Archaeologists have unearthed a discovery that could rewrite ancient history as we know it. Deep in North Macedonia, researchers may have found the long-lost capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis, a civilization intricately linked to Alexander the Great’s ancestry. This breakthrough offers a fresh lens on the birthplace of Eurydice I, Alexander’s grandmother, and could reshape our understanding of the rise of the Macedonian Empire.
Rediscovering the lost city of Lyncestis
Hidden for centuries near the village of Crnobuki, the site was originally dismissed as an ancient military outpost when first discovered in 1966. But a revolutionary 2023 lidar survey by Cal Poly Humboldt researchers, working alongside Macedonia’s Institute and Museum in Bitola, has radically changed that perception. Using drones equipped with cutting-edge laser technology, they mapped the terrain beneath dense forest cover, revealing a sprawling acropolis covering more than seven acres.
Nick Angeloff, anthropology professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, says all signs point to this being Lyncus, the capital of Lyncestis—an ancient kingdom absorbed by Philip II of Macedon in 358 B.C. “Every indication is pointing toward this being the city of Lyncus, within Lyncestis,” Angeloff told Fox News Digital.
Artifacts challenging the timeline
Excavations have uncovered more than just the city’s footprint. The dig revealed a textile workshop and a possible theater, alongside a trove of cultural artifacts just waiting to tell their story: pottery fragments, coins, game pieces, and a rare clay theater ticket. Such finds speak to a vibrant urban culture, suggesting a kingdom rich in art and daily life.
Perhaps the most surprising discovery is a coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C.—squarely inside Alexander the Great’s lifetime. This challenges previous theories that the city was founded much later, during Philip V’s reign (221–179 B.C.). The find hints that Lyncestis was already a well-established power center in Alexander’s day.
Dr. Lisa Nguyen, a historian specializing in ancient civilizations, explains in a recent Archaeological Institute report that such artifacts “reveal complex social and economic networks, often vastly underestimated in earlier investigations.” The discovery of the coin alone may force scholars to rethink the chronology of Macedonian emergence.
Layers of history from Bronze Age to empire
The site’s story does not begin or end with Macedonian glory. Archaeologists also found Bronze Age axes and ceramic shards dating back as far as 3300 B.C., showing that this hilltop fortress has been occupied for thousands of years.
Angeloff highlighted the city’s impressive structure: “Underneath the ground is an acropolis with enough rooms and infrastructure to house an entire city within its fortress walls.” This layered history showcases a continuous timeline from early human settlements to a significant player in classical antiquity.
“It’s tempting to think of Lyncus just as a forgotten spot on the map,” Angeloff notes, “but this discovery suggests it was a central hub in the region’s political and dynastic development. Without Eurydice I, Alexander’s grandmother, none of this—Philip II or Alexander himself—comes into being.”
Rethinking the Macedonian legacy
Lyncestis’ absorption into Philip II’s empire is a key chapter in the story of ancient Macedonia’s rise to power, culminating in the empire-building of Alexander the Great. If this site is confirmed as Lyncus, it symbolizes the birthplace of a dynasty that shaped history.
Engin Nasuh, curator at Macedonia’s National Institute and Bitola Museum, captures the wider significance beautifully: “The Macedonian civilization played a major role in today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures.”
Currently, archaeologists continue their dig, seeking more evidence to cement the site’s identity as Lyncus. Angeloff emphasizes, “The infrastructure we see here could withstand attacks, particularly from Rome, revealing strategic military importance alongside cultural sophistication.”
As shards of pottery and ancient coins emerge from the earth, they whisper stories of a bustling kingdom, a dynamic culture, and vibrant lives that helped forge the roots of the Macedonian legacy.
Nick Angeloff summed it up well: “This is the only appropriate location that we have determined may be the ancient city of Lyncus, where Alexander the Great’s grandmother was born and raised.”
For those fascinated by history, the discovery of this lost city is more than an archaeological find—it’s a doorway to the past that connects us with some of the most legendary figures in human history.
What do you think this discovery means for our understanding of ancient Macedonia? Share your thoughts, questions, or insights below—let’s keep this incredible conversation alive!