- Item
- AIAC_1132
- Name
- Bonjakët
- Date Range
- 525 BC – 100 BC
- Monuments
- Temple
Seasons
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AIAC_1132 - Bonjakët - 2004The archaeological site of Bonjakët, is situated nearby the western walls of ancient city of Apolonia. Brief excavations had been concluded in the same site by an Albanian-Soviet team of archaeologist in 1960, revealing abundant terracotta figurines, but the results were never published. In 2002 a team of archaeologists surveyed this area. In addition to pottery, ranging in date from Archaic to Modern, and terracotta figurines, there was also found the foot of a statue, a Late Greek inscription, and a small stone altar. The trial excavations of 2004 revealed the foundation of previously unknown monumental Greek stone temple. This temple of Archaic or Classical period had an uncertain dedication, possibly constructed in the honor of Artemis Limnatis. Figurines from the excavations vary in size and include reclining male and female figures, fully clothed standing female figures, pairs of standing females figures and, less frequently female busts. Other finds included the rim of a dinos with a palmette design dating to circa 525 BC, and imported black glazed pottery fragments of drinking vessels of Attic, South Italian and Corinthian provenience. A stele dating to circa 2nd Century BC, depicting Artemis with a torch was built into a later structure.
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AIAC_1132 - Bonjakët - 2005In September, 2005 the ICAA and the University of Cincinnati continued trial excavations in the complex of farm buildings known locally as Bonjakët. This year the boundaries of the sanctuary have been determined with greater confidence. It seems that ritual activity was focused on, and was largely restricted to, the area of the compound itself. A strip trench excavated c. 30 m. north of the compound appears to have lain outside the sanctuary. Parts of what may be kilns of Roman Imperial date were found there. The western edge of the compound lay within the ancient sanctuary at all times in its history and this area probably served as a refuse site for ritual debris. Pottery from the lowest levels dates from as early as 550 BC. In addition to remains of sacrificial meals and broken fineware pottery, substantial numbers of Classical and Hellenistic figurines have also been found: reclining banqueters of both sexes as well as couples; standing clothed female figures; and pairs of standing female figures. Other types, such as female protomes, are less frequent. Remains of the temple found in situ must belong to stereobate courses. Ceramics from a building trench next to the foundation suggest that the courses were laid down c. 500 B.C. A later stele dedicated to Artemis suggests that she was worshipped, although the principal deity of the sanctuary has not yet been determined. The temple was situated at the edge of marshes by the Adriatic shore, near the former course of the Vjosa (Aous) river. This significant location may have served to signal the boundary of the city-state’s territory.
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AIAC_1132 - Bonjakët - 2006In September 2006, excavations were continued at the archaeological site of Bonjakët. The results of the excavation were exceptional: revealing a history of cult practice at the site over six hundred years from 650/630 BC – middle of the 1st century BC; and shedding new light on the nature of a monumental stone temple built in the late Archaic period. Excavations of the temple concentrated on exposing the south side of the foundations in Trench 15T as the stylobate and cella floor of the temple are no longer preserved (i.e. above modern ground level). Three courses of foundation were preserved and three paved surfaces, the lowest of Late Archaic date, the upper two of Hellenistic date, had been laid against the foundations. The foundations of the temple were of sandstone and its superstructure seems to have been principally of limestone. Marble appears to have been reserved for special purposes. The lowest course of the foundations consisted of carefully-fitted polygonal blocks set in a trench. Blocks in the middle course were fitted with anathyrosis, with wide borders on all but the lower surface. The upper edge of the middle course is bevelled; surfaces of blocks are carefully finished to a depth of c. 0.10m. The upper course is stepped back c. 0.30m from the middle course. In 15T only a single large block from this course was exposed: its western end has been destroyed by recent digging. A fragmentary terracotta lion’s-head spout and a piece of a Doric capital were found in the packing of the Hellenistic pavements. It seems likely that major repairs to the structure of the temple took place in the 3rd century BC. This year, the most significant finds were a fragment of a marble geison with a cyma reversa moulding, a stone lion’s-head spout, various guttae broken from their blocks, and part of a Doric column capital. It was recently brought to our attention that an architectural sculpture of the later 5th or 4th century BC, now in the Apollonia Museum in the cloisters of Shën Mri, was found 50 years ago at the Bonjakët site. Stratigraphic evidence from 15T has confirmed the impression gained from previous finds that the Bonjakët temple was first built c. 500 BC and that it continued to be used into late Hellenistic times. As a result of the excavation of 17T, it is now also clear that in the Archaic period the sanctuary extended east of the Bonjakët house complex; this is where the temple altar was most likely located. Well-preserved Archaic pottery was found on a surface just above the water table. It is suspected that the scarcity of superstructure fragments is due to large-scale spoliation. Two architectural phases were recognized in 16T. In the earliest, a narrow wall built of brick and stone was associated with pottery from c. 600 BC and a handmade terracotta figurine. Above this level, deposits of the later 6th century, including moulded figurines, had accumulated against a large worked sandstone block that was found in situ. Substantial deposits of Archaic date were also found in strata that extended beneath the lowest course of the foundations of the temple in 15T and in 05T. In the latter trench, Early Corinthian pottery was recovered and a core drilled 0.70m. below the water table indicates the survival of earlier levels. Several sherds from 15T appear to be non-Greek and may represent Illyrian types of the Iron Age. These sherds remain to be examined thoroughly. A fragment of an altar also came from 6th century deposits in this trench; foundations of the later temple rested directly on it. In the same deposit lay a bronze earring and a fragment of what appears to be an alabaster lid covered with gold leaf (c. 90 x 70mm).
Media
- Name
- Bonjakët
- Year
- 2004
- Summary
-
en
The archaeological site of Bonjakët, is situated nearby the western walls of ancient city of Apolonia. Brief excavations had been concluded in the same site by an Albanian-Soviet team of archaeologist in 1960, revealing abundant terracotta figurines, but the results were never published. In 2002 a team of archaeologists surveyed this area. In addition to pottery, ranging in date from Archaic to Modern, and terracotta figurines, there was also found the foot of a statue, a Late Greek inscription, and a small stone altar.
The trial excavations of 2004 revealed the foundation of previously unknown monumental Greek stone temple. This temple of Archaic or Classical period had an uncertain dedication, possibly constructed in the honor of Artemis Limnatis. Figurines from the excavations vary in size and include reclining male and female figures, fully clothed standing female figures, pairs of standing females figures and, less frequently female busts. Other finds included the rim of a dinos with a palmette design dating to circa 525 BC, and imported black glazed pottery fragments of drinking vessels of Attic, South Italian and Corinthian provenience. A stele dating to circa 2nd Century BC, depicting Artemis with a torch was built into a later structure. -
sq
Siti arkeologjik i Bonjakëve, ndodhet pranë mureve rrethuese perëndimore të qytetit antik të Apollonisë. Në vitin 1960 në të njëjtin sit, u ndërmorën gërmime në shkallë të vogël nga një ekip Shqiptaro-Sovietik, ku u zbulua një sasi e madhe figurinash prej terrakote. Rezultatet e gërmimit nuk u publikuan asnjëherë. Në vitin 2002 u krye një ekspiditë përnjohëse arkeologjike. Së bashku me qeramikën (që daton nga periudha Arkaike deri në atë Moderne) dhe figurinat prej terrakote u gjetën gjithashtu një këmbë statuje, një mbishkrim i periudhës Helenistike dhe një gur i vogël altari.
Gërmimet arkeologjike të vitit 2004, zbuluan themelet e një tempulli monumental antik Grek i periudhës Arkaike ose Klasike, që më parë ishte i panjohur. Dedikimi i tempullit ishte i papërcaktuar, por me sa duke ti është ndërtuar në nder të Artemis Limnatis-it. Figurinat e gjetura gjatë gërmimit kanë përmasa të ndryshme dhe përfshijnë figura burrash e femrash në pozicion lutjeje, figura femrash të veshura në pozicion qëndrimi si dhe buste femrash. Gjetje të tjera përfshijnë një buzë dinos-i me zbukurim palmeteqë daton rreth vitit 525 p.Kr. si dhe fragmente enësh qeramike me glazurë të importuara nga Atika, Jugu i Italisë dhe Korinthi. Një stele varri e shekullit të 2-të p.Kr. që paraqet Artemisin me një pishtar është ndërtuar mbi një strukturë më të vonshme. - Research Body
- QNASH - Qendra Ndërkombëtare për Arkeologjinë Shqiptare (ICAA- International Centre for Albanian Archaeology)
- University of Cincinnati
- Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
- Funding Body
- Packard Humanities Institute
Media
- Name
- Bonjakët
- Year
- 2005
- Summary
-
en
In September, 2005 the ICAA and the University of Cincinnati continued trial excavations in the complex of farm buildings known locally as Bonjakët. This year the boundaries of the sanctuary have been determined with greater confidence. It seems that ritual activity was focused on, and was largely restricted to, the area of the compound itself. A strip trench excavated c. 30 m. north of the compound appears to have lain outside the sanctuary. Parts of what may be kilns of Roman Imperial date were found there.
The western edge of the compound lay within the ancient sanctuary at all times in its history and this area probably served as a refuse site for ritual debris.
Pottery from the lowest levels dates from as early as 550 BC. In addition to remains of sacrificial meals and broken fineware pottery, substantial numbers of Classical and Hellenistic figurines have also been found: reclining banqueters of both sexes as well as couples; standing clothed female figures; and pairs of standing female figures. Other types, such as female protomes, are less frequent.
Remains of the temple found in situ must belong to stereobate courses. Ceramics from a building trench next to the foundation suggest that the courses were laid down c. 500 B.C.
A later stele dedicated to Artemis suggests that she was worshipped, although the principal deity of the sanctuary has not yet been determined. The temple was situated at the edge of marshes by the Adriatic shore, near the former course of the Vjosa (Aous) river. This significant location may have served to signal the boundary of the city-state’s territory. -
sq
Në shtator të vitit, 2005 ICAA në bashkëpunim me Universitetin e Cincinatit vazhduan gërmimet arkeologjike pranë ndërtesave të fermës së njohur lokalisht si Bonjakët.
Ky sezon arkeologjik përcaktoi saktë kufijtë e sanktuarit. Dukej qartë që aktiviteti ritual ishte i përqëndruar brenda zonës së kultit.
Një kuadrat i ngushtë i gërmuar rreth 30m. në veri të kësaj zone identifikoi fragmentet e një vatre të periudhës Perandorake Romake jashtë sanktuarit. Skajet perëndimore të zonës komplekse ndodhen brenda sanktuarit, dhe mendohet që kjo zonë të ketë shërbyer si vend i hedhjes së mbeturinave rituale. Qeramika e shtresave më të poshtme daton në vitin 550 p.Kr. Gjatё gёrmimit sё bashku me fragmete qeramike (mbetje nga proçesi i ritualeve), u gjetёn edhe njё numёr i konsiderueshёm figurinash tё peiudhёs Klasike dhe Helenistike, tё tipeve: figurina tё tё dy sekseve si dhe çifte nё pozicion grёnijeje; femra tё veshura nё pozicion qendrimi; çifte femrash nё pozicion qendrimi. Mё tё pakta nё numёr janё gjetjet e figurinave femёrore tё tipit protom (paraqitje gjysёm trupore). Mbetje tё tempullit tё gjetura insitu mendohet tё jenё pjesё tё linjave tё stereobatit. Qeramika e gjetur nё kuadratin e hapur pranё themeleve tё tempullit tregon qё themelet e tempullit mund tё jenё ndёrtuar nё vitin 500 p.Kr. Gjetja e njё stele, dedikuar perёndeshёs Artemis tregon adhurimin e kёsaj perёndeshe nё tempull, megjithёse ende nuk ёshtё pёrcaktuar perёndia kryesore pёr nder tё sё cilёs tempulli ёshtё ndёrtuar.
Pozicioni i rёndёsishёm i kёtij tempulli, nё anё tё kёnetave pranё bregdetit Adriatik dhe pranё shtratit tё dikurshim tё lumit Vjosa (Aous), e bёn kёtё tempull tё ketё qenё njё objekt pёrcaktues i kufijёve tё territorit tё qytet shtetit tё Apollonisё. - Research Body
- QNASH - Qendra Ndërkombëtare për Arkeologjinë Shqiptare (ICAA- International Centre for Albanian Archaeology)
- University of Cincinnati
- Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
- Funding Body
- Packard Humanities Institute
Media
- Name
- Bonjakët
- Year
- 2006
- Summary
-
en
In September 2006, excavations were continued at the archaeological site of Bonjakët. The results of the excavation were exceptional: revealing a history of cult practice at the site over six hundred years from 650/630 BC – middle of the 1st century BC; and shedding new light on the nature of a monumental stone temple built in the late Archaic period.
Excavations of the temple concentrated on exposing the south side of the foundations in Trench 15T as the stylobate and cella floor of the temple are no longer preserved (i.e. above modern ground level). Three courses of foundation were preserved and three paved surfaces, the lowest of Late Archaic date, the upper two of Hellenistic date, had been laid against the foundations. The foundations of the temple were of sandstone and its superstructure seems to have been principally of limestone. Marble appears to have been reserved for special purposes.
The lowest course of the foundations consisted of carefully-fitted polygonal blocks set in a trench. Blocks in the middle course were fitted with anathyrosis, with wide borders on all but the lower surface. The upper edge of the middle course is bevelled; surfaces of blocks are carefully finished to a depth of c. 0.10m. The upper course is stepped back c. 0.30m from the middle course. In 15T only a single large block from this course was exposed: its western end has been destroyed by recent digging.
A fragmentary terracotta lion’s-head spout and a piece of a Doric capital were found in the packing of the Hellenistic pavements. It seems likely that major repairs to the structure of the temple took place in the 3rd century BC. This year, the most significant finds were a fragment of a marble geison with a cyma reversa moulding, a stone lion’s-head spout, various guttae broken from their blocks, and part of a Doric column capital.
It was recently brought to our attention that an architectural sculpture of the later 5th or 4th century BC, now in the Apollonia Museum in the cloisters of Shën Mri, was found 50 years ago at the Bonjakët site. Stratigraphic evidence from 15T has confirmed the impression gained from previous finds that the Bonjakët temple was first built c. 500 BC and that it continued to be used into late Hellenistic times. As a result of the excavation of 17T, it is now also clear that in the Archaic period the sanctuary extended east of the Bonjakët house complex; this is where the temple altar was most likely located. Well-preserved Archaic pottery was found on a surface just above the water table. It is suspected that the scarcity of superstructure fragments is due to large-scale spoliation. Two architectural phases were recognized in 16T. In the earliest, a narrow wall built of brick and stone was associated with pottery from c. 600 BC and a handmade terracotta figurine. Above this level, deposits of the later 6th century, including moulded figurines, had accumulated against a large worked sandstone block that was found in situ.
Substantial deposits of Archaic date were also found in strata that extended beneath the lowest course of the foundations of the temple in 15T and in 05T. In the latter trench, Early Corinthian pottery was recovered and a core drilled 0.70m. below the water table indicates the survival of earlier levels. Several sherds from 15T appear to be non-Greek and may represent Illyrian types of the Iron Age. These sherds remain to be examined thoroughly. A fragment of an altar also came from 6th century deposits in this trench; foundations of the later temple rested directly on it. In the same deposit lay a bronze earring and a fragment of what appears to be an alabaster lid covered with gold leaf (c. 90 x 70mm). -
sq
Nё Shtator tё vitit 2006 vazhduan gёrmimet arkeologjike nё sitin e Bonjakёve. Rezultatet e kёtij viti ishin tё rёndёsishme, dhe evidentuan historinё e praktikimit tё kultit nё kёtё sit pёr njё periudhe kohore prej 600 vjetёsh, duke filluar nga viti 650/630 p.Kr. deri nё gjysmёn e shekullit tё parё p.Kr., dhe njёkohёsisht hodhёn dritё mbi natyrёn e njё tempulli monumental tё ndёrtuar nё periudhёn Arkaike.
Gёrmimet nё tempull u pёrqendruan nё zbulimin e anёs jugore tё themelit nё kuadratin 15T, kjo pёr arsye se stilobati dhe dyshemeja e celёs sё tempullit nuk ruhen mё mbi nivelin modern tё sipёrfaqes sё tokёs. Gjatё gёrmimit u zbuluan tre linja themeli tё ruajtura dhe tre sipёrfaqe tё shtruara, ajo e nivelit mё tё ulёt daton nё Periudhёn e vonё Arkaike, dhe dy tё sipёrmet datojnё nё periudhёn Helenistike.
Themelet e tempullit ishin tё ndёrtuara me gurё ranorё ndёrsa strukturat e sipёrme kanё qenё ndёrtuar kryesisht me gurё gёlqeror. Nё kёtё kohё mermeri mendohet tё ketё shёrbyer pёr qëllime tё tjera, ndoshta mё tё rёndёsishme. Linja mё e poshtme e themelit pёrbёhej nga blloqe gurёsh poligonal tё vendosura nё mёnyrё tё kujdeshme nё kuadrat. Blloqet e linjёs sё mesme lidheshin me teknikёn anathyrosis, me bordura tё gjera nё tё gjitha anёt me prjashtim tё anёs sё poshtme. Pjesa e sipёrme e linjёs sё mezit ёshtё e pjerrёt me blloqe tё punuara deri nё thellёsinё 0.19 m. Linja e sipёrme ka njё pjerrёsi prej 0. 30 m nga linja e mesit. Nё kuadratin 15T u zbulua vetёm njё bllok i linjёsёs sё sipёrpёrmendur. Fundi i saj perёndimor ёshtё shkatёrruar nga gёrmimet e ndёrrmara sё fundmi.
Gjatё gёrmimit tё dyshemesё sё periudhёs Helenistike u gjet njё pjesё terrakote e fragmentuar e kokёs sё njё luani si dhe njё fragment i njё kapiteli dorik. Tempulli mendohet tё jetё riparuar gjatё shekullit tё 3-tё p.Kr.
Tё dhёnat stratiografike tё kuadratit 15T vёrtetuan mendimin e hedhur mё parё pёr ndёrtimin e tempullit tё Bonjakёve nё vitin 500 p.Kr., dhe pёrdorimin e tij gjatё peiudhёs sё vonё Helenistike. Rezultatet e gёrmimit tё kuadratit 17T sqaruan faktin se nё periudhёn Arkaike tempulli shtrihej nё lindje tё kompleksit tё shtёpisё sё Bonjakёve, nё vendin ku mendohet tё ketё qenё vendosur altari i tempullit. Mbi nivelin e dyshemesёme u gjetё qeramikё e periudhёs Arkaike.
Rezultatet e gёrmimeve vёrtetuan se praktikimi i kultit nё tempull daton nё vitet e para tё krijimit tё kolonisё sё Apollonisё. Shtresat mё tё hershme tё evidentuara deri tani datojnё nё vitet 650/630 p.Kr. dhe janё tё pasura me fragmente qeramike tё tipit Protokorinthiane. Njё sondazh i ndёrrmarё nё kuadratin (16T ), tё mbular nga dyshemeja e vonё e celёs sё tempullit, nё thellёsinё 1 m evidentoi depozita tё periudhёs Arkaike. Kёto shtresa pёrmbanin njё numёr tё madh gjetjesh, ku pёrfshiheshin karfica bronzi tё zbukuruara, vegje e njё kazani bronzi e ngjashme me njё variant tё gjetur nё Olimpia (ndoshta i prodhuar nё Korinth), objekte tё ndryshme hekuri, fragmente xhami Egjiptian, njё figurinё prej druri, njё vezё terrakote dhe njё numёr i madh enёsh qeramike dhe tjegullash. Enёt nё miniaturё ishin tё pasura nё numёr dhe u gjetёn pothuajse nё tё gjitha shtresat, sidomos skifosa, kana dhe kalathoi.
Nё kuadratin 16T u evidentuan dy faza ndёrtimi. Fazёs mё tё hershme i pёrkiste njё mur i ngushtё i ndёrtuar me tulla dhe gurё i shoqёruar me qeramikё tё datuar nё vitin 600 p.Kr. si dhe terrakota tё punuara me dorё. Depozita tё tjera tё rёndёsishme tё periudhёs Arkaike u gjetёn nё shtresёn e zgjeruar poshtё linjёs sё themelit tё tempullit nё kuadratet 15T dhe 05T. Gjetja e qeramikёs tё periudhёs sё heshme Korinthianё nё kuadratin 05T dhe njё sondazh 0. 70 m poshtё nivelit me ujё tё dyshemesё tregon pёr ekzistencёn e shtresave mё tё hershme. Fragmente qeramike qё nuk i pёrkasin periudhёs Greke u evidentuara nё shtresёn 15T, tё cilat mendohet tё jenё variante Ilire tё periudhёs sё Hekurit, megjithёse priten rezultatet e studimit tё plotё tё tyre. Njё fragmёnt altari i gjetur nё kёtё shtresё daton nё shekullin e 6-tё p. Kr., dhe direkt mbi tё qendronin themelet e njё tempulli tё vonё. Nё tё njёjtёn deposit u gjet njё vath bronzi dhe njё fragment kapaku prej alabastri i mbuluar me gjethe ari, me pёrmasa pёrafёrsisht 90 x 70 mm. - Research Body
- QNASH - Qendra Ndërkombëtare për Arkeologjinë Shqiptare (ICAA- International Centre for Albanian Archaeology)
- University of Cincinnati
- Funding Body
- Packard Humanities Institute
Media
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Lafe, 2005O. Lafe, 2005, Archaeology in Albania 2000-2004, in Archaeological reports for 2004-2005, Council of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenistic Studies and The Council of The British School at Athens: 119-137.
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ICAA, 2005International Centre for Albanian Archaeology, Review 2005
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ICAA, 2006International Centre for Albanian Archaeology, Review 2006