Excavation works resume in Hadrianapolis

TIRANA, March 1 – A team of Albanian and Italian archeologists has resumed working in the in the ancient Roman city of Hadrianapolis located in the southern district of Gjirokastra, where some amphora and ceramic objects have been recently discovered. Professor Roberto Perna of Italy’s University of Macerata says the research work the specialists are currently carrying out is aimed at shedding light on the economic relations Hadrianapolis used to have with other ancient regional sites.
“We can certainly confirm that Hadrianapolis was an important centre where trade and exchanges were vital for this city,” the Italian archeologist was quoted as saying by local media recently.
The joint Italian-Albanian expedition is expected to resume excavations into the site next summer when archeology students will also join them.
Previous expeditions in the site managed to discover important remains such as the Roman baths, monumental tombs and an ancient church, all of which are expected to give Hadrianapolis the national park status and attract more visitors.
Located in Drino valley in Gjirokastra region by a village bearing the same name, Roman Hadrianopolis dates back to the second century A.D. The theatre was excavated in 1984 and has a capacity of 4,000 seats in 27 steps.
The settlement, Hellenistic in origin, was re-founded under Emperor Hadrian, who gave it its name. The excavated remains include public buildings such as a theatre and Roman baths, large parts of the urban settlement and an extensive necropolis.