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| Ancient Mosaic Unearthed During School Construction in Durres |
A mosaic discovered on Wednesday during construction work on the "Gjergj Kastrioti" school in Durres could be the largest one found in the ancient city, and its preservation could add significant value to the city's archaeological heritage.
Prof. Luan Perzhita, who oversees the archaeological supervision during the construction, stated to BIRN that, in addition to mosaic fragments, the past two days have also revealed foundations, columns, and marble slabs on the facade. This suggests that it is a luxurious villa with many other elements yet to be uncovered.
According to Prof. Perzhita, the mosaic, made of blue and beige stones, was found at a depth of 6 meters. Currently, only one corner has been exposed, providing significant information about the overall surface.
A part of the mosaic representing the floor of a large room in the luxurious villa has hexagonal and hexagonal designs, while the other part is decorated with floral shapes in the form of a rosette.
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| Durrës waterworks employee after the first century mosaic was discovered |
"It seems that the construction belongs to the first century of our era, and the villa is of the same age as the ancient amphitheater," adds Prof. Luan Perzhita. "The mosaic's workmanship not only attests to a high construction level but also to the city's economic status in the early Roman era."
The newly discovered structure is only a few hundred meters away from the amphitheater, and the current findings indicate that the city's standard of living was quite high.
"The amphitheater was one of the most important sources of the economy of ancient Dyrrachium, and archaeological discoveries nearby are clear evidence of the flourishing life of the city," stated Prof. Perzhita.
Similar to modern stadiums, at the time, objects for trade, entertainment, or shelters were erected near the amphitheater. Available information indicates that the city maintained a high standard of living until the fourth century.
The reconstruction of the "Gjergj Kastrioti" high school in Durres, closely monitored by the team of archaeologists, created an opportunity for this significant discovery.
This building was among the structures damaged after the earthquake on November 26, 2019, and a few weeks ago, the work for its restoration began.
The high school was built in 1967, and according to specialists, its foundations are less than two meters deep. This is the reason the mosaic has been preserved at a greater depth and has only come to light now.
"The possible damage to the mosaic and the ancient building could have been caused only by the destruction of a massive century-old concrete bunker," said Prof. Perzhita.
He expressed satisfaction with the values that this discovery brings, as well as the collaboration with the construction firm. He emphasized the immediate interest of local authorities and culture-related institutions.
"We will work towards the full excavation of the mosaic, a process that requires additional funding," Perzhita said. He added that decisions regarding the excavation and the future of the archaeological object are expected to be made by the Ministry of Culture.
The Fate of Durres' Different Mosaics
Mosaics discovered in Durres have not had the same fate. In some cases, their condition has worsened due to the conditions in the foundations where they are stored, or they have been removed to ensure their preservation.
Similar to the mosaic discovered in the "Gjergj Kastrioti" school's foundations, other mosaics in Durres belong to different periods of the ancient city's life.
Most of these mosaics cannot be visited by locals or foreigners interested in the city's history. Some of them are located behind metal gates with locks, making access almost impossible.
The majority of them are not open to visitors.
The "Meander Mosaic," also known as the cross mosaic, is covered with water in a significant part of the year, mainly from blocked drains.
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| The "Meander Mosaic" in Durrës, also known as the cross mosaic |
Closed doors hinder access to the rose mosaic, as well as to the excavation site of the Geas monument in the city center.
In the city's ninth district, archaeologists found another mosaic in 1988, known as the Orpheus mosaic. It remains beneath the floor of a family kitchen and cannot be visited.
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| Orpheus mosaic in Durrës, ocnal.com |
The well-preserved "Durrësi Beauty" mosaic is located at the entrance to the National Historical Museum in Tirana.