Archaeological digging in Government House's courtyard has unearthed 3,000-year artefacts, a discovery showing that the location was a large and important centre that existed in Zagreb, with continuity from prehistoric times to today, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday.

The site was unearthed during archaeological digs in the northern section of the building’s courtyard, after work had started on repairs following the March 22, 2020 earthquake, Plenkovic said.

The director of the Croatian Conservation Institute, Tajana Plese, presented a preliminary analysis of archaeological digging conducted in the 500-square-metre area.

Among the artifacts unearthed so far, the most important is an item resembling a boot, the purpose of which is yet to be determined. It appears to date back to the early Bronze Age or about 1,200 B.C.

Artefacts dating back to the Early Iron Age, about 700 – 600 years BC have also been found, as well as one dating to the Late Iron Age or from the 2nd or 1st centuries B.C., she said.

Studies conducted by the Zagreb City and Archaeological Museums indicate that a very large city existed here in prehistoric times, a settlement that has lasted for almost ten centuries, said Plese.

The head of the exploration team, archaeologist Petar Sekulic, explained that this site also contains artefacts from the Middle Ages.

A coin dating back to 1280 was found, as well as a wooden pantry from the 14th century with receptacles filled with seeds. Once analysed, they will be able to tell us what the people of Zagreb ate hundreds of years ago, he said.

Exploration will continue in the southern section of the courtyard.