Archaeologists believe they have stumbled upon one of the most significant historical finds in decades, the remains of a city long thought to be lost. This city, they now say, could be the ancient capital of Lyncestis, the birthplace of Alexander the Great’s grandmother, Eurydice I of Macedon.
The announcement came on April 4 from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in collaboration with Macedonia’s Institute and Museum in Bitola. The excavation took place at Gradishte, a site near the North Macedonian village of Crnobuki.
Nick Angeloff, an anthropology professor and archaeologist with Cal Poly Humboldt, shared, “Every indication is pointing toward this being the city of Lyncus, within Lyncestis.” He emphasized, “Nothing is pointing away from it being Lyncus.”
A Unique Find in North Macedonia
According to Angeloff, “It’s a unique find.” Lyncus was the only city tied to Upper Macedonia and had never been located before now. “[The discovery is] very rare,” he said. The city, settled in the 7th century B.C., holds deep historical significance as the birthplace of Eurydice I. Few might recognize her name, but her grandson, Alexander the Great, is legendary.
“This is the only appropriate location that we have determined may be the ancient city of Lyncus, where Alexander the Great’s grandmother was born and raised,” Angeloff said.
Eurydice I: The Woman Behind Macedon’s Greatness
Angeloff continued, “Eurydice I was a very powerful woman in that time in human history. There’s only one city that she could have come from, and we may have found it.” He added, “Without Eurydice, we don’t have Philip II, Alexander’s father, nor do we have Alexander the Great.”
Clues Beneath the Surface: Technology Confirms Ancient Roots
Historians originally thought the ruins at Gradishte belonged to the era of King Philip V of Macedon (221–179 B.C.). However, the discovery of a coin from Alexander the Great’s reign shifted the timeline back to the 4th century B.C. Additionally, evidence now shows that the city was occupied even earlier, during the Bronze Age.
Using advanced LiDAR technology, archaeologists were able to peer beneath the ground and uncover details hidden for centuries. “It has become very clear, using technology, that the fortress [we found] was designed to hold an entire city,” Angeloff explained. “And we see the whole array of infrastructure required to hold a city inside fortress walls during an attack by Rome in particular in this case.”
A City of Thousands and Its Forgotten Treasures
Angeloff estimates that at its peak, around 10,000 people may have lived in the city. Future excavations are expected to provide more accurate details. “We were able to overlay and see what was underneath the ground. And the acropolis that it sits on, which is basically a flat hilltop, has enough rooms and infrastructure to hold an entire city inside the fortress walls,” he said.
Among the many artifacts unearthed, a textile workshop and numerous relics stood out — including a coin bearing Alexander the Great’s likeness, axes, game pieces, an oil lamp, and a ceramic heart-shaped piece.
Theater Ticket Raises Intriguing Possibilities
One of the most fascinating discoveries was a clay theater ticket. Angeloff noted, “Typically, theater tickets [were] made of a metal, whether bronze or iron, but they’re always reused. There has never been a location in North Macedonia with a theater ticket that has been found that did not have a theater.” He added, “Using our LiDAR, we think we may have located the theater, and it looks, for all intents and purposes, like a Macedonian theater, not a Roman theater.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Understanding of Ancient Macedonia
Despite its historical importance, the region has seen minimal archaeological investment. “There’s been relatively little work and relatively little investment into this region,” Angeloff said. His team plans to return to the site for further exploration in May and June.
“The potential for archaeology across North Macedonia to inform our understanding of the classical [eras], as well as the Roman era, is highly significant,” Angeloff emphasized. “So we have an opportunity here to expand our knowledge of the times of Alexander the Great, [and] the times of the Roman Empire, exponentially, through our work in Macedonia.”
