An earthquake in Croatia has led to the discovery of an ancient Roman theater hidden beneath a city street, officials confirmed recently.
The unexpected find came during renovation work on Sisak’s historic town hall, which was badly damaged in a 2020 earthquake. While workers repaired the building, located on Roman Street, they uncovered part of the ancient structure beneath its foundation.
Archaeologists identified the remains as part of a Roman theater, also called an odeon, once used for musical performances and public gatherings. One key section, the orchestra, was found in the building’s basement. This semicircular area was the central part of Roman theaters, where performances were held.
Photos released by Croatia’s Ministry of Culture and Media show broken stone blocks beneath a glass floor, arranged in a half-circle shape. According to officials, the structure includes three rows of stone and measures about 20 meters across.
In a translated statement, the ministry described the design as rounded, with features common to Roman-era construction. Experts believe the site gives new clues about the size and layout of ancient Sisak, a city known in Roman times as Siscia.
Later, a large building was constructed over the remains. It included heavy stone supports, called buttresses, which suggest the area continued to be used long after the theater declined.
Researchers state that further excavation is necessary in the town hall’s courtyard to understand the site’s history.
The town hall itself, built in 1914, has now been restored. Officials said the renovation returned the building to its original look, including its main entrance, roof design, and decorative features. The original stone pavement was also uncovered and displayed at the entrance.
The Roman remains were recently presented to the public inside the renovated building, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Media. Officials praised the discovery as an “exceptionally valuable find” that adds to the area’s historical importance.
“This … provides new insight into the size of the ancient city and further complements the interpretation of the urbanism of ancient Sisak,” the ministry said.
The discovery is one of several Roman-era finds made across Europe in recent months. In Germany, archaeologists uncovered dozens of horse skeletons at a military site near Stuttgart. In Italy, researchers found ancient tombs, including one believed to belong to a Roman gladiator, during a dig at a burial ground in March.
