Archaeologists Excavate Major Ancient Urban Center in Macedonia

The monumental city played a key strategic role in Greek and Roman times
Known as Heraclea Lyncestis, its ancient remains are located atop a low-lying hill near the present-day town of Bitola in the Republic of Macedonia. Under the direction of Anica Georgievska and Engin Nasuh of the National Museum of Bitola, with cooperation from the New Bulgarian University, a team of archaeologists, students and volunteers will be revealing more of its remains, exploring the residential areas near a monumental Roman theater that punctuates its appearance.

Founded in the fourth century BC by the conquering Phillip of Macedon, it was a key strategic urban center along the Via Egnatia road in Antiquity, connecting Rome and Asia Minor. Conquered later by the Romans, it was mentioned in the chronicles describing the campaigns of Julius Caesar, and inscriptions, monuments and artifacts discovered at the site have provided clear evidence of the town’s rising prosperity and significance during the Roman period. During the Byzantine period, It was the residence of bishops. In the end, its urban prominence and history came to an end in the late sixth century when the Slavs conquered Pelagonia, the geographical plain between present-day Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.

Previous excavations have revealed portions of a fortification wall on the site's acropolis, including two basilicas in the town itself. The remains of Heraclea have become well-known for the remarkably well-preserved mosaics found within the basilicas. Dated to the the fifth and sixth centuries AD, they depict geometric and figured patterns. Most remarkable was the mosaic found in the narthex of the large basilica – a rectanglular framework of 36 octagonal panels, linked together and featuring images of mythological figures, fishes, and water birds. Mosaics were also found in other structures near the basilicas, including streets and buildings dated to the fourth and fifth centuries.

The most recent work has focused on the second century AD theater located on the slopes of the acropolis and surrounding areas. Much of the theater has been excavated and the auditorium has been recently restored. Now, archaeologists will focus on the buried residential structures, where they hope to recover important information that will shed light on the lifeways of the people in the town, its relationship to the outside world, and additional details concerning the historical or chronological development of the urban landscape.

More information about the project and fieldwork can be obtained at the website at http://www.bhfieldschool.org/bh2007.hlexc.html
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/march-2012/article/archaeologists-excavate-major-ancient-urban-center-in-macedonia