Contextualising the Neolithic of the Korça Plain (Albania) (2022-2024)
Department of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne (Dr Jana Anvari)
Department of Prehistory, Institute of Archaeology at the Academy of Albanological Studies, Tirana (Dr Edlira Andoni)
Anthropology Department, University at Buffalo (Dr Patrick Willett)
Aims of the project
The Korça Plain is a small, fertile, mountainous basin in southeastern Albania. Based on current knowledge, Neolithic sites from the Korça Plain represent the earliest farming cultures in Albania, dating from 6450 BC. This region is therefore of crucial importance for the incomplete knowledge of the Neolithic period in Albania and southeastern Europe. Although this region is already well researched, there is still a lot of potential for research of the Neolithic in southeastern European contexts. Among other gaps in knowledge, it is currently unclear what the size and internal structure of the settlements in the Korça plain were due to the lack of both geophysical surveys and large-scale excavations based on modern excavation techniques. In addition, they have not yet been examined in the landscape context, which is intended to clarify how the settlements relate to each other and to landscape forms. By filling these research gaps, this project contributes to the overall understanding of the emergence and subsequent development of the Neolithic in Southeastern Europe.
The aim of the project is to gain an initial understanding of the size, structure and landscape context of Neolithic settlements in the Korça plain. In the course of the project, systematic geomagnetic investigations as well as investigations of settlement size and structure of Neolithic sites in Albania will be carried out for the first time. Through these, the project contributes to determining the size of settlement sites, gaining an overview of their structure and contributing to the dating of their settlement phases. In addition, we want to achieve improved legal protection of Neolithic sites based on new insight on settlement size and structure.
In a second work component, this project conducts intensive surveys in the mountainous areas surrounding the northern part of the Korça plain. While remains from all periods will be documented, we in particular seek to find potential Neolithic sites. Although much of southeast Europe and Albania in particular is mountainous, the Neolithic of mountain regions is rarely specifically studied and our project aims to contribute in closing this research gap.
Field seasons
In two field seasons in 2022 and 2023, we conduct surface collection, geophysical prospection and sondage excavations at known Neolithic sites and conduct an off-site survey in the mountains surrounding the Korca plain.
First field season (2 - 29 October 2022)
During our first field season, we carried out systematic surface and geophysical prospection at several sites. The results from the surface collection revealed an occupation of the area dating from the early Neolithic to the Metal Ages, Classical, Medieval and Modern periods. Through the geomagnetic investigations, the size and structure of some Neolithic sites was investigated while the prospection also showed extensive damage to other sites.
Based on these results, some sites with the highest concentration of Neolithic finds and clearest results from the geophysics will be further explored by sondages during the next field campaign. The purpose of these sondages is to obtain stratified datable material (radiocarbon samples, pottery) to help date the sites and to ground-truth the structures identified and interpreted by geomagnetics.
Our next field season will take place in July and August 2023.
This project is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(grant number 497045244).
Our current lectures:
- "Contextualizing the Neolithic of the Korca Plain: Initial Survey Results" (lecturer Dr. Patrick T. Willett). International Mediterranean Survey Workshop, Fall 2022, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 02.12.2022.
- We will participate in Session 685 of the EAA conference in Belfast from 30 August to 3 September 2023
Twitter: @KorcaNeolithic
Instagram: @korcaneolithicproject