As it was appealing due to its rich mines and its good geographical position, Rudnik often changed its masters and was an important political centre for Serbia. Mining led to building multiple settlements for Saxon miners, while the square opening led to the development of trade, and that way people from Dubrovnik, Kotor, present-day Albania (so-called Arbanasi, as they were known at that time), east Serbia, Greece, Venice (though not many), Florence, etc. started living in Rudnik. In an urban settlement, such as Rudnik of the time, there were three important titles that influenced everyday life: kefalija, the commander of a town and a region, which was usually assigned to a person from Serbia, prince, who was in charge of local inhabitants and who was often from Dubrovnik, and a customs officer who was usually from Dubrovnik or Kotor. A consul from Dubrovnik, who was in charge of the legal protection of citizens from Dubrovnik, also lived in the place.  

Following the folk tales that there were some church remains on the family Nikić’s estate, a team of archaeologists from the Museum of Rudnik and Takovo Region as well as from the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade set a test probe at this site in 2010. It confirmed the existence of a rather preserved building, whose inside walls were very picturesque. On the east side of the building, on the place where there should be the apse of the church, one could see a wall with two entrances. A part of the door ornament made of decorative stone named ‘siga’, adorned with the combination of red, green and beige triangles filled with floral decoration, was discovered as well at the time.

In the following years, an arch-shaped fresco was found. It contained a painted row of stylised palm trees within heart-shaped medallions which were encircled with bigger upside-down heart-shaped medallions on a wide blue ribbon. Among the discovered brightly painted fragments, the most special ones were figurative representations. The most prominent ones show facial segments, nimbus and drapes, as well as the parts that show painted pearls and a book adorned with jewels. It is quite likely that these are the pieces of a frame which could have been placed above the fresco-icon of a patron saint. A well-preserved building was discovered at the site. Research has shown that those are remains of a profane facility of a special type. It was a two-storey building. Downstairs was used for everyday life, whereas the interior of the upper floor was lavishly painted in frescoes, which implies its uniqueness.

Judging by the paintings, the facility could be dating back to the XIV century, while based on the pottery found at the site, the facility could be dating back to the period of XIV – XV century – the heyday of Rudnik. Who was the tenant of this lavishly decorated building? A Serbian squire, a customs officer, a consul or a rich merchant?