»Japnenica« (from »japno« what means »vapno« - both are local names for lime - whole word could mean a cave or pile made with or from lime) was a place where locals producted lime and quicklime. They where mostly set at places with large amount of limestones as a basic resource of calcium carbonate, near the woods for the fuel and by the sea coast for easier transportation of final product.
At first they opened a limestone quarry named »kuava« near the »japnenica« since the stone had to be freshly taken from quarry. At the same time they dig a hole in the ground where »japnenica« were ment to be placed. The hole represent a fireplace so they put large amount of firewood inside and at the edges they build foundation, mostly cylindrical shaped. On foundation they were uploading limestones in pyramidal shaped sculpture.
The size of “japnenica” was depend of needs on market, size of limestone quarry and also quantity of people (group of workers was named "suocij") who were building it since all the work was done without any help of machinery. The biggest “japnenica” could be 10 meters high and could produce approx. 25 tons of lime from approx. 100 tons of limestones. It is meaningless to say that was a real hard work.
After the “japnenica” was heated, they covered it with the soil so they slowed down the cooling process. After a week when it was totally cooled they started to take out lime. Quicklime was produced with adding fresh water to lime.
Limestone is term for rocks that contain at least 80% of calcium carbonate CaCO3. With heating over 1.000 °C we are getting lime or calcium oxide CaO + carbon dioxide CO2. With adding water H2O we are getting quicklime or calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2.
Since lime is natural disinfectant (there were a lot of injuries and diseases along the workers at “japenica”, but there were never any succumbed to tuberculosis case among the workers), they were using it for whitewashing and disinfection houses and also as a supplement to sprays for plants. Of course, the main reason for producing lime and quicklime was in civil engineering where it was used as a binder before cement came on market.
All the historical objects on island still stands because of “japnenica” like you can see it on reference point R0. The one you are looking at is last built “japnenica” in Punta Križa region in year 2001 and it was never ignited. Since we would like to performe this sculpture for next generation we are kindly asking you not to walk on or over the “japnenica”.
The cache is placed outside the house ruins, where family Marušić lived, who were the last professional workers of “japnenica” in Punta Križa region.
You can also see a natural well where workers got fresh water at reference point R1.