August the 2nd, 2026 – There’s an absolutely fascinating 3,500-year-old sunken settlement not far from Zadar that you can swim to and explore yourself.
Hidden beneath the waters near Zadar lies an incredible archaeological discovery, an interesting prehistoric settlement dating back around 3,500 years that can be reached by swimming from the coast. Putni kofer writes that this ancient submerged site is located near the small island of Ričul, close to Turanj and near Galešnjak, the famous heart-shaped “Island of Love.” The remains lie in the Pašman Channel, only around 50 metres from the shore, at a depth of just two to three metres.
Although it is often described as a “sunken city”, archaeologists explain that it is actually a prehistoric settlement and harbour from way back during the Middle Bronze Age, a period about which relatively little was previously known in northern Dalmatia. The discovery revealed the remains of a large prehistoric harbour structure, including a stone embankment around 300 metres long that once connected the mainland area, known as Tukljača, with the island of Ričul.
Archaeologists also discovered thousands of artefacts, including fragments of pottery, tools, animal bones, wooden objects, and fishing equipment. One of the most remarkable finds was an olive stone believed to be the oldest discovered on the eastern Adriatic coast.
Researchers believe this settlement played an important role in protecting and controlling maritime routes along the eastern Adriatic coast. Its location made it strategically valuable for people who lived and travelled by sea thousands of years ago. The settlement belonged to a population that lived in the area before the emergence of the Liburnians, the ancient people who later became known as skilled sailors and traders of the Adriatic.
Today, the underwater archaeological site near Ričul offers a rare glimpse into prehistoric life on the Croatian coast. With the remains lying so close to shore and in shallow water, it is one of the most fascinating examples of Croatia’s very rich, hidden underwater heritage.
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