"These discoveries ... will soon become a great archeological sensation, similar to the world-renowned archeological sites of Aquileia and Pompeii and will significantly contribute to the economic development of the city of Solin (modern day Salona)," Radoslav Bužančić, head of the Conservation Department in Split, told Hina.
Salona is an archeological gem, he added. Salona has been better preserved than Italy's Pompeii, which is facing more damage as not enough money is spent on preserving the historical site, Bužančić said.
The credit for the latest discoveries goes to Croatian archeologists who, according to Bužančić, never lagged behind their Italian colleagues.
The ancient Roman city of Salona is located near Split, outside the city of Solin. Today, this landmark is dotted with abstract ruins. However, about 1,700 years ago, Salona was home to more than 40,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire.
Salona was settled by the Illyrians and Greeks, but most extensively developed by the Romans.
During the reign of Emperor Augustus, Salona became the center of the Roman Empire’s province of Dalmatia. The Romans called the city “Colonia Martia Iulia Salona.”
Over the course of several centuries, the city was gradually destroyed by the Avars, Slavs, and Venetians. In the 6th century, Salona’s inhabitants fled the city, seeking shelter in the Palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian, which today comprises the heart of Split’s Old Town. After Salona was abandoned, the ancient city fell into further disrepair.
The archeological excavations of Salona are financed by the state budget and EU funds and some excavations are financed by the City of Solin.