Roman heritage in Kosovo

Updated on Dec 30, 2023

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Dardania fell under Roman occupation in the first century AD, one of the last territories of Illyria to succumb. Being that Dardania had and today Kosovo has a central position between the road networks that connected the south Aegean with the Danube basin, and with the Adriatic Sea, it was a strategic jewel. It also was important for the Romans due to its rich mineral resources, which they exploited and benefited from. We see that most of the towns of ancient Dardania are located either close to a mine, or close to a road. The Dardanian identity has been disputed for a while, and it is known that it was distinctive, similar to the Illyrian, and also with a Roman or Thracian twist to it, due to the occupation and co-habitation. The archaeological surveys and studies of the last century are helping to establish this Dardanian identity in an objective manner, which will lead to a clearer study and explanation of the continuity of culture in this so much disputed region. Below is a listing of the prominent settlements during the Roman period and an explanation of what they were, when they were inhabited, and when they were founded, accompanied by an array of pictures that illustrate the archaeological finds and remnants.

Sites

Municipium Dardanorum or Dardanicum is located in North Kosovo, approximately 27 kilometres north of Mitrovica, in the village of Sočanica, Leposavić municipality. It primarily existed as a prehistoric settlement, but continued to develop and change to become a typical ancient Roman town during the period from the last decades of the 1st century, until the first part of the 4th century AD. The site stretches in approximately 30 hectares.

Ulpiana was a Roman town, established in the 1st century AD, receiving municipium status in 169 AD. It was located near a rich mining area and also had a geo-strategic position situated close to the ancient crossroads that linked east with west, were dominant factors for the foundation, development and existence through centuries. During the Roman era, Ulpiana was one of the most active and frequented centers connecting Constantinople with Rome, and close to the town the crossroad connecting the Adriatic with the Aegean coasts, even indirectly with the Black Sea. Furthermore, the existence of the ancient communication route Via Lissus-Naissus is known, land communication networks that met close to Ulpiana. The earliest forms of the occupation and human activity and civilization, witness the existence since the prehistoric period, but worth mentioning is the period known by the jargon of the archaeologists as the Bronze and Iron Ages. Nevertheless, the first forms of an urban centre recorded in Ulpiana, date to the beginning of the Roman rule, which occurred at the first century AD. With the Romans settled, Ulpiana developed from a small ancient Dardanian concentrated Opidum; to a widespread territory with all attributes of a typical Roman town organization. In regard to this matter, it is believed that Ulpiana was established as a Roman municipium in 169 AD, called Municipium Ulpianum. Nonetheless, Ulpiana achieved its peak of development during the 3rd and 4th century; a period when it became a very important political, economical, cultural center of a wider area of the territory of Dardania, but also became the crucial center for the expansion of the ancient civilization in this region. The Roman town of Ulpiana during this period was ascribed as the Municipum Ulpiana Splendidissima – the Splendid City of Ulpiana, characterized with road networks, orthogonal construction system, water supply, drainage, houses, buildings and various other public, sacral, profane and utilitarian buildings. In addition, the Municipium of Ulpiana was a very important trading centre of either metallurgical, artisans or agricultural goods and merchandise for at least first five centuries of the first millennium and especially during the rule of the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great in the 6th century AD; time when Ulpiana was rebuilt and renamed to Justiniana Secunda. Since the second part of the 20th century and onward, the ancient town of Ulpiana has been in a continuity study through the loupe and pickaxe of either local or foreign archaeologists that contributed until present day with the discovery of a few cult and sacral monuments, basilica, necropolis, as well as parts of the ramparts with watchtowers, castrum - Roman military garrison and hundreds of movable artifacts, different in form, material and usage, but as well as human remains, architectural structures and elements, all testimony of the cultural material very important for the scientific field of archaeology. The gathered data was partially studied and is under the process of systematic evaluation from various specialists of different scientific disciplines that all together contribute for the further update of the archaeological data. Since our century is the one of technological and scientific innovations, the archaeological site of Ulpiana went through elaborate research studies with highly sophisticated investigative devices, which totally are non intrusive methods of survey examination. Thanking the cooperation, between the German Archaeological Institute, and the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, have jointly participated in geophysical prospecting with the advance survey/recording methods, for example; Fluxgate Magnetometer, Gradiometer, georadar connected with GIS, surveying around 50 hectares of land with archaeological potential within the Ulpiana area. Besides the scientific character, the underneath earth recording will aid in the future pacifications and development plans for this archaeological site. But even more, the site will benefit also for the management plan for compilation of the development plans for the promotion of the cultural heritage known in the developed countries as archaeotourism, which as a precondition requires the setting of the tourist infrastructure at the archaeological parks. On the other hand, these advanced methods and techniques will help on the determination of the extent, character and nature of Ulpiana, when having in mind that this is a multilayer site.

Statio Vindenis was among three road stations that were constructed in Dardania during the Roman period. This archaeological site is located in the village of Gllamnik, Podujeva municipality, approximately 5 km south, southeast from Podujeva. The ancient Via Lissus-Naissus Roman road was a diagonal route, connecting the central Balkans region with the Adriatic coast, which passed through Vindenis. The settlement and Roman road station of Vindenis are stretched on the right bank of Llap River vicinity, measuring an area of more or less of 15-20 hectares.

Pestova site is located in the municipality of Vushtrri, discovered in 2005. Remains of a building, ruins of a villae rusticae were partially unearthed.

Poslishte site was recently Roman road station in the vicinity of the village of Poslishte, 1 kilometer south of Vlashnje in the Vermica-Prizren road, set along the ancient Via Lissus-Naissus.

Klokot site is set close to Banja e Kllokotit, in an alluvial terrace stretched along the Morava river flow, an area known for the fertile land and near the warm thermal mineral waters spring. One of the most interesting accidental archaeological discoveries is a marble sculpture of a woman found near the Banja e Kllokotit, regarded a masterpiece of Dardanian art according to Milot Berisha.

Paldenica site located near the village of Paldenica, around 150 m on the left side of the Pristina-Skopje road. Traces of a necropolis and other movable archaeological materials were uncovered.

Station Viciano situated in the north, northwest part of the municipality of Gračanica. There are relevant indications that might pinpoint the site setting of the ancient road station Viciano, a stopping point for the caravans that circulated in one of the most important trans-Illyrian roads, the Via Lissus-Naissus route, that started from the Adriatic coast, respectively from Lezha, all the way through the Drini i Bardhë river valley, crossed diagonally through ancient Dardania(present Kosovo) to continue further to Niš. The Station Viciano, is recorded in the Tabula Peuntingeriana map.

Donje Nerodimlje site, uncovered in 1988. Several archaeological trenches were investigated at this location, close to the Orthodox cemetery. The trial trenches resulted with a discovery of a villa complex that most likely is constructed during the Late Antique period.

Çifllak site is situated near the Drini i Bardhë river stream, respectively on the left side not far from the river shore. Archaeological researches carried at the Çifllak area during the first decade of the first millennium, resulted with the discovery of the remains of a Roman bath complex, with wide dimensions, whereas a pool has been unearthed and documented.

Nikadin. The Nikadin village, nowadays a suburban part of the town of Ferizaj, is situated only 2 kilometers south from the town, sited in a spacious and fertile countryside. During the 60s of the last century, superficial traces of a Roman villa complex have been recorded here. During an excavation in 2007 remains of an early Christian church were unearthed as well.

References

Roman heritage in Kosovo Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Marcin Bojarski

Phil Gladwin