2,000-year-old Roman history uncovered beneath town park in northern Croatia

(Photo: Ivanec Tourist Board/Facebook)

Archaeologists have uncovered traces of Roman-era life beneath a town park in Ivanec, northern Croatia, following 14 years of research at the Stari grad site.

The discovery reveals a multi-layered archaeological site spanning several historical periods, from medieval Ivanec to the time of the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago.

Ivančica Peharda, an independent conservator at the Varaždin regional conservation service, told HRT researchers found layers dating from the 9th and 10th centuries.

Beneath them, archaeologists identified evidence of provincial Roman pottery, indicating an earlier ancient settlement layer.

The site is now expected to be developed into an archaeological park, offering visitors an open-air presentation of Ivanec’s historical development.

The first stage of the project will focus on stabilising and restoring existing wall structures. Project documentation was completed last year, while approvals have been obtained from Croatia’s Ministry of Culture.

The City of Ivanec plans to submit the project for funding through the Croatian Tourist Board this year, with results expected by the end of 2026.

(Photo: Ivanec Tourist Board/Facebook)

Marko Friščić, Ivanec’s deputy mayor and the project’s author, said the necessary groundwork, documentation and cost estimates had been prepared.

The planned archaeological park will show where one historical period ends and another begins through the visible remains of walls and structures. Information panels, timelines and other educational materials are also planned to help visitors understand the site’s different phases.

(Photo: Ivanec Tourist Board/Facebook)

Robert Čimin, director of the Ivanec Mountaineering Museum and an archaeologist, said the project would restore historical elements identified during excavations. These include river pebbles in the Romanesque church, stone paving in the Gothic section and brickwork in the Baroque chapel.

The total value of the planned investment is estimated at around €750,000.

Once completed, the archaeological park could become a new cultural and visitor attraction for Ivanec, bringing centuries of hidden history to the surface in the heart of the northern Croatian town.