ABSTRACT
The knowledge transfer from ancient architects to early medieval builders in Dalmatia is studied by comparing the structures of several preserved pre-Romanesque churches to those of important ancient buildings. The pre-Romanesque churches in Dalmatia were built in rubble stone masonry with rough details and they have geometrical irregularities in their plans. This implies that the early medieval constructors in Dalmatia were not skillful masons. Nevertheless, all the preserved pre-Romanesque churches in this region are vaulted, often with a complex combination of different types of vault. The idea of vaulting—which is not a simple construction task—must have been inspired by the rich ancient built heritage in Dalmatia. The early medieval builders took ancient constructions as models for their churches, but having neither the knowledge of the ancient ars aedificatoria nor Roman technology, they had to invent new constructional solutions. Their learning from the past was a creative process.
