Page 104 - Ekonomija i Biznis_noemvri 2015.indd

BРУEБAРUИTIКFАUL MACEDONIA
Stibera and Visoka
Stibera and Visoka are true representatives
of archaeological sites in northern Pelago-
nia. They are not completely explored yet,
so they are a real enigma for scientists, but fortunately, this site like many others, witnessed the
also a ground for numerous legends related
to their original appearance and meaning in the past.
North Pelagonia has a lot to offer in the area of ar-
chaeological tourism. Those are the sites in the vicin-
ity of Prilep, Marko’s Towers, Treskavec, Kukul, Su-
run, on the west near the village of Debreshte, Zrze,
Alkomena near the village of Buchin, but especially
impressive are the site Visoka in the vicinity of the
villages of Podmol and Bonche and the ancient city
of Stibera.
The city of Stibera is located near the vil-
lage of Chepigovo. You can arrive there through the
village of Topolchani, which is in the middle of the
regional road Prilep-Bitola (at about 20 kilometers).
The city is located near Crna Reka river. In the city
which presumably had more than 20,000 inhabit-
ants numerous sculptures were excavated, which
were placed in a temple dedicated to the goddess of
destiny Tyche, and a gymnasium was excavated, too.
Because of the abundant excavations and significant
statues that have been found, the site is deservedly
holding the title of Macedonian Pompeii. Some of the
statues are exhibited in the Museum in Prilep, in the
museums in Skopje, others were exhibited in front of
the Government building, and an unknown number
is still in the ground. It is assumed that only 1-2% of
104 November 2015
the city has been discovered, which means that there
are still significant excavations ahead. Stibera existed
from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD. Un-
daring theft back in 2006, when immediately after its
excavation, a spectacular life-size sculpture was be-
headed and the head was stolen. It would be very in-
teresting if the archaeologists’ expectations that the
site is also hiding a theater prove to be true.
Bonche, a forgotten and almost empty village
located on the line dividing Pelagonia and Mariovo,
with about thirty inhabitants has lately been men-
tioned only in the context of the site Visoka and the
royal tomb. The search for the ancient city of Pela-
gonia, the capital of Macedonia IV is exactly in that
part - the peak Visoka and the foot of the mountain.
Particularly impressive is the cyclopean wall and the
entrance to the, presumably, royal palace (acropolis)
at the peak, which is 1521 meters high. It is a strate-
gic spot overlooking half of Pelagonia on the one side
and a large part of Mariovo on the other. And down at
the foot there is probably the largest tomb found in
the country. The tomb is entered through 11 meters
long and 3 meters high tunnel made of finely shaped
stone blocks weighing up to 3 tons. True mastery. The
entire tomb has a diameter of about thirty meters.
The assumptions are that such grandiose construc-
tion could be dedicated only to a king or another high
dignitary. Unfortunately, the tomb was raided in the
third century, but what remains is to fully investigate