8 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

1600-Year-Old Rare Roman Glass Diatreta with Gladiator Scene Unearthed in Doclea, Montenegro

An extraordinary archaeological discovery has been made in the ancient Roman city of Doclea, located near Podgorica, Montenegro. During recent excavations of the city’s western necropolis at Koshturnica, archaeologists uncovered the richly furnished tomb of a high-status Roman woman, dating back approximately 1600 years. Among the many grave goods was a rare Roman glass vessel known as a diatreta, adorned with an unprecedented gladiator scene, making it one of the most significant finds of its kind in the region.

The excavations are being conducted under the leadership of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.

Doclea, also known as Docleia or Dioclea (known as Duklji in Montenegrin), was founded in the 1st century AD and flourished as an important urban, cultural, and economic center within the Roman province of Dalmatia. The city thrived until the early 7th century, when it was eventually abandoned. Its strategic location near trade routes, advanced urban planning, and impressive public architecture—such as forums, temples, and bath complexes—make it one of the most significant archaeological sites in Montenegro.

Among the finds were gold earrings, a necklace, bone tools, game pieces, and notably, eight glass vessels. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.
Among the finds were gold earrings, a necklace, bone tools, game pieces, and notably, eight glass vessels. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.

For the past three years, systematic excavations have been taking place at Doclea’s western necropolis, in an area known as Koshturnica. More than 180 graves have been explored, revealing an abundance of ceramics, glassware, jewelry, tools, and coins. These findings reflect the social status and cultural richness of ancient Doclea’s residents.

This year’s highlight was the discovery of the tomb of a Roman woman, dated to the 4th century AD, buried with luxurious grave goods. These included gold earrings, a necklace, bone tools, game pieces, and notably, eight glass vessels. Among them was the centerpiece: a diatreta, a type of elaborately decorated Roman glass.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



According to Živanović, “The grave goods include two gold earrings with green glass beads, and a necklace made of gold and jet beads.” He added, “Eight glass vessels were discovered in total, two of which are particularly notable. One is a finely crafted dark glass bowl or plate, while the other is a rare diatreta.”

What makes this particular find exceptional is the depiction of a gladiatorial scene — specifically, a venator (wild beast hunter) fighting leopards. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.
What makes this particular find exceptional is the depiction of a gladiatorial scene — specifically, a venator (wild beast hunter) fighting leopards. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.

Diatretae are extremely rare luxury artifacts known for their intricate openwork “net” design, often featuring inscriptions or figural representations. What makes this particular find exceptional is the depiction of a gladiatorial scene, specifically a venator (wild beast hunter) fighting leopards. No other examples of this type have been discovered to date, making this a unique artifact of international significance.

“We can proudly say that this is the second diatreta found in Montenegro, the first being in Pljevlja. Unfortunately, this one is not fully preserved, and it will require extensive conservation. We hope to recover its complete form,” he said in a statement to Arkeonews.

“Our diatreta is extremely rare—rarer even than the one in Pljevlja—because it is figural. The net of the vessel features a battle scene with wild feline animals, likely cheetahs, centered around a gladiator – a venator–fighting them. The vessel is made in two colors: yellow and green.”

Although the bones are poorly preserved, current analysis suggests that the woman was exceptionally tall, which is unusual for Doclea in the 4th century. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.
Although the bones are poorly preserved, current analysis suggests that the woman was exceptionally tall, which is unusual for Doclea in the 4th century. Courtesy of archaeologist Miloš Živanović.

Although the newly found diatreta is not fully preserved, the surviving fragments convey both technical mastery and artistic symbolism.

He also stated, “We found a container (pyxis) that held needles and spatulas, a board game set, and various types of vessels such as balsamaria, cups, and jugs—all part of the grave inventory.”

Commenting on the remains, Živanović noted, “Although the bones are poorly preserved, current analysis suggests that the woman was exceptionally tall, which is unusual for Doclea in the 4th century. All the findings indicate she was a prominent individual of her time.”

This remarkable discovery not only highlights the opulence of Doclea’s Roman elite but also represents a significant contribution to the study of ancient Roman glassmaking and funerary practices.

Cover Image Credit: Aerial view of the ancient city of Doclea. Public Domain

Related Articles

Hidden Iron Age Treasure Links Sweden to Ancient Baltic–Iberian Trade Routes

8 September 2025

8 September 2025

Archaeologists have discovered Sweden’s first complete plano-convex ingot, revealing Iron Age maritime trade links between the Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavia, and...

Remarkable discovery of Iron Age and Roman treasures found near a boggy area on Anglesey

29 February 2024

29 February 2024

Metal detectorist Ian Porter unearthed sixteen historical artifacts in a boggy field on Anglesey. Among the items found were Iron...

Roman-era Pottery Workshop discovered in Alexandria

29 April 2022

29 April 2022

The Egyptian archaeological mission discovered a Roman-era pottery workshop at the site of Tibet Mutawah, west of Alexandria. The researchers...

Poland’s oldest copper axe discovered in the Lublin region

30 March 2024

30 March 2024

A copper axe from the 4th to 3rd millennium BC identified with the Trypillia culture was found in the Horodło...

1,800-Year-Old Roman Victory Goddess Relief Discovered Near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda Fort

21 May 2025

21 May 2025

A rare and symbolically powerful Roman sandstone relief depicting Victoria, the goddess of Victory, has been unearthed at the Vindolanda...

Important archaeological find in the seas of Sicily: Archaic stone anchors found off Syracuse

24 November 2023

24 November 2023

During a joint operation by the Maritime Superintendency of the Sicilian Region and the Diving Unit of the Guardia di...

1900-year-old Child’s Nightgown with intriguing knots found in the Cave of Letters in the Judean Desert

5 October 2023

5 October 2023

The Cave of Letters in Israel is one such site that has yielded a large number of papyrus letters and...

Uncovering a Rare Enamelled Roman Brooch in Scotland

6 March 2025

6 March 2025

Recent research by GUARD Archaeology highlights a rare enamelled Roman brooch, suggesting its potential use in a “foundation offerings ritual”...

In China, 2700-Year-Old Face Cream Made from Moon Milk for Men was Found

14 February 2021

14 February 2021

At a Chinese excavation site with Chinese and German researchers, evidence of a 2,700-year-old male facial cream was found. In...

Lost Egyptian City Unveils Ancient Tower Houses: A Glimpse into Early Urban Innovation

15 July 2025

15 July 2025

A recent archaeological excavation in Egypt’s Nile Delta has uncovered the remains of a long-lost city featuring rare and substantial...

Archaeologists discovered a sunken prehistoric fort in Clew Bay island

1 April 2024

1 April 2024

A sunken prehistoric fort has been discovered on Clew Bay island off the north Mayo coast, Ireland. It has been...

Forged 5,000 Years Ago: The World’s Oldest Swords Discovered at Arslantepe Mound, Türkiye

10 June 2025

10 June 2025

In the arid plains of Eastern Anatolia, nestled along the western bank of the Euphrates River near Malatya, Turkey, lies...

An extremely Rare Half-Shekel Coin From Year Three of the Great Revolt discovered

21 December 2022

21 December 2022

Recent excavations by archaeologists from the Hebrew University in the Ophel area south of the Temple Mount uncovered the remains...

Volunteer archaeologists discovered a 1900-year-old silver military decoration in Vindolanda

17 June 2023

17 June 2023

Volunteer archaeologists have discovered a 1900-year-old military decoration (Phalera) that was awarded to distinguished soldiers and troops in the Roman...

A Rock-Cut Temple and Inscriptions from the Neolithic period discovered in Saudi Arabia

6 August 2022

6 August 2022

In a project led by the Saudi Heritage Commission, a multinational team of archaeologists has discovered an 8,000-year-old archaeological site...