Sutvara Archaeological Site, Smokvica

On the top of the Sutvara hill, south of Smokvica on the island of Korčula, in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, are the remains of a prehistoric fortress-lookout. A visitor who climbs the hill is rewarded with a wide view of the open sea south of the island.

Because of collapse it now has the form of a ring-shaped stone mound with an outer diameter of 16 and an inner diameter of 6 m. The steep northern and eastern slopes provide additional natural protection. From this position the sea south of Korčula toward Lastovo and Sušac is watched, as well as the hillforts in the interior of the island. The name of the site suggests that a small church of St. Barbara may have stood here, which is supported by individual finds of worked stone and plaster. Sutvara is one of a series of prehistoric lookouts, valuable for monitoring land and sea routes, but according to its size it had a subsidiary role.

The site is a protected cultural good and is entered in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia under the code Z-6804.

Data: Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia (Ministry of Culture and Media), Open Licence; coordinates: DGU (centre of the settlement).