Narona (Vid) – Submerged Neretva River Port of Illyricum
Narona · Vid · Narenta
Illyrian to Byzantine (c. 400 BCE – 614 CE)·Illyrian Daors / Greek / Roman Illyrian / Byzantine·🇭🇷 Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Vid / Metković, Croatia
About
About Narona (Vid) – Submerged Neretva River Port of Illyricum
Narona – Illyrian Daors, Greek emporion, Roman colonia (155 BCE) and Neretva (Narenta) river port serving Dalmatian hinterland to Bosnia. Its river harbour quay (50 m limestone) on the Neretva palaeochannel now lies buried/submerged 0.8 m in Vid marsh after Neretva delta progradation 15 km seaward and karst polje flooding. Marin's excavations (1990s–) uncovered harbour mud, amphora ballast, Augusteum forum and a 1 m submerged quay with mooring rings 200 m from forum. Neretva barge wrecks (logboats) attest river navigation to Narona despite delta growth.
Why it mattersOnly Neretva river harbour preserving Illyrian–Roman river port hinterland link to Bosnian interior; documents 15 km delta advance and Augusteum harbour-forum axis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Narona had sea harbour vs sole river port
- 02Chronology of Neretva palaeochannel shift
Theories
- 01Augusteum (Imperial cult) faced harbour – emperor cult naval symbolism
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Harbour Greek emporion 4th c. BCE; Roman quay 1st c. BCE
- Period
- Illyrian to Byzantine (c. 400 BCE – 614 CE)
- Culture
- Illyrian Daors / Greek / Roman Illyrian / Byzantine
- Purpose
- Neretva barge port for Bosnian iron, silver and Delta wine
- Abandoned
- 614 CE Avar–Slav sack + delta silting
- Rediscovered
- Marin excavations 1990s–; Topić harbour 2005
- Excavation
- Submerged
Harbour Greek emporion 4th c. BCE; Roman quay 1st c. BCE
Initial construction
c. 1397 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
43.0500° N · 17.6170° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Neretva River Quay (50 m)
harbourLimestone quay 50 m at –0.8 m on Neretva palaeochannel bank
43.0505° N · 17.6175° EAugusteum Forum Harbour Axis
forumAugusteum forum 200 m from quay – harbour-forum paved axis
43.0510° N · 17.6180° ENarona Barge Wreck Field
wreckNeretva barge logboat wreck field in palaeochannel at –1 m
43.0495° N · 17.6165° E