Summer ’24 with the Centre VI

12 07 2024

Time flies relentlessly, and the last week of excavations in Risan has begun. Unfortunately, the intense heat has also returned. Fortunately, we only have cleaning and documentation work left on site.

The results of this year’s campaign are very intriguing. The research has proven that it was only in Roman times (Augustus) that a large portico was built, which seems to be part of the Roman forum’s structure. Clear stratigraphy shows that the surface of the square was paved with both pebbles and fragments of crushed stones. Several such surfaces were created until late antiquity, separated by two hiatus periods. The last, highest surface dates back to the Ottoman period.

Interestingly, in Hellenistic times, the main square was either smaller or located in a different part of the city. The uncovered Hellenistic walls indicate that there was a large house at the excavation site. Probably, a well lined with well-fitted flat stones was dug in its courtyard.

Unfortunately, we had to postpone the exploration of this well for technical reasons until next year, so any artefacts filling its interior will have to wait to be discovered. Nevertheless, we obtained a large number of artefacts from the Hellenistic level, mainly amphorae and their stoppers. Coins discovered last year and this year, samples taken for C14 dating, and the study and dating of amphora types will allow us to establish the precise absolute chronology of this ancient Rhizon area.

As we slowly bid farewell to Risan, we are already thinking about the excavations in Novae starting on 22 July – welcome, new adventure!

If you are curious about our progress in adding further pieces to this magnificent puzzle called the antiquity of Southeastern Europe, visit our website, also on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antiquity_research_centre?igsh=aHhrb2JrcXQyZDBq