The Foundation “Heritage Watchdogs – Bassania” proudly announces the discovery of a previously unregistered Illyrian hillfort, “Grad,” on Hreša, East Sarajevo.
This hillfort, locally known as “Grad,” is situated at an altitude of 1,133 meters and contains all the recognizable elements of Illyrian fortifications—defensive walls, a well, a plateau with accommodation structures, and steep, inaccessible slopes on three sides. From the hillfort, there is an exceptional view of Sarajevo, indicating its strategic importance.
Around Sarajevo, approximately 30 Illyrian hillforts have been documented, mostly researched by first-generation archaeologists such as Fiala, Čurčić, and Skarić, and later by Benac, Čović, and others. However, following the last war, Illyrian hillforts have been largely neglected and remain uninvestigated. Unfortunately, the Department of Antiquity in Sarajevo has shown little interest in field research, further endangering the preservation of these sites.
The “Grad” hillfort is not listed in the Archaeological Lexicon of BiH and has not yet been the subject of archaeological investigation. We call upon experts in Illyrian hillforts to participate in the study of this significant site. In its immediate vicinity are the hillforts on Čavljak, in Faletići, and Donji Biosko, all of which are visually connected and together form a kind of defensive ring around Sarajevo.
An important question arises – what role did these hillforts play, and what were they defending?
