Food storage in serbian medieval forts and urban settlements (XIII-XV centuries)

Petrović, Vladeta (2023) Food storage in serbian medieval forts and urban settlements (XIII-XV centuries). In: History or urbanization in Europe. Tom III. Nizhny Novgorod: NNGASU; Belgrade: Institute of History Belgrade, Nizhny Novgorod, pp. 34-46. ISBN 978–5–528–00541–6

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Abstract

During the Middle Ages, the provision of food and water for the population was one of the basic prerequisites for the functioning of any fortress and city (town). The manner in which food was stored, both for private and public use, is the main topic of this work. The work draws upon written medieval sources, results of archaeological studies, and relevant historical literature. Based on the results of archaeological research and written sources, the paper presents the management of food storage in fortifications and urban settlements. Archaeological excavations in Belgrade, Smederevo, Novi Brdo, Kruševac and many other localities provide numerous data on the use of grain pits for storage and preservation of grain food. Towers in the cities were also used for storage. Emperor Stefan Dušan gave the monastery of the Holy Archangels near Prizren the fortress of Višegrad to be its vine storage and granary. On the estate of St. George of Skopje, the pirg (tower) Hrptati was so called soknica (a place where agricultural products were stored). The dormitory buildings in Serbian medieval monasteries were divided into living quarters of monks on the upper floor and the space for storage, workshops, or some other activities on the ground floor. Storerooms could be located on the ground floors of other monastery buildings. In some fortifications, food stores were located on the lowest floor of the dungeon tower. Such is the case in Maglic. The tower had three floors, two of which were below the level of the entrance. There is written evidence in Dubrovnik that cisterns were used to store municipal grain. This practice we think was also present in fortifications and cities of medieval Serbia, especially in case of danger. Granaries or grain pits were also found in numerous fortifications and urban settlements. They were mostly hollows of various bases, with walls covered with a layer of clay, stone, or wooden planks. The granaries were located in-side or outside of the residential buildings. When they were inside the buildings, they were covered with a stone slab or a wooden cover

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