Archaeologists excavating the western necropolis of the ancient Greek city of Salona (Greek: Σάλωνα) in Croatia have uncovered 32 graves, including an unusual face-down Roman burial filled with glass vessels, engraved gems and other grave goods. The discoveries came during the fifth season of research at Hortus Metrodori, part of the ancient city’s western cemetery.
The latest finds bring the total number of graves investigated at the site to 152. Researchers documented 16 inhumation burials and 16 cremation burials during this year’s campaign.
Face-down burial holds rich grave goods
Grave 162 stood out because the deceased was buried face down and accompanied by a rich collection of objects. Archaeologists recovered three glass bottles, a small glass vessel and three glass balsamaria, which were commonly used to hold liquids such as oils and perfumes. One was shaped like a date fruit. The grave also contained four ceramic vessels, two engraved gems and fragments of a bronze object.
Simple grave pits were the most common form of inhumation, accounting for 12 of the 16 burials. Some included stone borders or covers. Archaeologists also uncovered two amphora burials and two masonry tombs.
Similar burial forms have been documented in Croatia. Archaeologists recently found masonry tombs and amphora burials at the ancient Greek city of Epidaurum (Greek: Ἐπίδαυρος), where a rare late Roman stone sarcophagus was also uncovered.
Burial raises questions about earlier wall
The location of Grave 162 also provided new evidence about the development of the cemetery. The burial was placed over an earlier demolished wall. Researchers had previously interpreted the structure as the northern boundary of a burial plot bordered to the south by the murazzo.
Archaeologists at ancient Salona in Croatia have uncovered 32 graves, including an unusual face-down Roman burial filled with rich grave goods.
The grave contained glass vessels, engraved gems, ceramics and a date-shaped balsamarium. pic.twitter.com/gVmMuK9Gte
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) September 14, 2026
However, first-century graves were built over the wall after it had already fallen out of use. Researchers said the evidence suggests the structure may predate the murazzo.
Cremation graves show varied practices
Cremation burials also revealed different funerary practices. In 12 cases, burned human remains were placed directly into pits. Three burials used ceramic urns, while another contained a stone urn. Graves were often marked with upright, worked stones.
The combination of cremation and inhumation reflects the range of burial practices found at Roman cemeteries in the region. A vast Roman necropolis beneath the Croatian city of Zadar has similarly preserved thousands of graves spanning centuries of Roman rule. Grave 137 was the most notable cremation burial at Hortus Metrodori. It contained a glass balsamarium, a bone needle and a ceramic oil lamp.
The Croatian Conservation Institute and Archaeological Museum in Split carried out the excavation, led by Lea Čataj, Nina Švonja and Sara Popović of Arheoprojekt. Croatia’s Ministry of Culture and Media funds the project. The Anthropological Centre of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is conducting bioarchaeological analysis as part of the research.
After five seasons and 152 excavated graves, the work at Hortus Metrodori is building a detailed archaeological record of burial customs at ancient Salona.
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