Archaeological Site “Isar” – Shtip

The archaeological site “Isar” (Isar-Kale)—the former medieval settlement and fortified medieval town of Shtip—is located in the southwestern part of present-day Shtip, on a dominant elevation between the Bregalnitsa and Otinja rivers. The plateau extends roughly north–south for about 350 m, and rises 100–150 m above the bed of the Bregalnitsa River. Its natural boundaries are deep ravines: to the north and west is the Bregalnitsa River, and to the south is the Otinja River.
The cruciform church and the plateau lie at the foot of Isar  and are of great importance for the site’s topography. During the Middle Ages, when defense and protection were necessary and movement was unsafe, this naturally protected position was used, and on the highest part of the elevation a medieval town was built—typologically comparable to the fortified towns of Markovi Kuli (Prilep), Samoilova Tvridina (Ohrid), Kale (Skopje), Carevi Kuli (Strumitsa), and others. The medieval fortress consisted of a fortified upper town (citadel) and a lower town (suburb). The main entrance to the fortress is on the eastern side, facing the eastern suburb.

Archaeological research was carried out in the XX century, followed by conservation works, primarily at the main entrance to the acropolis—the Donzhon

There is a project for conservation and reconstruction of the defensive ramparts prepared by our institution.

At the Acropolis site of the medieval fortress, with the excavations 2008–2009, the entire preserved architecture of the acropolis was fully uncovered and documented: the western, southern, eastern and northern defensive walls, a donjon tower, a late medieval church, two cisterns and foundation remains of residential and auxiliary buildings.