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Municipium Dardanorum


Coordinates: 43°3′17″N 20°48′36″E / 43.05472°N 20.81000°E / 43.05472; 20.81000 Part of a series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo

Municipium Dardanorum or Municipium Dardanicum was a Roman mining town whose life lasted from the 2nd to the 4th century AD, that was connected with the workings of (Metalla Dardanica). Its remains are situated in the northern part of Kosovo, located approximately 27 kilometres north of Mitrovica, about 65 km northeast of Ulpiana in the Municipality of Leposavic, localized in the village of Sočanica in the province of Moesia Superior, later the Roman province of Dardania.

The site is positioned in an excellent geographical place, set between the Ibër and Socanica river flows on one side, and surrounded by Rogozna and Kopaonik mountains on the other side. The surrounding zone used to be rich in precious metals (gold and silver), therefore, due to these natural resources, the occupancy grew from a small settlement to one of the most important ancient urban centers, very active during the Roman rule. When consulting the written sources and the ancient literature, or even the Roman itineraries, there is not even one written word in regard to this sites' existence. Nevertheless, the settlements' ancient occupation was evidenced due to the systematic research and investigations, carried out in 1960-1961 and 1963-1965. Archaeological excavations, carried out in the eastern part of the settlement, where, a Roman Forum, horrea, urban basilica, features of the Roman bath, details of auxiliary objects and the northern necropolis, were discovered. The discovered archaeological material, the overall results, clearly indicate and illustrate the fact that, the Municipium DD, primarily existed as a prehistoric settlement, continued to develop and change to become a typical ancient Roman town during the period from the last decades of the 1st century, until the first part of the 4th century AD. The settlement had all characteristics of a Roman town. The site stretches in approximately 30 hectares.


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