Arhaeological exavations "Skopsko Kale"

Sector 6

The archaeological excavations in Sector 6 were conducted at the south-west part of the fortress, in the area between the inner and outer fortification wall, between towers 13, 17 and along the external side of the southern parts of the western inner fortification wall.

The excavations in this sector aimed to discover the vestiges of the inner fortification wall which were almost fully destroyed in this part, as well as determine the existence of the old trail/cobble stone that led to the southern entrance to the fortress. The archaeological excavations in this area are more difficult because of the nature of the field itself, that is, the steep slope and the strong erosion of the land with a fully damaged stratigraphy, as well as because of the numerous modern construction interventions on this part of the field (support walls, trails, etc), which have largely destroyed the archaeological layers.

The excavations showed that the inner fortification wall on this area was only kept in a small part in the western and eastern part of the sector, while the middle part was fully destroyed. Only the compact wall canvases fallen from the fortification wall unity are preserved.

The movable archaeological material discovered in this area, despite the mixed stratigraphy shows first of all the existence of the Eneolithic period represented by fragments of pottery (vessels with tunnel-like and jazicesta handle, vessels with canelured edge, etc), as well as dislocated fragments of house mortar. Quite modest vestiges of early Antiquity (several fragments of gray baked and smoothened ceramics of skifos, kantaros, etc), only indicates possible activities on the Kale in this period. Late Antiquity is presented via rare fragments of the Macedonian grey ceramics, while the Byzantine and Ottoman Middle Ages, except with the typical ceramic material, are also confirmed by coins (Byzantine trachea, Ottoman bronze coins, silver akcas), bronze objects (clasp, applications), etc. The research in this sector revealed a significant element of the urban structure of old town. It is a drainage channel built of stone, which took out the water from the upper part of the city via the valley to Vardar river. With respect to the existence of the old access coble stone, only a small part of it was revealed, at an insignificant depth under the modern trail.