The Archaeological Collection of the Museum was established in the early 1960s of the 20th century, and its origin is linked to only eleven objects. Of these, ten were donated by the management of the “Brskovo” mine in Mojkovac. These are objects and equipment used in this mine, which provide a broader historical picture of a specific period and allow insight into life in medieval mining settlements and towns. The Brskovo mine was founded in the 13th century by German Saxon miners. In historical sources, Brskovo is mentioned as an important economic centre and mining settlement which, at its peak, developed into a small town with a well-established marketplace. Its cultural and historical significance for Montenegro is exceptionally great, and the Museum’s numismatic collection also preserves a specimen of silver coin minted in Brskovo. From such modest beginnings, the present-day archaeological collection has become one of the most representative museum collections, containing a significantly larger number of objects, mostly acquired through archaeological excavations. A smaller part of the collection originates from chance finds, donations, and purchases. The first professional archaeological research in the territory of the Bijelo Polje municipality was carried out in the village of Bijedići, at the site “Trnje”. Since the late 1970s, research has intensified and expanded to a larger number of sites, resulting in the valorisation of a significant body of cultural heritage of both local and international importance. The archaeological collection consists of objects from three major historical periods: Prehistory, Antiquity, and the Middle Ages. Prehistoric period Prehistoric finds consist of rich material collected at sites in the Bijelo Polje region, testifying to early forms of life. The oldest traces date from the Neolithic period (around 4000–2300 BC) and the Bronze Age (2000–1000 BC). The permanent exhibition includes finds from the sites Trnje (Bijedići), Samograd, Majstorovina, Voljavac, and Ostrelj. Antiquity period Antique material originates from the sites Lim (Bijelo Polje), Majstorovina, and Podgajnice (Zaton). These finds testify to the presence and contacts of ancient cultures in the Lim River valley. Middle Ages The medieval period is the most extensively researched, and objects from this period occupy a central place in the permanent exhibition. The most important sites are: the Church of St. Peter and Paul (Bijelo Polje), the Church of St. Nicholas (Nikoljac), the Church of the Holy Virgin (Voljavac), Brskovo (Mojkovac), as well as finds from Ribarevine, Nedakusi, Boljari, and other sites.
