PHOTOS: Ancient tunnel and 2,000-year-old clamps discovered at Salona amphitheatre

by croatiaweek
February 25, 2026
in News

(Photo: Archaeological Museum in Split)

While visitors explore the impressive ruins of Salona using digital tools and capturing photographs of the ancient city, meticulous conservation work continues quietly behind the scenes at one of the most significant Roman monuments on the eastern Adriatic coast, the amphitheatre of Salona near Split.

Conservation teams have continued the arrangement and cleaning of the northern section of the amphitheatre’s seating area. In the process, a section of ancient pavement was uncovered and documented, a feature that had remained buried beneath layers of soil for decades.

As the Archaeological Museum in Split said, its discovery adds another important layer to understanding how the space once functioned in Roman times.

2,000-Year-Old Iron Clamps Still Holding Strong

At the western entrance to the arena, known as the porta pompae, soil and accumulated stone deposits were carefully removed. Beneath them, archaeologists discovered iron clamps that have held massive stone blocks together for nearly 2,000 years, and remarkably, continue to perform their original structural function.

(Photo: Archaeological Museum in Split)

Moments such as these, when the construction logic of Roman builders can be physically felt and understood, highlight the engineering sophistication of antiquity and offer rare insight into ancient craftsmanship.

The Reopening of the “Gate of Death”

One of the most significant developments has been the reopening of a 90-metre-long underground corridor stretching southwards from the Porta Libitinae.

The Porta Libitinae, often referred to as the “Gate of Death”, was the passage through which wounded or deceased gladiators and animals were removed from the arena.

(Photo: Archaeological Museum in Split)

Named after Libitina, the Roman goddess of funerary rites, the space carries powerful historical symbolism.

However, history was not the only thing awaiting archaeologists inside the tunnel. A substantial amount of waste, construction debris and discarded items left by irresponsible individuals had accumulated over time.

(Photo: Archaeological Museum in Split)

The material was carefully removed, with stone separated for reuse in future conservation interventions.

At Salona, experts emphasise, no stone is simply a stone, each is part of a wider architectural system.

As part of the works, an excavation has been prepared for a ramp that will regulate unauthorised access and help prevent vandalism. Such measures are considered crucial for the long-term protection of the site.

(Photo: Archaeological Museum in Split)

Further conservation of the northern seating area is planned, alongside continued archaeological research.

Salona remains one of Croatia’s most valuable cultural and historical sites. Although open to visitors, it is not a public park but one of the country’s most important archaeological locations.