The very first modest information about the existence of archaeological sites are noted in the years 1931 / 32, recorded by J.V. Fewkes, speaking about the sites of Crnobuki and Karamani, while F. Mesesnel conducted the very first archaeological excavations near the village of Suvodol-Slanec where the basilica from the period of Early-Christianity was discovered.
During the period from 1936-38, archaeological excavations were undertaken on the Acropolis on the left side of the river Siva Voda, under the direction of M. Grbic and G. Strikevic.
After the liberation, the first activities of Bitola’s National Museum in the field of archaeological investigations took place in 1952 when, under the organization of the Archaeology Institute of Belgrade and in cooperation with the museums of Bitola, Prilep, Ohrid, it organizes archaeological investigation which leads to the registration of numerous archaeological sites.
Archaeological excavation began in 1953, as a protective intervention of the Neolithic settlement “Tumba” in the village of Porodin, in 1954 on the site of “Visoi” (near Petilep) where graves originating from the Iron Age were discovered.
After these first interventions, the investigation of pre-history aroused real interest. The protective investigations, which started in 1971 on the Neolithic settlement “Veluska Tumba” near the village, Porodin, continued with systematic and long-term investigation under the guidance of Dragica Simovska and Voislav Sanev. The probe excavations undertaken in the villages of Karamani, Mogila, Dobromiri, Opticari, Gurgur Tumaba and others showed that the Neolithic culture is spread all across Central Pelagonia.
In the above mentioned period special attention was given to the excavations of the Neolithic Age, of which the most significant findings are of Veluska Tumba Porodin, but also the mounds of Karamani, Mogila, Vrbjani, Trn, and others.
Presence of Eneolith is confirmed following the excavation of the sites Suplevec, Bakarno Gumno, Crnobuki Mound, which showed that this region had been affected by the first waves of Indo-European settlers.
Traces of settlements of the Bronze Age were discovered at the sites of Karamani, Bakarno Gumno, Crnobuki, Radobor and others. Material findings at the necropolises near Zivojno, Zovic and Brod confirmed the beginnings of the Early-Iron Age. The oldest material traces of the end of the Iron Age with its skeleton burials under mounds are found at the site Petilep-Bernci, which arouse great scientific interest, especially the princess’s grave. Here we would also mention the important sites of Rapesh and Crkviste near Beranci.
Since the time of archaeological excavations from the prehistoric period in Bitola and its vicinity more than 150 sites with a fund of several thousand items found have been registered and recorded.