Department of Archeology, University of Zadar
Roman necropolis under Zadar
The necropolis was built outside the ancient city walls and includes graves with various artifacts such as pieces of pottery, oil lamps, coins and jewelry.
Archaeologists in Zadar have discovered new evidence confirming the existence of a vast Roman necropolis beneath the modern city.
The most recent excavations, carried out by the University of Zadar in the Relja district, revealed additional graves with ceramic and glass urnsas well as amphorae used as funerary containers. These discoveries complement more than a century of archaeological work in the area, where they have already been documented more than 3000 graves.
The researchers, led by Igor Borzić and Ivana Jadrić-Kučan, claim that the site was used continuously from the late 1st century BC to the 5th century AD East long period of uninterrupted use makes it one of the most important funerary landscapes in the Roman province of Dalmatia.
The necropolis was strategically located outside the ancient city of Zadar, in compliance with Roman laws that prohibited burials within the city walls. Instead, cemeteries were generally built along major roads that led to the cities. The archaeological site of Relja appears to have developed along one of these main routes, suggesting that it played a central role in burial practices and was probably visible to travelers entering the city, says the .
The grave goods discovered at the site also offer information about the Roman beliefs regarding life after death. Items such as oil lamps, coins, jewelry, and pottery were often placed with the dead. Lamps were believed to provide light in the afterlife, while coins are often associated with rituals related to passage to the underworld. The presence of everyday objects suggests the belief that life continued after death in a manner similar to earthly existence.
The diversity of materials found in the graves indicates that Zadar was well connected to the extensive trade networks of the Mediterranean. The imported goods found at the archaeological site highlight the city’s role as an important coastal center, linking sea and land routes.
Archaeologists believe that the full extent of the necropolis has not yet been discovered, and it is likely that new discoveries will be made beneath modern buildings.
