Archaeologists have just discovered a game-changing treasure! If they’re correct, they’ve discovered the long-lost capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis, a small but important land that flourished centuries ago in what’s today North Macedonia. This recent find, the result of a cutting-edge lidar survey, has shown us the scale and significance that this city may have had.
Lyncus, the capital of this kingdom, was added to the Macedonian Empire on the heels of their defeat of the Persian Empire on the kings’ IV, King Philip II. Eurydice I of Macedon was born in Lyncus. She went on to become the mother of Philip II and the grandmother of Alexander the Great. For years researchers thought of this site primarily as a military outpost. New research calls that assumption into question and proposes that it was actually closer to a vibrant urban center.
In 2023, a collaborative team of researchers and specialists initiated a three-dimensional, intensive lidar survey of the site. They employed aerial drones outfitted with LiDAR (airborne lasers) to intricately delineate the floodplain’s topography. This cutting edge technique showed us some truly new information about the relative size and form of Lyncus. It verified that Lyncus reaches at least 7 acres (2.8 hectares) in extent. The results of the survey provided compelling proof of human habitation at Lyncus. This time-consuming activity was performed since the Bronze Age (3300–1200 B.C.)
Though archaeologists have known about the site since 1966, it has taken until now for them to realize the scope of its importance. A stunning discovery—an Alexander-type coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C.—shows that Lyncus was in operation during Alexander’s lifetime. Until recently, researchers thought that the city was founded well after Alexander’s death. Retaking of Lyncus Lyncus began its development under King Philip V. He governed from 221 to 179 B.C.E.
Engin Nasuh, a curator of Macedonia’s National Institute and Bitola Museum, said the significance of this discovery goes beyond that.
“This civilization played a major role in today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures.” – Engin Nasuh
This combination of evidence, including an earlier history, complicates the generally negative historical legacy surrounding Lyncus. Further, it enriches our approach to the greater cultural milieu that formed Alexander the Great. Taken as a whole, this evidence indicates that Lyncus likely had strong connections to his maternal line, adding even more depth to his origins.
