Daorson

Daorson was the centre of the Daorsi, an Illyrian people of the Neretva valley, occupied from around the fourth century BC and destroyed in the first, and what survives on the hill above Stolac is the acropolis wall: massive limestone blocks, some weighing several tonnes, cut and fitted together without mortar in the manner called cyclopean, standing to several metres and running along the crest. The technique and the scale are unlike anything else in the country and have prompted comparisons with Mycenaean building. Within the walls are foundations and cisterns, and finds including Greek-influenced bronzes and coins are held in museums. The site is unfenced with limited signage.

History

The Daorsi, an Illyrian people of the Neretva valley between 300 BC and 50 BC, built their capital around an acropolis enclosed by cyclopean walls of huge stone blocks, likened to those of Mycenae, the defensive wall 65 metres long, 4.2 metres wide and 4.5 to 7.5 metres high. Early contact with Greek traders brought Greek influence, and after their peace treaty with Rome in 168 or 167 BC the Daorsi minted their own coins: 39 were found in a small mint building, 29 of them showing King Ballaios, along with wine amphorae and a bronze helmet decorated with mythological figures (Wikipedia, Daorson).

The main sights

• The cyclopean wall - the massive fitted blocks of the acropolis.
• The hill position - the crest above the Bregava valley.
• Foundations and cisterns - the traces within the enclosure.
• The Stolac view - the town and valley below.

When to go

April to October; the site is exposed with no shade and Herzegovina summers are severe. Morning and late afternoon light shows the masonry best. Access is open at any time.

Things to know

Only the wall survives substantially; the rest is foundations in grass. Signage is minimal. The access track is rough and the last stretch on foot. There is no shade or water.

Nearby

Stolac lies below; Radimlja is on the town's edge.

Key facts