Montenegro, located at the crossroads of East and West, draws from influences that enrich it, but in exchange, it selflessly gives something of its...
Archaeological sites
Are you curious enough to learn about the history of a very special drinking glass, one of only four in the world? Are you fascinated by a priceless archeological treasure discovered on a 180,000-year-old site? Come unearth the secrets hidden in a prehistoric cave, ancient cities, forgotten cemeteries, and much more.
Archaeological sites
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Archaeological sites in Montenegro:
- Crvena stijena (Nikšić)
- Antique Duklja (Doclea) - Podgorica
- Municipium S (Pljevlja)
- Pirlitor (Momčilov grad) - Žabljak
- Medieval Brskovo (Mojkovac)
- Villa Urbana (Budva)
- Roman mosaic in Risan
- Torine (Petnjica)
Do you know?
The World’s, as well as ours!
The famous Glass of Podgorica, unearthed in the ancient Montenegrin city of Duklja, is on display at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia and it is the exhibit that put Montenegro and Duklja on the archeological world map. The marvelous portrayal of scenes from the Old and New Testaments will help you identify this masterpiece of early Christian art from the fourth century!
Montenegrin El Castillo - archeological site Crvena stijena
Are you intrigued by the lives of cavemen and history predating the Bronze Age? Then you should know that Montenegro has one of Europe's richest caves, where you can follow their way of life and development over dozens of centuries.
A spectacular archeological treasure was discovered 700 meters above sea level in the village of Petrovići, not far from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 180,000-year-old site with 31 different cultural layers discovered, indicating that the cave was inhabited continuously until 1500 BC.
When you visit the Homeland Museum in Nikšić, your imagination will be piqued by the discovered objects, specifically primitive tools made of stone, bones, and horns that were primarily used by the communities that inhabited the cave for hunting and fishing.
Doclea (Duklja) - an ancient Roman city
Explore the ancient city of Doclea, just 3 kilometers from Podgorica, at the confluence of the rivers Zeta and Morača! According to legend, the Roman emperor Diocletian was born there. The Romans founded this city in the first century, and Diocletian later named the state in that territory Duklja.
Imagine yourself in Duklja, a former sprawling marketplace with well-developed infrastructure, a city where Roman governors constructed beautiful temples, thermal baths, a triumphal arch to commemorate military victories, and a luxurious palace.
Cemeteries contain valuable everyday items from the time of the Roman Empire, including ceramic and glass dishes, jewelry, tools, weapons, and coins.
Yet another Roman enigma - Municipium S
Explore the enigmatic Roman city located in the Pljevlja municipality whose very name remains a mystery! It was one of the largest cities in the Roman province of Dalmatia and was known in archeological circles as Municipium S because the letter "S" is thought to be the city's initial letter.
Discover the contours of an ancient city filled with stone ramparts, monumental buildings, winding streets, and solemn cemeteries on those few hectares, hidden beneath a thin layer of earth. The ancient tombs that remain from the 1st - 4th century open the door between the two worlds, as well as some of the spiritual beliefs of the Municipium's nowaday inhabitants.
Visit the Pljevlja Homeland Museum to see over 1,200 items excavated from graves here, including silver and gold jewelry, coins, goblets, fibulae, glassware, weapons, and more.
Learn more about this location's greatest treasure, the vas diatretum, a rare luxury glass goblet. This intricately designed drinking glass was the cynosure of the evening at the table of a beautiful queen, a powerful lord, or even the emperor himself on festive occasions, created to testify to immense luxury and power.
Where nature and archeology complement each other - the prehistoric city of Šas
If you are interested in archeology, but also want to enjoy a scenic natural environment, then climb to the top of the hill (85 m) north of Šasko Lake. Not only will you see a miniature version of Skadar Lake, Lake Šas, but you will also be able to see the river Bojana as it meanders calmly towards the sea.
You can take all this in while standing among the ruins of Svača, a once-developed episcopal town. The city minted coins with the inscription "sovacii civitas" which hold priceless value because they depict the city Renaissance-style, showcasing three-story buildings, colonnades, and towers.
Budva’s Graveyard Secrets - One of the Greatest Archeological Discoveries in the Balkans
One of the most significant archeological discoveries in the Balkans is right at your fingertips! The Budva Necropolis, a cemetery where Budva people have been buried for nearly ten centuries, is located in the heart of Budva, right in front of the Old Town! Even more astonishingly, everything in the graveyard was discovered entirely by chance: when the foundation for the Avala Hotel was built in 1938.
Can you imagine the shock of those present when they discovered untouched graves of Roman and Greek residents of Budva underground for nearly two millennia? The excavated graves held a rich collection of everyday items such as ceramic dishes, oil lamps, weapons, and gold jewelry.
Find them in the Archaeological Museum in the Old Town of Budva, and wonder, like many others, how in the world they survived all the earthquakes and conquerors that took the stage in the turbulent vortex of Budva's history.
Roman mosaic
A Roman mosaic that decorated the floor of Roman villas during ancient Budva's development can be found in the lapidary of the Museum of the City of Budva. And if this mosaic piques your interest, make your way to Risan, because a real find awaits you there: a mosaic with an unusually rare representation of the dream god Hypnos, which was supposed to provide the owner of the palace with peaceful sleep.
Montenegro has a great archeological treasure for you to discover; it is up to you to come and discover more.
