THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUSEUM OF CROATIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS IN SPLIT

The interest for monuments from the nation’s past coincided with the national revival in Dalmatia in the second half of the 19th century. Systematic work on archaeological excavation and research on the medieval monuments began in 1893, when with the material collected, the First Museum of Croatian Monuments was established. From the beginning, the purpose of the Museum was to collect, study and exhibit the remains of Croatian material and spiritual heritage from the ancient Croatian state period. Thanks to Fra Luje Marun, to the efforts of the archaeologist Don Frane Bulić, to Šime Ljubić and to general support of the Croatian intellectuals of the time, the Knin Museum acquired a significance which went far beyond the borders of the country. A great deal of scholarly effort has been invested into the research of the historical centre of the Old Croatian state, making it one of the best documented periods of Croatian history. The museum collection in Knin, encompassing the historical and artistic achievements of Croats from the time of their settlement in these parts till the end of the Middle Ages was later, after the World War ll, moved to Split, to be presented to the public in the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments. The stamp was printed in sheets of 20. HPT issued a first day cover (FDC) and a commemorative sheet.