The remains of the early-Byzantine lost city of Balkisi from the 4th century are located in the village of Bakinci, the municipality of Laktasi. Archaeologists have excavated parts of the walls of three basilicas, old necropolises and fortifications of the city that date from the 4th to the 7th century of the new era.
Based on excavations, it was found that a basilica town could become a bishopric in the first half of the 4th century, as the Byzantine emperor Justinian renewed the basilica in Pannonia and Dalmatia. There was a board with the names of three bishops Konstancius, Andreas and Constantius.
One of the basilicas is imposing dimensions of 40 × 17 meters. In the 4th century, it could cost over 500 people. The largest of the three excavated basilicas is twice the size of the Banja Luka Temple of Christ the Savior. Archaeologists and enthusiasts dug an altarpiece.
The site is on the space of over one square kilometer, the city consists of 3 parts. Damaged with defensive walls of about 480 meters in length, about 1.5 meters in thickness, while the walls in some places are preserved up to a height of four meters. As part of this complex, a medieval Karaula fortress was found.
The complex extends over 100,000 square meters and found objects for various purposes. East and southeast of the fortifications of fortifications, three early Byzantine basilicas, found in the period from the 4th to the 7th centuries, were the center of the church life of the northern part of Bosnia.
It is possible to connect the Renaissance fortress with the town of Balkis, who was killed in 597 in the invasion of the Avaric-Slavic warden Bajan. Then over 40 guards and refuges were destroyed on the road from today’s Gradiška to Salona or Solini, together with the mentioned city, where the population of these regions was badly injured.
After decorating and tourist valorization, this archaeological site becomes one of the most visited tourist destinations in the surrounding area.
Source: seesrpska
