The recent announcement of the demolition of the "Glass" due to construction Belgrade metro will not only mark the end of the popular shopping center built in the eighties on Republic Square, will enable archaeologists to look into the city's past and complement previous research, which shows that beneath today's Belgrade are hidden numerous layers of the past since prehistoric times.
Dr. Adam Crnobrnja, museum adviser in To the National Museum Serbia, the president of the Serbian Archaeological Society, says that the construction of the metro will probably not bring spectacular discoveries along the entire route. "I see the greatest potential precisely in the area of today's Stklenec."
He states that based on the knowledge so far, at this location we can with great certainty expect "remains of Austrian ramparts, bastions and ravelins from the period 1717‒1739. It was there that the Charles Bastion was located, one of the massive elements of the Austrian fortification system that surrounded the town at that time". Also, although the construction of the Austrian fortifications destroyed part of the older layers, this does not mean that findings from earlier periods cannot be expected under Staklenac, says Adam Crnobrnja. He reminds that in 2018, during the discovery of the foundations of the Württemberg Gate, traces of Roman graves were found under the Republic Square and states that "research near Staklenac will cover a significantly larger area than the previous one". He states that Roman tombs from the 4th century were found at a depth of about three meters during research carried out in 1882 at the site of today's monument to Prince Mihail, while the so-called "grave wells" from the 1st century reached a depth of eight to nine meters. In the twenties of the last century, a Roman altar was discovered on Republic Square at a depth of five to six meters, while the remains of Roman houses in Čika Ljubina Street were found only 1,4 meters below today's ground level.
"The configuration of the terrain in the past was different from today, and it is precisely the archaeological researches that are gradually revealing it. The problem is that such researches in the area of ancient Singidunum and the historical core of Belgrade were not numerous enough," says Crnobrnja. For this reason, it is difficult to estimate in advance at which depths certain archaeological layers will appear, but discoveries so far show that significant remains can be expected already a few meters below the current level of the city.
He emphasizes that for such a complex project it is necessary to make a distinction between previous and protective archaeological research. Previous research involves geophysical surveys, test probes and boreholes to determine what lies beneath the ground and based on this, protective excavations are planned. In this context, Crnobrnja believes that research should have started much earlier, bearing in mind the announced dynamics of the work on the Belgrade metro. In particular, he warns that a few months ago he noticed test geological drilling on the Republic Square, but without visible archaeological supervision.
"Without previous research, it is difficult to estimate how long protective archaeological research could last. Everything depends on the complexity of the findings and funding. If the research is well prepared, and the investor meets the realistic requirements of the protection services, it could last from three to ten months," says Crnobrnja.
He recalls that the research on Republic Square was once started only after the construction mechanization had already damaged part of the remains of the Württemberg Gate, which is why he emphasizes that it is crucial that archaeological research be carried out before the start of major construction works. He states that protective archaeological research should be organized by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Belgrade, as the territorially competent institution. However, considering the size of the space, which covers several thousand square meters, it is possible to include other institutions such as the Archaeological Institute, the Museum of the City of Belgrade and the National Museum of Serbia.
Investors and archaeologists, proverbially, do not have a good cooperation. The problem arises in the spatial and urban planning phase, says Crnobrnja. "Almost as a rule, archaeologists are involved too late, only when earthworks begin. Then archeology becomes an unforeseen cost for the investor and a factor that slows down the project, which naturally creates tensions," he says.
However, he does not see the responsibility exclusively on the side of the investor. As he explains, they often go through the procedure of obtaining permits without being informed beforehand that they are building on the area of a protected archaeological site or in a zone where archaeological finds can be expected. "When an investor knows from the beginning that he has to count on archaeological research, cooperation is generally good, heritage is preserved, and projects are implemented without major problems. And when the remains are discovered only during construction, we enter a risk zone. Unscrupulous investors sometimes try to cover up the findings in order to avoid additional costs and delays, and the consequence can be the irreversible destruction of cultural heritage. The solution is not punishment on the construction site, but prevention. We need someone to finally involve us in the construction of the system, and not from we are only expected to put out fires", he concludes.
In his opinion, permanent change does not depend only on the metro, but on the way construction is planned in Belgrade. "In order to get to know the archaeological heritage of the city better, it is necessary that the laws are consistently applied and that archaeological research precedes the planning of large projects. Only then can informed decisions be made about the protection, presentation and use of the possibly discovered remains", concludes Crnobrnja.
When asked whether the possible archaeological remains could be preserved and presented to the public along the lines of those in the Thessaloniki metro, Crnobrnja says that it is still too early for such assessments. "First of all, preliminary research should be carried out, and then protective archaeological excavations. Only when we know what is under the ground, we will be able to discuss the method of protection and presentation", he points out. Crnobrnja reminds that significant immovable archaeological remains cannot be simply removed and that the law prescribes special procedures for their protection. If valuable remains from earlier periods are discovered, their fate will have to be decided by the competent institutions, but the expert public and citizens will also play an important role. "Thessalonica today is an example of the successful integration of ancient and Byzantine remains into the metro system, but that solution did not come easily. It was a long-term struggle between the profession and citizens on the one hand and investors and the authorities on the other. Only when we know what lies under Republic Square, we will be able to discuss similar possibilities in Belgrade," he says.
That is why the construction of the metro station is an opportunity not only to explore the past, but also to change the attitude towards the archaeological heritage. And the future metro station can become an example of how modern development and cultural heritage go hand in hand.
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