The Merso Bank Stone Slab

The Arengo of the deans from the valleys of Merso di Sopra used to meet under the lime trees near the Saint Anthony Abbot Church. There were three slabs: one from Merso and two from Antro, which are now visible in Biacis and Tarcetta. These are flat megaliths from the Neolithic age, adorned with numerous symbols. The oldest symbols are of pagan origin, dealing with magical-rituals, while the later ones are of Christian origin.
From the Patriarchate of Aquileia up to the fall of the Republic of Venice, these lands enjoyed privileges granted in recognition of their role in controlling and defending the northeastern borders. Due to this, the population had considerable administrative and judicial autonomy, managed through the Arenghi with representatives (deans) elected from the most important families (vicinie) of the Merso and Antro Banks. The stone slab of the Merso Bank was of fundamental importance as it set the administrative and legal rules to manage autonomy until the 19th century. The vicinie grouped together the heads of families from each village, and the Arenghi the elected deans from the various vicinie.
The assembly that gathered all the exponents of the Arenghi of Antro and Merso was the Great Arengo of Slavia, which met for the last time in October 1804 at the Church of Saint Quirinus in San Pietro al Natisone.
With the arrival of Napoleon, all forms of local autonomy were abolished: the vicinie were dissolved, and the territory was divided into municipalities.