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Foreign travellers and scholars, starting from the first
half of 19th century, have shown interest and have given
information for Albanian archeological monuments. In the
first three decades of 20th century, excavations became more
frequentand Austrian archeological mission (K. Prashniker),
French mission (L. Rei), and Italian (L. Ugolini) undertook
archeological excavations in Butrint and Apolonia.
Durres amphitheater, the biggest and most important not only
in Albania but in Balkans as well, was built at the
beggining of 1st century A.D. It has special architectural
and artistic values and may be compared with the monuments
of that time such as those of Pompei and Kapuas in Italy.The
amphitheater, where gladiators fought, has the shape of an
ellipse with a diameter 136m and 20m high. The audience
stairs which were white slab-clad provided seats for 15
000-20 000 persons.
Apolonia was one of the biggest ancient cities in Adriatic
area and the most distinguished of the other 30 cities
bearing the same name.
It was founded in early 4th century B.C. Apolonia's ruins
were discovered at the beggining of 19th century. Several
buildings of the iron era, typical of the Illyrian culture,
are the earliest archeological traces. Remnants of the
defending wall and an archaic temple dedicated to Artemis,
Apolonians'most worshipped goddess, are the buildings that
have come down to us. A French archeological mission carried
out excavations in 1824-1838 in this city whereas lately it
was a joint Albanian-French mission who excavated.
Arapaj's Basilica
It is a pale Christian Basilica of sixth century, one of the
biggest in Albania discovered on a hill at the Arapaj
village. Excavations of 1983 prove it was a monumental
building of dimensions 60x28m. It is probable this Basilica
be the church of Saint Michael, mentioned by Ana Komnena in
the Byzantine war against Normans in 11th century. In the
battle of 1081 which took place on the outskirts of Durres,
the protectors found refuge in the fortified Basilica which
was set in fire by Normans.
Poseidon, bronze statue 30cm high showing the sea God,is
atestimony of the wide spreading of the cult of Gods in the
innerterritories of Epirus and southern Illyria connected
mainly with the inner forces of earth, earthquakes. The
image of Poseidon,found during archeological excavations in
1966-1975 in Antiganenear Gjirokaster, is presented clothed
with his lifted left handholding a trident.
Butrint Goddess (Dea), man marble head on a female body2.5m
high, is discovered during archeological excavations
ofItalian mission in Butrint. The object with rare
archeologicaland historic values is testified to have been
stolen and smuggled to Italy, legalized by King Ahmet Zogu
as a present. It wasrestored to our country by the Italian
government in 1981. It iscurrently exposed at the National
Historical Museum. The head isthe original of the first half
of 4th century B.C. and is reused on thebody created around
1st century A.D.
Albanian archeology and ancient history of Albania are
closelyconnected with each other and fulfill the gaps of the
writtenantique sources for the territory of our country.
Archeology hasgiven priority to the researches in the
prehistoric field,antique and ancient civilization, which
have solved so manyproblems.One of the main problems, like
that of the inhabitants of oldAlbania, although so widely
discussed by the linguistics andother scientists since the
beginning of the century and after the World War II, is not
solved yet.
There is an idea concerningthis problem and it has to do
with the presence of an ancientpre-Ilyrian level, which is
connected with an old Indo-Europeanelement or as it called
palo-Indo-European.
There are recorded results to be estimated indeed. There are
tens Ilyrian towns, such as Bylysi, Amantia, Nikraja,
Timali,Antipatria, Lisi, etc, in the back of Apollonis and
Durrah. Other indicators such as protection system, the
place where the publicactivity is performed, commercial,
political, cults centers,which are made evident in several
centers show they have beeninhabited once upon time. Several
towns with theaters, such asBylysi, Klosi or Amantia with
stadium, are made evident in theback of Apollonis. All these
signs spoke for Ilyrian authentictowns.
The history of Ilyrians, late antiquity, and arbers has
darkperiods. The period after the influx of barbarian hords
incentury IV in Balkan is dark and the archeology finds
verydifficult to make evident this period due to the lack of
written sources. The survival of Byzantine culture in the
century VI inall Balkan brought the survival of the culture
in ourterritory.The culture called Komani culture, is in
fact arbersculture. Its location is related with Dalmacia
castle and Komanigrave yard near it, where the necropolis
gives a lively and fullmaterial. The study of the necropolis
has another importancebecause it keeps with conservatorism
the tradition and theculture as it is a sign of respect
toward the dead. This is thereason why the archeologists see
the grave yards as the onlysource to find full information.
For this reason specialimportance is paid to Komani culture,
because it was accompaniedeven with diggings in Kruja and
Lezha cemeteries.
Hasan Ceka is one of the founders of Albanian archeology.He
dealt with numismatic researches and there are nearly 20
thousand coins in its numismatic cabinet.This cabinet
includes coins of Greekantiquity, which were the first to be
emitted and later on theywere exchanged with the other towns
and the coins emitted by theIlyrian states themselves,like
King Gent or Lisi town.
Albania is a member of International Council of Monuments
andHistoric Centers ICOMOS. It became a member of this
organization in 1999. ICOMOS is an international cultural
non governmentalorganization established in 1965 in Warsaw,
after theestablishing of Venice Charter on conservation and
reconstruction of monuments and historic centers. Albania is
a member even ofInternational Center of Monuments Study and
Reconstruction ofICCROM culture. Albania is athering in this
organization since1962.
Source: Albanian Government
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