As Italo-Albanian mission reaches term
Four underwater divisions have been created by an Italo-Albanian research mission, which operated in the Albanian waters from the 25th of July to the 9th of August. The project, called “Liburna”, began in 2007. At a conference held on the 10th of August, 2009 at the Archeological Museum of Durr쳬 and reported by the press (Gazeta Libertas, 11.08.2009), the Albanian co-director of the project, Dr. Adrian Anastasi explained that, “ƴhe findings of the joint underwater expedition do not limit themselves to the academic potential, but also enable the initiative for the creation of underwater sites.” He believed this would require large cooperation and projects framed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
At this conference, the Italian co-director of the project and Dean of the University of Foggia in Italy, Prof. Giuliano Volpe, highlighted that, “ơt all times the gulf of Vlor롨as been a big port, where anchoring places have been present in all the periods either at the Peninsula of Karaburuni, or at the sea-coast of Vlor뢮
The “Liburna” project
The “Liburna” project, which assembled together Italian and Albanian scholars and archeologists, started at Porto Palermo on the Albanian coast in 2007 and lasted three weeks. This year (from the 25th of July to the 9th of August), the proceedings of the mission have laid the foundations for mapping the underwater coasts of Albania. Four underwater divisions from Durr쳠to Sarand롨ave been selected for further mapping.
Next year Libertas reports the beginning of research diving will be near Durr쳠as well as the establishment of an archaeological site near Vlor뮠Both Durr쳠and Vlor묠known in Italian as Durazzo and Valona, have been important Mediterranean ports. They have been especially important to some of the Italian sea-port cities.
Prospects of underwater tourism
The development of the project since 2007 has made the Albanian directors enthusiastic not only regarding the historic and cultural findings, but also on the possibility of building underwater tourist resources. Albania has become, over the last few years, a select choice for underwater diving.
But to give a boost to cultural diving prospects, the Albanian co-director of the “Liburna” project, Dr. Adrian Anastasi, believes the construction of a small underwater museum is possible and could help the development of underwater tourism. “Underwater archaeological tourism in Albania is totally possible. Antique or mediaeval historic and cultural objects concealed by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas could call for exploration and be in the future part of open sea walk-offs, during which tourists can dive to better observe archaeological objects and why not a small underwater museum, where vessels, amphora and anchors could be shown,” believes Dr. Anastasi.
Archeological damage
Side by side with deterioration, the theft of cultural heritage is one of the cultural threats that are weighing on present-day Albania. While underwater objects have generally been found in a better preservation state than unearthed cultural objects or open air construction, they may be as much exposed to robbery and smuggling as any other cultural object. The Albanian co-director of the “Liburna” project, Dr. Adrian Anastasi, highlighted the cooperation of scientific and archaeological structures with coastal boundary police and the coast guard of the Albanian Naval Forces in order to prevent theft of underwater findings.
BOX 1
The model of a liburna after ō
The Italo-Albanian underwater research mission has taken the symbolic name of “Liburna”. In antiquity liburnas were Illyrian fast-sailing ships, reputed in the Adriatic Sea and known in the Mediterranean world. They took their name after the Illyrian tribe of the Liburnoi (the Liburnians, those living in Liburnia, a coastal district of ancient Illyria) and might have exported their name as far as to the French region of Libourne, combined sea-coast and river-coast on the Atlantic shores of France, at the outlet of Š.
The ancient Illyrians are the predecessors of the present-day Albanians. After the occupation of Illyria by the Romans, liburnas were also used in the whole Roman Empire, where they were known as warships or fast-sailors.
Definition of liburna taken from “An abridgment of Ainsworth’s dictionary, English and Latin”, 1820.
