Archaeological sites

Due to its Mediterranean location and geographical proximity to some of the centers of world civilization, a number of important archaeological discoveries have been made in Albania. The sites that are found in the North as well as in the South are great tourist destinations for those interested in ancient history as well as for the merely curious.

Ancient Durres

The city of Durres dates to the 7th century B.C., according to traditional reports from ancient sources in the year 627. The modern city is built on top of the ruins of ancient Epidamnos or Dyrrachion, the latter transformed into Dyrrachium in the Roman period. According to Thucydides, the city was colonized by Corcyreans and Corinthians, who named the city Epidamnos. The founder (oecist) was Phalius, a Bacchiad, son of Eratocleides from Corinth and a descendant of Heracles. The first coins of Epidamnos in the first half of the 5th century B.C. were with Corinthian symbols, Athena and Pegasus with the archaic epsilon. According to Appian, a non-Greek king who lived in the area before the Greeks arrived, by the name of Epidamnos, built the first city and called it after himself. Dyrrhachos, the son of his daughter Melissa and it is said Poseidon, build a port for the city and named it Dyrrachion.
For the duration of 435-404 B.C. Epidamnos is involved in the Peloponnesian War, as the people (demos) expelled the men of influence (dynatoi) who were in their turn helped by the native nearby Illyrians and attacked the city back. After the war we also attest the transition of the name from Epidamnos to Dyrrachion. This was changed the political and economic relations of the city which is well documented in the archaeological record. During the 3rd century B.C. the relations of the city with the Illyrians was prospering, while Illyrian names account about 30% of all names engraved in grave stones found during excavations in and around the city.

Dyrrachium became a central battle place between the legions of Caesar and Pompey during the Civil War of 49-48 B.C. and suffered damage as a result of the war operations. During the reign of Augustus, in 30 B.C. Dyrrachium became a Roman colony, by the name of Colonia Iulia Augusta Dyrrachinorum. During the 2nd century A.D. the city was furthers strengthened by the construction of the well-known Via Egnatia, linking the Adriatic with Thessaloniki in Northern Greece and in later times with Constandinople.
The largest of all public buildings were constructed in Dyrrachium during the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. The amphitheater, partially excavated starting since 1960, has a seating capacity estimated between 15.000-20.000 people and is situated on the middle of the modern city, while other important buildings are the public baths of the 2nd century A.D. discovered in 1966, the remains of the aqueduct about 15 km long, built during the reign of Hadrian, the Byzantine walls and the round forum-macellum, build in the 5th-6th centuries A.D.
One of the most interesting finds from the city is the "Bukuroshja e Durrësit" the beauty of Durres mosaic, situated at the National Historic Museum in Tirana. The mosaic belongs to the 4th century B.C., and it is definitely one of the most beautiful of its kind in Albania.In the 9th century A.D. the Theme of Dyrachium is created, one of the two themes in the western Balkans, while in 1071 and 1081 the Normans attacked the city. From 1204 the city came under the Venetians and in 1501 the Ottomans managed to take it

Fortification of Gorica


This archeological site is located on the junction of the Osum River and its branch Velabisht, while serving a two-fold function. From one part the fortification encloses totally the Osum valley, having in front of it Berati Castle and from the other side it controls the Velebisht river. From the north part the castle is defended from the natural rock, while from the other sides exactly from east and south and partly in west it is possible to clearly spot the fortification wall, that may be followed in its entire length.
Referring to the construction technique and the pottery, this fortification wall dates to the 4-3 century B.C. There are indications that archeological remains found earlier on the site, date to the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, indicating that the site dates earlier to the 3 century B.C. The interruption of life in Gorica is strongly connected with roman occupation in the 2nd century B.C.


The fortified hill of Peshtan

Mbjeshovë


Mbjeshova Castle is situated near the village of Mbjeshova, in the northern part of Shpiragu mountain and it covers a surface of about 1,5 - 2 ha. The surrounding wall is well maintained along the length of the hill.The fortification is double, formed by an inner wall serving at the same time as a staging ground for soldiers and a lookout. At the east side are situated three towers and an entrance. Based on the construction technique of the surrounding wall, the towers and typical entrances of the late antique period, the castle dates at the 4-5 centuries AD. This castle is considered as one of the best maintained archeological centers of the area.


The fortress of Vokopola

The castle of Vokopola known as Ali Pashë Tepelena's castle, is located on a hill at northern-west part of Vokopola village near the city of Berat. The fortification is situated on a hill 765m above sea level. The castle's technique construction shows that the structure may have served as a military garrison.
Early Christian Bazilica of Shën Mëhill in Arapaj.
Situated on the Shën Mëhill (Saint Michael) hill, 6 km distant from the city of Durrës, during archaeological research conducted in 1974, were discovered the remains of an Early Christian church. This church is known as Shën Mëhilli church. The church is a 3 naves basilical construction, with three apses, with an atrium at the west side, and auxiliary areas at the south side of naos.
The mosaic inside the basilica, covers a surface of about 54 m, and is well maintained despite a small damaged part at the southern part. An important addition to the finds are the architectonic sculptural remains that date to the 5-6 centuries A.D. The numismatic material that has been found at the Arapaj Basilica is also rich and dates from the 5-th century A.D until the 13th-14th centuries A.D., thus showing that the basilica was in use for about 10 centuries.



The Monumental Tombs of Selca e Poshtëme


These 2,400 year old tombs are located 40 km from Pogradec. Selca was a town of the Illyrain tribe of Desartes founded in the sixth century B.C. It is thought that ancient Pelion, residence of Illyrian king Klit was here. Selca reached its zenith in the fourth and third centuries B.C., when the surrounding walls encircled an area of 3 hectares.
This archaeological site is located 1,040 meters above sea level. Five monumental tombs in Ionic style have been excavated there. Four of them have been carved into tunnels. They are very rare in the Balkan Peninsula but can often be found in Southern Italy. A great number of personal possessions in gold and filigree have been found there.


Albanopolis ( Zgërdhesh)


The ancient town is located to the right of the Fushë Kruja to Kruja road by Halil village. In 1871 the famous Austrian albanologue Han visited the Illyrian castle of Zgërdhesh and hypothesized that this was the ancient Albanopolis, capital of the Albans from whom the country is named.
The city was built on a hill in a 10 hectare area. Strong 1,400 m long walls protected it although only 90 m survive to date. The acropolis takes up one third of the area. Among the terracotta excavated here, the small marble statue of Artemis is particularly beautiful. The ancient city flourished for three or four centuries but then was abandoned on the second century A.D.


Nikaia (Klos)


The ancient city of Klos (Nikaia) it is situated in the proximity of Byllis (ca.1 km), with a wall about 1850m long, covering an area of ca.18 ha. The wall represents one of the earliest fortifications of the second half of the 5th century B.C. in Albania, being 3-3.5m wide, with polygonal and trapezoidal blocks. There is a single entrance to the city and three defensive towers. Among the most important monuments are the small theatre, a stoa, and the traces of a stadium. The theatre had a capacity of ca. 800-1000 spectators and has preserved also 14 citizenship-granting inscriptions, dating to the 3rd century B.C. The stoa was long 40m and 10m wide, being a simple one story building. Life in Nikaia ends abruptly in 167 B.C., when the army of Paulus Aemilus ravaged Epirus and parts of Southern Illyria.

The Persqop fortress


The Persqop fortress is situated near the Petrela Castle, on the Vila mountain.The first phase of construction dates in the Illyrian period while on the Roman period the fortification was extended further.Perhaps this fortification was used at some point by the Petrela castle's inhabitants.Remnants of an aqueduct are situated to the northeast of the fortification.