA DIED 4 April 1919

One stylized anthropomorphic motif has been taken as the symbol of the mirilo stones as part of the monument heritage of Starigrad District.