The two most visible monuments of ancient Dyrrhachium are the great amphitheatre and, close to it, the circular macellum or forum. Together they would have dominated a large part of the Roman walled city. Surprisingly both were only discovered in recent times – the amphitheatre in 1966 and the macellum/forum in 1986. As part of its programme to promote the importance of archaeology in Durrës, the ICAA undertook selective excavations in both monuments, working alongside archaeologists from Durrës Museum.
 A new survey and excavations in the well-preserved amphitheatre in 2002 revealed its long history following its construction in the time of the emperor Trajan (early 2nd century AD). A later Roman cemetery occupied the main arena, while the celebrated Christian chapel with its wall mosaics appears to date from the revival of the town in the mid Byzantine era. The mosaics, it is now thought, date to the 10th or 11th centuries. Later medieval and early Ottoman deposits were also found, in each case rich in a wide range of imported ceramics from towns on the Adriatic Sea. The amphitheatre project paved the way for conservation of the chapel in 2002, the arena in 2004, and for an excavation of the seaward gate by the University of Parma.
 Dated to the 5th or early 6th century, the circular macellum or forum was the subject of selective excavations between 2002-5. Imported ceramic finewares found in well stratified deposits confirm that it was constructed during the era of the emperor Anastasius (AD 491-518), who was a native of the city. With its two concentric rings of columns it resembles a similar macellum at Istanbul. One hypothesis is that these two buildings aggrandized the terminals at either end of the Via Egnatia, the great road connecting Rome to its eastern capital, Constantinople. Following the excavations the macellum/forum was conserved by the city authorities.
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