History
Novobërdë or Artana in Albanian was a famous mining city in medieval times. The site was predominantly used for mining silver. Now it has remained just a historical site to be visitetd and it has been left uncared for.
Novobërdë (in Latin documents written as Novaberd, Novus Mons or Novamonte; and in the Sasi's own documents as Nyeuberghe) was mentioned in the historical documents as early as 1326.
Novo Brdo was a metropolis at the time. In the outer wall of the fortress a large Illyrian Icon (Illyrian Queen) is visable, built into the stones. The castle, or fortress, was thought at one point to have dated back to the Byzantine Empire.
The population at its height was estimated to exceed 10,000 people. There were mines and smelting furnaces for iron, lead, gold and silver ores. Novobërdë silver is known by its argentum glame (an alloy of silver with 1/6-1/3 gold). In 1450 the mines of Novobërdë were producing about 6,000 kg of silver per year. The Ottomans occupied the town on June 1, 1455 and made it a trade center and one of the most influential multicultural towns of medieval times in today region of Balkans.
By the early 20th century, Novobërdë's population had dwindled, with most inhabitants moving to the more easily accessible area of Gjilan town. In 1999, with the entry of KFOR and UNMIK into Kosova, the area had a small military outpost occupied by US soldiers, as well as a station of International Police and Kosovian Police. The military has since removed its presence, but the police presence can still be seen today. It's a place with inter-ethnic harmony and co-living now, unlike during the rule of Serbs when atrocities, genocide agains Albanians and burning of houses were committed there.
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