Povod i poticaj ovim razmatranjima zaštitna su arheološka istraživanja u Zmijavcima iz godine 2005. Autor
donosi pregled s kratkim opisom arheoloških spomenika na području istoimene općine, navodeći naslove i
autore koji su obrađivali njima posvećene teme. U središtu zanimanja je arheološka zona oko Bublina, gdje se
nalazi prije otkrivena ranokršćanska bazilika na Crkvini, te obližnja Dikovača, iznimno značajan spomenik s
materijalnim ostacima iz prapovijesti, antike i srednjeg vijeka. Prilog poznavanju povijesti ovdašnjeg antičkog
naselja je i opis novootkrivenih ostataka arhitekture na položaju Brnasuša u zaselku Garci.Inspired by archaeological rescue excavations around
site Dikovača in Zmijavci in 2005, the author gives
a survey and short description of the archaeological
monuments that are scattered along the south-western
edge of the Imotski Bekinja valley and provides titles
and authors that worked on topics related to them.
The exceptionally rich heritage from prehistoric times
is represented by remains of fortified settlements on
hill Liskovac dating to the Bronze Age, the Todorić
hill-fort and hill-fort Radež, as well as approximately
50 unexplored prehistoric tumuli. Being near the centre
of the Roman municipium Novae (municipium
Novensium) in settlement Runovići, this area abounds
also in ancient monuments, architectural remains,
traces of Roman roads and moveable finds discovered
in several different locations. The continues presence
of people during the Middle Ages is testified by burials
in certain prehistoric tumuli and particularly by late mediaeval graveyards that are characterized by
typical monuments- tombstones at Dikovača and site
Brižine.
Indicating to an inappropriate behaviour of the
present-day population towards the remains from the
past, the author mentions examples of past and recent
destructions of individual monuments, of which one
initiated the mentioned rescue excavations.
Focal point of interest of these reflections is the
archaeological zone around Bublin, where the earlier
explored early Christian basilica on Crkvina is located,
but also Dikovača, which is a particularly important
monument with material remains from the prehistoric,
ancient and mediaeval period. Contributing to the
knowledge of this ancient settlement’s history is also
the description of the recently discovered remains of
ancient structures at site Brnasuša in hamlet Garci
