The island has been populated for nearly
two millennia. An Illyric-Roman settlement known as Colentum has been found
near Betina. In 1293, documents show that Murter was called "Villa Magna'
meaning big village. During the 13th century there were two documented
settlements on the island—Jezera and Veliko selo, Srimač (now Murter) -- and
the island itself was mentioned in the year 1318 as Insula Mortari. Betina and
Tisno were most likely built around the beginning of the 15th century, during
the time of Ottoman attacks in the area. The population of the island increased
as refugees fled from the
