Three marble heads - one of an adult man, the other of a woman and the third one of a young boy - are the latest discovery unearthed during this year's archaeological excavations at ancient site Stibera in Prilep region.

- These latest discoveries found during the three-month excavations indicate that the Stibera site is of huge importance, i.e. it was a rich city with rich inhabitants. All the artifacts or statues that have been found so far point out that Stibera was populated by 20.000 inhabitants between 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D., said archaeologist Liljana Kepeska of the Prilep Museum and Institute.

In addition to the marble heads, plaques bearing Greek letters in Latin alphabet were found, which means that prominent citizens had lived in Stibera and that the province Macedonia was significant in the period between the 2nd and 3rd century A.D.

This year's researches in Stibera also resulted in the excavations of three marble statues - one of the cult goddess Nike, of a boy named Efeb and of a young woman. - The excavations at Stibera will resume in 2009, announced Kepeska.

They are financed by the Government and the Culture Ministry with 4.5 million Denars.

Thus far, 31 marble statues have been unearthed at the Stibera site and some of them are displayed in the Museum of Macedonia, while others in front of the Government in Skopje. //12.16.08