Serbian archaeologists believe they have found the remains of a 4th century Roman imperial palace just outside the city of Sremska Mitrovica in northern Serbia.

The site was initially thought to be the remains of a Roman villa but now the archaeologists think that it was the palace built by Emperor Maximian who ruled 285-305 AD, in his home town of Sirmium (present-day Sremska Mitrovica), where at least eight Roman emperors are known to have been born.  

“According to 4th century sources, Emperor Maximian Herculius built a palace near Sirmium at the site where his parents had formerly lived as farmer hands. Since this is the only site near Sirmium which has imperial-related materials in it, we believe that this could be the palace mentioned by the 4th century sources,” the Belgrade Archaeological Institute’s Stefan Pop Lazic told N1.

Archaeologists have found a floor mosaic which was too expensive for anyone but only the wealthiest of aristocrats, and the remains of towers showing that the villa was well-guarded. The find that they believe proves that the site is an imperial palace is a purple stone (porphyry) of the type mined in the imperial quarries in Egypt and only used in royal buildings.

The archaeological site has been known for more than a century, but excavations began only last year under Sydney University Professor Richard Miles who said this is the crowning moment of his career. Miles added that he previously worked at sites in northern Africa and in Rome, but got interested in Sremska Mitrovica after hearing about archaeological sites in Serbia.

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