Austrian and Albanian archaeologists gathered in a round table last week to commemorate 100 years of the Austro-Hungarian contribution to Albanian Archeology and to discuss three new projects to be conducted by Austrian archaeologists.
The three projects in AlbaniaThe first project will focus on the restoration, maintenance and archaeological excavations of Kanina Castle.
The second project will be conducted in an ancient archaeological site near Apollonia.
The third project - the largest and most expensive in terms of time - will take place along the Vjosa river, with an estimated duration of 5 to 10 years.
The main purpose of these projects is the promotion of Albania and its archaeological treasures.
"I think that the Albanian will be properly presented in Europe in this way," said Sabine Ladstatter, director of the Austrian institute of archeology.
The director of the Albanian Institute of Archeology, Luan Perzhita, said that the Albanian government will contribute financially to these projects undertaken by the Austrian Institute. The projects, according to Perzhita, will be implemented in different periods of time.
A little History of the Albanian Archeology
The history of Albanian archeology includes three stages of development: the first, from the beginning of the fourteenth century to 1939, dominated by foreign travelers archaeologists; the second corresponds to the communist era of archeology, from 1945 to 1990, and the third begins in 1991 until today and represents a new phase of national archeology intertwined with foreign projects.
The Austro-Hungarian presence in Albanian archeology, however, is evident in the writings of Theodor Ippen from 1900 to 1908. In the writings, in fact, we find the interest shown by the monarchy in northern Albania, with a description of monuments, churches and residences.
Ippen was also appointed general consul for the monarchy in Albania and was a connoisseur of our country, its areas, its language and its traditions.
The second example of the Austro-Hungarian impact in Albania is that of Paul Traeger Karl Patsch, who in 1922 collaborated on the realization of the first national museum in Albania. In 1904 he also published "Il sandzak di Berat", a vast collection of photographs and detailed descriptions of ancient monuments of Berat, Myzeqe and Valona.