TheRoman heritage sites in Kosovo represent a multitude of monuments of material and spiritual culture, which reflect theRoman period in this region.[1] Among them, a special place is occupied by those that represent the development of art, such as the plastic monuments that are more frequent, and at the same time occupy an important place, because with the presentation of figures in relief and with numerous inscriptions they speak to us enough for this period.[2]
Dardania fell underRoman occupation in the first century AD, one of the last territories ofIllyria to succumb. Being that Dardania had and todayKosovo has a central position between the road networks that connected the southAegean with theDanube basin, and with theAdriatic Sea, it was a strategic jewel. It also was important for the Romans due to its rich mineral resources, which they exploited and benefited from. We see that most of the towns of ancient Dardania are located either close to a mine, or close to a road. The Dardanian identity has been disputed for a while, and it is known that it was distinctive, similar to the Illyrian, and also with a Roman orThracian twist to it, due to the occupation and co-habitation. The archaeological surveys and studies of the last century are helping to establish this Dardanian identity in an objective manner, which will lead to a clearer study and explanation of the continuity of culture in this so much disputed region. Below is a listing of the prominent settlements during the Roman period and an explanation of what they were, when they were inhabited, and when they were founded, accompanied by an array of pictures that illustrate the archaeological finds and remnants.[3]
Municipium Dardanorum[3] orDardanicum[4] is located inNorth Kosovo, approximately 27 kilometres north ofMitrovica, in the village of Sočanica,Leposavic municipality. It existed as a prehistoric settlement at first, but continued to develop and change to become a typical ancient Roman town during the period from the last decades of the 1st century, until the first part of the 4th century AD. The site stretches in approximately 30 hectares.[3][5][6][7]
The site ofPestova is located in the municipality ofVushtrri, discovered in 2005. Remains of a building, ruins of avillae rusticae were partially unearthed.[5]
The site ofPaldenica located near the village of Paldenica, around 150 m on the left side of thePristina-Skopje road. Traces of a necropolis and other movable archaeological materials have been uncovered.[5]
^The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992,ISBN0-631-19807-5, p. 258,"In the south the new city named municipium Dardanicum, was another 'mining town' connected with the local workings (Metalla Dardanica)."
^abcdefMilot Berisha,Kosovo Archaeological Guide, Pristina, Kosovo Archaeological Institute and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2012, pp. 61-69.
^Emil Cerskov,Municipium DD kod Socanice (Dissertationes et monographiae), Museum of Kosovo, Archaeological Society of Yugoslavia, Pristina-Belgrade, 1970.
Nicholas Marquez Grant, Linda Fibiger. "Kosovo" The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation, Taylor & Francis, 2011,ISBN1136879560,ISBN9781136879562
Milot Berisha. "Archaeological Guide of Kosovo", Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, Pristina 2012, Print
Luan Përzhita, Kemajl Luci, Gëzim Hoxha, Adem Bunguri, Fatmir Peja, Tomor Kastrati. "Harta Arkeologjike e Kosovës vëllimi 1/ Archaeological Map of Kosovo vol.1" Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts, Pristina 2006,ISBN9789951413596
Cultural Heritage Without Borders. "An Archaeological Map of the Historic Zone of Prizren", CHwB Kosovo office, Report Series No.2/2006.
Philip L. Kohl, Clare Fawcett, "Nationalism, Politics and the Practice of Archaeology", Cambridge University Press, 1995,ISBN0521558395,ISBN9780521558396
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