Ancient Roman necropolis discovered beneath a modern neighborhood in Zadar

Archaeologists have uncovered ancient Roman tombs beneath a thriving Adriatic city, offering a glimpse into the city long before it became a tourist destination.

The graves were found in the Relja district of Croatia’s coastal city of Zadar. Zadar is known for its coastline and historical charm, including many Roman ruins.

A post shared by the Department of Archeology at the University of Zadar dates the necropolis from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD

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The lively Relja neighborhood sits above “part of the great ancient necropolis of Roman Zadar”, the ministry said.

“During Roman times, cemeteries were located outside city walls, often along main roads, so Romans buried their dead here along such a route for nearly 500 years,” the post said.

According to the ministry, archaeologists have uncovered 3,000 graves in the wider Relja area, which includes a large shopping mall and several landmarks.

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“Today, the area where the site is located is one of the most vibrant and rapidly developing areas of Zadar,” the post said. The statement was included. “However, in the Roman period, when the necropolis was first established [in] suburban area.”

Professor Igor Borzić from the University of Zadar said that about 15 ancient tombs were found in the area.

“Over time, these graves tend to contain fewer grave goods, reflecting a gradual change in attitudes towards the afterlife.”

The funerals “clearly show the typical evolution of funeral rites over the centuries,” Borzić told Fox News Digital on May 3.

“Cremation was dominant in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD,” he said, and grave goods included “glass balsamaria, small glass containers, ceramic bowls, oil lamps, coins and other votive items.”

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By the second century, burial or interment of corpses “became increasingly common.”

“Over time,” he said, “these graves tend to contain fewer grave goods, reflecting a gradual change in attitudes towards the afterlife as well as broader changes in religious beliefs from the pagan traditions of classical antiquity to the eventual dominance of Christianity.”

The Relja neighborhood, now a commercial centre, is home to thousands of graves from Zadar’s Roman past. (Odjel za arheologiju, Sveučilište u Zadru, via Facebook)

“Overall, the findings from these 15 or so tombs suggest that the Roman Lader population closely followed the cultural and religious trends seen in the wider Roman Empire. This further supports the idea of ​​a highly interconnected, culturally attuned and trend-sensitive society within such a vast imperial system.”

While the discovery beneath a modern city may seem unusual, such findings were not unexpected in Zadar, Borzić said.

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“Although each find tells its own story and deserves to be approached as such, it is difficult to say that something truly unexpected has emerged,” Borzić said.

“Modern archeology increasingly relies on laboratory analysis,” he added, noting that these can reveal insights into “origin, diet, health and causes of death.”

“We believe that new and potentially surprising information may still come to light in this exact area,” he said.

Archaeologists say the burial site reflects a gradual transition from cremation to burial in Roman-era Croatia. (Odjel za arheologiju, Sveučilište u Zadru, via Facebook)

Notable finds include a burial that may pre-date Roman Zadar, possibly from the prehistoric Liburnian period, as well as “charred remains” from the 2nd or 3rd century AD.

Borzić said the remains were likely food or grain and would be sent for analysis.

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The archaeologist added that the artifacts found at the site will be “carefully processed and examined” before being temporarily exhibited in the Department of Archeology collection.

Borzić said that 20th-century artifacts from the Italian occupation of Zadar were also found in this area, which he said was “another reminder of the enduring importance of the city throughout its history.”

“Although each find tells its own story and deserves to be approached as such, it is difficult to say that something truly unexpected has emerged,” said a professor at the University of Zadar. (Odjel za arheologiju, Sveučilište u Zadru, via Facebook)

“This importance is largely due to its strategic location on the main sea routes in the eastern Adriatic and its extraordinarily productive agricultural hinterland,” he said.

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“Together, these factors ensured that Zadar remained an important center in many different historical periods.”