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Excavation

  • Necropolis of Apollonia, Tumulus 11
  • Radostinë, Apollonia
  • Apollonia
  • Albania
  • Fier County
  • Bashkia Fier
  • Komuna e Dermenasit

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Credits

  • The Italian Database is the result of a collaboration between:

    MIBAC (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Direzione Generale per i Beni Archeologici),

    ICCD (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione) and

    AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).

  • AIAC_logo logo

Summary (English)

  • Tumulus 11 is the most damaged tumulus of the tumulus complex. The core of the tumulus has been completely destroyed by military trenches and by extraction of sand and gravel.
    A peculiarity distinguishes Tumulus 11 from the others: a series of 7 large rocks forming a slightly curved line, probably some kind of division between the Archaic core of the tumulus and the periphery that was used in the IV century B.C. and it has been reused in the post-medieval period XVIIXIX century A.D. The first operation before starting the excavation, as usual, was to clean the whole surface of the vegetation. The area was also systematically mapped with a Total Station, in order to obtain a three dimensional model of the tumulus and the zone around it. The hill was then divided into four sectors along the cardinal axes. In total only 17 graves were found, and among these only 5 were not damaged. In addition to the graves, 14 skeletal units were recorded. In Tumulus 11, as in Tumulus 9, were found ceramic deposits, and isolated terracotta figurines, mostly handmade and representing animals, especially doves. They have been interpreted as probable offerings presented at the anniversary of the death by the families of the deceased, but placed apart from the graves.
    The tumulus was used for three centuries, from the beginning of the VI to the end of the IV century B.C., and then in the XVII-XIX century A.D. Inhumation and cremation were both practiced in the tumulus, but inhumations are the 65% of the total graves. Even if the number of graves is not high, quite a large variation of grave types were observed: simple pit, enchytrismos, sarcophagus, pit lined with tiles, pit lined with bricks, and urn. The most common type, anyway, is the simple pit (41%). The majority of the graves, 13 (or 76.5%), had grave goods. The graves not associated with objects are the ones that are dated to the Post – Medieval period and few others that were damaged. In the tumulus was found material dated from the Archaic to the Early Hellenistic period.

    Together with Tumulus 11 was explored also the space between this tumulus and Tumulus 10, a platform measuring approximately 20 m N-S x 9.5 m E-W, and named Appendix 3.
    The number of graves found in this Appendix is 14. Unfortunately in this case also the majority of them, approximately 2/3 of the total number, were damaged, especially those close to the northern and southern edges. Besides the graves, 4 skeletal units were recorded, as well as 6 ceramic deposits.
    It is interesting to notice that all the graves are dated to the Classical/Early Hellenistic period (except for Grave 1 and Grave 6 which are of post- Medieval date), but scattered in the layers was found a considerable amount of prehistoric pottery.
    Inhumation and cremation burials were both found in Appendix 3, but inhumations are the 79% of the total graves. Cremations are both in situ and in urns (with a ratio of 2:1).
    In the graves at least partially preserved (and of course except for the urn) the bodies were all placed in supine position with extended arms and legs. The majority of the graves were single burials. An exception is Grave 13, a simple pit with 3 skeletons, one in extended position and two with the bones piled up in a corner of the pit.
    Even if the number of graves is not high, the whole range of grave types common for the Classical/Early Hellenistic period was observed, as seen in the tumuli previously excavated: simple pits, pits lined with mud-bricks, pits lined with tiles, pits lined with bricks, and urns. The most common type, however, is the simple pit (64% of the total).
    The majority of the graves had grave goods, mostly black-glazed vessels such as skyphoi and cups (also with stamped palmettes on the floor), lamps, ribbed black-glazed lekythoi; as part of grave goods were also plain table amphorae.

  • Maria Grazia Amore - GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit) 

Director

  • Vangjel Dimo - Insituti i Arkeologjisë Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Team

  • Lynne Schepartz - Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati
  • Esmeralda Agolli - GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
  • Klodiana Kondo
  • Skënder Aliu - Muzeu Arkeologjik i Korçës (Archaeological Museum of Korça)
  • Sonila Meta
  • Valbona Hysa - QNASH - Qendra Ndërkombëtare për Arkeologjinë Shqiptare (ICAA- International Centre for Albanian Archaeology)
  • Alma Bardho - GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
  • Eduart Bitri
  • Pippa Pierce - British Museum
  • Florenc Cenolli - Muzeu Arkeologjik i Korçës (Archaeological Museum of Korça)
  • Genti Përzhita - Universiteti Politeknik i Tiranës, Fakulteti i Inxhinierisë së Ndërtimit (Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Enginery)
  • Britteny Howell - Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati
  • Gjergji Caca - Universiteti Politeknik i Tiranës, Fakulteti i Inxhinierisë së Ndërtimit (Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Enginery )
  • Jennifer Stallo - Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati
  • Michelle Anderson - Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati
  • Sarah Stoutmire - Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati
  • a group of local workers

Research Body

  • GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
  • Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Funding Body

  • Packard Humanities Institute

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