Archaeology Skopje

This museum (Археолошки Музеј на Република Северна Македонија/Arheološki Muzej na Republika Severna Makedonija, Muzeu Arkeologjik i Republikës së Maqedonisë së Veriut) was created in 2014 as part of the "Skopje 2014" project. It is located along the Vardar, opposite the "Bridge of Civilizations" footbridge, in a grandiloquent, somewhat ridiculous building with Greek pseudo-columns and a glass façade. It's the country's second-largest museum, after the North Macedonian Museum in Stara Čaršija. Despite its apparent modernity, the presentation is a failure. Explanations are sparse, written too small and placed in showcases far from the visitor. Natural light is absent, replaced by overabundant lighting. Reconstructions, wax statues and contemporary paintings blur the understanding of the real objects. Yet the collections are rich. They cover the period from the Neolithic to the late Middle Ages, in four areas: numismatics (to the right of reception), lapidarium (to the left), and a vast chronological exhibition on the two upper floors. Some of the highlights include gold jewelry from the Hellenistic period, glass amphorae found intact in a Roman tomb at the Zajas site (near Gostivar), domed coins from the Byzantine period, filigree jewelry from the Classical period, and red pottery from the Bronze Age.