Pre-historic mural paintings discovered in Korca cave

TIRANA, July 30 – Some 27 pre-historic mural paintings believed to date back to the early Neolithic Age have been discovered in a cave in southeastern Albania. The discovery of paintings believed to date back to 7,000 B.C in the Korca region was made by a team of Albanian and Greek archaeologists tracing ancient settlements. The paintings in the Marica cave in the Prespa lake feature humans, animals and different crosses.
“The cave containing pre-historic paintings is a novelty in the region because of reflecting pre-historic art in the Balkans and the regions around Prespa area,” says Petrika Lera, an exhibition co-director.
Greek archeologists say the finding could document the everyday religious life at that time. “We have found paintings portraying a religious belief but also unique culture for Albania and this is a cultural treasury for Albania,” says Stavros Oikonomidis, the Greek co-director of the excavation team.
The joint Albania-Greek expedition has earlier discovered ceramics, coins and bone remains dating back to pre-historic times during their three-year expedition in Maligrad island and the Prespa Lake in Albanian territory.