Pastasel lies in the hilly and mountainous landscape of the Rahovec area. It is a compact settlement. Its elevation is about 520 metres above sea level. Archaeological traces in the settlement area include pottery fragments, roof tiles and bricks, pointing to earlier phases of habitation.
Written records trace the settlement at least to 1330, with further references in 1530, 1591. Historical forms of the name recorded in documents include Pustasel, Pustosel. A register from 1530 records 15 households. Around 1879, the settlement formed part of the Bajrak of Palluzhës and had 27 households.
During the 1998–1999 war, the settlement suffered burning and destruction by Serbian forces. 50 civilians or residents were killed during the wartime violence. Residents were forced to leave the village during the offensives.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 2 — Rahovec, second edition, Prishtina, 2008.
Source entry: RUDINA (Pastasella)
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.