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  • Acropolis of Butrint
  • Butrint
  • Buthrotum
  • Albania
  • Vlorë County
  • Bashkia Konispol
  • Xarre

Credits

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  • AIAC_logo logo

Monuments

Periods

  • No period data has been added yet

Chronology

  • 700 BC - 1700 AD

Season

    • The 2019 archaeological research campaign on site, as per agreements with the Albanian colleagues of the Institute of Archeology of Tirana and the Butrint National Park, focused on two different targets. First of all, the stratigraphic excavation of the southern plateau of the Acropolis, near the Archaic wall, in the area between the Venetian Castle and the Acropolis Basilica. The area had already been investigated several times, initially by the Greek-Albanian Mission led by A. Nanaj and K. Hadzis (1991-1995) and subsequently by the Butrint Foundation (2006 and 2009). Research covered four areas: Area 1, in correspondence with Room IX and VIII of the plan published by the Butrint Foundation; Area 2, near the internal face of the Medieval wall covering the Archaic masonry; Area 3, in correspondence with Room VII (Butrint Foundation plan); Area 4, in correspondence with Room VI (Butrint Foundation plan). The first three areas were only partially excavated, in particular Areas 2 and 3, in order to trace the structures that had already been discovered by previous campaigns, as well as, when possible, intact stratigraphy on the bedrock. Area 4 was the only one affected by new, extensive excavations, as it had been only partially excavated by the Butrint Foundation. At the end of the campaign, some protective interventions were carried out at the most damaged walls in order to preserve the conservation of the structures. A second important part of the campaign involved the topographic and photogrammetric survey using Laser Scanning of both the circuit wall in the stretch between the Roman Forum and the so-called Tower Gate, and the circuit wall along the southern slope of the acropolis, the so-called Archaic wall.
    • Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 archaeological campaign saw only a small group of Albanian researchers and students working directly on site in order to continue the topographic and photographic survey of the monuments of the city. The Italian side of the team focused mostly on the processing of the data acquired in previous years and on the research and acquisition of the historical cartography and aerial photography of the area.
    • As per agreements with the Albanian colleagues of the Institute of Archeology of Tirana and the Butrint National Park, the 2021 fieldwork season of the Butrint Project marked the reprise of the excavation after a one year hiatus due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The main objective of this year's work was trying to understand how the Acropolis was structured both in the Archaic period and in the Roman-Imperial one. The areas involved in the excavation were four: two in proximity to the areas already investigated in 2019, on the plateau between Room VI, Room IX and X (reference: Butrint Foundation published plans in Butrint 4), called Area 4 and 5, respectively; two right next to the Medieval wall circuit: one South of Room III and West of Room V, the other at the southern end of Room XI, called Area 6 and 7, respectively. Investigations in all four of these areas answered the initial research questions about the Archaic and Imperial life of the Acropolis, bringing with them very promising results that the team is currently analyzing and studying for future workshops and publications. At the end of the excavation some protective interventions were carried out at the most damaged walls, whose conservation was at risk, in order to preserve the structures. At the same time, the topographic survey of the city continued. This year, it focused on the Archaic walls surrounding the southern slope of the Acropolis, which were freed from vegetation, surveyed using t Laser Scanning, analyzed and described in detail.
    • As per agreements with the Albanian colleagues of the Institute of Archeology of Tirana and the Butrint National Park, the 2022 archaeological campaign focused on the excavation of the Acropolis of Butrint, reprising the research questions examined in 2021, which are the understanding of the Acropolis Archaic, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Three areas were investigated in 2022: so-called Area 6, beside the wall circuit of the Acropolis. The excavations in this area begun in 2021, and this year they were extended further east of the 2021 trench; so-called Area 8, near the visible structures on the upper part of the plateau and immediately north of Area 4, which was excavated in 2021; so-called Area 9, north of Area 8, on the other side of the touristic path leading to the Acropolis Basilica. Both Area 8 and Area 9 were investigated as result of the geophysical surveys conducted in this part of the Acropolis during the first week of the 2022 activities, which highlighting the presence of structures that were later partially uncovered during excavations. On one hand, research in these areas led to new interesting and unexpected data about the occupation of the Acropolis during Hellenistic times, between the 3rd and the 2nd century BC, which are currently being examined. On the other hand, 2022 excavations confirmed once again the vitality and monumentality of the Acropolis area during Imperial Roman and Late Antique times, as well as its frequentation during the Archaic period. Researchers were also involved in many other activities. Among these, the underwater survey of the bay on the north side of the city, in front of the North Gate, led to many interesting results concerning the position of the ancient harbor of Butrint and the topography of the Medieval wall circuit in relation to the lake in this part of the city. As in 2021, the topographic and photogrammetric survey of the Archaic wall circuit continued and new parts of the circuit were added to the general survey plan.
    • 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.

Bibliography

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    • ALEOTTI, N., 2017, "Rhodian Amphoras from Butrint (Albania): Dating, Contexts and Trade", in JHP 2: 3–19.
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    • MUKA, B., GIORGI, E., 2017 "Le nuove ricerche della collaborazione italo-albanese a Butrinto (2015-2016)", in New Archaeological Discoveries in the Albanian Regions, Tiranë: Botimet Albanologjike: 124-130.
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    • GIORGI, E., LEPORE, G., 2020 "Comparing Phoinike and Butrint. Some remarks on the walls of two cities in Northern Epirus", in Caliò, Gerogiannis, Kopsacheili, Fortificazioni e società nel Mediterraneo occidentale. Albania e Grecia settentrionale. Atti del Convegno di Archeologia, organizzato dall’Università di Catania, dal Politecnico di Bari e dalla University of Manchester Catania-Siracusa 14-16 febbraio 2019, Roma: Edizioni Quasar: 153-181
    • ALEOTTI, N., 2020 "Hellenistic pottery from Butrint" in I.Kamenjarin, M.Ugarkovic (editeb by), Exploring the neighborhood. The role of ceramics in understandig place in the Hellenistic World, Proceedings og the 3rd Conference of IARPotHP, Kastela, June 2017, 1st-4th, Wien: Phoibos Werlag: 401–413
    • ALEOTTI, N., GAMBERINI, A., MANCINI, L., 2020 "Sacred places, territorial economy, and cultural identity in northern Epirus (Chaonia)", 19th International Congress of Classical Archaeology, Colonia/Bonn, 22– 26 Maggio 2018, in E. Giorgi, G. Lepore, A. Gamberini (Eds.), Boundaries Archaeology: Economy, Sacred Places, Cultural Influences in the Ionian and Adriatic Areas, Panel 7.3, Archaeology and Economy in the Ancient World 39, Heidelberg: Propylaeum: 45–63
    • BENFATTI, M., CASTIGNANI, V., PIZZIMENTI, F., 2020 "Le Fortificazioni di Butrinto: nuove acquisizioni topografiche e stratigrafiche." in Caliò, Gerogiannis, Kopsacheili, Fortificazioni e società nel Mediterraneo occidentale. Albania e Grecia settentrionale. Atti del Convegno di Archeologia, organizzato dall’Università di Catania, dal Politecnico di Bari e dalla University of Manchester Catania-Siracusa 14-16 febbraio 2019, Roma: Edizioni Quasar: 183-200
    • N. ALEOTTI, A. GAMBERINI, L. MANCINI (2020), "Sacred places, territorial economy, and cultural identity in northern Epirus (Chaonia)", 19th International Congress of Classical Archaeology, Colonia/Bonn, 22– 26 Maggio 2018, in E. Giorgi, G. Lepore, A. Gamberini (Eds.), Boundaries Archaeology: Economy, Sacred Places, Cultural Influences in the Ionian and Adriatic Areas, Panel 7.3, Archaeology and Economy in the Ancient World 39, Heidelberg: Propylaeum, pp. 45–63
    • N. Aleotti, F. Pizzimenti (2020), "Le necropoli ellenistiche e romane di Butrinto: nuove considerazioni sui materiali e sul cosiddetto “Colombarium” rinvenuti da Luigi Maria Ugolini negli anni Venti del Novecento", in G. Lepore, B. Muka, L'Archeologia della Morte in Illiria e in Epiro. Contesti, Ritualità e Immagini tra Età Ellenistica e Romana, Atti del Convegno Internazionale, Tirana 16-18 dicembre 2019, Roma: Edizioni Quasar, pp.467–482
    • M. BENFATTI, V. CASTIGNANI, F. PIZZIMENTI (2020), "Le Fortificazioni di Butrinto: nuove acquisizioni topografiche e stratigrafiche." in Caliò, Gerogiannis, Kopsacheili, Fortificazioni e società nel Mediterraneo occidentale. Albania e Grecia settentrionale. Atti del Convegno di Archeologia, organizzato dall’Università di Catania, dal Politecnico di Bari e dalla University of Manchester Catania-Siracusa 14-16 febbraio 2019, Roma: Edizioni Quasar, pp.183-200 (available on Academia.edu)
    • E. GIORGI, G. LEPORE (2020), "Comparing Phoinike and Butrint. Some remarks on the walls of two cities in Northern Epirus", in Caliò, Gerogiannis, Kopsacheili, Fortificazioni e società nel Mediterraneo occidentale. Albania e Grecia settentrionale. Atti del Convegno di Archeologia, organizzato dall’Università di Catania, dal Politecnico di Bari e dalla University of Manchester Catania-Siracusa 14-16 febbraio 2019, Roma: Edizioni Quasar, pp.153-181 (available on Academia.edu)
    • F. CARBOTTI (2021), "New considerations on the acropolis of Butrint during the Archaic Age" in E. Giorgi, J. Bogdani (edd.), Groma: issue 6 2021: Documenting Archaeology - Dept. of History and Cultures, University of Bologna, Archaeopress, pp. 27-46.
    • N. ALEOTTI (2022), "Riflessi della stasis di Corcira, il V secolo a Butrinto", in DialArchMedV, pp. 155-162
    • N. ALEOTTI (2022), "Continuità e trasformazioni a Butrinto tra II e I sec.a.C.: la ceramica ellenistica", in R. Perna, R. Carmenati, M. Giuliodori (a cura di), Roma e il mondo adriatico dalla ricerca archeologica alla pianificazione del territorio, vol II.2, Roma: Edizioni Quasar, pp. 865-882
    • E. GIORGI (2022), "The destruction of Epirus after Pydna. Archaeology and literature" in Cipriani, Greco, Salzano, Tornese (a cura di), Dialoghi sull’Archeologia della Magna Grecia e del Mediterraneo. Atti del V Convegno Internazionale di Studi. Paestum, 19-21 novembre 2020. Fondazione Paestum, Pandemos, pp. 91-106
    • N. ALEOTTI, F. CARBOTTI, F. D'AMBOLA, T. KACA (2022), "La ripresa degli scavi sull'acropoli di Butrinto. Considerazioni preliminari sullo scavo delle mura arcaiche" in Cronache di Archeologia 41, Università di Catania, pp. 117-142
    • M. RIVOLI, G. SIGISMONDO, M. TEMPERA, D. DODAJ (2022), "L’archeologia sull’acropoli di Butrinto e i nuovi scavi", in Cronache di Archeologia 41, Università di Catania, pp. 143-162
    • V. CASTIGNANI (2022), "Il nuovo rilievo delle mura arcaiche di Butrinto (Albania)" in Cronache di Archeologia 41, Università di Catania, pp. 163-178