Neolithic artifacts have been found in
Obre, a nearby village. Thus, whole culture that covered central Bosnian river basins was named
Kakanj culture. It is Europe's oldest continuously inhabited settlement, carbon dated to 6795 BC. Settlements in the region are very ancient and contain historical landmarks of the early Bosnian state.
Kraljeva Sutjeska, a
Franciscan monastery, is of particular historical note. Near the monastery is
Bobovac, scene of the last stand of Bosnian Queen
Katarina Kosača and medieval residence of Bosnian kings. In Kraljeva Sutjeska is one of the oldest
mosques in Bosnia, built by order of
Sultan Mehmed II the Victorious during his expedition to Bosnia and conquest of Bobovac. The Kakanj area enjoyed a renaissance during the rule of the
Kotromanić dynasty. One of the most beautiful
tombs ever found in Bosnia, with a carving of a hunting
cavalier, was found in Kakanj; it is currently displayed in the botanic garden of The State Museum in
Sarajevo. Kakanj was mentioned in 1468 as a settlement with 90 houses. Coal mine Kakanj was founded in 1900 under
Austro-Hungarian rule around a developing
coal mine, which began production in 1902. In the next hundred years, Kakanj developed organically without any
urban planning, initially around the coal mine, and later along the banks of the Zgošća and Bosna rivers.
Bosnian War (1992–95) The situation in Kakanj at the beginning of the
Bosnian War was rather quiet, confronted with the frontlines in the area of
Zavidovići. The town was in the middle of the
Bosnian government-controlled territory, along the communication path with
Zenica. Most of the
Serb minority soon left the town, while
Bosniak refugees from Serb-controlled towns arrived. Between March and June 1994, Croats and Bosniaks signed the
Washington Agreement, forming the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The situation in Kakanj improved, but refugees did not came back. Health and sanitation conditions were poor; a
hepatitis epidemic was recorded in 1994. Food Security was under control, thanks to humanitarian aid, even though the overall prices remained prohibitive and most of the families survived with company-organized distribution and kitchen gardens. Almost all productive activities were stopped.
Post-war On 29 September 1999, the High Representative (
OHR)
Wolfgang Petrisch removed from office the mayor of Kakanj,
Kemal Brodilija, for obstructing the implementation of the
Dayton Agreements and pursuing an extra-legal agenda. ==Settlements==