Majdanpek is quite typical town of miners. Were there no mine, the narrow valley of the river Mali Pek, inappropriate for other forms of traditional industry, would be lifeless. Mine and the settlement would be deserted, as it happened from time to time if works on gold and copper were stopped. Although mining in this particular settlement lasts more or less 7000 years, with longer or shorter pauses, current name of town was originally mentioned in the year 1560 in an old Turkish  manuscript, but in the form of Medani Pek . This indicates that the mine was under Serbian protection in the pre-Turkish period. The base of the expression Medani Pek is the word med widespread Old Serbian expression denoting copper. Under the title Medani Pek this settlement appeared on various European maps as much as in other western sources, until the first half of XVIII-th century. At that period it is slightly decreased in use, under the oppression of Turkish rivalry expression madän ("mine, ore"), based on Arabic word. This form is well familiar in Serbia in the form majdan which carries the very same meaning. This second part of the name of the town comes from the name of the river Pek which originates according to explorers from this museum from the period which proceeded Roman Age. The name of the river can be justifiably brought in connection with the Greek word pékos - denoting sheepskin. Greek people had also exploited golden rivers of nowadays Northern Serbia among which as the most promising was Pek. The used sheepskin, placed in the riverbed. This ancient technique was discovered by Colchiaus, according to Herodotus. It held its usage among the settlers of the valley of Pek till recent times. Current name of the town is therefore result of historical interference's of Old Greek, Old Slavic and Arabic-Turkish expressions. The utter meaning would thence be The gold mine upon goldenness river. Claims that Majdanpek is at the same time ancient mine can be confirmed by historical localities Rudna Glava and Praurija, that are assigned a date of early eneolithic period (V-th millenium b.c.). Rudna Glava is less then 24 km south-east of Majdanpek while Praurija locality lies in the very circle of the gold mine.

.

Majdanpek is inhabited by 11000 inhabitants, mainly representatives of different ethnic groups. In great numbers, side by side, Serbs, Wallachs and Montenegrians live together. It appears that basic characteristics of miners mentality such as tolerance and solidarity are the best protection from the evil of ethnic and religions conflicts which destroys modern world.

The center of the town these days. O the photography taken by B. Salijevic apart of the park can be seen, with the fountain in the center. Behind it, one can be notice two floors high building one of the two primary schools in Majdanpek. The scene of numerous buildings behind it, reveals lack of houses in the area. "There's neither smaller town nor one with more buildings in it" - is the remark often heard from first time visiting guests. Due to the narrow and some what short valley in which Majdanpek appeared due to mine's necessity, new part of the town had no place to spread but in high, and moved up the hill. Majdanpek is quite rear town (some say the only one), which was built almost without the individual houses. The number of 4000 households appear to live mostly in apartments made by gold mine in the period after World War II.

 *[Home]*[Novosti]*[Mapa sajta]*[O nama]*[O mestu]*

© Museum of Majdanpek

27-03-2004