October the 25th, 2026 – There is a fascinating 3,500 year old settlement in the suburbs of Split, with archaeologists coming upon the remains of houses, ovens and ancient graves.
Split is well known as the second largest city in Croatia and one of the best-known tourist destinations. It boasts an exceptionally long and proud history, but many don’t know that in its suburbs lies a settlement that is even older than this Dalmatian gem. As Lana Mindoljevic writes for Putni Kofer, over more recent years, archaeologists visiting the settlement of Stobreč have been discovering remains of life from the Bronze Age, long before the arrival of the Greeks and the Romans. Stobreč is formally a suburban settlement of Split and a popular tourist area, but it has its own exciting history that many people simply overlook.
the remains of an ancient epetium
Stobreč has long been known to archaeologists as the site of ancient Epetium, or Epetion. However, extensive protective research that began back in 2024, the largest so far conducted at this site, has also opened a much older chapter of its history. According to the information available so far, the earliest finds date approximately to 1500 BC, and detailed processing of the material is still ongoing.
over 10,000 fragments have been found
In a scientific paper written by Marina Ugarković and Niko Romac, published on the Hrčak website, parts of Hellenistic defensive walls and a tower, a Roman road and drainage system, and late antique buildings are described. Among these layers, the remains of an earlier prehistoric settlement have for the first time been unequivocally confirmed. Already in the research covered by that paper, more than 100,000 fragments of objects and other movable finds from different periods were documented. The soil under Stobreč has proven to be a vast archive of life that changed and built upon itself here for centuries.
ancient homes and grave sites
Archaeologist Niko Romac also described finds of ovens, possibly intended for food preparation, and complete ceramic vessels: trays, cups and jugs. Precisely such objects bring the ancient inhabitants of Stobreč closer to us. Someone made them, took them in their hands and used them in everyday life. Based on traces of burning and the arrangement of the remains, researchers assume that the house was destroyed by fire. Among the particularly sensitive finds, the grave of a newborn in its floor was also recorded.
an archaeological park is being considered
These remarkable discoveries have also opened the question of the future of the very special site. According to the response of the Ministry of Culture and Media, a zone of approximately 3,000 square metres is currently being planned for the presentation of the archaeological heritage. On an additional around 2,500 square metres construction is possible, but it depends on the results of further research. The sensitive Bronze Age finds require special protection. The Ministry states that the ovens and the find interpreted as a threshing floor should be moved to the Archaeological Museum in Split, while the appearance of the settlement could be presented with three-dimensional models and virtual reconstructions. An archaeological park currently exists only as an idea, and time will show whether it will be realised.
Stobreč is located on a peninsula east of Split, near the mouth of the Žrnovnica. In the central part of the place there are sandy and pebble beaches, while towards the southwest the coast becomes rockier. Because of the beautiful beaches and the proximity of Split it is a popular summer destination, and the proximity of Perun and Mosor also opens possibilities for trips into nature. Interestingly, even the name of Stobreč itself preserves the memory of its long past. As the Croatian Encyclopaedia notes, archaeologist Frane Bulić etymologically linked the present-day name of the place with the name of Saint Lawrence, i.e. the Roman martyr Laurentius, to whom the local early Christian basilica was dedicated. In its apse a small church of Saint Lawrence was later arranged, later dedicated to Our Lady of Carmel. Along with the preserved remains of the ancient walls, this is another reminder that in Stobreč different periods of history can be encountered during a completely ordinary walk.
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