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Lost City of Alexander the Great’s Ancestors Possibly Discovered
Archaeologists in North Macedonia believe they may have unearthed the lost city of Lyncus, once the capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. This ancient metropolis, thought to have been conquered by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II, in 358 BC, is located near the modern-day village of Crnobuki.
The site was originally identified in 1966 and believed to be a Roman military outpost. However, recent surveys conducted in 2023 revealed a much larger and older settlement, including a seven-acre acropolis and numerous artifacts such as pottery, coins, and even what appears to be a clay theater ticket – all predating the Roman era.
The discovery of a coin minted during Alexander the Great’s reign (325-323 BC) ignited further investigation. A joint team from North Macedonia’s Institute and Museum-Bitola and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is now conducting a full-scale excavation. Their findings suggest the city is significantly larger and more ancient than initially thought.
Engin Nasuh, curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum-Bitola, believes Lyncus could offer valuable insights into Macedonian society before Alexander the Great. “We’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what we can learn about this period,” he stated, emphasizing the potential for significant historical discoveries.
Evidence suggests the city’s origins date back to the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC), potentially shedding light on early Western civilization. “It is a civilization that played a major role in today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures,” Mr. Nasuh explained.
Archaeologist and California Poly Humboldt Anthropology professor Nick Angeloff underscored the discovery’s importance: “It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia,” particularly its strategic location along trade routes to Constantinople. He even speculated that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa may have traveled through the area.
Lyncus may also be the birthplace of Queen Eurydice I, Alexander the Great’s grandmother, a powerful figure in the region’s political landscape.
Mr. Nasuh likened the ongoing research to assembling a mosaic: “All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations.
I see it as a large mosaic, and our studies are just a few pebbles in that mosaic. With each subsequent study, a new pebble is placed, until one day we get the entire picture.”