Zadar’s Roman Necropolis
Archaeologists in Zadar — Croatia’s oldest city — uncovered roughly 3,000 Roman-era tombs in a single necropolis, a find that could reshape understanding of burial density and urban Roman-period practices in the Adriatic coast (x.com). Local reports show the discovery includes graves clustered across a broad area, offering a rare chance to study funerary rites and social stratification at scale (x.com).
Excavations on the former HAK site in the Relja neighborhood uncovered additional Roman-period burials during work on two new parking areas, a discovery reported by local archaeologists on March 17, 2026. (dalmacijadanas.hr)) The Department of Archaeology at the University of Zadar has been leading systematic digs in the area since April 2025 as part of campus and urban works, according to the university’s project notices. (noc-muzeja.hr)) Archaeologists link the graves to the ancient town of Iader and date the funerary use of the Relja zone from the late 1st century BCE through the 5th century CE. (morski.hr)) Teams have recovered a range of funerary goods—including ceramic and glass urns, amphorae used as containers, oil lamps, and metal objects such as coins and jewelry—reported by regional news outlets covering the fieldwork. (zadarskilist.novilist.hr)) Long-term research by Smiljan Gluščević has previously catalogued over a thousand burials from Relja and was published in a comprehensive monograph of roughly 840–850 pages compiling 20th‑century excavations. (knjizevni-krug.hr)) Researchers describe Relja as a funerary corridor positioned along a principal approach to Iader — a pattern consistent with Roman rules that placed cemeteries outside city walls and along main roads. (arkeonews.net)) Fieldwork is being coordinated with ongoing construction oversight by contractor Cestogradnja and the university, while finds are being documented for future conservation and display in local exhibitions such as the department’s “How the Ancient Romans Buried” program. (057info.hr))
