The Kosovo Museum, housed in a building from the early 20th century near the city centre, is the principal history and archaeology museum for the country. The collection ranges from Neolithic artefacts through the Bronze Age, the Roman period, the medieval Serbian kingdom, and the Ottoman era up to the 20th century.
The star of the collection is the Goddess on the Throne — a Neolithic figurine from the Vinča culture, dated to around 4500–4000 BC. The small terracotta figure depicts a female deity seated on a throne, wearing a mask, with an air of absolute authority. It is one of the most remarkable prehistoric artworks in the Balkans, and the museum has it well displayed. Outside Kosovo it is largely unknown, which adds to the pleasure of encountering it here.
The museum has been reorganised and improved since independence, with English-language labelling for most major exhibits. Allow two hours for a thorough visit. The building itself — a large early-20th-century stone structure — has some architectural interest, having served various functions under Serbian, Yugoslav, and now Kosovar administration.