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Excavation

  • Northern gate (Oricum)
  • Orikum
  • Oricum/Orikon
  • Albania
  • Vlorë County
  • Bashkia Vlorë
  • Bashkia e Orikumit

Tools

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)

  • In sector number 3, the excavations started in 2013, where part of the fortification wall and the northern entrance were partially discovered. In 2017, a rectangular structure with stone blocks and stone filling in the center was completely excavated. The structure is thought to have been either a tower or an artillery platform in front of the entrance. The material found from the excavation dates the platform to the second century BC. Excavation inside the structure revealed large stones and rough blocks that served to reinforce the foundation of the protective structure that was bounded by double walls. The study of the ceramics of this layer showed a great chronological homogeneity, including forms that date to the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The protective wall of the entrance corridor of the gate is chronologically the same as the quadrangular structure itself (Tower? Artillery platforms?). This is confirmed by the water evacuation channel that was built between the entrance and the platform. In the northwest, the excavation was extended to a surface of about 80 m². A part of the Hellenistic wall was discovered. It extended towards the west for another 2.50 m. At this point, it seems that the wall of the Hellenistic period has a deviation inside the city. In continuation of the wall, it seems that the entire area was restored in the Byzantine period. The blocks from the Hellenistic period were reused and in addition to the mortar used as a binder, the joints were filled with bricks and tiles. The width of the Byzantine period wall reached 2 m. The entrance of the Byzantine period was built at a higher level than that of the Hellenistic period. It was equipped with channels for water drainage.

  • Ulsi Tota - Institute of Archaeology 
  • Kriledjan Ҫipa - Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage-Vlora 

Director

  • Jean Terrier - University of Geneva
  • Saimir Shpuza - Instituti i Arkeologjisë Tiranë, Departamenti i Antikitetit (Albanian Institute of Archaeology, Department of Antiquity)

Team

  • Ulsi Tota - Institute of Archaeology
  • Kriledjan Ҫipa - Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage-Vlora
  • Gionata Consagra - University of Geneva

Research Body

  • Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
  • University of Geneva (Université de Genève)

Funding Body

  • Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
  • University of Geneva (Université de Genève)

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