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Albanian Cultural Heritage

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SHKODRA COUNTY<br />

Shkodra is one of the most significant ancient<br />

cities in northwestern Albania.<br />

It was founded in the 4th century B.C. as<br />

the centre of the Illyrian tribe of the<br />

Labeates. Under the rule of the Illyrian<br />

king Gent, it became the capital of the<br />

Illyrian kingdom. Coins from this period<br />

of prominence have been discovered in<br />

Shkodra. In 168 B.C., it was occupied by<br />

the Romans and eventually becoming part<br />

of Claudius empire. In 395 A.C., Shkodra<br />

became the centre of the Byzantine<br />

Prevalis province, following centuries of<br />

substantial political power, Shkodra came<br />

under Serbian rule in 1040 A.C.<br />

The Tumuli Burials of Shtoj. The Plain of<br />

Shtoj is situated about 5 km to the northeast<br />

of the city of Shkodra, in the vicinity<br />

of the villages of Boks and Dragoç, on the<br />

western side of the Kir River. The excavated<br />

tumuli, or burial mounds, appear to have<br />

been used for centuries; from the Early<br />

Bronze Age until the Late Iron Age. Most<br />

of the unearthed features of these tumuli<br />

are artifacts of the Iron Age, specifically<br />

from the 7th - 5th centuries B.C.<br />

6<br />

Due to its Mediterranean location and its<br />

geographical proximity to some of the<br />

main centers of the world civilization,<br />

a number of important archaeological<br />

discoveries have been made in Albania.<br />

The sites in the North as well as in the<br />

South are great tourism destinations for<br />

those who are interested in ancient history.<br />

The Tumuli Burials of Shtoj

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