5 amazing archaeological discoveries in Croatia

by croatiaweek
April 21, 2024
in News

5 amazing recent archaeological finds in Croatia

(Photos: Franjo Sorčik/Novosti.hr/EpiC – Epigravetijenske zajednice Sjeverne Dalmacije/© Philippe Groscaux/Mission Adriboats/CNRS/CCJ)

The unearthing of a rare 2,500-year-old helmet in Croatia this month made headlines around the world.

The helmet adds to the list of remarkable archaeological discoveries made in Croatia in recent times.

We take a look at five other astounding recent finds that shed new light on Croatia’s cultural heritage and historical significance.

1. 1,800-year-old Roman chariot with horses

(Photo credit: Franjo Sorčik/Novosti.hr)

In 2019, archaeologists in Stari Jankovci, near Vinkovci in eastern Croatia, made a remarkable discovery. They found a two-wheeled Roman chariot with the fossilized remains of two horses in a large burial chamber, measuring 40 meters in diameter and about 1 meter in height.

This burial is believed to be part of an opulent funeral ritual for affluent Roman families nearly 2,000 years ago.

This burial tradition is associated with wealthy families who held significant influence in the administrative, social, and economic life of the Pannonia province. Expert Boris Kratofil suggested that by situating the earthen mound along a major Roman thoroughfare connecting the Apennine Peninsula with Pannonia, the aristocratic family residing near Cibalia aimed to display their status and prosperity to travelers along this route.

(Photo credit: Franjo Sorčik/Novosti.hr)

The excavation was carried out by archaeologists from the City Museum of Vinkovci and the Institute of Archaeology from Zagreb, who had been researching the Stari Jankovci site since 2017. Marko Dizdar, director of the Institute of Archaeology, described the find as extraordinary and unique in Croatia.

2. 17,000 year-old wild donkey head

17,000 year-old horse head found buried in Croatia

(Photo credit: EpiC – Epigravetijenske zajednice Sjeverne Dalmacije)

The EpiC team discovered the head of a European wild donkey in Vlakno cave on Dugi Otok island in northern Dalmatia two years ago.

EpiC confirmed it as the head of a European wild ass, an extinct equine species that lived from the Middle Pleistocene to the Late Holocene in Western Eurasia.

Traces of a hearth and hunting equipment typical for that era were also discovered. These findings are from a layer of earth dating back to over 17 thousand years, coinciding with the last ice age.

(Photo credit: EpiC – Epigravetijenske zajednice Sjeverne Dalmacije)

The project “Epigravetien community of northern Dalmatia” continues interdisciplinary research into the Paleolithic and Mesolithic site of Vlakno on Dugi Otok and the broader area of northern Dalmatia.

3. 7,000 year-old road under sea off Croatian island of Korčula

Amazing discovery near Korčula: 7,000 year-old road found under the sea

(YouTube/Screenshot/Mate Parica)

Last year, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery near the Croatian island of Korčula: a 7,000-year-old road buried under layers of sea mud.

Led by Igor Borzić from the Archaeology Department at the University of Zadar, the team unearthed the road and a settlement at a depth of five meters in Gradina Bay. This find was prompted by Borzić noticing peculiar structures in the sea, reminiscent of those found in Soline.

Alongside the road, Neolithic artifacts like stone knives, axes, and millstone fragments were recovered, indicating a connection between the island and the mainland.

Initially exploring the Soline site, the team unexpectedly uncovered a road linking the submerged Hvar culture settlement to Korčula’s coast. These stones, forming a four-meter-wide network, were part of an ancient communication system. The settlement, dating back to the 5th century BC, was confirmed through radiocarbon analysis of preserved wood.

4. Ancient Greek city wall discovered under Stari Grad

Wall of ancient Greek city found under Stari Grad on Hvar island

Multicoloured mosaics (Photo credit: Vilma Matulić)

Archaeologists unearthed previously unknown remains of ancient Greek and Roman cities beneath Stari Grad on Hvar Island. Among the discoveries are the western wall and gate of the Greek city of Pharos.

These findings could enhance archaeological tourism on the island. The discovery also includes graves, likely from the 5th and 4th centuries BC, shedding light on the city’s history and local conflicts.

These are the first archaeologically identified graves in the Stari Grad area, indicating the presence of a necropolis and a southern city. The Greek period reveals evidence of literacy, various trades, and social customs. Roman finds include multicolored mosaics and remnants of sacral architecture from the 6th or 7th century AD.

5. Oldest hand-sewn boat in the Mediterranean

Oldest hand-sewn boat in the Mediterranean found in Croatia

In the bay of Zambratija near Umag on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, an extraordinary archaeological find was unearthed last year. It’s the oldest hand-sewn boat discovered in the Mediterranean, dating back to between the late 12th and late 10th centuries BC.

Despite its age, the Zambratija boat displays remarkable preservation, with seven out of its 12-meter sections remaining intact.

Initially found in 2008 at a depth of two meters by a local fisherman who had known about the wooden planks for years, the discovery gained recognition when archaeologists from the Archaeological Museum of Istria and the Conservation Department in Pula identified the sewn planks characteristic of ancient hand-sewn boats.

The Zambratija boat serves as a rare example of ancient shipbuilding in the Istria and Dalmatia regions of Croatia, showcasing remarkable technological prowess for its era.

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