Šibenik’s St. Michael’s Fortress still full of surprises 50 years after first excavations

St. Michael’s Fortress

Fifty years since the first archaeological work began at St. Michael’s Fortress in Šibenik, experts are still uncovering fascinating pieces of the past.

The latest campaign has taken researchers deep into one of the fortress’s ancient cisterns—an effort that has proved both challenging and rewarding, HRT reports.

The only way into the site is through a five-metre-high opening. That meant archaeologists had to rely on experienced local mountaineers, using harnesses, ropes, helmets and carabiners to descend safely into the hidden chamber beneath the fortress’s north-eastern tower.

That tower, believed to date back to the 13th or 14th century, is one of the oldest preserved structures within the fortress.

According to historian Josip Pavić from the Šibenik Fortress of Culture, a water cistern was added inside it at a later time.

Once used to collect rainwater, the cistern has now become a treasure trove for archaeologists. “Cisterns are like time capsules,” archaeologist Andrija Nakić told HRT.

St Michael’s Fortress (Photo: Mihovil Hrgovic/CC BY-SA 3.0)

“The materials inside are often different from what we usually find during digs.”

When the cistern was no longer needed for water storage, residents of the fortress began using it as a dumping spot—tossing in broken pottery, outdated ammunition, and worthless coins over the centuries.

Among the discarded objects were signs of leisure and pastimes. “We’ve found part of a gaming die, likely made from animal bone, and small tokens probably used in some kind of game,” said Nakić.

One intriguing find was a stone plate used for collecting rainwater. It was likely part of another cistern on the fortress grounds, and shows signs of heavy foot traffic and weather exposure.

The current archaeological work is being funded by the EU through the “Fortic” project. Plans are already underway to restore the room above the cistern and create a new exhibition space.

“This space will be used to display some of the objects discovered here,” said Gorana Barišić Bačelić, Director of the Šibenik Fortress of Culture. “We’ll work closely with the Šibenik City Museum, which also holds finds from earlier excavations.”

St. Michael’s Fortress

In the near future, St. Michael’s Fortress, long a guardian over Šibenik’s old town, will offer visitors not only a virtual experience—but its first physical display of historical treasures discovered within its ancient walls.