Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in North Macedonia, unearthing the remains of an ancient city that predates the Roman Empire by centuries, possibly even millennia. The site, known as Gradishte near the village of Crnobuki, has revealed a much larger and more important settlement than previously believed, with evidence suggesting occupation dating back to the Bronze Age.
Key Takeaways
- The ancient city of Gradishte, near Crnobuki, North Macedonia, has been identified as a significant settlement predating the Roman Empire.
- Discoveries include a coin from Alexander the Great’s era, textile tools, pottery, and a theater ticket.
- The site may be the lost capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis or the birthplace of Alexander the Great’s grandmother.
- A separate discovery in Albania yielded gold-threaded fabric from a Roman tomb.
A City Older Than Previously Thought
Previously considered a mere military outpost from the 3rd century BCE, recent excavations, aided by advanced technologies like ground-penetrating radar and drone-deployed LIDAR, have revealed Gradishte to be a thriving urban center. The acropolis alone spans at least seven acres. Artifacts such as stone axes, pottery fragments, game pieces, and textile-working tools suggest a sophisticated society. The discovery of a coin minted between 325-323 BCE, during Alexander the Great’s lifetime, pushed back the site’s peak activity period by a century from earlier estimates.
Potential Historical Significance
Archaeologists, including teams from North Macedonia’s National Institute and Museum–Bitola and Cal Poly Humboldt, are exploring the possibility that Gradishte is Lyncus, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. This kingdom was an autonomous Macedonian entity that resisted conquest until the 4th century BCE. There is also speculation that the site could be the birthplace of Queen Eurydice I, the influential grandmother of Alexander the Great. The city’s location along ancient trade routes to Constantinople further adds to its historical importance, with the possibility that figures like Octavian and Agrippa may have passed through the area.
Broader Archaeological Context
While the North Macedonian discovery sheds light on early European civilizations and the Macedonian state’s impact, a separate, notable find in Albania has also been reported. A Roman tomb, dating to the 3rd-4th century CE, yielded gold-threaded fabric, indicating a high level of craftsmanship and wealth. This discovery, made in a tomb that thieves could not fully plunder, also contained Greek inscriptions dedicated to Jupiter.
Sources
- Humboldt Archaeologists Help Uncover Ancient City | Humboldt NOW, Humboldt NOW.
- Lost capital of ancient kingdom unearthed in North Macedonia, Archaeology News Online Magazine.
- News – Ancient City Unearthed in North Macedonia, Archaeology Magazine.
- 9×6 m tomb near N. Macedonia yields gold-threaded fabric, The Jerusalem Post.
- Mystery ruins in North Macedonia turn out to be ancient city, Miami Herald.
