The first settlements belonged to the “Butmir Culture“. One of the most famous artifacts found from that age in Veliki Mošunj, is a “Big Bronze Sword”, uniquely crafted. During Roman time, the first urban settlements are being built. Through the river Lašva valley there were communication routes in which the caravans, armies, missionaries, etc. used to travel.
On Castoriusovoj Tabuli Peutingeriani, there were caravan’s routes from which the important one goes through this valley to connect from Pannonia at the North to Aegnatia at the South. U lower levels of the valley there were findings and lots of tombs, foundations, … According to excavated articles from the middle age significant findings are discovered in Zabilje, Počulica, Kremenik, Gačice, Večeriska, Preočica etc.. During Big Migration in Europe, caused by the decay of Roman Empire, in this region the Slavs begin to come from nowadays Ukraine and Poland, and are organizing their first states. At nearby Bilino Polje (Zenica) the great Bosnian ruler Kulin Ban left the Charter of Ban Kulin, the oldest written document of all South Slavic states, 29 August 1189, written in Bosančica (Old Bosnian Alphabet). In the time of Ban Stjepan Kotromanić there was a census in which old Bosnia had seven counties.
It is also known that Vitez was part of Bosnia until the decay of Bosnia when Ottoman Empire occupied this region. This was the period in Vitez got its name. It is known that the first settlement in nowadays urban area was formed around the mosque, built in 1590. Knowing that mosques are being erected in urban areas, it is logical to say that this settlement existed even before. Vitez is mentioned once again during an uprising against Turks led by Husein Gradaščević, when he defeated Turkish Army at Kosovo, after which he was named for Bosnian de facto ruler (Vezir). According to the Austrian officer Božića (1785), Vitez had 18 houses, mosque and Motel (Han).
The City of Vitez 