Summary (English)
In the late fall of 1999 the Albanian Rescue Archaeology Unit and the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences undertook a project consisting in the excavation and documentation of two hypogeous tombs in Rrogozhina, occasionally discovered in the summer of 1999 by the heavy machinery excavating gravel from the Kodra e Hallullit.
Excavations showed that Tomb 1 was oriented East-West and consisted of a rectangular shaped antechamber and a funerary chamber. Between the two there was a single limestone door with doorposts and a threshold. Finds included an amphora, fragmented but almost complete; a small bronze cosmetic spatula; two complete bronze and one iron belt buckles; two iron fibulae; a bronze ring, perhaps from a chain; an incomplete iron flint striker; an iron handle, perhaps of a key; and some other fragments too corroded to identify.
Tomb 2 was of a different type from Tomb 1, but was poorly preserved because the heavy machineries destroyed more than half of it during its discovery. There was retrieved half of a silver earring. The tombs were used for a long time, probably from the IV century to the VI century A.D. Tomb 1 represents a multiple burial; it is not clear, however, whether it belonged to a single family or to a larger social group. In tomb 2 were found some human bones too, but unfortunately they were too fragmented to be studied.
Evidences suggest that this was a small homogenous group of population, characterized by a large body structure (brachymorfism) typical of rural populations of the Late Antiquity and Early Middle Age transadriatic planes.
If differences in type, plan and construction of Tombs 1 and 2 do not represent chronological differences, they may imply social distinctions between individuals, groups of individuals, or the families that used them.
Director
- Fatos Tartari - Muzeu Arkeologjik i Durrësit (Archaeological Museum of Durrës)
- Lorenc Bejko - GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
Team
- Aleksandër Dhima
- Brikena Shkodra - Instituti i Arkeologjisë Tiranë, Departamenti i Antikitetit (Albanian Institute of Archaeology, Department of Antiquity)
- Elvana Metalla - Instituti i Arkeologjisë Tiranë, Departamenti i Antikitetit të Vonë dhe Mesjetës së Hershme (Albanian Institute of Archaeology, Department of Late Antiquity and Early Medieval)
- Pëllumb Naipi - Instituti i Arkeologjisë Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
- Maria Grazia Amore - GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
- a group of local workers
Research Body
- GSHASH – Grupi Shqiptar i Arkeologjisë së Shpëtimit (ARAU – Albanian Rescue Archaeological Unit)
- Instituti Arkeologjik Tiranë (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)
Funding Body
- Packard Humanities Institute
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