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.

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE

CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE
SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND
Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

Prehistoric research in Albania has produced
considerable evidence for settlement in the hinterlands,
but very little for settlement in the Adriatic lowlands,
producing only a partial picture of Albanian
prehistory1. For this reason, newly-discovered surface
finds from west of Narta Lagoon, composed of
numerous lithics, are crucial to developing a more
complete understanding of this particularly dynamic,
coastal landscape.
The hill ridge2 from which the lithics
were collected is north of Vlora, situated in the
southernmost part of the coastal area of Albanias
western lowland3. It is comprised of a series of low
hills, oriented almost northwest-southeast, extending
4.6 km, with a maximum height of 78 m a.s.l. The
hills are situated between the Narta syncline, which to
the west forms part of the Narta Lagoon, and the sea4.
The ridge is an asymmetric anticline5, aligned along
a hidden fault line, and was most probably shaped by
tectonic uplift. The western side of the ridge is marked
by an abrupt slope that is being continuously abraded
by the sea, while the eastern side presents a gradual
slope that underlies recent low altitude Holocene
marsh deposits and Vjosa river alluvial deposits6. The
low hills that comprise the ridge are made of sandy
Neogene molasses of the Middle Miocene series of
the Serravallian stage7. The ridge is fragmented by
a series of depressions that toward the shore usually

form narrow sand beaches or sand banks between the

sea and the lagoon.
This particular ridge was first noted for its
archaeological remains by Panayiotis Aravandinos
( ) in the mid 19th century,
who described the presence of an acropolis in the bay
of Porto Nov near the coastal village of Palea Arta
(nowadays Narta) in the area of Vlora. It was suggested
that the acropolis was a remnant of ancient Arnisa8. In
fact, later archaeological observations indicate that the
acropolis is in fact situated on the southernmost hill of
Pllaka, near its south-western cape, at Treport9. The
only prehistoric artefacts noted by these pre-WWII
visiting archaeologists were a couple of Mycenaean
pottery sherds of Late Helladic III date10. Systematic
excavations and studies undertaken at the site during
the 70s and 80s identified Late Bronze Age-Early Iron
Age activity, alongside evidence for settlement during
antique times through the 2nd century AD11. However,
no reference was made at this point to the presence of
earlier prehistoric remains on the ridge.
The first two sites, named Putanja and Dalani
i Vogl, are situated immediately north of Treport.
They were first identified in 2009 by local amateur
collectors, who brought them to the attention of
archaeologists, noting the considerable number of
lithics there, and some pottery as well. Further nonsystematic archaeological survey work in 2011-2012
93

Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

brought about the discovery of three more sites,

Portonov I and II and Kepi i Dajlanit (Fig.1), along the
ridge toward its northern extremity.

It is not clear at this point how many
lithics have been acquired over the years by the
amateur collectors, but some of them have been
turned over to representatives from the Institute of
Archaeology. Together with materials collected later
by archaeologists, there are ca. 1244 pieces available
for study. Unfortunately, many of the finds were mixed
between sites. Henceforth, the mixed materials from
the entire ridge will be discussed together and, where
possible, separately, with reference to each location.
Overall, 483 pieces without site-specific
information were recovered from amateur collectors.
We primarily acquired diagnostic pieces or those that
seemed to show some level of retouch or technological
information. Approximately 70 pieces can be described
as flakes and debris of non-diagnostic value, while the
rest varies, and can be assigned to one or, sometimes,
multiple periods. The oldest identified period is the
Middle Palaeolithic (Fig. 2, 3) and it is represented
by: 1) Levallois cores (N=25) that are mostly on
flakes detached from round pebbles, 2) Levallois
preparation flakes (N=18), 3) Levallois flakes (N=21)
that range from preferential flakes to blades and short,
broad-based points, 4) tools on Levallois products
Fig. 2. Middle Palaeolithic Levallois cores from the general
hill ridge area.

Fig. 1. Map of sites locations.

94

(N=24), such as side scrapers, double scrapers, dejete,

Mousterian points, convergent scrapers with Quina
and semi-Quina retouch, 4) transverse scrapers (N=3),
5) a Kombewa flake (N=1), 6) a denticulate (N=1), and
7) discoidal cores (N=2). A number of tools (N=57),
mostly side scrapers, double side scrapers, convergent
scrapers, points, and retouched blades, could be
categorised both in the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic.
With regard to the latter, of certain Aurignacian date
(Fig. 4) are: 1) carinated cores (N=11) with asymmetric
working faces that would have produced twisted
microblades, 2) rejuvenation flakes (N=2), removed
to maintain the lateral convexity of the working face
of carinated cores, 3) nosed, shouldered, and thick
end scrapers (N=13) and 4) possibly a strangled blade
(N=1).
The Epigravettian (Fig. 5) is most probably represented

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND

Fig. 3. Middle Palaeolithic tools (1. Convergent scraper; 2, 3,

5. Dejete; 4. Transversal scraper) and Levallois products (6-10.
Levallois products) from the general hill ridge area.

by: 1) opposed platform laminar cores (N=2), 2)

fragments of micro/Gravette points (N=2), and 3) an
arched backed piece on a blade (N=1).


Nonetheless, a number of other pieces could
be assigned to various post-Middle Palaeolithic
periods but with a higher probability that they are
Epigravettian, Mesolithic, or from later periods (Fig.
6): 1) laminar cores (N=27), 2) burins or burin spalls
(N=12), 3) truncations (N=11), 4) oblique truncated or
backed pieces (N=5), 5) crested blades (N=3), 6) pices
esquilles or splintered pieces (N=3), 7) a microblade
(N=1), and 8) end scrapers (N=10), of which one
might show signs of bitumen used as adhesive at
the proximal end. A number of lithics could be of

Fig. 4 Aurignacian cores (1-5 carinated cores) and tools

(6-11. thick, shouldered and nosed end scrapers) from
the general hill ridge area.
Neolithic, Eneolithic or even later age (Fig. 5), such
as: 1) tanged point fragments (N=2) with light retouch
applied by surface pressure flaking, 2) a bifacial
preform (N=1), and 3) a medial blade fragment (N=1)
with silica shine.

Putanja (19 2352.6E, 40 3030N) is the first
site from south to north and is situated in a depression
that is relatively large and flat between the hill of Pllaka
and the next hill to the north. Despite a relatively less
steep slope on the eastern side, it still presents the
general characteristics of an asymmetric anticline.
The lithic concentration is more obvious at the highest
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Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

Fig. 5. Epigravettian cores (10-11. bidirectional cores)

and tools (3.end scraper, 4-5 arched backed microliths,
5-6. probably double backed micro/Gravette points);
Neolithic, Eneolithic or later age (1. end scraper, 2.
sickle element, 7, 9. tanged points fragments, 8.
preform) from the general hill ridge area.

point toward the southern end of the depression and

immediately below on the sandy beach, as exposed by
sea abrasion. The number of lithics collected at the
site amounts to ca. 330 pieces, of which 250 include
general debitage such as flakes, blades, chips, chunks,
and debris of no particular diagnostic value. Overall
the lithic pieces seem to be well preserved, fresh, with
rare edge damage or rounding, unless they had been
rolled by beach wave action. The raw materials came
in the form of river cobbles of high quality flint. In the
collection, one can recognize at least three components
(Fig. 7): the Middle Palaeolithic, Epigravettian, and
96

one of later Holocene age.

The Middle Palaeolithic component is
represented by ca. 29 pieces: 1) Levallois flakes (N=20),
2) side scrapers (N=3), 3) a Levallois preferential core
(N=1), 4) Levallois recurrent centripetal cores (N=2),
4) discoidal pseudo-Levallois points (N=2), and 5)
discoidal cores (N=2). The Epigravettian component
probably contains more than 30 pieces. Worth noting
are:1) abruptly retouched pieces (N=11), such as
backed bladelets (N=2), a trapeze (N=1) that seems to
have been produced with the microburin technique, an
arched backed blade (N=1), an obliquely bi-truncated
blade (N=1) resembling in outline an arched backed
piece, and an obliquely truncated distal blade fragment
(N=1), 2) burins (N=4), 3) microblades (N=3), and 4)
a microblade core (N=1). So far none of the tools on

Fig. 6. Epigravettian, Mesolithic, or later periods (1-4.

truncations, 5-11 burins and burin spalls, 12-14
splintered pieces) from the general hill ridge area.

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND

obsidian standards (Tab. 1). These measurements were

compared to known values for various Mediterranean
sources (e.g., the Italian and Greek sources), which are
easily discriminated using just a few trace elements,
especially as ratios.
Putanja
MnKa1
FeKa1
ZnKa1
GaKa1
ThLa1
RbKa1
SrKa1
Y Ka1
ZrKa1
NbKa1
RhKa1
Fig. 7. Middle Palaeolithic (9-11, 13-15. Levallois flakes and
tools) and Epigravettian (1. dihedral burin and end scraper,
2, 3, 5. micro blades, 4. backed bladelet, 6. 7. arched backed
pieces, 12. dihedral burin dejete) from Putanja.

laminar pieces presents the regular parallel dorsal

ridges of the Mesolithic period and the presence of
the burins during this period is not a common feature.
Nevertheless, the presence of the geometric microliths
is a feature of both periods and the arched backed
pieces can be assigned to both the Uluzzian and the
Epigravettian.

The third component is represented by one
thin obsidian medial fragment with regular parallel
dorsal ridges that indicate the use of indirect percussion
or pressure flaking. The piece was analyzed with a
portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (PXRF),
which is a non-destructive technology that allows rapid
collection of statistically robust data. We used a Bruker
III-SD, with filter (12 mm Al, 1 mm Ti, 6 mm Cu),
set to40 kV and 33 A,to undertake trace-element
analysis. The artefact had been cleaned and analysis
was undertaken on a flat surface for 300 seconds. The
resulting data were calibrated and transformed into
parts per million (PPM) measurements using shared

Concentration
419.608094
11,552.30
49.42551234
20.78838198
41.03718035
292.2229199
12.29648485
46.18339711
175.5858774
35.80070655
0

Tab. 1: PPM concentrations for 11 trace elements in the

Putanja obsidian artefact.
PXRF results indicate that the Putanja artefact
is not from Melos in Greece, rather it is from Lipari in
Italy.12 The Putanja obsidian is too high in iron and
rubidium to be from either of the Melian sources. It is,
however, a perfect match for Lipari. The Lipari sources
were not available and exploited by humans until
after 6000 BC13, so the Putanja artefact cannot date
to the Mesolithic. According to Tykot14, the zenith
of central Mediterranean obsidian distribution was
during the Early and Middle Neolithic, tapering off in
the Late Neolithic. It is thus possible that the Putanja
site dates to the Neolithic. Lipari obsidian continued
in use through the Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages, so
a post-Neolithic date is also conceivable.
Another piece of obsidian from Lipari and
of Mesolithic date has been identified based on
macroscopic observations from the site of Tsarlambas
along the Epirote coast in the area of Preveza15. The
uncertainty regarding the origin and, most probably,
the age of this piece16, however, makes the Putanja
obsidian artefact the southernmost, securely-identified
piece of Lipari obsidian along the Adriatic-Ionian
coast. The other group of Lipari finds from the eastern
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Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

Adriatic is concentrated on the route connecting the

islands of Palagruza, Susac, and Korcula to various
points along the middle Dalmatian coast17.Given the
distances between this area of the Dalmatian coast
and the area of Vlora and of the latter to southern
Italy, we can infer direct contact between Vlora and
Puglia.
Dalani i Vogl (19 2340.8E, 40 3052N)
represents the second site along the ridge toward the
north. It is situated in a depression between two hills.
The site was exposed both by the excavation during
the communist period of a channel that connects
the Narta lagoon with the sea and by sea abrasion
on the western side of the depression. The lithics are
concentrated on the northern side of the depression
along the channel, the beach, and in nearby areas.

Fig. 8. Middle Palaelithic (9. side scraper, 10, 15.

Mousterian point, 11. Levallois point, 12. Levallois
preparation flake, 13-14. dejete), Aurignacian (3, twisted
microblade, 7. microblade core), Epigravettian (1. end
scraper, burin on truncation, 4. microblade, 8, microblade
core), Middle Neolithic to Bronze Age (6. obsidian
bladelet/microblade core) from Dalani i Vogl.
98

The number of lithics collected at the site amounts to

322 pieces. This particular location seems to provide
the most complex chronological sequence identified so
far along the ridge (Fig. 8).
This is partly demonstrated by the clear presence
of stratigraphic layers that contain finds of Middle
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Early Neolithic
settlement, with impressed pottery (Fig. 9), and possibly
even Bronze Age materials.
The Middle Palaeolithic is represented by 32 pieces:
1) Levallois cores (N=11), mostly produced on pebble
flakes that are largely cortical on the lower face, 2) a
Kombewa flake (N=1), 3) Mousterian points (N=5),
4) side scrapers (N=6), 5) a transverse scraper (N=1),
6) Levallois and centripetal dorsal scar pattern flakes
(N=8), and 7) a discoidal pseudo-Levallois point (N=1).
The post Middle Palaeolithic materials are represented
by a variety of cores, tools, and technological pieces that
could be categorised variably from Upper Paleolithic
to Bronze Age. However, a number of finds could be
defined more closely within two consecutive periods.

Fig. 9. Early Neolithic impressed pottery from Dalani i Vogl.

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND

Of 7 bladelet/microblade cores, two of them could be

categorised in the Aurignacian due to the asymmetry
of their working surfaces, which would have produced
mostly twisted microblades. A distal fragment of a
twisted microblade and a rejuvenation flake with
microblade dorsal scars detached to maintain the
lateral working surface convexity could also date
to this period. The rest of the bladelet/microblade
cores could fit well into Epigravettian and Mesolithic
periods. Despite the lack of clear bidirectional cores,
two tools of Epigravettian type could be distinguished:
a burin on a concave distal blade truncation and a
retouched blade with a round and steeply retouched
end scraper. The Mesolithic period is represented by
one diagnostic piece or segment discovered along the
channel. The direction of the abrupt retouch changes
along each half of the arch. The dorsal ridges are
regular and parallel, indicating an indirect or pressure
flaking technique for the production of the blank. The
lack of trapezes in the assemblage and the general use
of segments during the early stages of the Mesolithic
would probably indicate a Souveterrian date. A
post 8200 BP phase of the Early Neolithic can be
suggested by the presence of stray finds of impressed
pottery. In terms of lithic finds, this period is probably
represented by only one diagnostic piece, an inversely
retouched distal blade fragment and burin on a convex
end scraper. The regular and parallel ridges as well
as the thin trapeze section of the piece indicate such
a date. Of probable Middle Neolithic to Bronze Age
date is an obsidian bladelet/microblade core fragment
that based on macroscopic observations seems to be
of Melian origin.18 The movement of Melian obsidian
along maritime routes begins circa 10,90010,800
BC, as demonstrated by obsidian finds from Franchthi
cave in the Argolid19. The closest group of claimed
finds of Melian origin in northwestern Greece is from
the Ionian islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaka,
and Zakynthos, which are dated to the different
chronological sub-periods of the Bronze Age and are
thought to have been transported via sea routes20.
Nevertheless, obsidian of the Greek Late Neolithic in
the same area has also been found21. Circa 51 pieces
with some technological information, core and core
fragments, tool fragments, and end scrapers could be
assigned to a number of different periods. The rest of
the assemblage is comprised of 196 pieces of debitage,

including flakes, laminar products, chips, chunks, and

debris of no particular diagnostic value.
Porto Nov I (19 2323.8E, 40 3106.5N)
presents the third site along the ridge towards the
north. It is situated in a depression between the hills of
Porto Nov. Most of the finds were collected at the beach
below the surface that is being continually abraded by
the sea as well as on the western flat surface of the
north-south slope of the depression. The number of
lithics collected at this site amounts to 60 pieces. At
least three chronological phases can be distinguished
here, the Middle Palaeolithic, Early Neolithic, and
Eneolithic-Bronze Age (Fig. 10).
The Middle Palaeolithic is represented by 10 pieces: 1)
Levallois preferential cores (N=2) produced on pebble
flakes which still retain considerable cortical surfaces
on the lower faces, 2) a centripetal core (N=1) on a
pebble flake, 3) Levallois flakes (N=3), 4) a flake with
centripetal dorsal scar pattern (N=1), 5) a discoidal

Fig. 10. Middle Palaeolithic (7-8. Levallois cores, 1, 4.

Levallois flakes), Early Neolithic (6. impressed pottery
fragment), and Eneolithic-Bronze Age (5. proximal blade
fragment) from Porto Nov I.
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Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

core fragment (N=1), and 6) discoidal flakes (N=2).

The Neolithic period is indicated by the presence of
one impressed pottery sherd that is generally dated
after the 8200 BP event22 and as many as seven lithics.
In this chronological phase could be included two
cores of which one is a blade/microblade on a narrow
face and the other a bladelet and flake core, five blades
and blade fragments and one distal fragment of an end
scraper on a large blade. It must be noted, though, that
some of the pieces could also be categorised in earlier
or later periods due to their imprecise chronological
attributes but the presence of the pottery sherd suggests
with a high degree of probability the Neolithic period.
The last phase is represented by only one piece which
can be assigned to the Eneolithic-Bronze Age periods.
It is a retouched proximal fragment of a large blade
produced by pressure flaking, most probably with
mode 5 or lever pressure23. The retouch is flat, long,
and parallel to sub-parallel due to the application of
a pressure technique which generally occurs mostly
during the Eneolithic and Bronze Age in Albania24.
The rest of the assemblage contains a complex notch
on a distal fragment, flakes, chunks and debris of no
particular diagnostic value.
Porto Nov II (19 2315.8E, 40 3114.7N)
represents the fourth site along the ridge towards
the north. It is situated in a depression between the
hills of Porto Nov. Most of the finds were collected at
the beach below the section that is being continually
abraded by the sea as well as on the surface of the
depression toward the sea. A total of 23 pieces was
collected at the site, which are categorised into at
least three chronological phases. The oldest phase
or the Middle Palaeolithic is represented by at least
four diagnostic pieces: a preferential Levallois core
produced on a cortical flake, a proximal fragment of a
relatively flat Levallois flake with faceted butt, a small
Levallois flake with centripetal dorsal scar pattern
and a possible discoidal flake. The later phases are
presented by 5 pieces: 1) a burin on a large and thick
laminar core tablet. On the ventral side there is one
Kombewa-like detachment and the burin blow has
been produced distally on what seems like a natural
surface, 2) an obliquely truncated flake that has been
produced with a soft hammer on a faceted butt, 3) a
core with two crossed working surfaces, one used for
the production of bladeletes and microblades and the
other for flakes and microblades, 4) a unidirectional
100

blade and microblade core with one working surface,

and 5) a pressure-flaked blade, probably made with a
copper-tipped tool, in mode 4 according Pelegrin25.
These pieces seem to range in date from the Upper
Palaeolithic to the Eneolithic-Bronze Age. The rest of
the finds are mostly flakes and flake fragments of no
particular diagnostic value.
Kepi i Dalanit (19 2247.8E, 40 3213N) is
the fifth and the last identified site in the area, close
to the northern extremity of the ridge. The lithic
concentration is situated on a gradual hill slope on
the northern side of the depression. A total of 26
lithics was collected at the site, which are categorised
chronologically to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic
and another, later phase of the Holocene (NeolithicBronze Age) (Fig. 11).
The Middle Palaeolithic is represented by 7 pieces:
1) a Levallois preferential core (N=1), 2) Levallois
preferential flakes (N=5), and 3) a discoidal core
fragment (N=1). The Upper Palaeolithic is represented
by at least two pieces, a prismatic core and a backed
piece. The core is a unidirectional blade/let core of
honey-brown flint, which has been exploited along its
whole perimeter. The core shows at least two stages
of use and during the second stage was probably
recycled. During the first stage the core was used for
the production of blades, though not all along the
perimeter of the platform due to the presence of a
longitudinal cortical ridge. During the second stage,
after the platform rejuvenation and crest preparation,
the core was exploited along two opposing sides
following the platform perimeter for the production
of bladelets. The platform was rejuvenated, mainly
by the detachment of two bidirectional partial core
tablets on the sides of the original crest. The distal crest
preparation scars are superimposed on earlier blade
detachments that are also missing the bulb scars due
to platform rejuvenation. Most probably the remnant
of the cortical ridge was used as a second natural crest
for the initiation of the core opposite to the crest. The
second piece is a blade with crossed backing. A third
phase, most probably of Holocenic age (NeolithicBronze Age), is represented by a medial fragment of a
blade with regular parallel ridges produced by either
indirect percussion or pressure flaking. The blade
was retouched, patinated, and then bilaterally and
abruptly retouched toward the distal end. The rest of

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND

Fig. 11. Middle Palaeolithic

(10. Levallois core, 5-9
Levallois flakes), Upper
Palaeolithic (1. prismatic
core) from Kepi i Dajlanit,
Neolithic-Bronze Age (4.
medial blade fragment) from
Kepi i Dajlanit.

the assemblage is comprised of 4 non-diagnostic tools,

of which one has been recycled, and 12 flakes or flake
fragments.
Generally speaking, the raw materials used at
all locations derive from secondary geological sources,
most probably from the aforementioned alluvial
deposits of the Vjosa River. Of particular note is the
common use of large pebble flakes for the preparation
of the Levallois cores during the Middle Palaeolithic.
Furthermore, despite the significant presence of honeybrown flint in the assemblages, the high degree of raw
material variation indicates collection from alluvial
deposits. Unmodified river pebbles were noted at most
of the sites but it is not clear at this point whether river
deposits were accessible during all periods. Conversely,
the discovery of tabular flint intentionally brought
to the area points toward other sources. The closest

primary geological sources of flint would have been at

least some 10 km away around Kanina, as indicated
by the successful production of gun flints there during
the mid 19th and early 20th century26. Even though no
analysis has been undertaken so far to identify the
origin of the tabular flint, its presence may indicate
that the landscape around the hill ridge changed
through time and that in certain periods river deposits
were not accessible. In fact, the ridges surrounding
environment during prehistory would have passed
through three major transformations that are mostly
related to relative change in seal level.
During the first phase, or the Late Pleistocene,
the ridge would have been a dominant location
overlooking a large plain that would have extended
more than 20 km to the west27. We can assume that the
area would have been used as a seasonal hunting ground
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Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

when migratory animal herds used the plain for winter

pasture. So far the surface collected lithic assemblages
in southwest Albania show a clear trend in the use of
river valleys to access the highlands. Palaeolithic sites
have been mapped close to the Vjosa River valley in
the Fier and Mallakastra regions at Kryegjata A, B, C,
D, Kraps, Rusinja, and Peshtan28, at Mogilat e Vasjarit,
Luadhi, and Lajthi near Tepelena, at highland sites
such as Fusha e ajupit and Drmaz29 in Gjirokastra,
as wells as in the Pindos mountains30 in Greece. While
this idea had been suggested already by Runnels et al.31,
it is only now given these more recent discoveries that
we can demonstrate intense levels of human activity all
along the route of the Vjosa River. Given the current
state of research, the Vjosa River valley presents the
best case of lithic survey work in Albania. Future work
needs to focus on a more tangible body of data derived
from systematic excavations in order to reconstruct
seasonality patterns. The ridge could be such a case,
used to document the westernmost extremity of yearround, seasonal Late Pleistocene human activity.
During the second phase, the post Last Glacial
Maximum, progressive sea-level rise would have
brought prehistoric communities into a much closer
contact with the sea and its resources. Beginning in the
Early Neolithic the area would have served not just as a
winter base for transhumance but also a location where
cultivation and fishing would have been possible. Of
certain importance would have been its intermediate
position along trading routes that connected the
wider Mediterranean world. This is indicated by the
presence of obsidian from both Lipari and, perhaps,
Melos. In return, the locally available honey-brown
flint could have been traded. A number of authors
have pointed to Bulgaria as the place of origin for
honey-brown flint32 both in Greece33 and Albania34.

Kourtessi-Philippakis, though, suggests a northsouth exchange route due to the presence of honey
flint in Thrace and eastern and central Macedonia
and its absence from the Neolithic settlements of
western Macedonia35. Perls, however, has indicated
the possible presence of this type of raw material
in the Peloponnesus, originating from northwest
Greece, and south Albania36. The significant quantity
of this raw material at the hill ridge, its presence in
archaeological contexts in the Peloponnesus37 as well
as the aforementioned movement of obsidian along
the Ionian coast raise the possibility that sites along
the Albanian coast served as transshipment points for
honey flint and other products being moved south to
Greece.
The third phase is characterised by rising sea
levels, culminating in the Holocene Transgression
Maximum, and the possible transformation of
the ridge into an island. This is indicated by the
geomorphological work undertaken in the vicinity,
centred on the ancient city of Apollonia38. Accordingly,
the ridge would have been reconnected to the land by
a series of sandbars toward the end of the Iron Age.
Recent work from the area of Lezha suggests a similar
situation for Rrenci Mountain and its reconnection
to the mainland39. During the Late Bronze Age-Early
Iron Age, the islands Pllaka hilltop was occupied,
with open access to the sea and maritime trade routes.
Free access to the sea and sea trade is indicated by
the presence of possibly Late Helladic III40 pottery
sherds, and remained so until the construction of
the first fortification wall in 520-490 BC41. Based on
the archaeological evidence and given similar geoenvironmental settings, we could apply the same
model of coastal evolution to the sites of Himara cave
(Himara)42 and Bishti i Palls (Durrs)43. At Himara

Tab. 2. Chronology of the sites.

102

LITHICS AT ONE END OF THE CIRCUM-ADRIATIC: CASE STUDIES FROM THE SOUTHERNMOST ALBANIAN COASTAL LOWLAND

cave the lower stratigraphic layers may have been

removed by the rising sea, until about1440 to1280 cal
BC. But at Bishti i Palls, the probable island was used
during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age until
it was connected to the mainland when an Archaic
sanctuary was built.

In this article we have provided a summary of
the preliminary data collected thus far at this particular
spot at the southernmost end of the Adriatic lowlands.
At the same time, we have also constructed a general
chronological framework (Tab. 2) for prehistoric
human adaptation to coastal environmental changes
in Albania. During the Late Pleistocene, the ridge and
the wider Narta region most probably acted as one
terminus of a hunter-gatherer seasonal round focused
on migratory animals that spanned the mountains
towards Greece. In later phases there was interaction
with the wider Mediterranean world in the form of
trade. This interaction flowed in at least two directions,
toward southern Italy and Greece. This area may
have attracted continuous activity as an intermediary
between hinterland sites and overseas partners. Even
though the resolution of the data still remains coarse
grained, future work should shed new light on the
details of human adaptation to this dynamic coastal
environment.

9 Patsch1904: 63; Ugolini 1927: 107;

Hammond 1967: 131133.
10 Hammond 1967: 133.
11 Bereti 1977-1978: 28592; 1985: 31320; 1986:
258; 1988: 10519; 1992: 12947; 1993: 14359; 1999
18185.
12
We thank Ms. Danielle Riebe (University of Illinois, Chicago) and Dr. Robert Tykot (University of South
Florida) for helping us make these determinations. We are
working on a longer article with Riebe and Tykot which
will address obsidian distribution in Albania generally
based on additional PXRF analyses of other artefacts.
13 Broodbank 2013: 215.
14 Tykot1996: 67.
15 Wiseman and Zachos 2003: 118, 131, 134.
16
Ibid.: 121.
17 Tykot 2004: 32.
18
We have not yet analyzed this piece using PXRF,
but hope to do so in the near future.
19 Broodbank 2006: 208.
20 Souyoudzoglou-Haywood 1999: 17, 25, 30, 34,
39, 45, 47, 9697, 100, 121122.
21
Ibid.: 7, 47.
22 Berger and Guilaine 2009: 34.
23 Pellegrin 2012: 479, 488.
24 Prendi and Bunguri 2008: Tab. II, 13; 2014:
Tab. CXVIII; Kourtessi-Philippakis 2002: 79; 2010: 175,
178.
25 Pellegrin 2012: 286290.
notes
26
Exposition Universelle de 1867 Paris: Catalogue gnral: Produits (bruts et ouvrs) des industries exractives (Groupe
1
Lafe and Galaty 2009: 106.
V. - Classes 40 46.), vol. 5 (Paris: E. Dentu, 1867), 234;
2
Present-day maps do not assign a name to this
th
Gibert 1914: 157158.
particular ridge, but it was called Cavalloni on late 17
27 Fouache 2002: 5.
century Venetian maps (Giusto Emilio Cartographe Gra28 Runnels et al. 2004: 329; Runnels et al. 2009:
veur Alberghetti, Il Golfo della Valona: con una parte
15182.
delle Dipendenze di Canina, Ultime Conquiste fatte
29 Gjipali, 2012: 154.
nellAlbania da ... Girolamo Cornaro / Giusto Emilio
30 Efstratiou et al. 2006: 422424.
Alberghetti ([s.n.] (Venetia), 1690).). We avoid the use of
31 Runnels et al. 2009: 176.
this place name due to the fact that it might be misleading,
32 Gurova 2008: 120122; 2012: 1549.
as in the present time the place names Pusi i Kavalons
33 Kourtessi-Philippakis 2009: 309.
and Pylli i Kavalons are used immediately south of the
34 Runnels et al. 2004: 13.
ridge in the flat area toward the city of Vlora.
35 Kourtessi-Philippakis 2009: 309.
3
Krutaj et al. 1991: 431432.
Perls 2004: 158; 2012: 542.
4
Ibid.: 433. 36
5
Ibid.: 488489. 37
Perls 2004:158; Parkinson and Cherry
6 Fouache et al. 2010: 120.
2010:45.
7 Xhomo et al. 2002. 38 Fouache 2002: 19; 2007: 8; Fouache et al. 2010
127; Shuisky 2010: 774.
8
1857: 121122.
103

Rudenc RUKA, Ilir GJIPALI, Michael L. GALATY and Novruz BAJRAMAJ

39 Uncu 2012: 197203.

12 (May 1, 2009): 3149. doi:10.1016/j.
40
Hammond 1967: 133.
quaint.2008.05.013.
41 Bereti 1992: 144. Broodbank 2013
42 Francis et al. 2009: 22, 24.
C. Broodbank, The Making of the Middle
43 Pojani 2013: 133135.
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