Archaeological Zoning in Progress to Protect Bushat Site

The Shkodër region in northern Albania has been enriched with a new archaeological site in Bushat, where Albanian–Polish excavations have uncovered remains of an ancient Illyrian city dating back to the 4th century BC.

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the discovery, sharing photos from the excavation site on social media, CE Report quotes ATA.

He highlighted that, thanks to inter-institutional cooperation, archaeological zoning is being developed to ensure proper management and protection of this valuable cultural heritage.

Excavations began in 2018, led by a joint Albanian-Polish research mission under Piotr Dyczek and Saimir Shpuza, uncovering key structures and insights about the Illyrian city in Bushat.

Findings so far include two city gates and evidence of the city’s layout and extension. The most recent excavations have focused on the upper city, aiming to reveal its urban organization.

Preliminary dating suggests that the upper part of the city was heavily constructed in the mid-4th century BC.

In collaboration with Albania’s IKTK, Shkodër’s Regional Directorate of Heritage, and with strong support from the archaeological mission, a clear zoning and documentation process has been carried out to ensure the preservation and legal protection of this high-potential archaeological area.