Gurkuqi (Maçiteva) lies about 15 km southeast of Theranda, in a hilly and mountainous area of meadows and pasture. Traces of an old fortress survive above the village, while old graves with rough stone markers have also been recorded; local tradition associates them with an early period of habitation.
The settlement is mentioned in the memorial book of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity from the 15th century. An Ottoman register from 1530 records the form Malqetova or Maleshtova with 10 households. After 1912 some residents migrated to Turkey and elsewhere, while the late 20th century brought movement toward Theranda, Prizren, Prishtina and Ferizaj.
During the 1998–99 war almost the entire village was burned; only one house escaped. The school and its records were also destroyed. One fighter from the settlement was killed, while two elderly residents were burned inside their homes.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 4 — Theranda (Suhareka), Prishtina, 2003.
Source entry: GURKUQI (Maçiteva)
This page presents a selected summary from the published study of the settlement. For complete archival references, family histories, microtoponymy and the full treatment, consult the original volume.