26 April 2010 | A unique lamp from the fourth century with the image of Alexander the Great and gold jewellery from the second century BC were discovered by archaeologists in the Tsarevi Kuli area over the town of Strumica in eastern Macedonia.

The new finds discovered at the necropolis of the southern wall of the site confirm the theory that during Antiquity, Strumica was a well-developed trade centre, archaeologist Zoran Ruyak told the national newspaper Vecer today.

The jewellery finds suggest that Strumica , which during the second century BC was called Astraîon, had a well-developed trade center, a rich population and was in communication with the workshops in Thessaloniki and neighbouring towns, especially those of Isar Marvintsi and Vardarki Rid which are also being excavated this year, the archaeologist added.

The fact that the continued development of Strumica was not interrupted is confirmed by the findings dating to the fourth century and the unique light with the likely image of Alexander the Great.

The find is one of the most interesting ones and, as far as archaeologists know so far, it is unique, the arcaheologist told the publication.

There are currently around 100 people working on the Tsarevi Kuli excavations, Vecer noted. The research on the site started about a month and a half ago, and are financed by the government as part of the country’s main archaeological projects.

The Tsarevi Kuli archaeological site has yilded a number of important archaeological discoveries in the past, which shed light on the settlement’s history of over seven millennia. As BalkanTravellers.com reported last spring, arcaheologists working on the site discovered a collection of around 80 silver Venetian coins, as well as coins with the image of Philip II of Macedon, amphorae, vessels, cups, jewellery, fragments from vases, ceramics and figurines from the fourth century BC.

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