Monkodonja

Monkodonja is a mountain village near the town of Rovinj in Croatian region of Istria, which was settled during the Bronze Age, 1800-1200 BC.

The fortified proto- urban settlement Monkodonja mountain is about 250 m long, 155 m wide and has an oval shape. It consisted of three parts. At the top was ringed by a 1km long, about 3 m wide and 3 high protective wall Acropolis. On the wall remains were found by two goals: one in the West and one in the north. The gate in the west faced the coast and has been greatly expanded over the years and well secured. The gate in the north was carried out more easily. It is assumed in the south still another goal. Show the remains of complex structured large stone and wooden buildings that here lived the members of an upper class. Outside the Acropolis were the upper and the lower town. There were craftsmen and residential buildings, which were significantly easier than the houses on the Acropolis. About 1,000 people lived in the settlement. It was built in the developed Early Bronze Age the first time and secured and abandoned before or during the beginning of urnfield time.

Monkodonja had close relations with the Mycenaean culture of Greece, such as fragments of pottery prove that were found here. The settlement is one of the oldest city -like systems whose architecture was influenced by Greece.