Archaeologists believe they have discovered the birthsite of Alexander the Great’s grandmother in North Macedonia. The site, Gradishte, was initially thought to be a military outpost but has turned out to be far more significant.
Located near the Macedonian village of Crnobuki, Gradishte was once the city of Lyncus, the capital of Lyncestis, an independent polity that held a strategic trade route position in ancient times. Lyncus was the birthplace of Eurydice, Alexander’s grandmother.
Recent discoveries suggest that Lyncus was occupied by humans since at least the Bronze Age (3,300-1,200 BCE). Excavations have uncovered a seven-acre acropolis with a Macedonian theatre and a textile workshop. Multiple stone axes, coins, pottery shards, and textile tools were found, providing valuable insights into ancient Macedonia’s complex networks and power structures.
The site’s location along trade routes to Constantinople is significant, and its discovery highlights the importance of studying early European civilizations. According to Engin Nasuh, curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum-Bitola, “It is a civilization that played a major role in today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures.”
The findings also suggest that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa may have passed through the area on their way to confront Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium. Nick Angeloff, an archaeologist at Cal Poly Humboldt, notes, “This discovery is significant… It’s even possible that we’ll uncover more information about ancient Macedonia and its connection to other civilizations.”
Source: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/04/16/records-released-into-deaths-of-gene-hackman-and-wife-betsy-arakawas-deaths