Skopje, 2 July 2026 (MIA) — A team of Macedonian and American archaeologists have continued last year’s excavations at the Gradishte archaeological site near Bitola. The team includes experts from the Bitola National Museum and Cal Poly Humboldt University in California, MIA’s Bitola correspondent reports.

According to archaeologist Engin Nasuh from the Bitola National Museum, this year's excavations have already uncovered many artifacts. 

“Every coin, piece of pottery and metal tool we found tells a story of Gradishte near Crnobuki, about life of the ordinary people, about the military campaigns of the great generals, about trade with major nearby cities like Thessaloniki, Pella, Amphipolis and Dirachion,” Nasuh said.

The project is led by Nasuh and Slobodan Stojkoski, who are working alongside Monika Noleva, Slave Stojanov and Stefan Malbashikj. The American part of the team is led by Nick Angeloff and Jessica Morris, and includes 25 students and volunteers from the US.

The archaeological site Gradishte is located about 12 kilometers from Bitola. It was an active city during the ancient Macedonian and Roman times. Last year, the team found artifacts from the early Bronze Age, including the fragments of a female figurine.

Using advanced technology, the team has found items dating back further than the reign of Philip V. The archaeologists believe the site might be the lost city of Lyncus, which was the capital of the ancient region of Lyncestis. mr/