Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in North Macedonia, uncovering what may be the remnants of the ancient capital city of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. Despite its small size, this little kingdom dominated its area for decades. It later became part of the Macedonian Empire while King Philip II reigned from 359 to 336 B.C. The discoveries provide critical information about a historical period that has fascinated researchers and historians for generations.
Archaeologists have appreciated the site close to the village of Crnobuki since 1966. They first spotted it used as a forward military outpost. New archaeological studies this year have revealed a massive acropolis covering at least 7 acres (2.8 hectares). That’s an incredible finding considering that the region was a booming metropolis at its peak. In 2023, scientists began an intensive lidar survey, with aerial drones outfitted with lasers that could pierce thick foliage. This new method of modeling the terrain changed the game by resulting in a better understanding of the site’s topography and evenness.
Archaeologists discovered a coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C. at the site. This discovery further confirms that Lyncestis was culturally vibrant during the lifetime of Alexander the Great. This most recent discovery is important because it directly connects the site to Alexander’s family tree. His paternal grandmother, Eurydice I of Macedon, probably came from Lyncus, a territory associated with Lyncestis.
Engin Nasuh is a curator at Macedonia’s National Institute and Museum of Bitola. He seemed particularly impressed by the importance of the great civilization that developed from that area. He stated,
“a civilization that played a major role in today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures.”
It’s known archaeologically that humans lived in the region as far back as the Bronze Age, 3300-1200 B.C. On the site, excavations have turned up many axes and other artifacts, including big chunks of ceramic cooking vessels, all blanketing the site. As such, these findings add to a larger discussion concerning the cultural and historic milieu of ancient North Macedonia.
As researchers continue to explore the site, they hope to uncover more details about the daily life and governance in Lyncestis. Equally advanced technologies, such as lidar, are revolutionizing the practice of archaeology. They reveal a rich underlying architecture and ancestral landscape usually lost to conventional excavation techniques.
