Croatia's Slanje Stari Gradec Hillfort Unveiled as Largest Prehistoric Site

Archaeologists have presented Slanje Stari Gradec, a fortified settlement on the northern slopes of Mount Kalnik in Varaždin County, as Croatia's largest known prehistoric hillfort. Covering about 12.5 hectares, the site features a system of ditches and earthen ramparts up to 14 metres high, comparable in size to the medieval Knin Fortress.

The hillfort includes an Early Iron Age tumulus cemetery, adding to a broader cultural landscape that also encompasses major sites in Martijanec and Jalžabet. Excavations, begun in 2016, are led by Dr Saša Kovačević of the Institute of Archaeology. County prefect Anđelko Stričak and Minister of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan attended the public presentation, emphasizing the discovery's archaeological importance and its potential to boost continental tourism. Plans are under way to protect the site, develop an interpretation centre, and integrate the hillfort into visitor routes.

Further research aims to determine the settlement's construction period, function, and ruling authority, while also enhancing preservation and public access.