Croatian archaeologists made an discovery that according to them will change the historical meaning of the world. They have discovered on the island of Korcula in the locality of Kopil an Illyrian necropolis, in which were found pottery fragments, dating between 17,500 to 15,000 years before Christ.
Besides ceramics in these graves are also found weapons of iron and bronze, jewelery, silver, glass and amber.
Cemeteries of this kind have not been recognized, while as regards the organization, dimensions and content these findings represent a new discovery in historical studies of local Illyrian residents of the time before Christ.The archaeologist, Dinko Radic, head of the archaeological expedition, said they feel privileged that in a single location they can show all human history. On Korcula island are revealed evidence of human life, from the stone age to the bronze one.
"It is believed that the findings in Kopil, will change how we see history in these areas. Illyrians, often perceive as marginal, particularly in relation to the Greek settlers. However, our research has shown that the role of the Illyrians in these areas has been greater than was thought and presented so far," says Radic
Interest for these archaeological discoveries have shown the world renowned archaeologists, of whom the professor Preston Miracle from the University of Cambridge, who has joined the Croatian archaeologists in their four years.
Regarding these archaeological discoveries, the New York Times writes that "our ancestors are known for the hunting of mammoths, but recent discoveries on the island of Korcula show us that ancient people knew how to process ceramics since the ice age".
Korcula island is the settlement of Illyrian tribes that were later located the Greek colonists, followed in X century by the Slavic settlers. This is also evidenced by the place names of settlements already in the island as he Lumbardh. An inscription found in with the name Lumbarda Psephism, stored in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb and contains details about the establishment of an ancient Greek colony on the island of Korcula. The text, among other things, provides information on Greek settlers who came from the island of Issa, placed there on the basis of a preliminary agreement between them and representatives of local Illyrians.