Archaeological Guide of Kosovo

for the region but even wider, including the southeast Europe. Yet, Kosovo
should not be treated anymore as Terra Incognita (Latin: unknown
land), but contrariwise, based on the archaeological documentation,
this aided by the auxiliary sciences and relevant scientific disciplines, reflect
a very advanced civilization, different and even cosmopolite developments
in the ancientness. The written sources, besides tangible ones,
complement the facts on the occupation and continuative presence of
the autochthonous population, which was evidenced with the creation
of the Dardanian Kingdom, 4th-1st century bc and later with the constitution
of the Roman Province of Dardania in 297 AD; established
by the Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) of Illyrian origin. The Late
Antique period and the Early Medieval period, where a periods with
an argued presence of a large number of toponomies like for example;
gjytet (old town), gradishtë (fortes), gradinë (stronghold), kala (castle),
kullë (tower), fortesë (fortification), etc. Furthermore, these toponomies
specifically indicate the fortified settlements set on the hills and fortified
with ramparts and documented across Kosovo during the systematic
archaeological surveys, reconnaissance and trial trenches, carried in the
past, since the second part of the last century and continued up to the
present days. When refereeing to the written sources of the ancient author
Procopius of Caesarea, in his writings, De Adificiies (‘on the buildings’),
it is clearly stated that the emperor Justinian the Great (527-565
AD) of the Dardanian origin, initiated an ‘elaborated’ construction and
reconstruction programme within and around the Province of Dardania,
building 8 new and refortifying 61 existing strongholds, which were
used also during the Medieval period.
78 Archaeological Guide of Kosovo