Shkodra fortress confirmed as major Illyrian epicenter

TIRANA, June 6 – A Polish-Albanian teams of archeologists has identified the Rozafa fortress in Shkodra as the epicenter of Illyrian civilization. Prof. Piotr Dyczek of the University of Warsaw says “we have strong reasons to believe the Rozafa castle was an Illyrian fortification, probably of the King Gent period because of the discovery of two Hellenistic walls and some pre-Hellenistic traces revealing this was an important centre of the II and III century BC.”
Nikolin Shati, the director of the Shkodra archeological park says the expedition which is in its final days for this year has been trying to prove the Illyrian roots of the area from the discovered items, traces and ruins.
The Polish professor says the site used to be the most important centre in the Albanian northern region. “We have data based on excavations that there existed big buildings and there was rich town right here. It is impossible to pretend this fortress was Slav because all materials we have found and the previous ones lead us to the bronze period, typical and characteristic of Albania and then we have the Illyrian period which is so true. Illyrians used to have ties with the Greek civilization which is more than natural and we have not only materials of the Greek and Illyrian civilization but also from later Ottoman and Venetian periods,” says Prof. Piotr Dyczek.
Archeologists say that since the beginning everything they found is closely linked to Albania and the culture of this area in northern Albania.
The team of archeologists plans to resume excavations next year in the area known as Old Shkodra around the fortress.
This is the second year the Polish-Albanian team has been conducting excavations in the Rozafa fortress. Tests on the archeological finds are carried out in France.
Situated on a rocky hill, just before entering the northwestern city of Shkodra, the Rozafa castle is surrounded by the Buna and Drini rivers. Shkod철is the capital of the District of Shkod첬 and is one of Albania’s oldest and most historic towns, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. It was an Illyrian stronghold until it was captured by the Romans in 167 BC.
The 19th century German author and explorer Johann Georg von Hahn suggested that the ancient and medieval city of Shkodra was located immediately south of the Rozafa hill, between the hill and the confluence of Buna and Drini. The fortifications, as they have been preserved to date, are mostly of Venetian origin.
The castle also boasts a famous legend about a woman who was buried in the foundation to make possible its construction.