Archeological sites

Archeological site Stobi


The ancient town of Stobi is situated in the vicinity of Gradsko, between Veles and Negotino. This town was located on the territory of the ancient Macedonian tribe Paeonians, which at the time of Philip II of Macedon was within the Macedonian state. Even at that period, the town was an important strategic military centre, but also a significant cultural, trade and communication centre. Stobi retained this status in the period of the Roman Empire as well, when it actually experienced its major growth. In the year 386 Stobi was the capital of the province Macedonia Salutaris. Christianity emerged quite early in this town. Until the VIII century Stobi was an Episcopal seat. The urban part of the old town of Stobi is located on three terraces which descend towards the River Crna, surrounded by walls, at the inflow of the Crna to the Vardar. It is a well-known fact that the major roads which connected the Danube areas with the Mediterranean countries crossed this area. It was through this major road that the cultural influences from the south to the north and vice versa protruded the Balkans. On the other hand, the Crna River was a natural way of connecting the central parts of Macedonia with the Adriatic Sea. In the Roman period, along the course of the Crna there was an important road which connected Stobi with Via Egnatia at Heraclea Lyncestis, in the proximity of today’s Bitola. Hence, the town of Stobi had a prominent strategic, military and commercial position in the ancient period. The urban complex displays several uncovered facilities and buildings, such as the Episcopal residence, the semi-circular square, a theatre, a synagogue, a psalm house, a big bath and other buildings leaving traces of a remote past.

 

Veles Fortress


 


In pre-Roman period, the hill ‘Kale’, which is on southern exit of present-day Veles, has been chosen as a location for building of an important fortress which would serve for protection of the town in the Middle Ages. The acropolis, i.e. the best fortified area of the town, took an area of 80 x 100m. In the interior of the acropolis, water containers have been found, which are dating from the period of the late classical period. In the central part of the acropolis, foundations of a church have been discovered. The first discovered evidence for the town is the big bronze of the emperor Gordian minted in 241. The coins of Theodosius I witness for the existence of the town during IV and V century. Archaeological explorations of the site ‘Kale’ discovered a basis of a newly formed frontal tower and early Byzantine copper coins, which prove that the acropolis has been rebuilt in VI century.