The Granary of Kolubara
The Anine archaeological site is located in the village of Ćelije, near Lajkovac, on a gentle river terrace overlooking the Ljig River, approximately one kilometre upstream from its confluence with the Kolubara. The remains of a Roman villa rustica, constructed in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD, have been uncovered at an elevation of around 115 meters. Adjacent to the villa was a vast agricultural estate used for the cultivation and storage of farming products, primarily grain, intended to supply Roman military camps and towns along the Danube Limes. These discoveries represent the most significant, extensive, and best-preserved remnants of rural architecture from the Roman period in western Serbia.
Although the site has been known since 1949, the first exploratory excavations were conducted only in 2005. Anine was declared an immovable cultural property in 2013, after which detailed archaeological research commenced and continues to this day. The site, along with its protected surroundings, spans over 30 hectares and resembles a system of large estates with granaries. During the excavations, two larger building complexes were identified. Complex I consists of a spacious villa rustica (villa rusticae) that includes the owner’s residential area (400 m²), an economic block (450 m²), a thermal bath (500 m²), and accommodations for the workforce, covering a total area of over 4,000 m². This villa is one of the largest of its kind, constructed far from the urban centres of that era. However, a record discovered in the nearby village of Jabučje, close to Lajkovac, suggests that there may have been an unknown municipium—a town with a developed local government—at this location.
ABOVE: Map of the site
ABOVE: Villa rustica
The villa features an elongated rectangular layout, with symmetrically arranged rooms surrounding a courtyard that includes a peristyle and a large central room with an apse, accompanied by adjoining side rooms. With its corners aligned to the cardinal directions, the residential building boasts an underfloor heating system. The structure measures approximately 40 meters in length, extending to 70 meters with the apsidal room. The apse is horseshoe-shaped at its base and is externally reinforced with four pilasters. In the residential section, well-preserved remains of six rooms have been discovered. The building was constructed from broken and rough-hewn stone, with walls measuring 0.9 meters in thickness and preserved heights ranging from 0.75 to 1.5 meters; however, it is estimated that the central part of the structure originally stood around 8 meters tall. Based on the remains and construction style, it can be inferred that the villa’s owner was exceptionally wealthy yet exhibited a nearly Spartan modesty in decorating the building, opting for minimal ornaments and details.
ABOVE LEFT: The apse is reinforced externally by four pilasters
ABOVE RIGHT: Residential section of the villa rustica
Complex II comprises two granaries (horrea), each covering an area of 1,000 square meters, a necropolis with a memorial, numerous smaller building units with utility structures, and the remains of an ancient road that stretches approximately 2,000 meters along the right bank of the Ljig and Kolubara rivers, spaced between 100 and 400 meters apart. The substantial grain storage capacity underscores the estate’s significant importance within the Danubian provinces and its role in accumulating grain reserves from the broader Kolubara River region to supply Roman military camps and cities along the Danube frontier. Only large and well-established agricultural estates in the hinterland of the Limes could produce sufficient food for this extensive, organised military system, enabling the Romans to withstand barbarian attacks for prolonged periods. Current findings indicate that Anine housed the largest preserved complex of this type in western Serbia. It is believed that grain was transported from this location via the Kolubara River, which was navigable at the time, to military posts along the Sava River, including Sirmium, one of the principal cities of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy.
ABOVE: Each year, more of the site emerges from the surrounding fields
During the excavations, a significant number of artefacts were uncovered, providing insights into the site’s intensive economic activity between 300 and 380 AD, as well as during the period of the Serbian Despotate in the 15th century. Based on the extensive collection of coins discovered—over 3,000 pieces—dating from 241 to 383 AD, the construction of the villa at Anine can be dated to the late 3rd century to the early 4th century, specifically during the Tetrarchy. In addition to the rich collection of Roman coins, numerous other movable artefacts were found. The most abundant group of finds consists of fragments of ceramic vessels and animal bones, followed by metal and fired clay vessels. Tools and implements used in everyday activities and agricultural work were made of iron, while most functional and decorative items for personal adornment were crafted from bronze, with a few rare examples coated in a thin layer of gold.
ABOVE: The villa features a simple yet elegant geometric design
The estate reached its economic peak during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306–337) and his successors. In subsequent periods, it experienced stagnation, followed by a gradual decline and eventual abandonment. The entire complex was burnt and looted, likely by the Goths and their allies after 380 AD. They briefly settled in the area, repurposing the villa’s walls for their dwellings. The ruins were used to a limited extent in the 15th century during the time of Despot Stefan. Following the final collapse of the structures, a rural cemetery was established in the area during the 17th and 18th centuries, while Turkish inns for travellers were built nearby, which is reflected in the name Anine-Hanine.
The preservation of the villa offers an exceptional foundation for the conservation and presentation of the site to the public, serving as a valuable historical example of agriculture, rural architecture, and spatial organization. This initiative would create a comprehensive archaeological park, further enriched by other archaeological monuments within the municipality of Lajkovac, including Roman villas in Jabučje, Skobalj, Bogovađa, and Nepričava.
List of References
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