About 16 exhibits returned to Museum of Amantia

About one week ago, several objects lost in the years after 1990 stolen from the museum at the Archaeological Park of Amantia (Western Albania) were discovered in a zone close to the Park and have been safely restored to the Museum. According to the Director of this Park which has a 2,400 year long history, Gezim Llojdia, six objects were found in a house in the village of Ploce, whilst ten others were found in the surrounding villages. The objects returned are made of stone and they belong to the Mozaic of the Basilica, proof of the culture in this ancient center. The history of thefts from this center of antiquity dates back to 1920 and Italian soldiers, who made the first excavations on site, Llojdia claims. He says that in 1990 the archeological museum located within the territory of the Park, suffered the greatest damage. Dozens of valuable objects were plundered from the museum, a good part of which were sold to museums in neighboring countries. The trail of another 26 objects has been picked up on and the hunt continues. The Director of the Park stressed that over the past few weeks many coins, figures and other objects, former property of the museum have been tracked down to homes in the nearby village of Arminica which will soon be returned to the Park of Amantia.(Tirana Times Staff)