Although, throughout history, Vir was a peninsula, its protruding and protected position in the sea, forest-covered and underground sources of drinking water made it even from the prehistorical times attractive for life and ideal for game hunting. In the Iron Age Vir was inhabited by the Liburnians. Several archeological sites testify their presence on the island: ruins on the hill of Bandira, remains on the northern part of the island in Gaj, and many grave ones.

On the other hand, a multitude of amphorae testifies to the Roman Empire and even the largest ever found on the east coast of the Adriatic. In the time of the Roman Empire Vir, as a peninsula, was connected to the neighboring land by the road Via Communis that went from Vir through Privlaka to the administrative and cultural center of the region, the historic town  Nin.