Bitola, Macedonia: Archaeologists Stumble Upon Ancient Necropolises During Stadium Reconstruction (Macedonia)

Bitola, Macedonia: Archaeologists Stumble Upon Ancient Necropolises During Stadium Reconstruction (Macedonia)

During the reconstruction works of the Tumbe Kafe stadium and recreational zone in Macedonia’s south-western town of Bitola, archaeologists have found necropolises, most likely dating to the third century.
“All construction activities have been halted in order to examine the artefacts. The skeletons might belong to Christians, but the possibility of their being pagan is not ruled out either. It is believed that necropolises originate from the third century, because the deceased had been buried underground since,” archaeologist Gordana Filipovska-Lazarovska told national media today.
The archaeologists working at the site believe that the area might yield other archaeological findings. Therefore, they intend to ask for assistance and support at the national level, in order to continue their research.
Before construction activities were halted, the reconstruction of the Tumbe Kafe stadium and recreational zone was financed by the local self-government and international donations.
Tumbe Kafe Stadium is a multi-use stadium, which is currently used mostly for football matches. It is is the home stadium of FK Pelister and has a seating capacity of 6,100 people.
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Fuente: Balkan Travellers: http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/2072

Archaeologists Unearth Biggest Stash of Byzantine Coins Ever Found in Macedonia

Archaeologists Unearth Biggest Stash of Byzantine Coins Ever Found in Macedonia

The landfill with coins recently discovered at the Skopje Fortress is the biggest repository of Byzantine gold and silver coins ever discovered on the territory of Macedonia, archaeologists told national media today.
In the chest, archaeologists found 44 gold coins and 76 Venetian coins, dating to the thirteenth century, or the Byzantine Era.
This is the most significant archaeological find at the Skopje Fortress, along with the Medieval lead stamps that were discovered several years ago at the site, Pasko Kuzman, archaeologist and Director of Cultural Heritage Protection in the Macedonian Ministry of Culture, told the Vreme newspaper.
Golden Byzantine coins have been unearthed at other sites in Macedonia, but rarely and in smaller quantities, he added. According to archaeologists, large quantities of bronze coins are often found at ancient sites around Macedonia.
The newly discovered gold coins are stamped with images of Byzantine kings and Biblical motifs, while the Venetian silver coins are stamped with the images of Venetian leaders.
The valuable pieces, according to Kuzman, were imported from lands with which the Byzantine rulers cooperated. The commercial ties are also well-known of the medieval rulers with the Venetian Republic, which is famous for its splendour and prosperity.
It is interesting that hundreds of coins were found in a small box, meaning that they were carefully kept and had great value for people of that time, Kuzman noted.
Currently, the gold and silver coins from the Skopje Fortress are being preserved in a laboratory and will soon be examined in detail by numismatic specialists.
The Skopje Fortress will be one of the archaeological sites that will be examined in Macedonia this year. Archaeologists are excavating the site’s central area and the plan is to restore and conserve the so-called Cyclopes Walls.

Fuente: Balkan Travellers: http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/1954