The 2023 archaeological research campaign of the Butrint Project took place between 4th and 24th June 2023 and between 11th September and 1st October. As per agreements with the Albanian colleagues of the Institute of Archeology of Tirana and the Butrint National Park, the June campaign focused on the topographic survey of the wall circuit and the sanctuary of Asclepius, while the September campaign focused on the excavation of the Acropolis of Butrint. The topographic survey carried out in June represented an important moment for the Butrint Project as it marked the conclusion of the very first activity that the Project began in the Butrint Archaeological Park back in 2015. During the June 2023 campaign, the laser scanning methodology was used to survey the wall circuit between the North Gate and the West Gate, thus concluding the topographical survey of the Hellenistic circuit of Butrint. At the same time, the team surveyed using the laser scanning methodology the whole sanctuary of Asclepius, which was also involved in a brand new analysis of its rooms and structures with the intent to clarify its phases of occupation, development and renovation and reach a new interpretation of this challenging complex.
For the excavations, the area chosen for the 2023 research is one of those that had been involved in the geophysical surveys of September 2022, which had given positive results about the presence of ancient structures underneath the soil. In fact, during the June and September campaign we were able to bring back to light one of these structures that was revealed to be a E-W wall. The excavations disclosed how this was the outer wall of a building abandoned after the collapse of the roof, still preserved almost in its integrity. While the building was probably first built during the Imperial period, as the cocciopesto floor with mosaic tiles shows, its long life crossed many centuries up the Late Antiquity and Middle Ages.
At the same time, 2023 was an important year for studying and recording the materials discovered during the previous excavation campaigns, which allowed to broaden the insights into the material culture of those who occupied the acropolis of Butrint from the Archaic age until the Venetian phase.
Last but not the least, new underwater surveys allowed the localisation and documentation of the remains of the piers of the Roman aqueduct that crossed the Vivari channel connecting Butrint and the Vrina plain. The piers were photographed and surveyed using a total station, thus achieving their first complete documentation.
The is no summary for this season.