Date:

Archaeologists find ancient city from Hellenistic Period

Archaeologists have found an ancient city from the Hellenistic Period that may be the lost city of Bassania in Albania.

Bassania was an Illyrian city that came under Roman control during the Illyrian Wars. The location of Bassania has previously been suggested to be near the village of Pedhanë in the Lezhë County, or the village of Bushat in the Shkodër County. Bassania was described by the Roman historian Livius (59 BC – AD 17) in the context of the struggle of the Roman army with the last king of the Illyrians, Gentios.

- Advertisement -

The site was first discovered in 2018, when researchers from the University of Warsaw identified cyclopean defensive walls and two stone structures previously thought to be natural rock formations on a hill near Shkodra, revealed to be a gatehouse and two bastions.

bass2
Image Credit : PAP

The settlement is situated between two important ancient centres in the area of former Illyria (now Albania) – the Illyrian capital of Shkoder and the Greek city of Lissos.

As part of a new study by the South-Eastern Europe Research Centre of the University of Warsaw, the team applied geophysical surveys on the hill revealing a settlement that covers around 20 hectares. This led archaeologists to focus excavations of two large buildings, one measuring 240 metres2 and the other 70 metres2 that date from the Hellenistic Period.

Fragments of pottery within the buildings has established that the site was first inhabited from as early as 2,000 BC, whilst pieces of amphorae imported from Italy have been dated to the 3rd and 2nd century BC during the primary occupation level.

- Advertisement -

Prof. Piotr Dyczek reported in PAP that the structures show no evidence of a violent end by destruction or burning. Instead, the settlement was abandoned and fell to ruin due to natural erosion and robbing of stone through quarrying over the centuries for building material.

PAP

Header Image Credit : PAP

- Advertisement -
spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Face to face with royalty: Skull may belong to King Matthias Corvinus

A skull unearthed in the ruins of Hungary’s former royal coronation site may belong to King Matthias Corvinus.

Ancient Egyptian settlement discovered near Alexandria

Archaeologists excavating at Kom el-Nugus west of Alexandria have discovered the remains of a New Kingdom settlement.

Researchers uncover hidden inscriptions in Jerusalem’s Last Supper Room

An international team of researchers, including experts from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), have uncovered Medieval inscriptions hidden on the walls of the Cenacle – the traditional location of the Last Supper.

Thirty Years’ war camp excavation sheds light on military life

Archaeologists from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD) have excavated one of the largest fortified military camps of the Thirty Years' War, located in Stein, Germany.

Macabre book discovery at Suffolk Museum

A macabre book bound in human skin has been rediscovered at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Homeowner discovers hidden tunnel beneath townhouse

A homeowner unexpectedly discovered a hidden tunnel during renovations of their townhouse in Tielt, Belgium.

Armed in death: swords reveal warrior graves

Archaeologists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) have uncovered a necropolis with burials accompanied by richly adorned grave goods.

4,000 fragments of Roman wall paintings unearthed in Villajoyosa

Archaeologists excavating the Roman villa of Barberes Sud in Villajoyosa, Spain, have unearthed over 4,000 fragments of ornamental wall paintings.