Centre for Albanian Studies

Institute of Archaeology

Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

OF ALBANIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES
65th Anniversary of Albanian Archaeology
(21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Botimet Albanologjike
Tiran 2014
 Proceedings of the International Congress of Albanian
Archaeological Studies

65th Anniversary of Albanian Archaeology (21-22 November, Tirana 2013)

Editorial board:

Professor Luan Przhita

(Director of Institute of Archaeology),

Professor Ilir Gjipali

(Head of Department of Prehistory),

Professor Gzim Hoxha

(Department of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages),

Associate Professor Belisa Muka

(Head of Department of Antiquity)

English translation and editing:

Nevila Molla

Art Design:
Gjergji Islami and Ana Pekmezi

ISBN: 978-9928-141-28-6

Copyright 2014 by Centre for Albanian Studies and Institute of Archaeology.

All rights reserved. No parts of this volume may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the
Albanian Institute of Archaeology.
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First
results of the German-Albanian
Palaeolithic (GAP) programme

Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA,

Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA

Palaeolithic research in Albania is still in its infancy. Introduction

Palaeolithic artefacts having been found mostly
incidentally and sporadically, a demand for more
systematic research has recently lead us to establish
a joint Albanian-German research project. Our first
excavations to be presented here were carried out in
southern Albania (Butrint region), central Albania
(Vlora region) and in the northern Albanian
highlands (Mati region). So far, Palaeolithic remnants
were recovered representing two time slices: First,
evidence for the presence of early Upper Palaeolithic
humans is given by a series of radiocarbon dates
in the lower part of the Blazi Cave sequence and
by an excavated Aurignacian lithic assemblage
from the open-air site of Shn Mitri near Butrint.
Second, some caves inspected have also revealed
traces of hunter-gatherers who used these shelters
shortly after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM):
Two Epigravettian sites, Blazi Cave (Mati) and
Kanali (Vlora), date to around 18,000 years cal.B.P.
or slightly younger. The new Albanian data fill a
gap in the eastern Adriatic archaeological record.
Comparing the Epigravettian sites with similar
occurrences in NW Greece and adding recent data
about the Late Pleistocene landscape evolution of
Albania, it is possible to place the archaeological
data into their proper cultural and environmental
context.
In 2008, one of the authors (Ilir Gjipali) decided
to intensify Palaeolithic Research in Albania and,
initially arranged by classical archaeologists Bashkim
Lahi (Institute of Archaeology, Tirana) and Henner
von Hesberg (German Archaeological Institute), the
University of Cologne was identified as a partner
for a possible survey programme. In 2009, Thorsten
Uthmeier (now University of Erlangen-Nrnberg)
and one of the authors (Jrgen Richter) visited
Albania for the first time. Guided by Ilir Gjipali and
Rudenc Ruka, the group visited some prehistoric
sites, particularly in the Butrint area. At the same
time, some artefact assemblages also underwent a
first inspection. It became immediately clear that
some of the collections contained some Middle
Palaeolithic, Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
artefacts. Consequently, a joint project between
the Albanian Institute of Archaeology and the
University of Cologne (under the auspices of the
Collaborative Research Centre 806 Our Way
to Europe, CRC806) started and a new phase of
systematic research into the Pleistocene of Albania
begun. This research is currently related to two
main topics
1. Early modern human migrations into
Europe around 40000 years ago along an eastern

65
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA
trajectory across the Balkans
2. Population dynamics during important
moments in human history such as the Last Glacial
Maximum (LGM) around 20000 years ago.
The Balkans may have played a key
geographic role for Pleistocene human migrations in
and out of Europe. Supposed traces of Anatomically
Modern Humans (AMH) that are related to their
earliest migration from Southwest Asia to Europe are
found to date as far back as to between 45000 and
40000 years ago, connected with the Uluzzian
cultural unit. The latter has so far been found in one
Greek and three Italian caves1. Provided that this
culture represents a suite of adaptive strategies used
by early modern humans colonizing the Adriatic
fringe, it is possible that respective evidence can also
be discovered in Albania. Succeeding the Uluzzian
in time, the Aurignacian marks the beginning of the
Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. Our investigations in
Albania led to the discovery of Aurignacian sites in
different topographic settings, such as caves in the
mountainous region in the north as well as in open-
air sites in the coastal lowlands.
Apart from the archaeological record
dating into Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3, several
Palaeolithic sites in Albania reveal evidence for
hunter-gatherer populations who persisted in the
eastern Adriatic despite severe climatic deteriorations
during MIS 2, namely the Last Glacial Maximum.
This persistence of human populations can be
explained by relatively favourable environmental
conditions between 25 ka and 18 ka BP. Communist Period
Palaeoenvironmental data obtained by a CRC 806
drilling project in the freshwater lakes of Ohrid
and Prespa show that Albania belonged to the
Adriatic refuge area for certain plant communities
at that time2. These limnic archives provide us with
a detailed information about Upper Pleistocene
and Holocene landscape evolution back to 90 ka
B.P3. Based on this evidence of intermittent human
presence in the Adriatic fringe during the LGM, it is
assumed that areas further north were re-populated
after the glacial peak from this persisting human
population.
Recent discoveries made by the joint
Albanian-German research project already fill
some gaps as we will show below but ongoing
66
investigations aim to improve the knowledge of
Palaeolithic man in Albania and to contextualize
the archaeological record with recently obtained
insights into landscape evolution and demographic
change.
Research history
The joint Albanian-German research project can
be seen as a continuation of previous archaeological
work on the Palaeolithic in different areas of Albania.
However, most of these earlier investigations were
sporadic in nature and the evidence provided is
often less but clear.
Pre-World War II
In the first half of the 20th century, archaeological
research in the field of early prehistory is connected
with two archaeologists: Luigi Cardini and Bolko
von Richthofen. Cardini (1940) identified open air
sites and did some test excavations in a number
of caves in southwest Albania. Among other
things, Cardini discovered the Middle and Upper
Palaeolithic surface site of Xarra and alleged Upper
Palaeolithic deposits in Shn Marina Cave in the
very south of Albania4. Von Richthofen (1939)
mentions a Palaeolithic site of supposedly Upper
Palaeolithic age at the foot of the Daiti Mountain
near Tirana.
Research into the Palaeolithic of Albania continued
during the 1970s and 80s with a relocation of the
site of Xarra and a publication of newly detected
surface finds5. In the north of Albania, pre-Neolithic
layers were reported for Blazi Cave6. At another cave
site, Gajtan Cave, excavations lead to the discovery
of alleged Lower Palaeolithic material7. In the same
area, Palaeolithic artefacts were found at the open-
air site clusters of Bleran and Baran.
Post-Communist Period
Palaeolithic research after the Communist was
mainly focussed on southern Albania with the
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme
discovery of a large number of open-air sites in
Mallakastra region8. Excavations in Konispol
Cave gave evidence for the presence of Mesolithic
hunter-gatherers9. Apart from these systematic
studies, the quantity of Palaeolithic stone artefacts
collected on the surface in different parts of Albania
raised significantly10. To mention in this respect
are the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic surface
collections from the hill of Xarra11. Although some
of the artefact collections are large, their scientific
potential is weakened by the fact that they mostly
contain a mixture of several different periods and
lack any stratigraphic context12.
Current archaeological research in the
framework of the Albanian-German project focuses
on three key areas: the lagoon of Butrint in the south,
the large bay of Vlora on the southwestern coast
and the karst region of Mati in the north (Fig. 1).
Surveys and test excavations in all three regions lead
to the discovery of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic
material and they clearly show that Albania holds
a huge potential for Palaeolithic research as it was
a continuous crossroad for Pleistocene human
populations.
The Butrint region: excavations at
the open-air site of Shn Mitri
The site was discovered in 2001 during surveys in
the Butrint region13. Dense lithic scatters appear
on the surface, among them small bladelet cores of
Aurignacian type. To check for Palaeolithic layers
in stratigraphic context, three parallel test trenches
were opened in the mid part of the Shn Mitri hill
(Fig. 2).
The east-west running trenches were spaced seven
meters apart and excavated to a depth of 60 cm to
80 cm. The sequence recorded in all three trenches
is as follows:
Layer 1: humic top soil (20-30 cm thick).
Layer 2: yellow-brown coloured sandy layer
interspersed with iron oxides and manganese
concentrations.
Fig. 1. Topographic map of Albania and
adjacent areas. The LGM coastline is set at
-120m below modern sea-level. Sites under
current investigation: 1, Kanali; 2, Blazi
Cave; 3, Shn Miter and Xarra; 4, Lake
Prespa (drilling core COL1215).
67
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA
In the test trenches and subsequent surface
excavation, traces of Holocene settlements
appeared throughout in form of several pits and
a horizontal alignment of large limestone slabs in
one area. Finds related to this period are extremely
scarce and include only tiny, non-diagnostic pottery
fragments and charcoal14. The area was likely
structured several times as the series of radiocarbon
dates for Layer 2 suggests Iron Age, Bronze Age
and Neolithic occupations15. These Holocene
settlement activities certainly affected the remains
of Pleistocene human occupation. Lithic artifacts
were found scattered throughout the sequence,
however, two major concentrations appeared, one
at 45 cm below the surface and another at the base
of the excavated area. Post-depositional disturbance
likely include the re-deposition of archaeological
material in the course of sediment run-off and /
or subsequent modification of Palaeolithic layers
during Holocene settlement activities.
Fig. 2. View to Shn Mitri hill near Butrint.
68
The excavated lithic artefact collection
comprises 996 items of which 43% are chunks and
fragments, many of them burnt (Tab. I).
The presence of carinated cores and thick end
scrapers warrant an attribution to the Aurignacian
(Fig. 3). The carinated cores exhibit the typical
narrow and steep front with converging microblade
removals and one or two lateral notches that
accentuate its convexity. Microblades stemming
from these cores are frequently twisted in their
longitudinal section (Fig. 3, Nr.5-7). However, any
other classic Aurignacian tools like simple burins
or Dufour bladelets are lacking. Furthermore, the
industry is flake-based likely as an adaptation to the
small size of the flint pebbles.
For the time being, it is not possible to consider
Shn Mitri as a definite Aurignacian site.
Firstly, the dated charcoal samples do belong to
the Holocene occupation history of the site. And
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme

Categories Top soil Layer 1-2 Layer 2 Pit 1 Total

Pebbles 1 1
Cores 8 4 9 8 29
Bladelet cores 2 1 1 4
Discoidal cores 1 1
Carinated pieces 2 5 1 8
Crested pieces 5 5
Core tablets 1 1
Blades / bladelets 10 5 25 7 47
Microblades 2 3 1 6
Flakes 94 38 160 46 338
Chips 31 16 42 19 108
Chunks 31 36 87 32 186
Debris / Burnt fragments 70 35 104 35 244
End scrapers 2 6 1 9
Side scrapers 2 2 4
Retouched flakes 1 1
Backed pieces 1 1
Other tools 1 1
Tool fragments 1 1 2
Tab. I. Shn Mitri (2012):
Total 252 141 448 155 996 Excavated artefact assemblage.

secondly, the lithic artefact assemblage lacks further
classic Aurignacian tools like simple burins or
Dufour bladelets. Furthermore, the presence of
small, flat semi-circular end scrapers could equally
indicate an Epipaleolithic or even Mesolithic
occupation. And the fact that many cores, including
some carinated items, exhibit an altered coloration
due to heat treatment likely indicates that some
cores or even whole flint pebbles were tempered
prior to bladelet production. Nevertheless, it is
possible that a significant part of the lithic material
was unintentionally burnt in fire places during
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic or Holocene times.
It should be noted that a large number
(around 20%) of all artefacts shows traces of
heating with a wide spectrum from slightly
burnt to nearly shattered. Speaking against an
unequivocal attribution to the Mesolithic is the lack
of a typical Mesolithic tool-kit including geometric
implements and other microliths. As the flake
technology is non-diagnostic in terms of relative
chronology and regarding the significant presence
of an Aurignacian-type microblade technology, an
attribution of the assemblage to the Aurignacian
is the most probabilistic hypothesis at the current
state of research. In this respect, it is important
to continue field research at Shn Mitri in order
to clarify the chronostratigraphy and aspects of
site formation. The radiocarbon dates16 suggest a
prolonged period of Holocene settlement activities.
Apart from Shn Mitri, other hills in the vicinity
also retain activity traces dating to the Bonze and
Iron Age. Surveys conducted over many years
have provided a multitude of archaeological finds
pertaining to these periods in Butrint17, Kalivo18,
Shn Dlli19, Mursi20 and Stillo21). A similar intensity

69
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA
of land-use during the Metal Ages is also identified
in the other parts southwest Albania, such as in the
Delvina basin and at the Ionian coast.
Kanal Rock-Shelter
Southwest of Vlora, several rock-shelters and
a few small caves have been located at the Rrza
e Kanalit, a limestone ridge delimiting a large
floodplain to the south. The caves and shelters are
remnants of former carstic systems that are now
barely visible due to major collapses. The rock-
shelter of Kanali (Kanali I) is the remnant of one
such cave (Fig. 4). It faces northeast and its walls
extend 60 m in length and around 20 m in height.
70
Fig. 3. Selected lithic artefacts from Shn
Mitri, layer 2: 1, double carinated core; 2,
blade; 3, carinated core; 4, microblade core;
5-6, micro-blades; 8-9, end scrapers.
Holocene occupations at Kanal
Rock-Shelter
In the course of a small test excavation in
1939, L. Cardini found pottery fragments that he
dated to the Chalcolithic and non-diagnostic lithic
artefacts within the shelter22. Recent excavations in
the same area furnished Late Mesolithic artefacts.
However, the Mesolithic assemblage is mixed
with Bronze Age and medieval material due to an
intensive disturbance of the deposits caused by the
repeated herding of cattle within the rock-shelter23.
The recently opened trenches (2004 and 2012)
provided prehistoric ceramics that are represented
by fragments of rims, bases and handles, all
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme

mica and sometimes quartz. We distinguished two

rims and two flat bases (Fig. 6, Nr. 3, 5). Their fabrics
vary from dark gray (2,5Y 4/1) or very dark gray
(Gley 1 3N) to reddish brown color (5YR 5/4). The
first is a simple rim (Fig. 6, Nr. 4) and the other an
everted rim (Fig. 6, Nr. 6) that has a blackened or
burnt surface on the top in the inner part, decorated
with incised line outside. Based on the shape of the
rim, these fragments can be dated to the 11th to 12th
or even to the 13th century.

Amphorae are represented only by fragmentary

walls, some with a smooth surface in a very pale
Fig. 4. Kanali rock-shelter with Holocene archaeological brown fabric (10YR 7/4) and two others with
layers in front. pronounced horizontal ribs (Fig. 6, Nr. 9). It is
difficult to determine the provenience of these
pieces. However, they can be compared to some
characteristic of Late Bronze Age24 (Fig. 5). They Middle Byzantine amphorae found in southern Italy
were first recognized among the material from the and the eastern Adriatic dating to the 12th to 13th
2004 excavation. century or later26.
The 2012 excavation yielded some sherds
(N=49) that date to the Roman and Medieval
period. The assemblage of medieval pottery consists
of a total of 35 sherds, including nine fragments
of glazed tablewares, two fragments of common
wares, fourteen fragments of coarse and cooking
wares, and ten fragments of amphorae. Glazed
tablewares include one rim fragment (Fig. 6, Nr. 1)
painted with horizontal lines on the top of a rim, in
a black-brown color, and a base fragment (Fig. 6, Nr.
2) with a ring foot painted in brown, with geometric
motif (probably a grid-iron with dots on relief). These
vessels belong to the Proto-Maiolica ware of southern
Italy dated to the 13th-14th century25. The others
are small fragments (six walls) of a closed shape
belonging to a monochrome green ware dated to
the 15th-16th century. A small piece of porcelain also
occurs among the glazed ware.

The unglazed common wares are represented

by a small handle fragment of a plain jug (Fig. 6, Nr.
7) and a wall fragment decorated with wavy incised
lines (Fig. 6, No. 8) dated to the 13th -14th century.

Coarse and cooking wares are probably of

local production in a gritty fabric, characterized by Fig. 5. Selected ceramic sherds of Late Bronze Age
abundant lime and flint inclusions (0,2-0,4 mm), at Kanal rock-shelter (Kanal I)

71
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA

Pleistocene occupations at Kanali II

Categories N
Only some meters downslope from the Cores 1
mentioned rock-shelter, cave deposits were found Blades / bladelets 28
in a small test trench now called the Kanali II site.
Under the topsoil we found sediments which were Flakes 134
obviously deposited inside of a former cave which Chips 58
is now collapsed. The test trench (1 x 1m) seems to
Chunks 1
display inclined layers of heterogeneous character
indicating possible redeposition of the sediments. Debris / burnt fragments 86
Throughout the whole sequence, lithic artefacts were
Backed pieces 2
found now reaching a depth of 100 cm. Though in
secondary position, the lithic implements look very Backed blades 1
fresh and well-preserved. Thus, redeposition must Backed bladelets 12
have taken place at low energy and from a nearby
in-situ source. Small core preparation flakes, burnt Gravette points 2
debris and small chips have been found among the Retouched microblades 2
332 artifacts (Tab. II).
Truncated blades 1
Notched pieces 1
End scrapers 2
Tool fragments 1
Total 332

Tab. II. Kanali II (2012): Excavated artefact

assemblage of Trench 1.

The tool-kit of Kanali II compares well

to assemblages elsewhere attributed to the
Epigravettian period (Fig. 7) thus indicating an
age between the Last Glacial interstadial and the
end of the Younger Dryas. Short end scrapers,
microgravette points and the double truncated
blade (trapezoid) argue for a later phase of the
Epigravettian with trapezoid microliths becoming
important27.

Recent excavations at Blaz Cave

Blazi Cave (Mati district, Fig. 1) is part of an

Fig. 6. Selected ceramic sherds of Roman and Medieval
deposits at Kanal rock-shelter (Kanal I).
active karst system within the Cretacious limestone
zone of northern Albania28. The opening of Blazi
Cave faces southwest to a dry valley at 300 m a.s.l.
(Fig. 8). Visitors enter the cave by a 60 m long
gallery. Further inside, the Gallery of the Bats

72
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme

Fig. 7. Selected artefacts

of the Kanal II lithic
assemblage: 1, tip of a
Gravette point; 2, backed
bladelet; 3, overshot
blade fragment; 4-5
microgravette points;
6-8, backed bladelets; 9,
double truncated blade
(trapezoid); 10, short end
scraper.

branches off leading another 200 m northward (Fig.

9). A narrow passage bridges both galleries. Another
gallery is completely filled up with rock-fall. Dry
stone walls which were recently built for animal
herding in the cave partially seal the entrance.

Archaeological work at Blazi Cave started in

1979 on the search for early Holocene remains29.
The excavations opened a sequence that comprises
Pre-Neolithic deposits at its base followed by Early
Neolithic layers after a hiatus. The top of the
sequence contains Middle Neolithic and Late Bronze
Age occupations. As in many prehistoric excavations
during this time, the chronostratigraphy was based
on typological criteria of the stone artefacts and
ceramics. Our 2012 excavations reached the Fig. 8. Blaz Cave (Mat district).

73
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA

some artefacts have been found including backed

bladelets. Underlying layer 2 yielded 174 lithic
artifacts and a few bones (Tab. III).

Red to green colour radiolarite was used for

blade and bladelet production, and a honey-colored,
translucent flint was probably brought in the form
of tools produced elsewhere. The Blazi Cave-layer
2 assemblage is of clear Epigravettian type (Fig. 11)
with a matching Radiocarbon date (COL1959.1.1)
of 18820 80 CAL B.P. from charcoal found in
layer 230. So far, this is the radiometric date for an
assemblage of this period in Albania. Underlying
layers 3 and 4 consist of slightly weathered and
chaotically aligned limestone clasts in a clayey
matrix. Layer 3b shows a high content of manganese
indicated by its distinctive black color (Fig. 10).

The layers strong inclination might argue for

Fig. 9. Map and cross section of Blazi Cave
showing the 2012 test trenches.
re-deposition of deposits from further inside the
cave. Layers 3 and 4 were Radiocarbon dated
to the time span between 35000 and 45000
years cal.B.P.31 Among the small number of eight
artifacts, two blades were recovered made of
radiolarite pebbles. The preservation of the rest of
the assemblage is heterogeneous with slightly and
heavily polished pieces and some with damaged
edges. The excavated artefacts being not indicative
for a specific cultural attribution, surface finds from

remaining part of the Holocene sequence in trench Categories Layer 1 Layer 2 Layers 3-4 Total

IV. The latter covers part of the Neolithic deposits Cores 4 5 1 10

Core tablets 1 1
with a dense charcoal concentration and Early
Blades / bladelets 9 50 3 62
Neolithic pottery fragments in its lower section.
Flakes 13 106 2 121
Radiocarbon samples are currently processed at End scrapers 1 1 2
the Cologne AMS laboratory to precisely date Backed bladelets 2 3 5
these early Neolithic visits to the cave and to further Gravette points 1 1
improve the chronology of the early Neolithic in the Retouched blades 1 3 4
Adriatic region. Retouched bladelets 3 3

Since the 1979 excavations a large Splintered pieces 1 1

Denticulates 1 1
sediment volume was taken out exposing the
Side scrapers 1 1
bedrock in many areas. In search for long sequences
Tool fragments 1 1
we decided in 2012 to open three small test trenches Indeterminable tools 1 1
(I, III and IV) in areas with remaining deposits Total 32 174 8 214
(Fig.9). Trench I, near the entrance, contained 0,7
m of Pleistocene sediments (Fig. 10). In the top Tab. III. Blaz Cave (2012): Excavated artefact
layer (layer 1), probably mixed with 1979 backdirt, assemblage from Trench 1.

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 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme
Fig. 10. Southern section of Trench I in Blaz Cave
showing the excavated Pleistocene sequence.
the area in front of the site display both Middle
Palaeolithic elements such as Levallois flakes and
cores as well as numerous radiolarite side scrapers
(Fig. 12, Nr. 1-2) and Upper Palaeolithic elements
such as Aurignacian carinated cores and thick end
scrapers (Fig. 12, Nr. 3-4, 8). Thus focusing on the
space in front of Blazi cave, a further trench (Trench
II) was dug outside the dripline (Fig. 9). Reaching
a depth of 1,5 m, no Palaeolithic layers have been
found so far., the excavation to be continued.
Certainly, neighbouring caves must also be tested
for potential Middle and Upper Palaeolithic
occupations. Future excavations will focus on these
caves. As a further step of research, it will be possible
to compare these cave sites with open-air localities
in the coastal lowlands thus possibly elucidating the
first occupation of southeastern Europe by Modern
Humans.
First results: windows into Upper
Palaeolithic culture and environment of
Albania
The archaeological evidence presented here
already shows that the Albanian territory provides
Fig. 11. Selected Epigravettian artefacts found in Blaz
Cave, layer 2: 1, Blade core; 2, backed bladelet; 3, end
scraper; 4, microgravette point.
an important piece in the puzzle of Pleistocene
human migrations and population dynamics.
Though needing further confirmation, it seems
that Homo sapiens reached Albania quite early:
charcoals from Blazi Cave in northern Albania date
into the time slice between 45 and 30 ka B.P. and
Middle Palaeolithic and Aurignacian type artefacts
discovered on nearby surfaces provoke further
research in the Mati karst area.
Aurignacian material is also known from surface
collections of the coastal lowlands. At one such
place called Shn Mitri in the lagoon of Butrint,
a test excavation provided a rich lithic assemblage.
However, at Shn Mitri the situation is complicated
by a mismatch between Holocene radiocarbon
dates and the Upper Palaeolithic nature of the
lithic assemblage. Its techno-typological structure
compares to the early Aurignacian assemblage of
level IV at Klissoura Cave, Greece 32. The early
Aurignacian of Klissoura dates back to around 35
to 37 ka CAL B.P.33 and it is possible that the Shn
Mitri assemblage is at least of the same age.
Time resolution and coherence of cultural
affiliation is somewhat better for the late LGM (Last
Glacial Maximum) sites in Albania. At two localities,
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 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA

Fig. 12. Lithic artefacts

discovered on the terrace slope in
front of Blazi Cave: 1, convex
side scraper (MP); 2, convergent
side scraper (MP); 3, carinated
end scraper (Aurignacian ?); 4,
thick end scraper (Aurignacian
?); 5, burin on retouched blade
fragment (UP); 6, backed
bladelet (Epi-)Gravettian;
7, retouched blade (UP); 8,
carinated burin (Aurignacian ?).

Blazi Cave and Kanali, Epigravettian remains
were discovered during test excavations. The two
Albanian sites belong to a wider pan-Adriatic
Epigravettian phenomenon of technological change
that happened in the course of the LGM and post-
LGM period. The change composes a shift from
a steppe-adapted to a forest-adapted system with
the onset of deglaciation and the spread of mixed
deciduous woodlands after 15 ka B.P34. A diversified
body of lithic tool forms successively enriched by
innovations such as geometric microliths exemplifies
the dynamics of human adaptation during the
Epigravettian period35. Exchange of information
and material goods was supposed to be rather
easy across the exposed LGM coastal plain, and
therefore, close cultural relations probably existed
between both sides of the Adriatic Sea36. Among
other factors, this explains the similarity between
the Albanian record and other Epigravettian
sites of northern Greece and Italy. Regarding the
congruence of their tool-kits, the Blazi Cave and
Kanali II assemblages share features with the Late
Epigravettian assemblages of Kastrita layers 3-1,
Klithi and Bola in the Epirus mountains of NW
Greece, at roughly 100 km distance to Kanali and
dated between 24,000 and 14,500 years CAL B.P.37.
At this time, NW Greece and the Albanian
south might have been parts of a mobility system
of hunter-gatherer tied to the systemic habitat of
prehistoric populations38 . Paleogeographical studies
around the Adriatic fringe suggest the presence of
a favorable diversified environment during the
major peak of the last glaciation. The significant
lowering of the Mediterranean sea level of up to

76
 the Early Prehistory of Albania: First results of the German-Albanian Palaeolithic (GAP) programme
120 m during MIS 2 (around 20,000 years ago) lead
to a significant extension of coastal lowlands. The
central and northern LGM coast of Albania was
situated around 50 km offshore from the present-day
coastline (Fig. 1). Drained by melt water discharge
from the Dinaric Alps and Pindos Mountains
these lowlands were covered with a well-watered
steppe environment39 . Contrasting with this steppe
environment, permanent woodland covered the
mountain areas in the hinterland.
Parallely to the GAP project presented
here the University of Cologne also conducts
palaeo-environmental research in the region within
the same CRC 806 research centre (see www.sfb806.
de). The pollen profile of Lake Prespa at 850 m.a.s.l.
shows that temperate tree populations were growing
throughout the whole glacial period40. Although
pine trees dominated LGM forests, the continuous
presence of Abies and Quercus in the Prespa pollen
record proves that also less cold-adapted species
survived in this refuge area. The diversity and stable
presence of these plant communities is matched by
a rich LGM mammal biome. Archaeozoological
studies of last glacial faunal assemblages from
Istria suggest the presence of a broad variety of
mammalian species in the Great Adriatic plain41. It
is of no wonder that Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers
were permanently present within this favourable
environmental context. In order to determine and
to refine the spatial extent of the LGM and post-
LGM contextual area in the eastern Adriatic and
to work out similar models for earlier time slices,
Palaeolithic research in Albania aims to increase the
number of archaeological sites and extending the
scope of information at the sites presented in this
paper.
Acknowledgements
The Collaborative Research Centre 806 Our
Way to Europe Culture-Environment Interaction
and Human Mobility in the Late Quaternary
(Cologne, Bonn, Aachen) is generously supported by
the DFG (German Research Foundation). We would
like to thank Prof. Janet Rethemeyer for kindly
providing the AMS 14C dating results. Further thanks
goes to the Albanian Institute of Archaeology for
providing technical support. For their help we would
like to thank all Albanian students and workers who
participated in fieldwork.
notes
1. Palma di Cesnola 1989;
Koumouzelis et al. 2001; Peresani 2008, 2011
2 Wagner et al. 2009, 2010, 2012
3 Panagiotopoulos et al. 2014
4 Francis and Vulpi 2005; Mustilli 1940
5 Budina 1971; Korkuti 1983
6 Prendi and Andrea 1981
7 Fistani 1993
8 Runnels et al. 2004, 2009
9 Korkuti et al. 1996
10 Gjipali 2012
11 Francis and Gjipali 2005; Harrold et al. 1999
12 Gjipali 2012
13 Korkuti 2003; Gjipali 2006
14 Based on general shape characteristics and fabric,
the pottery fragments can be attributed to the
Late Bronze and Iron Age.
15 Hauck et al., submitted
16 Hauck et al., submitted
17 Haxhis 1998, 223. The excavations between
1994 and 1995 yielded prehistoric ceramics at
a few rocky pockets that are affiliated to the
Bronze and Early Iron Age. A single mat painted
fragment can be affiliated to the Devollite style.
18 Gjipali 2008, 27. Between 2004 and 2007 test
pits were conducted at Kalivo in the southern
part within the walls (the deposits were not
stratified). They yielded prehistoric ceramics, the
general characteristics of which allow an
attribution to the Late Bronze and
Early Iron Age.
19 At the western side of the Shn Dlli hill
I. Gjipali discovered pottery fragments as well as a
bronze spearhead of Late Bronze Age together
with lithic flakes.
20 The 2010 excavations done by Dh. ondi and
D.Hernandez at Mursi hill above the village
school lead to the discovery of ceramic fragments
of Late Bronze Age. This was also confirmed by
C14 dating.
77
 Jrgen Richter, Ilir GJIPALI, Thomas C. HAUCK, Rudenc RUKA, Oliver VOGELS and Elvana METALLA

21 Gjipali 2008, 27. The excavation at Kepi i Stillos Bailey, Gamble 1990
between 2005 and 2007 at three sectors yielded G. N, Bailey and C. Gamble, The Balkans at
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