What secrets does a cave hold? High above Ston, on the Pelješac peninsula, lies Gudnja. Gudnja is more than just a cave. It’s a time capsule. It whispers tales of generations past, echoing through millennia. Within its depths, a six-meter stratigraphy unfolds. This stratigraphy unveils a tapestry of human history. The layers date from the early Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. Imagine, stepping back in time to the early Neolithic. The Impresso culture thrived here. They left their mark with pottery adorned with shell, finger, and nail impressions. This period, around 5200-4600 BC, is the first radiocarbon-dated Neolithic occupation in Dalmatia. Gudnja gave its name to the Middle Neolithic Gudnja Culture. Their pottery showcases intricate geometric ornamentation, often red against a light background. These ceramics tell of a people with a keen eye for artistry. The cave then sheltered the Vela Luka culture during the Middle Neolithic. Later, a regional variant of the Hvar culture made Gudnja their home in the late Neolithic. The echoes of the Cetina culture resonate from the Bronze Age layer. The cave continued to be occupied even into the Copper Age. This reveals a long and continuous human presence. Gudnja has yielded diverse materials across its layers. This makes it a significant archaeological site in southern Dalmatia. Each artifact adds another thread to the intricate story woven within Gudnja’s walls.
Sv. Martin
“A church tucked away in a guardhouse?” you might ask. Yes, right here, before the grand Golden Gate of Diocletian’s