On the Kamenjak slopes of the hill of Sv. Damjan in Barbat, imposing ruins are visible even today, which have for centuries inspired the imagination of local inhabitans and iquisitive explorers.
Until now experts and researchers have taken different and mostly incorrect stands regerding the dating of the ruins of this historic complex and have cited them as Early-Medieval, Pre-Romanesque or even High-Medieval, Romanesque or Gothic. Only lately has it been recognized that these remnants are parts of one in a series of Early-Byzantine fortresses from the time of Justinian's reconquest of this region of the Adriatic coast in the first half of the 6th century.
The central building within the fort was undoubtedly the church with a single-nave and wide semicircular apse on the estern side. The original form of the curch can be reconstructed only in the ground plan as the north and south walls have been partially demonished and the facade has been destroyed completely.
Analyzing all the peculiarities of the ruins described and taking into consideration their characteristic disposition, we can state without any doubt that this Rab fort was one in a series of magnificent fortification systems controlling the borders of the Byzantine Empire. It dates from the time of renewed conquests of the eastern-Adriatic coast accomplished by Justinian's army commander Belizar. Moreover, this fortification was one of the largest castra wich dischanged the functions of defense, control and shelter.