The first scholars who ubicated Stobi in the 19th century are L. Heuzey and J. G. v. Hahn. Addition to their reports is the investigation of the ancient roads by A. v. Permerstein and N. Vulić in 1902.
During World War I, the German officer Hald began the first systematic excavations of the site. In this campaign, the basilica in Palikura was excavated as well as parts of two other basilicas. Since 1918, the excavations were coordinated by the architect F. Krischen who was member of Mazedonische Landeskundliche Komission. He discovered the Cemetery Basilica and parts of the Episcopal Basilica. Most of the material and the documentation were lost during the German retreat.
Between 1923 and 1940 Stobi was systematically excavated by the National Museum of Belgrade. The first campaigns were directed by the Austrians B. Saria and R. Eger. Later, in the 30’s the staff was expanded by Ć. Truhelka from Zagreb, V. Petković, J. Petrović and Ð. Mano – Zissi from Belgrade. The architects E. Dyggve from Copenhagen, J. Staudinger from Munich, A. Magerle from Ljubljana, B. Nestorović and Ð. Bošković from Belgrade were also part of the team. In a period of 17 years, with many workers, they managed to excavate the Theatre, the Episcopal Basilica, the Bishops’ residence, Via Sacra, Porta Heraclea, Domus Fulonica, the North Basilica, the Central Basilica and Synagogue, the House of Psalms (Palace of Polycharmos), the Large and the Small Bath, the House of Peristeria, the Theodossian Palace, the House of Parthenius, the Cemetery Basilica and the Basilica in Palikura. The negative effect of these activities is that the main interest of uncovering attractive buildings caused a neglect of the stratigraphy.