The Minicipium Ulpiana or Iustiniana Secunda was proclaimed an archaeological park under the permanent protection of Kosovo[6] by the Kosova Council for Cultural Heritage in 2016.

It likely took its name from the Roman Emperor Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus), during whose reign it was upgraded to the status of a municipium before the year 117.

Ulpiana lies in fertile land, near the left bank of the river Gračanka, located near mines that have been used since ancient times.

The mines played a considerable role in the development of important cities in the Roman province of Dardania.

[12][10] Geophysical research made by archaeologists has shown that there are more than 120 hectares worth of objects within the territory of the ancient town.

The amphoras were used to carry goods such as grain, wine, and olive oil, suggesting that Ulpiana's trade networks were vast.

[10] The city of Ulpiana was established in the 1st century AD, possibly developing from a concentrated Dardanian oppidum.

[9] It is located close to the gold and silver mines of Janjevo and Shashkoc and archaeological findings suggest that the city was inhabited even before Roman rule.

[16][14] The first known mention of Ulpiana in ancient sources was done by Ptolemy and dates back to the second decade of the 2nd century AD.

Other known bishops were Paulus (synod of Constantinople in 553 AD), and Gregentius, who was sent by Justin I to Ethiopia and Yemen to ease problems among different Christian groups there.

[16][15] Archaeological evidence suggests that after reaching its peak, Ulpiana shrank in the 5th and 6th centuries, due to natural disasters, as well as barbarian attacks during the weakening and subsequent fall of the Roman Empire.

In 358 AD, Ulpiana was hit by the shockwaves of the devastating Nicomedia earthquake, resulting in some buildings being damaged.

In 472 AD, King Theoderic the Great of the Goths attacked the city with 3,000 soldiers, plundering it and destroying parts of it.

[16] Despite being mentioned in historical documents since the 2nd century AD, the location of Ulpiana was not known in modern times until after World War II.

With the addition of the use of air photography and satellites in the past years, archaeologists, with no costly digging and no invasive procedures, were able to find and describe many big antique buildings which included a public bathroom, the forum (administrative center of the city), a residency of the bishop in the era of the early Christianity, and a baptismal chapel.

Other important buildings include the northern gate of the town, a thermae (public bath), and a castrum (a military camp).

Apart from buildings, many other smaller objects such as sculptures, coins, weapons, pottery, and other personal belongings have been discovered.

The second tombstone, much larger in size, was dedicated to local magistrate Marcus Pontius and his wife Furia Caecilla.

Archaeologists believe that this suggests that Dardania had some sort of autonomous identity and was not fully Romanized by the 6th century.

[23] The castrum is a field military garrison of the Roman army located 100m to the east of the eastern-wall of Ulpiana and had a size of 16 hectares.

In 1982, a prehistoric cemetery from the 13th-9th centuries BC was discovered at the center of the city, containing ceramics and other bronze-age objects.