Albanian Cultural Heritage
Albanian Cultural Heritage
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