Catalogue of the Delcevo City Museum

The cultural heritage is the soul of a nation, by which it is recognized. The municipality of Delcevo, situated in the historic region of Pijanec, due to its favorable geophysical, geomorphological and climate conditions was populated since the beginning of the human civilization. The Pijanec area, regardless of its cultural wealth, was perhaps the most unexplored area of the Republic of Macedonia. Extensive archeological and ethnological researches were made in 2001 and many historic artifacts were found at archeological sites in Pijanec that currently reside at the City Museum in Delcevo. The City Museum in Delcevo consists of two parts: ARCHEOLOGICAL and ETHNOLOGICAL ARCHEOLOGICAL PART OF THE MUSEUM Over 150 cultural artifacts are exhibited in the archeological part of the City Museum, which show us the degree of human development in this area, over the centuries. Of the many archeological areas, catalogued in the archeological map of Macedonia, detailed exploration was made in: -The village Grad, at the Gradiste and st. Gorgi localities; -The village Bigla, at the Sreden Rid and Kozarnik localities; -The village Dramce, at the Ciflik and Popova Cuka localities; -The village Virce, at the Malo Gradiste locality; -The village Zvegor, at the Gradiste and Petrova Mogila localities; -The village Ocipala, at the Varnica-Cukarka locality; -The village Vetren, at the Mogila locality;

Many cultural and historic artifacts were found at these archeological sites, dating circa 7th century BC 12th century AD. The most famous artifacts found at these areas, especially the St. Gorgi locality, include: -A bronze splint in the shape of a Beotic shield, a massive bronze bracelet with interlaced ends, spiral shaped bracelet, a bronze button, dating from the 7th century BC, as well as a bronze splint of an Asia Minor type, that dates from the 5th century BC. A number of historical artifacts were also found at the Popova Cuka locality in the village Dramce that include: -Two bronze buttons and a bronze splint, dating from the 7th century BC. Artifacts from the Ethnological period, made from terracotta ceramics, were found at the Gradiste locality at the village Grad: -Ceramic statuette, ceramic trophies, ceramic plates and a ceramic weight, as well as a rare and significant artifact a stone axe from the Bronze Age. Significant historical and cultural artifacts were found at the Sreden Rid locality at the village Bigla that include: -A stone axe from the Iron Age; -A ceramic statuette, that dates from the 6th century BC. Many artifacts found at the Ciflik locality at the village Dramce, hold a significant place at the City Museum: -Iron arrows, iron spears, iron knives and iron nails from soldier boots, dating circa 2nd century AD, as well as an Iron axe from the 4th century AD. Bone artifacts found at the Gradiste locality at the villag Grad, show that our ancestors, besides making various tools and weapons from stone and metal, as well as various household objects from terracotta ceramics, were also skilled in making various objects made from bones. -A bone needle and a bone ornament from the late antics; And at the Ciflik locality at the village Dramce:

-A bone spoon, dating from 2nd century AD. Various household terracotta artifacts like plates, jugs, glasses etc. have a dominant place at the City Museum, as well as terracotta altars, trophies, lucerne lamp, found at various localities: Gradiste at the village Grad, Ciflik at the village Dramce, Sreden Rid and Kozarnik at the village Bigla, Mogila at the village Vetren, Petrova Mogila at the village Zvegor, Varnica-Cukarka at the village Ocipala and Malo Gradiste at the village Virce. A rare artifact that holds a special place at the City Museum is the beautiful Glass trophy, dating from the 2nd century AD, found at the Ciflik locality at the village Dramce. That our ancestors devoted themselves on fashion and beauty, besides making tools and household items, is evident form the many artifacts found at various localities such as: Popova cuka and Ciflik - at the village Dramce, St. Gorgi, Gasti Mezdi, Gradiste at the village Grad, Kozarnik at the village Bigla, Stabot at the village Gabrovo, Malo Gradiste at the village Virce. Since the 7th century BC, our ancestors adorned their bodies and clothing with various ornaments, including: -A massive bronze bracelet with interlaced ends, spiral shaped bronze bracelet and bronze splints, dating from the 7th century BC; -A bronze ring from the late middle century, found at the locality St. Gorgi, at the village Grad, and a bronze ring from the late antics, found at the Gasti Mezdi locality, at the village Grad; -A bronze splint and bronze buttons, found at the Popova Cuka locality, at the village Dramce; -A lead ring, dating from the 2nd century AD, found at the Kozarnik locality, at the village Bigla; Various ornamental artifacts were also found at the Ciflik locality, at the village Dramce, such as:

-An iron ring, dating from the 2nd century AD and a bronze ring, dating from the 4th century AD; -Copper wire earrings, from the 2nd century AD; -A bronze bracelet plated in silver, dating from the 2nd century AD; -Bronze belt links, dating from the 2nd century AD; -A bronze belt buckle, dating from the 2nd and 4th century AD; -An iron and bronze splint, from the 2nd century AD; Various golden artifacts were also found at the Malo Gradiste locality, at the village Virce, in a tomb, that among other burial artifacts include: -A golden set from the late Roman Age 4th century AD; -A golden sterling silver, from the late Roman Age, as well 4th century AD; At the City Museum, among other significant artifacts, a special is reserved for the various: -Bronze crosses form different periods, found at the Gradiste and St. Gorgi localities, at the village Grad; -A fragment of a marble votive plate, dating from the 3rd century AD, found at the Petrova Mogila locality, at the village Zvegor; Thirty bronze, silver and golden coins, dating from the 1st 4th century AD, found at the Kozarnik locality Virce, Ciflik locality Dramce, Gradiste locality Zvegor and Gradista locality Grad, can be seen at the City Museum as well. It should be noted that the bronze Dupondius and the bronze Sestertius of the Roman Emperor Claudius (41-45 AD), were also found at the Kozarnik locality Bigla, and the Ciflik locality Dramce, as well as the silver Denar of the Emperor Vitelius 69 AD, found at the Ciflik locality Dramce and silver coins of the Venetian doge Giovanni Soranzom dating from the 14th century ADm, found at the Gradiste locality Grad, and last but not least, the most valuable exhibit, the golden coin of the Emperor Iustinianus (527-565 AD), found at the Gradiste locality, at the village Zvegor.

All these artifacts at the City Museum are just a fragment of the archeological research at the many archeological sites, discovered in the area of the municipality of Delcevo Pijanec. But these cultural artifacts, as a part of the rich cultural hoard of biblical Macedonia, found in Pijanec, are more than enough proof of the rich socio-economic and cultural life of this area from the prehistoric period till today. ETHNOLOGICAL PART OF THE MUSEUM The geophysical, geomorphological and climatic conditions, of the Pijanec area, situated on both banks of the river Bregalnica and its many tributaries, contributed to the development of a civilized population since the prehistoric period. With the archeological research of the Pijanec area, over a 100 localities have been discovered so far, such as: remains of primitive dwellings, large number of tombs etc. that held various artifacts, which help us track the socio-economic development of the indigenous population over the centuries. That the Pijanec population had its own characteristics native to this area, is evident from the various objects made from, stone, bronze, ceramics-terracotta, wood and wool, that are exhibited at the City Museum, which is not only a part of the rich cultural hoard of Macedonia, but a part of the world cultural heritage and tradition as well. The contemporary way of life, had its impact on the traditional way of living and folklore, which, as a main feature of this peoples, is slowly but surely dying out. The ethnological part of the City Museum is a modest attempt to save and salvage what is left of the traditional folklore. The geographical position and the climate conditions of the Pijanec area, had a crucial impact on the traditional way of life and existence of the local community over the centuries which is characterized by extensive agriculture, and livestock breeding, supported by the activities of the self-taught craftsmen, whose hand crafted objects and materials are exhibited at the ethnological part of the City Museum, as a proof of the materialistic development and spiritual culture of the Macedonian people over the centuries. The life and existence of the Pijanec population, was relied on its work and intellect. From the abundance of constructing materials in the Pijanec area, as well

as wood, stone, dirt, clay etc. the people constructed their own dwellings, produced food and various objects from stone, metal, wood, as well as tools and wool for clothing, characteristic for the Pijanec area, as simple, functional and practical. From the abundance of wood in the Pijanec area that was the easiest to process, the locals made various household items, tools and ornamental objects. Depending on the use of the object made, the locals manufactured wooden household objects, such as mortars, cutlery, plates etc. From the bigger trees, especially the more skilled craftsmen, made various silos and other agricultural tools, as well as various wooden kneading troughs, pots for carrying water, barrels for storing meat, cheese and milk products, but the skilled hands of the craftsmen also manufactured tables, chairs, troughs, chests, looms, combs and various other tools for wool processing and clothing. For their everyday activities the locals made various clay pots, characterized by their specific form and decorations, native to this area. Most remarkable items include various barrels, jars, in different forms and sizes, pots for carrying water, cooking pots, as well as traditional kneading troughs. In their everyday life, the Pijanec population, used various metal plates, mostly made from copper with oriental characteristics, such as kettles, pans, pots for carrying water etc. Various household items such as stoves, fire tongs and chains were also made, as well as various agricultural tools including hoes, mining picks, sickles and scythes. Livestock breeding as well as agriculture was the dominant occupation and the wool was used as a raw material for producing various clothes. Besides wool as a raw material, cotton and caulking were also used for sewing clothes, in which the local housewives embedded their skills, wit, and the spiritual culture of the indigenous population. Various tools for processing of the textile materials were used, such as looms, various combs for wool, cotton and caulking spinning. The main feature of the local clothing is the small number of clothing pieces, mostly dark colored with simple stripes.

The traditional female clothing consisted of several clothing pieces such as, long cotton shirt with long sleeves, with a woolen cloak on top, so called saja, with or without sleeves and adorned with braids and laces. Over the saja, the women in Pijanec, wore a woolen apron, called futa, then a belt made of beads, characteristic for the Pijanec area, and the wealthier also wore an ornamental buckle, mostly made of silver, heavily adorned, as well as silver jewelry. On their feet they wore woolen socks, adorned with stripes and beads, on their head they had scarfs, and they wore pork skinned footwear. The male clothing consisted of various elements, traditionally colored. They wore male cotton shirts with long sleeves, and on top they had a woolen vest dzelepka, waist-long, with belts. Their legs were clothed in woolen pants, called poturi, adorned with black belts, and wore a long woolen belt on their waists adorned with stripes. On their feet they wore woolen socks and pork skinned footwear, and on their heads they had caps made from lamb skin. The Pijanec female was skilled in the making of textile products and mostly used wool and cotton as raw materials. Characteristic techniques for weaving were so called lito, and cetvorno hand crafted or made on planks. The coloring was traditional with stripes in different sizes and colors. Woolen rugs, carpets, beddings, so called cherdze, pernici, various cradles called cadilka, towels for keeping bread and food, mesali for storing bread etc. are among the most commonly produced household items. All these objects are a significant testimony of the spirit and tradition of the Pijanec population, of the rich cultural folklore over the centuries and the main feature of our being and culture.