In a groundbreaking find, Belarusian researcher Aleksander Novik recently shared with Shqiptarja.com the discovery of over 300 bricks inscribed with one of the oldest known alphabets of the Albanian language. This extraordinary discovery, dating back centuries, was unearthed by Russian archaeologist Dmitry Zenyuk in 2015 in the village of Margaritovo in the Rostov region of Russia. However, following the initial find, many of these artifacts mysteriously disappeared, leading some to suspect they were taken by Russian authorities. The discovery has sparked a wave of interest and intrigue among historians and linguists studying Albania’s cultural heritage and ancient language.
 |
| Aleksander Novik and his colleague holding ancient bricks with Albanian inscriptions |
Novik, a scholar fluent in Albanian, gained his knowledge of the language from Russian professors Gertruda Intrei and Irina Horonina, both of whom had studied in Albania during the 1950s. This training equipped him to research and understand the significance of the Albanian diaspora’s historical presence in the southern regions of the Russian Empire. Until recently, knowledge of this community’s Albanian heritage has remained largely obscure, even to Albanian scholars.
An Albanian Alphabet Older Than Elbasan's?
For over a millennium, archaeological records have shown scant evidence of an Albanian alphabet predating the well-documented Elbasan script. Most ancient Albanian inscriptions found thus far have been in Latin or Greek scripts, with few traces of Albania’s unique alphabets. When Zenyuk and his team initially unearthed the inscribed bricks in Margaritovo, they were believed to be linked to the Elbasan alphabet used by Albanian communities in Ukraine. However, Novik has since suggested that this script may represent an entirely distinct, older Albanian alphabet. This theory is gaining traction and adds complexity to the history of Albanian writing systems.
The Albanian Diaspora in the Russian Empire
The story of Albanian migration to Russia remains an unfamiliar chapter in history. Several Albanian communities settled in the territories of the Russian Empire as early as the 18th century, having first relocated to Bulgaria from the Korça region in Albania. Eventually, many of these families moved to southern Russia in the early 19th century due to the Russo-Turkish wars. These communities managed to preserve their language and cultural identity for centuries. Known for their unique dialects and preservation of ancient linguistic forms, they speak an “archaic” version of Albanian, distinct from contemporary Albanian spoken in the Balkans.
Novik’s Pursuit of Albanian Heritage in Russia
Novik’s work has revealed crucial insights into the lives of Albanian communities in Ukraine’s southern regions, particularly around Odessa and Zaporizhzhia. He has identified four villages with significant Albanian populations whose residents retain both the language and the memory of their origins. Despite centuries of geographical separation from the Balkans, these communities have managed to keep their linguistic and cultural traditions alive.
Novik’s research includes field expeditions to the Azov region, where he and his colleagues have unearthed hundreds of bricks marked with ancient Albanian characters. The Margaritovo site has yielded over 200 bricks bearing Albanian inscriptions, and museums in Russia now hold around 300 examples of this script.
Future Prospects for Albanian Studies in Eastern Europe
Novik received the National Science Award from the Albanian Academy of Sciences in 2017, an honor highlighting his dedication to preserving the legacy of Albanian communities in Eastern Europe. He emphasizes that the study of the Albanian diaspora remains crucial in Russia and neighboring countries, and hopes to continue his archaeological work to uncover more about these ancient inscriptions.
This remarkable discovery opens a new chapter in the study of Albania’s linguistic and cultural heritage. It sheds light on a hidden aspect of the Albanian diaspora, preserving an ancient language and identity across centuries and borders.