Sarajevo during Ancient Times
Encyclopedia
The present day site of Sarajevo
has a long and rich history
dating back to the Stone Age
. There were no people in the region in the Paleolithic
era, although the remains of ancient animals have been found, such as those of the ancient bear species, Ursus Spelaeus
. Excavation for the period has never been very comprehensive however, and if the Sarajevo area was indeed inhabited during the Paleolithic
era, the residents were probably Neanderthals.
During the neolithic
era, the Sarajevo region was home to the Butmir Culture
. Specifically, these people found themselves in Butmir
, a satellite neighborhood of Ilidža
, Sarajevo's chief suburb. The area is rich in flint, essential for making tools and weapons, and was no doubt attractive to ancient man, as was the Željeznica river which flowed by.
The Butmir culture is most famous for their ceramics
. Unique and artistic, it is one of the chief reasons why today the Butmir people are identified as a unique culture. The finds were so sensational when they were made in the late 19th century, that the International Congress of Archeologists and Anthropologists was held in Sarajevo the following year. Today, all excavated material can be found in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Butmir Culture disappeared around 2400 BC, probably conquered by the next prominent inhabitants of Sarajevo; the Illyrians
. The ancient people that considered most of the West Balkans
as their homeland had several key settlements in the region, mostly around the river Miljaćka
and Sarajevo valley. The most prominent of these was Debelo Brdo (Literally "Fat Hill") in today’s Old Town, where there was an Illyrian fortification during the latter Iron Age
. Numerous Illyrian forts also existed in other parts of the city, as well as at the base of Trebević mountain.
The Illyrians
in the Sarajevo region belonged to the tribe Daesitates, a war-like bunch who were the last to resist Roman
occupation. Their last revolt occurred in 9
AD, and was crushed by the emperor Tiberius
, marking the start of Roman rule in the region.
During Roman rule, Sarajevo was part of the province of Dalmatia
. A major Roman road
ran through the Miljacka
river valley connecting the rich coastal cities of Dalmatia
and the Adriatic coast, with Pannonia
to the North. The importance of the road can be seen by the numerous Roman artifacts found in the heart of Sarajevo itself over the years. On the left bank of the Miljaćka
there were once found Roman bricks and an inscription indicating a construction yard and, nearby, a bathhouse. The biggest known settlement in the region however was known as ‘’Aquae S...’’ (Probably Aquae Sulphurae) on top of present day Ilidža
.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
has a long and rich history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
dating back to the Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
. There were no people in the region in the Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
era, although the remains of ancient animals have been found, such as those of the ancient bear species, Ursus Spelaeus
Cave Bear
The cave bear was a species of bear that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum about 27,500 years ago....
. Excavation for the period has never been very comprehensive however, and if the Sarajevo area was indeed inhabited during the Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
era, the residents were probably Neanderthals.
During the neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
era, the Sarajevo region was home to the Butmir Culture
Butmir Culture
Butmir culture existed in Butmir, near Ilidža, Bosnia and Herzegovina, dating from the Neolithic period. It is characterized by its unique pottery, and is one of the best researched European cultures from 2600-2400 BC.-History:...
. Specifically, these people found themselves in Butmir
Butmir
Butmir is a neighborhood of Ilidža in the Sarajevo Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a small but fairly important and well-known neighborhood of several thousand people.Geographically, the Butmir region is very rich in flint...
, a satellite neighborhood of Ilidža
Ilidža
Ilidža is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has a metro population of 157,654, making it the 7th largest city in the country. Ilidža is the chief suburb of Sarajevo. It is famous for the natural beauty of its surroundings and historical tradition dating back to...
, Sarajevo's chief suburb. The area is rich in flint, essential for making tools and weapons, and was no doubt attractive to ancient man, as was the Željeznica river which flowed by.
The Butmir culture is most famous for their ceramics
Ceramics (art)
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
. Unique and artistic, it is one of the chief reasons why today the Butmir people are identified as a unique culture. The finds were so sensational when they were made in the late 19th century, that the International Congress of Archeologists and Anthropologists was held in Sarajevo the following year. Today, all excavated material can be found in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Butmir Culture disappeared around 2400 BC, probably conquered by the next prominent inhabitants of Sarajevo; the Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
. The ancient people that considered most of the West Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
as their homeland had several key settlements in the region, mostly around the river Miljaćka
Miljacka
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. It is famous for being "Sarajevo's River", and it has come to be identified immediately with the city itself....
and Sarajevo valley. The most prominent of these was Debelo Brdo (Literally "Fat Hill") in today’s Old Town, where there was an Illyrian fortification during the latter Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. Numerous Illyrian forts also existed in other parts of the city, as well as at the base of Trebević mountain.
The Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
in the Sarajevo region belonged to the tribe Daesitates, a war-like bunch who were the last to resist Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
occupation. Their last revolt occurred in 9
9
Year 9 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sabinus and Camerinus...
AD, and was crushed by the emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, marking the start of Roman rule in the region.
During Roman rule, Sarajevo was part of the province of Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. A major Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
ran through the Miljacka
Miljacka
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. It is famous for being "Sarajevo's River", and it has come to be identified immediately with the city itself....
river valley connecting the rich coastal cities of Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
and the Adriatic coast, with Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
to the North. The importance of the road can be seen by the numerous Roman artifacts found in the heart of Sarajevo itself over the years. On the left bank of the Miljaćka
Miljacka
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. It is famous for being "Sarajevo's River", and it has come to be identified immediately with the city itself....
there were once found Roman bricks and an inscription indicating a construction yard and, nearby, a bathhouse. The biggest known settlement in the region however was known as ‘’Aquae S...’’ (Probably Aquae Sulphurae) on top of present day Ilidža
Ilidža
Ilidža is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has a metro population of 157,654, making it the 7th largest city in the country. Ilidža is the chief suburb of Sarajevo. It is famous for the natural beauty of its surroundings and historical tradition dating back to...
.