In the vicinity of Podgorica, on the territory of the ancient Roman city of Doclea, archaeologists made a significant discovery - they found the burial of a woman from the 4th century with a unique burial inventory. Systematic excavations have been carried out in the western part of the necropolis, in the Koshturnica area, over the past few years, during which hundreds of artifacts have been discovered. However, it was this tomb that attracted the special attention of scientists.
The main find was a rare glass vessel - a Roman diatreta, decorated with openwork ornamentation and a scene of a gladiatorial fight between a venator and wild animals. Such items are considered the pinnacle of ancient glassmaking and are extremely rare. As noted by the head of the excavations, Milos Zivanovic, the vessel requires restoration, as it has not been fully preserved.
Besides the diatreta, archaeologists also discovered eight more glass vessels, gold earrings with green beads, a necklace of gold and jet, cosmetic items, game pieces, and other objects. Although the woman's bones were poorly preserved, analysis showed that she was unusually tall – rare for Doclea at that time.
Doclea, founded in the 1st century AD, played a key role as an administrative, cultural, and economic center of the Roman province of Dalmatia until its decline in the 7th century. Archaeological findings in this area help to understand the structure of Roman society and its burial traditions more deeply.
This discovery represents a significant contribution to the study of the Roman era in the Balkans and testifies to the high standard of living and skill of the local elite. The finds from the tomb not only confirm the rich history of the region but also expand knowledge of crafts, art, and daily life in the late Roman Empire.