It was extraordinary when, two years ago, in the Archaeological Park “Ulpiana,” an inscription from Justinian himself was found, as no direct inscriptions from him had previously been discovered. And now, it is unbelievable because we have found the second inscription from Justinian, which precisely reveals the date of the city’s reconstruction.

This is what French professor Christophe Goddard, who leads the team of French archaeologists, said. Together with archaeologists from Italy and Kosovo, they have made exceptional discoveries in the “Ulpiana” Archaeological Park, where since 2017 they have been working to explore the past of the ancient city.

Among many other findings, they have discovered two unique inscriptions belonging to Emperor Justinian himself—rare traces in the Roman world—which are located in the same building in the city called “Justiniana Secunda.”

This area, rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed the city of Ulpiana in 518 AD, has been the focus of excavations aimed at bringing its history to light. The new city “Justiniana Secunda,” built about one kilometer east of the original settlement, covers an area of about 19 hectares and has at its center a large Christian church, considered one of the largest in the provincial cities of its time.

French professor Christophe Goddard, who is leading the excavations, told KosovaPress that archaeologists’ interest is connected to an excavation that took place in 1953, which revealed the existence of the city of Ulpiana.

“Our interest here is follows a dig that took place in 1953 that revealed the existence here of a city called Ulpiana. But we know that this city was destroyed by an earthquake in 580 after Christ that is, and afterwards, we knew through a writer called Procopius. He was an historian, but also a civil servant working for General Berzelius, working at the court alongside the emperor Justinian, and we know through him, and he's testimony. I mean, it's the first hand one that Justinian, the emperor, had a particular interest, not only in this region but in two particular cities. One being Justiniana Secunda, what he called after him in Ulpiana that he wanted to restore, because the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 580. So, we are following this history of this city of Ulpiana from its creation at the very beginning of the first century, during the Roman conquest, we don't know the name of that settlement when it was created, but then it became Ulpiana after Trajan in the very beginning of the second century, destroyed in 518 and rebuilt here, so one kilometer East of its original settlement of Justiniana Secunda,” he said.

Through geophysical surveying of the terrain, the team was able to create a detailed plan of the city, revealing its main streets and large buildings. The church, measuring 79 meters in length and 23 meters in width, reflects the religious and cultural importance this city had during Justinian’s era.

“Three years ago to focus here, because we not randomly because we did what we called a geophysical survey. So, we looked into the ground without excavating, with a series of machine, and we could see the full plan of the city. So, we managed to finish the plan of the city, the complete plan of the city where north of this new city. The city is over 19 hectares, so it's smaller than the former settlement of Ulpiana, the center of Ulpiana is 39 hectares, it's smaller, but with very big building. And when we did that, we saw a gigantic building, a basilica, a Christian Church, 79 meters long, width 23. And that makes it one of the biggest Churches of the time. So, out of, let's say Roman Constantinople, where he had a very, very, very big cities,” he said.

The first discovered inscription dates the city’s construction to the period between 535 and 545, while the second inscription precisely states the year 545, confirming the time of the church’s reconstruction.

This discovery is extremely important as it is the first time in a provincial city that two such inscriptions from Justinian have been found.

“But provincial cities like it are really one of the biggest. I mean, we were fortunate enough two years ago to find an inscription, by Justinian, is the only one we knew of. We've got no inscription directly by Justinian. We had inscriptions referring to just to him, which is the case here, it's unique, and it's right in this building, so we found this little one two years ago, and this year we decided to completely open this building to reveal it completely, the entire building, and we made a series of discoveries one being a new inscription that dates very precisely the moment when the Basilica was built. So we published the first one, we published it two months ago, with a very careful study where we could say that this city was built between 535-545. Following the analysis, we could do the first inscription in the second one we've got the precise date, it is between January and April 5, 45, so we were right, but now we've got this precision, and we got many other precisions, but we'll still studying the text, so it was already exceptional to find one inscription of Justinian is incredible to find two in the same building. So that is again amazing. It's not a surprise in a way in the sense that we know that Justinian who was again from this province, from this region was very attached to it,” he said.

Goddard also stated that the project is mainly funded by the European Union, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo. Additionally, the assistance of the Government of Kosovo has been crucial in purchasing the land where the excavations are located, enabling the protection of this historical treasure from activities such as agriculture.

Speaking to KosovaPress, archaeologist Ilir Culaj also expressed his happiness about these new findings.

“We are very happy because we have a lot of historical information that will help us learn more about the entire history of this city, which was rebuilt here by the great Justinian, an emperor of Dardanian origin,” he said.

Culaj explained that the excavations are being carried out by an international project that also helps anthropology students get involved in fieldwork.

“The excavations are led by an international project in cooperation with the University of Prishtina, where the lead from the local side is Professor Arben Hajdari, from the French side is Professor Christophe Goddard, and from the Kosovo Archaeological Institute—which has the main authority over these excavations and this site—is archaeologist Milot Berisha. Students from the anthropology department, including myself as part of the department, are also directly involved in these excavations, and it is in the best interest of our students that, in addition to theoretical excavation experience, they also gain practical experience,” he said.

This project not only contributes to uncovering the history of Ulpiana and Justiniana Secunda but also prepares new generations of archaeologists through international training programs, connecting the past with the future of scientific research in Kosovo and beyond.