Name
The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara
Monuments
Tumulus

Seasons

  • AIAC_5327 - The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara - 2018
    From a survey in 2016 on the bed of a stream, east of the ancient centre, in the plain known as Gropa e Himarës (Himara hollow), a previously unknown cemetery was identified with cist tombs damaged and robbed by clandestine diggers. In 2018 archeological excavation documented a tumulus (Tumulus no. 1) of the Late Bronze Age, as well as several tombs with simple architecture southwest of the tumulus along the stream bed. The only object that helps to date the tumulus is the bronze spearhead found in tomb no. 1. The spearhead belongs to leaf-shaped blades type, and dates the tumulus no. 1 in the Late Bronze Age. The tombs in the southwest of the tumulus were robbed and without findings.
  • AIAC_5327 - The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara - 2020
    In the 2020 campaign in Himaras tumuli cemetery, a test pit was conducted near tumulus no. 1, as well as the excavation was expanded in the southwestern part, where previously graves no. 3, 4 and 5 were documented . The expansion of the trench was intended to document some visible tombs in the alluvium profile. As a result of excavation a second tumulus was discovered and documented, which was called tumulus no. 2. In this tumulus were found 8 graves which were encircled inside a solid ring with monumental architecture. At the bottom of the tumulus in the earliest stage between layers 003 and 005 were placed 6 tombs (Tombs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), while the other two tombs (7 and 8) were located in the upper layers (between layers 003 and 002) and are certainly the latest. Regarding the chronology of the construction and use of the tumulus no. 2, the archaeological material suggests that it began to be built around the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age and continued to be used during the Iron Age. In addition to the archeological excavation in the territory of Himara Bay, an archaeological survey was conducted to identify possible settlements related to the tumulus cemetery. Archaeological observation revealed two fortified settlements in the hills of St. Pandelejmon and Kuca, as well as three unfortified sites with ceramic finds and flint finds in the hills of St. Demetrius, in Sklero and Buna.The is no summary for this season.
  • AIAC_5327 - The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara - 2023
    Tumulus no 3 was discovered between tumuli no. 1 and no. 2, in the bed of the Korrami river. River flows and clandestine excavations had damaged the central part of the tumulus. About 10 graves were discovered from the excavation. They have a simple architecture with stone slabs, or placed in a simple pit. It is not clear how high the mound reached, as it has been damaged by the deposits of the river. The archaeological material found in the graves, but also in the covering soil, dates the mound between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The diameter of the ring of the mound, inside which the graves were included, did not exceed 10 meters. Discovery and documentation of tumulus no. 3, confirms the existence of a Late Prehistoric tumulus cemetery in the plain of Himara.

Media

Name
The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara
Year
2018
Summary
en From a survey in 2016 on the bed of a stream, east of the ancient centre, in the plain known as Gropa e Himarës (Himara hollow), a previously unknown cemetery was identified with cist tombs damaged and robbed by clandestine diggers. In 2018 archeological excavation documented a tumulus (Tumulus no. 1) of the Late Bronze Age, as well as several tombs with simple architecture southwest of the tumulus along the stream bed. The only object that helps to date the tumulus is the bronze spearhead found in tomb no. 1. The spearhead belongs to leaf-shaped blades type, and dates the tumulus no. 1 in the Late Bronze Age. The tombs in the southwest of the tumulus were robbed and without findings.
en From a survey in 2016 on the bed of a stream, east of the ancient centre, in the plain known as Gropa e Himarës (Himara hollow), a previously unknown cemetery was identified with cist tombs damaged and robbed by clandestine diggers. In 2018 archeological excavation documented a tumulus (Tumulus no. 1) of the Late Bronze Age, as well as several tombs with simple architecture southwest of the tumulus along the stream bed. The only object that helps to date the tumulus is the bronze spearhead found in tomb no. 1. The spearhead belongs to leaf-shaped blades type and dates the tumulus no. 1 in the Late Bronze Age. The tombs in the southwest of the tumulus were robbed and without findings.
Summary Author
Ulsi Tota
Kriledjan Ҫipa
Team
Anthropologist - Ulsi Tota
Archaeologist - Dorina Gjergji

Media

Name
The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara
Year
2020
Summary
en In the 2020 campaign in Himaras tumuli cemetery, a test pit was conducted near tumulus no. 1, as well as the excavation was expanded in the southwestern part, where previously graves no. 3, 4 and 5 were documented . The expansion of the trench was intended to document some visible tombs in the alluvium profile. As a result of excavation a second tumulus was discovered and documented, which was called tumulus no. 2. In this tumulus were found 8 graves which were encircled inside a solid ring with monumental architecture. At the bottom of the tumulus in the earliest stage between layers 003 and 005 were placed 6 tombs (Tombs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), while the other two tombs (7 and 8) were located in the upper layers (between layers 003 and 002) and are certainly the latest. Regarding the chronology of the construction and use of the tumulus no. 2, the archaeological material suggests that it began to be built around the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age and continued to be used during the Iron Age. In addition to the archeological excavation in the territory of Himara Bay, an archaeological survey was conducted to identify possible settlements related to the tumulus cemetery. Archaeological observation revealed two fortified settlements in the hills of St. Pandelejmon and Kuca, as well as three unfortified sites with ceramic finds and flint finds in the hills of St. Demetrius, in Sklero and Buna.The is no summary for this season.
Summary Author
Kriledjan Ҫipa
Ulsi Tota
Team
Anthropologist - Ulsi Tota
Archaeologist - Dorina Gjergji

Media

Name
The Tumulus Cemetry of Himara
Year
2023
Summary
en Tumulus no 3 was discovered between tumuli no. 1 and no. 2, in the bed of the Korrami river. River flows and clandestine excavations had damaged the central part of the tumulus. About 10 graves were discovered from the excavation. They have a simple architecture with stone slabs, or placed in a simple pit. It is not clear how high the mound reached, as it has been damaged by the deposits of the river. The archaeological material found in the graves, but also in the covering soil, dates the mound between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The diameter of the ring of the mound, inside which the graves were included, did not exceed 10 meters. Discovery and documentation of tumulus no. 3, confirms the existence of a Late Prehistoric tumulus cemetery in the plain of Himara.
Summary Author
Ulsi Tota
Kriledjan Ҫipa
Team
Anthropologist - Ulsi Tota
Archaeologist - Semiljana Xhaferaj
Archaeologist - Olsjan Alikaj
Technical assistant - Edmond Papapthimiu

Media

Images
Tuam 2.jpg
  • Çipa-Meshini-Tota 2020
    ÇIPA K., MESHINI M., TOTA U., 2020 “Raporti i gërmimit arkeologjik të shpëtimit në varrezën dhe tumën e Himarës”/“Raport of the rescue excavations in the cemetery and tumulus of Himara”, Candavia 8: 109-122.
  • Çipa-Meshini-Tota 2020
    ÇIPA K., MESHINI M., TOTA U., 2020 “From clandestine excavations to the documentation of cemetery: The case of the cemetery and the tumulus of Himara”, L’Archeologia della morte in Illiria e in Epiro (Contesti, ritualita e immagini tra eta Ellenistica e Romana), Atti del Convegno Internazionale (Tirana 16-18 dicembre 2019, Accademia delle Scienze), a cura di Giuseppe Lepore e Belisa Muka, Roma: 459-466.

Location

Location
Himarë
Easting
19.74833333
Northing
40.11583333