Name
Fortified settlement of Grazhdan
Date Range
350 – 620
680 – 1200
Monuments
Fortified settlement

Seasons

  • AIAC_3158 - Fortified settlement of Grazhdan - 2004
    Nё sezonin e vitit 2004, u arrit të përcaktohej plani i mureve rrethuese dhe dy kullave në pjesёn veriore të fortifikimit antiko mesjetar të Grazhdanit. Gërmimi zbuloi plotësisht kullat 41 me plan drejtёkёndor dhe 42 me plan kuadratik, të ndërtuara me teknikën opus incertum. Muri fortifikues mes ketyre dy kullave u pastrua gjithashtu nga bimёsia; ky mur ёshtё ruajtur ne nje gjendje shumё tё mirё nga ana anёsore dhe nё pjesёt e jashtme. Forma dhe datimi i fortifikimit tashmё janё tё njohura; nga stratigrafia kuptohet qё mbetjet i pёrkasin shekullit tё 4 m.Kr. dhe të periudhёs Mesjetare. Siti ka njё sipёrfaqe prej 36 ha, me mure tё gjerё 3.3m, tre porta dhe 44 kulla (kuadratike, drejtёkёndore, nё formёn e germës U dhe gjashtёkёndore).
  • AIAC_3158 - Fortified settlement of Grazhdan - 2010
    Gërmimet e vitit 2010 në vendbanimin e fortifikuar të antikitetit të vonë dhe mesjetar të Grazhdanit, u përqendruan tek kulla juglindore, muri jugor, pjesa jugperëndimore e murit rrethues, në veri në zonën e cila njihet nga vendasit me toponimin “Stadiumi”, si dhe në varrezën që shtrihet brenda dhe jashtë mureve të kalasë. Si rezultat i gërmimit në kullën freskore (kulla juglindore), u saktësua planimetria si dhe elementët e teknikës ndërtimore dhe arkitektonike të saj. Gërmimi në pjesën e jashtme të kullës arriti deri në pjesën e xokolit, që është ndërtuar me gurë lumi të lidhur me llaç të bollshëm, duke krijuar një bazament të qëndrueshëm për ndërtimin e monumentit. Muri i kullës ka trashësi që varion nga 2,2 m deri 2,3 m. Hyrja e kullës përbëhet nga dy bazamente të punuar me përmasa 0,5 m x 0,44 m x 0,35 m dhe 0, 63 m x 0,49 m x 0,29 m. Në brendësi të kullës, në pjesën e hyrjes së saj, u zbulua një shtresë me gurë dhe me llaç, e cila mendohet se përbën gjurmët e ruajtura të dyshemesë të katit të parë të kullës. Punimet që u përqëndruan në jugperëndim, në një gjatësi prej 25 m, kishin si qëllim zbulimin e linjës së jashtme të murit rrethues. Gjithashtu gërmime u kryen dhe në pjesën që njihet me toponimin “Stadiumi”. Nga sondazhet e kryera u vu re se muri kishte tendencë uljeje nga jugu në drejtim të veriut si dhe u sqarua planimetria e murit në këtë anë të kështjellës, që ndiqte isohipsin e terrenit. Në fund të ekspeditës u realizua edhe mbulimi i varrezës për të parandaluar dëmtimin e mëtejshëm të saj.
  • AIAC_3158 - Fortified settlement of Grazhdan - 2012
    The 2012 excavations were concentrated on the southern gate of the fortification system of the settlement of Grazhdan. In addition to the excavation, the clearing of the entire gate space was also carried out, where it turned out that just like the eastern gate, this gate was conceived with the same architectural elements and was reinforced on both sides by two towers in the shape of the letter U". The purpose of the excavations was to clarify the construction chronology of this gate as well as to specify its construction elements. The excavation was focused on an area of 10 x 4.5 m and at the end of the excavation, the resulting stratigraphy presented a profile dominated by two levels. The first layer, with a thickness of 0.45 m, was formed by a mixture of the building material of the tower where medium-sized stones, sometimes with mortar attached, tiles and some ceramics, etc. can be distinguished. The second layer was thinner, but it is interesting in terms of the chronology of the construction of the tower and the entire southern gate. The color of the soil is dark brown, quite friable and relatively rich in finds, where we can mention some fragment of ceramics of daily use, represented in bowls, cups, etc. An important place in this group of finds is the terra sigillata pottery of eastern origin, which we think can be dated to the century IV A. D. Another group is represented by metal finds and ornaments, especially some iron fibulae from this period that were used by soldiers. Among the findings there are many finds of ceramic used as construction material, like tiles, which indicates that the tower was roofed with this material. They are of the rectangular type and sometimes retain initials on the surface or different decorations. The third layer, which is not distinguishable in profile, is represented by the floor of the tower and has a thickness of 0.10 -0.12 m of mortar that levels the entire surface of the tower at the level of the basement. Based on the plan of the tower, its construction elements, the contemporaneity with the surrounding walls, and especially from the archaeological material discovered in this campaign, we think that this construction can be dated in the fourth century A.D.

Media

Name
Fortified settlement of Grazhdan
Year
2004
Summary
sq Nё sezonin e vitit 2004, u arrit të përcaktohej plani i mureve rrethuese dhe dy kullave në pjesёn veriore të fortifikimit antiko mesjetar të Grazhdanit. Gërmimi zbuloi plotësisht kullat 41 me plan drejtёkёndor dhe 42 me plan kuadratik, të ndërtuara me teknikën opus incertum. Muri fortifikues mes ketyre dy kullave u pastrua gjithashtu nga bimёsia; ky mur ёshtё ruajtur ne nje gjendje shumё tё mirё nga ana anёsore dhe nё pjesёt e jashtme. Forma dhe datimi i fortifikimit tashmё janё tё njohura; nga stratigrafia kuptohet qё mbetjet i pёrkasin shekullit tё 4 m.Kr. dhe të periudhёs Mesjetare. Siti ka njё sipёrfaqe prej 36 ha, me mure tё gjerё 3.3m, tre porta dhe 44 kulla (kuadratike, drejtёkёndore, nё formёn e germës U dhe gjashtёkёndore).
en The archaeological season of 2004 undertaken in the fortified settlement of Grazhdan, allowed us to determine the general plan of the surrounding walls and that of the two towers, located on the northern part of this ancient and medieval defensive enclosure. The excavations revealed entirely two of the towers: towers 41 (of rectangular plan) and 42 (of quadratic layout), which were both built in an _opus incertum_ technique.
The vegetation coverage was removed from the buttressed wall between the two upper mentioned towers; the lateral side and the outer parts of this wall line are well-preserved.
At the end of this excavation season, a complete and comprehensive plan, as well as a dating chronology of the settlement was obtained. From the stratigraphy it is clear that the remaining walls date to the 4th Century AD and to the medieval period. The site covers an area of 36 ha, surrounded with massive walls of 3, 3 m wide and 44 rectangular, quadratic, U-shaped and hexagonal defensive towers, whiles three gateways enable access into the protected area.
Summary Author
Ols Lafe
Director
Luan Përzhita
Research Body
Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Media

Name
Fortified settlement of Grazhdan
Year
2010
Summary
sq Gërmimet e vitit 2010 në vendbanimin e fortifikuar të antikitetit të vonë dhe mesjetar të Grazhdanit, u përqendruan tek kulla juglindore, muri jugor, pjesa jugperëndimore e murit rrethues, në veri në zonën e cila njihet nga vendasit me toponimin “Stadiumi”, si dhe në varrezën që shtrihet brenda dhe jashtë mureve të kalasë.
Si rezultat i gërmimit në kullën freskore (kulla juglindore), u saktësua planimetria si dhe elementët e teknikës ndërtimore dhe arkitektonike të saj. Gërmimi në pjesën e jashtme
të kullës arriti deri në pjesën e xokolit, që është ndërtuar me gurë lumi të lidhur me llaç të bollshëm, duke krijuar një bazament të qëndrueshëm për ndërtimin e monumentit. Muri i kullës ka trashësi që varion nga 2,2 m deri 2,3 m. Hyrja e kullës përbëhet nga dy bazamente të punuar me përmasa 0,5 m x 0,44 m x 0,35 m dhe 0, 63 m x 0,49 m x 0,29 m. Në brendësi të kullës, në pjesën e hyrjes së saj, u zbulua një shtresë me gurë dhe me llaç, e cila mendohet se përbën gjurmët e ruajtura të dyshemesë të katit të parë të kullës.
Punimet që u përqëndruan në jugperëndim, në një gjatësi prej 25 m, kishin si qëllim zbulimin e linjës së jashtme të murit rrethues. Gjithashtu gërmime u kryen dhe në pjesën që njihet me toponimin “Stadiumi”. Nga sondazhet e kryera u vu re se muri kishte tendencë uljeje nga jugu në drejtim të veriut si dhe u sqarua planimetria e murit në këtë anë të kështjellës, që ndiqte isohipsin e terrenit. Në fund të ekspeditës u realizua edhe mbulimi i varrezës për të parandaluar dëmtimin e mëtejshëm të saj.
en The excavation of 2010 in the Late Antique and Medieval fortified settlement of Grazhdan were located at five different parts of the site: southeastern tower; southern wall; southwestern part of the surrounding wall; to the north of the area, locally known as “the stadium”; as well as to the cemetery within and outside the fortress walls.
The excavation in the fan-shaped tower (southeastern tower) aided in defining its plan as well as the utilized construction and architectonic elements. At the outer side of the tower, the excavation reached up to the _zoccolature_ level, which is a construction of river stones bonded with abundant mortar, and thereby creates a stable basement for the monument’s erection. The tower’s wall is from 2, 2 to 2, 3 m wide; its entrance consists of two worked basements measuring from 0, 5 m x 0, 44 m x 0, 35 m and 0, 63 m x 0, 49 m x 0, 29 m. Within the tower, at its entrance part, a stone and mortar layer was uncovered, which seems to belong to the floor level of the tower’s ground floor. The excavations carried out to the southwestern part of the site, extended in a 25 m of length, aimed to uncover the outer wall line of the fortification. Diggings were also undertaken at the part area known as “the stadium”. The test pits materials showed that the wall has a tendency of descending as it goes from the south to the north direction. The new revealed data were important for explaining the layout plan on this side of the fortification, which seems to have followed the terrain isolines. At the end of the excavation, the cemetery was backfilled in order to prevent its further damage.
Summary Author
Saimir Shpuza
Director
Luan Përzhita
Funding Body
Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Media

Name
Fortified settlement of Grazhdan
Year
2012
Summary
en The 2012 excavations were concentrated on the southern gate of the fortification system of the settlement of Grazhdan. In addition to the excavation, the clearing of the entire gate space was also carried out, where it turned out that just like the eastern gate, this gate was conceived with the same architectural elements and was reinforced on both sides by two towers in the shape of the letter U". The purpose of the excavations was to clarify the construction chronology of this gate as well as to specify its construction elements. The excavation was focused on an area of 10 x 4.5 m and at the end of the excavation, the resulting stratigraphy presented a profile dominated by two levels. The first layer, with a thickness of 0.45 m, was formed by a mixture of the building material of the tower where medium-sized stones, sometimes with mortar attached, tiles and some ceramics, etc. can be distinguished. The second layer was thinner, but it is interesting in terms of the chronology of the construction of the tower and the entire southern gate. The color of the soil is dark brown, quite friable and relatively rich in finds, where we can mention some fragment of ceramics of daily use, represented in bowls, cups, etc. An important place in this group of finds is the terra sigillata pottery of eastern origin, which we think can be dated to the century IV A. D. Another group is represented by metal finds and ornaments, especially some iron fibulae from this period that were used by soldiers. Among the findings there are many finds of ceramic used as construction material, like tiles, which indicates that the tower was roofed with this material. They are of the rectangular type and sometimes retain initials on the surface or different decorations. The third layer, which is not distinguishable in profile, is represented by the floor of the tower and has a thickness of 0.10 -0.12 m of mortar that levels the entire surface of the tower at the level of the basement. Based on the plan of the tower, its construction elements, the contemporaneity with the surrounding walls, and especially from the archaeological material discovered in this campaign, we think that this construction can be dated in the fourth century A.D.
Summary Author
Ulsi Tota
Kriledjan Ҫipa
Director
Luan Përzhita
Research Body
Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
Funding Body
Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
Team
Archaeologist - Ergys Hasa
Archaeologist - Ulsi Tota

Media

  • Lafe, 2005
    O. 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.
  • Shpuza 2011
    S. Shpuza, 2011, Kronikë e gërmimeve 2009-2010, in Iliria XXXIV: 387-410.
  • Perzhita, 2013
    L. PËRZHITA., (2013) Gërmime arkeologjike – Grazhdan – Porta Jugore, Iliria, 37, 2013, p. 431 – 435
  • [Untitled]
    https://www.persee.fr/doc/iliri_1727-2548_2013_num_37_1_2456

Location

Location
Grazhdan
Easting
20.471514
Northing
41.606475