Salona (Solin) – Submerged Harbour of Diocletian's Metropolis
Salona · Solin · Martia Iulia Salona
Illyrian to Byzantine (c. 300 BCE – 614 CE)·Illyrian / Greek / Roman Dalmatian / Byzantine·🇭🇷 Split-Dalmatia County, Solin, Croatia
About
About Salona (Solin) – Submerged Harbour of Diocletian's Metropolis
Salona (Martia Iulia Salona) – Dalmatian capital (119 BCE–614 CE), birthplace of Diocletian's Jadro aqueduct and Split palace supply port. Its harbour at the Jadro estuary and Salon bay had twin moles (eastern 70 m, western 50 m) now submerged 1–3 m after Late Antique subsidence and Jadro alluviation. Brusić–Jeličić-Radonić marine survey (2005–) mapped ashlar mole segments, amphora ballast mounds and a Diocletianic quay at –1.5 m in Solin bay, linked to Salona's theatre–forum axis via a paved harbour road. The harbour was sacked 614 by Avars–Slavs.
Why it mattersOnly Dalmatian capital harbour preserving Diocletianic harbour-road urban link; documents Jadro delta subsidence and Salonitan bay infill.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Eastern vs western mole primacy in Roman vs Diocletianic phases
- 02Whether western mole is Jadro river quay vs sea harbour
Theories
- 01Diocletian's Jadro aqueduct supplied harbour nymphaeum
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 Illyrian 3rd c. BCE; Roman moles 1st c. BCE; Diocletianic quay 295 CE
- Period
- Illyrian to Byzantine (c. 300 BCE – 614 CE)
- Culture
- Illyrian / Greek / Roman Dalmatian / Byzantine
- Purpose
- Dalmatian grain, iron and Split palace marble port
- Abandoned
- 614 CE Avar–Slav sack + bay silting
- Rediscovered
- Brusić 2005 harbour survey; Jeličić-Radonić 2010–
- Excavation
- Submerged
Harbour Illyrian 3rd c. BCE; Roman moles 1st c. BCE; Diocletianic quay 295 CE
Initial construction
c. 1307 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
43.5430° N · 16.4870° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Eastern Mole (70 m) Salona Bay
moleEastern ashlar mole 70 m at –2 m – main Roman harbour arm
43.5435° N · 16.4880° EWestern Jadro Quay Mole (50 m)
harbourWestern quay mole 50 m at –1.5 m at Jadro mouth – river–sea harbour link
43.5425° N · 16.4860° EHarbour Road to Salona Forum
roadPaved harbour road connecting moles to Salona forum–theatre axis
43.5440° N · 16.4875° E