Gurra (Studençani) lies about 6 km west of Theranda, in an elongated valley. Building remains and archaeological material visible on the surface point to an early history of habitation.
Studençan is mentioned in a document from 1348 and in a Hilandar record from 1454. An Ottoman register from 1485 records eight households. During the 20th century residents migrated to Turkey, Australia, the United States and towns within Kosovo. In 1934, 17 Slavic colonist families with 83 members were settled here.
Before the 1998–99 war the village had around 600 houses and approximately 4,450 Albanian residents. In the August 1998 offensive, Serbian police and army forces shelled the village and burned about 220 houses. Residents faced repeated attacks, and on 27 March 1999 the population was forcibly deported to Albania. This period remains one of the most destructive chapters in the settlement's modern history.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 4 — Theranda (Suhareka), Prishtina, 2003.
Source entry: GURRA (Studençani)
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.