Zoçishtë lies within the municipality of Rahovec. It is a compact settlement. Its elevation is about 420 metres above sea level. Archaeological traces in the settlement area include pottery fragments, building foundations, old burial grounds, fortification traces, pointing to earlier phases of habitation. The finds are associated with Dardanian, Roman periods.
Written records trace the settlement at least to 1282, with further references in 1327, 1530. Historical forms of the name recorded in documents include Zoçisht, Zaliçishta. A register from 1530 records 34 households. Around 1879, the settlement formed part of the Bajrak of Suharekës and had 44 households. The interwar period also brought the settlement of Serbian or Montenegrin colonist families. The 20th century also brought emigration of some residents to Turkey.
During the 1998–1999 war, the settlement suffered burning and destruction by Serbian forces. 3 civilians or residents were killed during the wartime violence. The wartime record also lists 3 people as missing.
Source
Source and further reading
Principal source: Prof. Dr. Jusuf Osmani, Settlements of Kosovo 2 — Rahovec, second edition, Prishtina, 2008.
Source entry: ZOGJISHTI (Zoqishta)
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.