The majority of its stećak tombstones date from the 1480s through the 16th century, as evidenced by the epitaph on one of the tombstones. This was the period when the family Miloradović-Stjepanović from genus Hrabren lived in the settlement located on near hill Ošanići. At the time the location was known as Batnoge, and the creation of the necropolis coincides with the rise of this noble family. Miloradović-Stjepanović family from the genus Hrabren were of the Orthodox faith. The founder was Milorad, who as a Vlach chieftain lived in the second half of the 14th century. In 1416 his son Stipan is mentioned, in appeal by Ragusa due to fighting along with Petar Pavlović against Sandalj Hranić and the Ottomans. He had three sons: Petar Stjepanović was first mentioned in 1473 and last time in 1486. Radoja Stjepanović died between 1475-1477. Vukić Stjepanović was mentioned for last time in 1496. They were titled as voivodes and knezes, commanded Vlach military institution and held land between Stolac and Mostar. They successfully merged into the Ottoman political and social system. The katun formation by Petar and Vukić Hrabren was part of the Vlach group Donji Vlasi of nahiye Blagaj - and their katun was the largest with 127 houses and 16 unmarried persons out of 37 katuns, 1383 houses and 177 unmarried persons. At the time Petar Stjepanovič-Hrabren along knezes Vukac, Pavko, Stipan and Radivoj Popratović was included in the order of Ragucan citizens, as well was Ottoman timariot. By 1505, when voivode Radosav Hrabren was buried, the necropolis expansion began to end due to acceptance of Islam, the disintegration of tribal organization, and social events. The Miloradovići or Hrabreni later became famous noble family in Russian Empire, between the 15th to 19th centuries.
Characteristics
The necropolis includes 133 stećci. When the Čapljina-Stolac road was built during the Austro-Hungarian period in 1882, it ran through the necropolis and destroyed at least 15-20 tombstones. Out of nine types of stećci, 36 slabs, 1 slab with pedestal, 27 chests, 24 chests with pedestal, 4 tall chests, 5 tall chests with pedestal, 2 sarcophagi, 31 sarcophagi with pedestal, and 3 of cruciform. The core of the necropolis was built at the end of the 14th century, when three big chests were made, of which two are richly decorated with motifs in bas-relief. The next phase included simple chests and ridges with flower crosses on the front and borders acanthus leaves. The last phase with circa 20 separate stećci of high quality and diverse forms indicates that the site was the cemetery of the Miloradović-Stjepanović family, attested in epitaphs on five tombstones. Due to several Illyrianburial mounds near the necropolis, it seems the location was used from earlier times as a resting place for the dead, and the population of Batnoge continued this ancient tradition. During the 1960s excavation, to a depth of 120–135 cm revealed nine graves, indicating that up to 50 specimens were destroyed. Analysis of the bodies showed the people were tall with well-developed thoraxes.
Decoration
Nearly half were decorated, in bas relief, engraving or a combination. The finest decorated examples are tall chests with pedestal and sarcophagus with pedestal, saved for the social elite. Ornaments include curved lines with trefoil, plastic zigzag, radial circle, rosette, depiction of plastic circles, cluster, rod shaped as letter T, spiral curves. The depiction of arrow and bow on "voivode" stećci previously was related to Miloradović-Stjepanović military function. Figural depictions can be divided to those of male figures with raised right hand, and scenes of hunting, posthumous kolo and chivalric tournaments with basic artistic and religious interweaving of pagan and Christian ideas. The inscriptions mention Stipan Miloradović, and his sons Radoja and Petar, three other inhabitants of Batnoge, and three stonemasons: Miogost, Volašin Vogačić, Ratko Brativoić. The stećci were made of limestone cut from Ošanići hill, trimmed and then moved to the necropolis for final work and ornamentation.
Inscriptions
I: A se kami na Vukcu na Petoviču. A se pisa Bolašin Bogačić. II: A Vlač Vlahovč, ami Ratko Brativoič/Brativoič. III: Az rab bži Radoje Vuković, sinovac vojevode Petra. IV: Sije leži dobri Radoje, sin vojevode Stipana, n svoj baštini na Batnogah. Si bilig postavi na me brat moj vojevoda Petar. V: A se leži Stjepan. A činio ka Miogost kovač.
