Archaeologists discover over 2000 year old lost Illyrian city of Bassania in Albania

[Johane Derite]

"Polish archaeologists discovered over 2,000 years old lost city of Bassania in Albania. The fortress was probably destroyed by the Romans at the beginning of our era. Until now, its ruins were considered to be natural rocks.

The lost city was found unexpectedly in northwestern Albania, in the area of today`s Shkoder. According to the researchers, it is probably Bassania - a city described by Roman historian Livy (59 BC - AD 17) in the context of the battles of Roman troops with the last king of Illyria, Gentius.


In May, archaeologists only uncovered part of the walls and the gate. "The defensive structures were erected from well-fitted, huge stone blocks" - told PAP head of excavations, Prof. Piotr Dyczek, director of the Antiquity of Southeastern Europe Research Centre of the University of Warsaw. The uncovered gate was accompanied by two bastions, to which powerful, more than 3 m wide defensive walls led. Their external parts were made of profiled stone blocks. The space between them was filled with small stones and earth.

According to Prof. Dyczek, this type of construction is typical for Hellenistic defensive structures. Such dating is also supported by objects the archaeologists discovered near the walls: coins and fragments of ceramic vessels from IV-I century BC. This means that the city functioned in the time of the Illyrian kingdom, which ceased to exist at the turn of the millennium after the Roman invasion.

"In recent years, we have begun to look around Shkoder for settlements and fortresses that were its economic and military base. Thanks to the use of various methods, including non-invasive ones, we have located relics of a huge ancient city" - described Prof. Dyczek.


​

To the surprise of the researchers, it turned out that the recently discovered city was three times larger than the ancient Shkoder - massive stone walls surrounded an area of about 20 hectares.

Researchers are wondering about the lack of information about the city in the records of travellers from few hundred years ago. "This silence of the travellers, who described the other, even small sites and individual ruins with extraordinary meticulousness, is quite puzzling. The reason could be that the city had ceased to exist so long ago that its name was forgotten" - the archaeologist suggested in an interview with PAP. Recent research confirmed that the end of the city`s existence actually falls at the beginning of the 1st century AD - the end of the reign of Emperor Octavian Augustus - and at that time it was abandoned or destroyed during the Roman invasion. "Its name could have been forgotten" - says Prof. Dyczek.

The ruins on the hill escaped attention due to its specific geological structure - the hill is formed by conglomerates and sandstones. "After centuries of erosion, the remnants of stone structures looming on the surface resemble a natural geological structure coming out onto the surface, rather than structures intentionally built by man" - described the scientist."

LINK: http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/ne...er-over-2000-years-old-lost-city-albania.html

 

[Johane Derite]

How can it be that at least 25 Roman emperors were born in Illyria and there is not one surviving text of the Illyrian language.
One would assume that they (romans in general) would have had to at least minimally interact with locals and their dialect/language?

How can St Jeronimo, who translated the bible into Latin, and was an Illyrian who spoke Illyrian, not have left any writings in
his own language.

Very annoying. Illyria seems to be a black hole when it comes to historiography

 

[Dardha]

Probably because some foreign ruler wanted the culture to disappear ..and that is my first post [emoji4]

 

[Sile]

[FONT=&]"Polish archaeologists discovered over 2,000 years old lost city of Bassania in Albania. The fortress was probably destroyed by the Romans at the beginning of our era. Until now, its ruins were considered to be natural rocks.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&]The lost city was found unexpectedly in northwestern Albania, in the area of today`s Shkoder. According to the researchers, it is probably Bassania - a city described by Roman historian Livy (59 BC - AD 17) in the context of the battles of Roman troops with the last king of Illyria, Gentius.


In May, archaeologists only uncovered part of the walls and the gate. "The defensive structures were erected from well-fitted, huge stone blocks" - told PAP head of excavations, Prof. Piotr Dyczek, director of the Antiquity of Southeastern Europe Research Centre of the University of Warsaw. The uncovered gate was accompanied by two bastions, to which powerful, more than 3 m wide defensive walls led. Their external parts were made of profiled stone blocks. The space between them was filled with small stones and earth.

According to Prof. Dyczek, this type of construction is typical for Hellenistic defensive structures. Such dating is also supported by objects the archaeologists discovered near the walls: coins and fragments of ceramic vessels from IV-I century BC. This means that the city functioned in the time of the Illyrian kingdom, which ceased to exist at the turn of the millennium after the Roman invasion.

[FONT=&]"In recent years, we have begun to look around Shkoder for settlements and fortresses that were its economic and military base. Thanks to the use of various methods, including non-invasive ones, we have located relics of a huge ancient city" - described Prof. Dyczek.

[/FONT]
​

To the surprise of the researchers, it turned out that the recently discovered city was three times larger than the ancient Shkoder - massive stone walls surrounded an area of about 20 hectares.

Researchers are wondering about the lack of information about the city in the records of travellers from few hundred years ago. "This silence of the travellers, who described the other, even small sites and individual ruins with extraordinary meticulousness, is quite puzzling. The reason could be that the city had ceased to exist so long ago that its name was forgotten" - the archaeologist suggested in an interview with PAP. Recent research confirmed that the end of the city`s existence actually falls at the beginning of the 1st century AD - the end of the reign of Emperor Octavian Augustus - and at that time it was abandoned or destroyed during the Roman invasion. "Its name could have been forgotten" - says Prof. Dyczek.

The ruins on the hill escaped attention due to its specific geological structure - the hill is formed by conglomerates and sandstones. "After centuries of erosion, the remnants of stone structures looming on the surface resemble a natural geological structure coming out onto the surface, rather than structures intentionally built by man" - described the scientist."
[/FONT]

LINK: http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/ne...er-over-2000-years-old-lost-city-albania.html

Bassania was founded by Greeks from Lissos , it has the same fortifications as Lissos...............see Lissos on the net or below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lezhë#History

 

[Sile]

How can it be that at least 25 Roman emperors were born in Illyria and there is not one surviving text of the Illyrian language.
One would assume that they (romans in general) would have had to at least minimally interact with locals and their dialect/language?
How can St Jeronimo, who translated the bible into Latin, and was an Illyrian who spoke Illyrian, not have left any writings in
his own language.
Very annoying. Illyria seems to be a black hole when it comes to historiography

These emperors mostly came from Dalmatia and spoke
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_language
.
The illyrians in Pannonia spoke a different language.
.
Dalmatian was cut off from Pannonia due to celtic or Venetic speaking illyrian tribes ..............the Dardani are thracian and some tribes in albania are phyrgian ( from western anatolia in origin )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illyrian_languages#/media/File:Illyrian_Tribes_(English).svg
.
Prior Roman invasion would mean the year 200BC due to history stating that the Roman landing/invasion on macedonian albania in the first macedonian war was 196BC............it could also mean
229–168 BC between the Roman Republic and the Ardiaei kingdom. The Ardiaei (Ancient Greek: Ἀρδιαῖοι or Οὐαρδαῖοι, Ouardiaei; Latin: Vardiaei)[1] were an Illyrian tribe, residing inland,[2] that eventually settled[3] on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula with Scodra as the capital.They were located in present-day Montenegro,[7] most likely around the gulf of Rhizon,[8] although Strabo places them in the right bank of the Neretva.[9] Their initial inland residence was located along the Naro River up to the Konjic region,[2] in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina.
An inland tribe which took over Greek cities on the coast of Montenegro

 

[LABERIA]

Bassania was founded by Greeks from Lissos , it has the same fortifications as Lissos...............see Lissos on the net or below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lezhë#History

Where did you read that this city was founded by the Greeks? Can you suggest some links?

 

[Sile]

Where did you read that this city was founded by the Greeks? Can you suggest some links?

Lezhë (Albanian: Lezha or Lezhë, Albanian pronunciation: [ˈlɛʒə]) is a town and municipality in northwest Albania, in the county with the same name. In ancient history it was an ancient Greek colony named Lissus. The latter is an Archaeological Park of Albania.
The city dates back to at least 8th century BC.[4] Around 385 BC, a Greek colony was founded by Dionysius I of Syracuse by the name of Lissos (Λισσός),[5] as part of a strategy by Dionysius to secure Syracusan trade routes along the Adriatic.[6] Diodorus calls it a polis.[5] The city was separated into sectors by diateichisma[5] (Greek: διατείχισμα, "cross-wall"[7]) and there are elements of Syracusan architecture in part of its walls. At a later time it came under Illyrian rule. In 211 BC, Philip V of Macedon captured the citadel of Akrolissos, and Lissos surrendered to him.

 

[LABERIA]

Lezhë (Albanian: Lezha or Lezhë, Albanian pronunciation: [ˈlɛʒə]) is a town and municipality in northwest Albania, in the county with the same name. In ancient history it was an ancient Greek colony named Lissus. The latter is an Archaeological Park of Albania.
The city dates back to at least 8th century BC.[4] Around 385 BC, a Greek colony was founded by Dionysius I of Syracuse by the name of Lissos (Λισσός),[5] as part of a strategy by Dionysius to secure Syracusan trade routes along the Adriatic.[6] Diodorus calls it a polis.[5] The city was separated into sectors by diateichisma[5] (Greek: διατείχισμα, "cross-wall"[7]) and there are elements of Syracusan architecture in part of its walls. At a later time it came under Illyrian rule. In 211 BC, Philip V of Macedon captured the citadel of Akrolissos, and Lissos surrendered to him.

Stop trolliing, you are really a boring person. Nobody asked you about Lezhë. You said that Bassania was founded by Greeks. And for this reason i asked you:

Where did you read that this city was founded by the Greeks? Can you suggest some links?

 

[Ygorcs]

How can it be that at least 25 Roman emperors were born in Illyria and there is not one surviving text of the Illyrian language.
One would assume that they (romans in general) would have had to at least minimally interact with locals and their dialect/language?

How can St Jeronimo, who translated the bible into Latin, and was an Illyrian who spoke Illyrian, not have left any writings in
his own language.

Very annoying. Illyria seems to be a black hole when it comes to historiography

I assume most of those who were powerful (like emperors and their familiess) or intellectually relevant enough in the Roman Empire society, even in the provinces, saw (or wanted to see) themselves as fully Romans (and speaking in Latin was part of that "Romanization certificate") and, even when they had some links to their ancestral roots or the native ethnic majority in their homelands, they wouldn't think much of using the indigenous languages lacking prestige in such a formal vehicle as written documents, letters, state inscriptions and books. It's probable that they couldn't even write in those indigenous languages, given that they were seen as a merely spoken "folk speech", not as an erudite language meant for writing. It's not rare in ancient societies to find people who spoke in one language but only wrote in another language regionally accepted as a formal and erudite language (or lingua franca in order to make their messages understood by a wider audience).

 

[LABERIA]

New discovery published today.

[h=1]Important unknown archaeological site discovered[/h]
During the works for the TAP pipeline, an important unknown archaeological site has been discovered dating back to 6,000 years before the birth of Christ.The news was made public by Prime Minister Edi Rama who also published a video showing the fieldwork of about 100 archaeologists.This is considered a very important discovery and is expected to be a new strong testimony to the continuity of the Albanian nation from antiquity to the present day.At present there is still little information about those found in this precious archaeological asset.
/Klara Ruci/

https://video.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.90...=d90540ecb79e8fb5c269b165552099b8&oe=5B634078
https://www.facebook.com/edirama.al/videos/10156003551076523/

 

[LABERIA]

Google translation from this article in Albanian:
https://konica.al/2018/08/zbulohen-varre-prehistorike-gjate-germimeve-per-tap-ne-korce/#

About 800 mass graves belonging to the period from the 11th to 10th centuries BC to the Ottoman period were discovered during the excavation of the TAP pipeline in the Korça area.
Engineers, archaeologists, following the works for the extension of the pipeline project have ascertained these findings; bones which will be part of further studies as evidence of cultural heritage. The excavations continue and a group of experts is in the field while the archaeologist Gjergj Vinjahu shared the dates for the tombs found and the time they belong to.
Vinjahu: In the 40 km of the pipeline was encountered some archaeological traces. Around a year, there was excavated space where over 800 graves were discovered. It's a very interesting site. The earliest use of the site belongs to the Neolithic period, ie around 11-10 BC. Then we have another graveyard of the Roman period and then continue with tombs of the early Middle Ages and later of the 18th century belonging to the Ottoman period.
Evidence that the area of ​​Korca has been inhabited in antiquity. Findings will be sent to special environments to continue with their documentation and inclusion in scientific publications.
Vinjahu: Various specialists will be involved in the study of these materials and a scientific publication will be published about the findings along the pipeline line, where this cemetery will be.
Archaeologists interested in this important excavation and documentation process see cemeteries that belong to 6,000 years ago.
Even Prime Minister Rama shared a little earlier with the public the news of the findings of archaeological finds of the Korça area.

 

[Yetos]

How can it be that at least 25 Roman emperors were born in Illyria and there is not one surviving text of the Illyrian language.
One would assume that they (romans in general) would have had to at least minimally interact with locals and their dialect/language?

How can St Jeronimo, who translated the bible into Latin, and was an Illyrian who spoke Illyrian, not have left any writings in
his own language.

Very annoying. Illyria seems to be a black hole when it comes to historiography

What you call Illyrian emperrors, were Flavians,
all connected with one Legion,
the best example is the 'lost' relative, Anastasios.
just like if all royal family of UK for example lost, they might even search for possible relatives or even 'mule' sons in USA or Canada.

Come on, stop dreaming,
All were Flavians, true Romans, and some had nothing to do with Illyria,
a family and a legion connection,
possibly their descendants today are some Vlachs / Aromani.

their male origins were either Napoli either Swiss

 

[Yetos]

Google translation from this article in Albanian:
https://konica.al/2018/08/zbulohen-varre-prehistorike-gjate-germimeve-per-tap-ne-korce/#

About 800 mass graves belonging to the period from the 11th to 10th centuries BC to the Ottoman period were discovered during the excavation of the TAP pipeline in the Korça area.
Engineers, archaeologists, following the works for the extension of the pipeline project have ascertained these findings; bones which will be part of further studies as evidence of cultural heritage. The excavations continue and a group of experts is in the field while the archaeologist Gjergj Vinjahu shared the dates for the tombs found and the time they belong to.
Vinjahu: In the 40 km of the pipeline was encountered some archaeological traces. Around a year, there was excavated space where over 800 graves were discovered. It's a very interesting site. The earliest use of the site belongs to the Neolithic period, ie around 11-10 BC. Then we have another graveyard of the Roman period and then continue with tombs of the early Middle Ages and later of the 18th century belonging to the Ottoman period.
Evidence that the area of ​​Korca has been inhabited in antiquity. Findings will be sent to special environments to continue with their documentation and inclusion in scientific publications.
Vinjahu: Various specialists will be involved in the study of these materials and a scientific publication will be published about the findings along the pipeline line, where this cemetery will be.
Archaeologists interested in this important excavation and documentation process see cemeteries that belong to 6,000 years ago.
Even Prime Minister Rama shared a little earlier with the public the news of the findings of archaeological finds of the Korça area.

I am expecting to find a lot of M406,L90,L14, L645 or G2a3a or G2a2 there,
even I1a is expected by me

 

[LABERIA]

What you call Illyrian emperrors, were Flavians,
all connected with one Legion,
the best example is the 'lost' relative, Anastasios.
just like if all royal family of UK for example lost, they might even search for possible relatives or even 'mule' sons in USA or Canada.
Come on, stop dreaming,
All were Flavians, true Romans, and some had nothing to do with Illyria,
a family and a legion connection,
possibly their descendants today are some Vlachs / Aromani.
their male origins were either Napoli either Swiss

They are called Illyrian Emperors from the scholars, Yetos. They are not called Vlachs, Napoletans, Greeks, etc, Emperors. The only person who is dreaming here is you. And as usually, from years now, you are troling. The most easy thing to do is troling with your dream of being a original makedonian or with the blank pages of the history of your country. But we are here to discuss, right? Now, if it's possible, please don't destroy even this thread. I don't think that i am asking too much, right?

 

[Yetos]

They are called Illyrian Emperors from the scholars, Yetos. They are not called Vlachs, Napoletans, Greeks, etc, Emperors. The only person who is dreaming here is you. And as usually, from years now, you are troling. The most easy thing to do is troling with your dream of being a original makedonian or with the blank pages of the history of your country. But we are here to discuss, right? Now, if it's possible, please don't destroy even this thread. I don't think that i am asking too much, right?

Geographical origin.

 

[LABERIA]

Geographical origin.

Again, they are named Illyrian Emperors, not Emperors from Illyria.

 

[LABERIA]

Ancient ruins found in Divjake, what does archeologists say

​

An ancient settlement was discovered in the city of Divjaka. The ruins were discovered by Albanian and German archaeologists who worked for several months in the remains of those believed to be residential houses, perimeter walls and old roads that show the continuity of Albanians' lives in their lands.

The purpose of the project is to create a map of Albania and compile data on sites where data are available and evidence of the past.

"What we try to understand is who lived here between Apollonia and Durrës and built this settlement. Divjaka and Babunja has been selected among many others and for the first time we do research here. The urban organization of this hilly village is perfect," said Manuel Fidler, archaeologist at the University of Berlin.

Such excavations will continue in the following months, while the entire search is positioned in the hilly area of Divjaka.

 

[LABERIA]

[h=1]Zbulohet vendbanimi i lashtë në Divjakë - Top Channel Albania - News - Lajme[/h]

 

[LABERIA]

AP PHOTOS: Ancient cemetery unearthed in Albania
By The Associated Press
TURAN, Albania — Sep 29, 2018, 7:45 AM ET

In a rich agricultural basin near the town of Korca in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule.
The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.
And under the bottom layer are traces of a rare Neolithic settlement demarcated by holes in the ground that supported the now-rotted wooden skeletons of small huts.
More than 20 Neolithic sites have been found in Albania, dating roughly from the 7th to the 3rd millennia B.C., which are some of the earliest farming settlements in Europe. But according to Turan lead archaeologist Iris Pojani, the pipeline work provided the opportunity — and the funding — to excavate an unusually large inhabited area from that era.
It was "the cherry on the cake," Pojani, a professor at Tirana University's faculty of history and letters, told The Associated Press.
Above the millennia-old huts, her team of 50 archaeologists excavating an area of 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) found three cemeteries from the Iron Age, late Roman times and the Middle Ages. No traces of the settlements these cemeteries served have yet been located, but Pojani said it's easy to see why people through the ages chose to live there.
"Even nowadays this is a prosperous agricultural area," she said.
Grave goods included rings, bracelets, earrings, amber and glass beads, gold coins, lots of pottery — including local copies of 11th or 10th century B.C. wine jugs popular in neighboring Greece — mediaeval wooden caskets and clothes worked with silver thread, as well as spears, daggers, knives and swords.
Turan, 180 kilometers (110 miles) southeast of the capital Tirana, is the most important of about 30 sites already found during laying of the underground Trans Adriatic Pipeline, or TAP, that will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey, Greece and Albania, and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy.
In Albania, it crosses 215 kilometers (133 miles), but officials say digging is almost complete and no more archaeological finds are expected.
"We will leave something that is not just a momentary passage of gas but cultural heritage that people will pass on," TAP Cultural Heritage Monitor official Arber Kadia said.
———
Follow Llazar Semini on twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini

 

[Johane Derite]

AP PHOTOS: Ancient cemetery unearthed in Albania
By The Associated Press
TURAN, Albania — Sep 29, 2018, 7:45 AM ET

In a rich agricultural basin near the town of Korca in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule.
The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.
And under the bottom layer are traces of a rare Neolithic settlement demarcated by holes in the ground that supported the now-rotted wooden skeletons of small huts.
More than 20 Neolithic sites have been found in Albania, dating roughly from the 7th to the 3rd millennia B.C., which are some of the earliest farming settlements in Europe. But according to Turan lead archaeologist Iris Pojani, the pipeline work provided the opportunity — and the funding — to excavate an unusually large inhabited area from that era.
It was "the cherry on the cake," Pojani, a professor at Tirana University's faculty of history and letters, told The Associated Press.
Above the millennia-old huts, her team of 50 archaeologists excavating an area of 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) found three cemeteries from the Iron Age, late Roman times and the Middle Ages. No traces of the settlements these cemeteries served have yet been located, but Pojani said it's easy to see why people through the ages chose to live there.
"Even nowadays this is a prosperous agricultural area," she said.
Grave goods included rings, bracelets, earrings, amber and glass beads, gold coins, lots of pottery — including local copies of 11th or 10th century B.C. wine jugs popular in neighboring Greece — mediaeval wooden caskets and clothes worked with silver thread, as well as spears, daggers, knives and swords.
Turan, 180 kilometers (110 miles) southeast of the capital Tirana, is the most important of about 30 sites already found during laying of the underground Trans Adriatic Pipeline, or TAP, that will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey, Greece and Albania, and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy.
In Albania, it crosses 215 kilometers (133 miles), but officials say digging is almost complete and no more archaeological finds are expected.
"We will leave something that is not just a momentary passage of gas but cultural heritage that people will pass on," TAP Cultural Heritage Monitor official Arber Kadia said.
———
Follow Llazar Semini on twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini

I really hope some good lab transparantly DNA tests all these 1000 graves before Greece tries to politically interfere and involve herself