The archaeological site of Bonjakët, is situated nearby the western walls of ancient city of Apolonia. Brief excavations had been concluded in the same site by an Albanian-Soviet team of archaeologist in 1960, revealing abundant terracotta figurines, but the results were never published. In 2002 a team of archaeologists surveyed this area. In addition to pottery, ranging in date from Archaic to Modern, and terracotta figurines, there was also found the foot of a statue, a Late Greek inscription, and a small stone altar. The trial excavations of 2004 revealed the foundation of previously unknown monumental Greek stone temple. This temple of Archaic or Classical period had an uncertain dedication, possibly constructed in the honor of Artemis Limnatis. Figurines from the excavations vary in size and include reclining male and female figures, fully clothed standing female figures, pairs of standing females figures and, less frequently female busts. Other finds included the rim of a dinos with a palmette design dating to circa 525 BC, and imported black glazed pottery fragments of drinking vessels of Attic, South Italian and Corinthian provenience. A stele dating to circa 2nd Century BC, depicting Artemis with a torch was built into a later structure.

In September, 2005 the ICAA and the University of Cincinnati continued trial excavations in the complex of farm buildings known locally as Bonjakët. This year the boundaries of the sanctuary have been determined with greater confidence. It seems that ritual activity was focused on, and was largely restricted to, the area of the compound itself. A strip trench excavated c. 30 m. north of the compound appears to have lain outside the sanctuary. Parts of what may be kilns of Roman Imperial date were found there. The western edge of the compound lay within the ancient sanctuary at all times in its history and this area probably served as a refuse site for ritual debris. Pottery from the lowest levels dates from as early as 550 BC. In addition to remains of sacrificial meals and broken fineware pottery, substantial numbers of Classical and Hellenistic figurines have also been found: reclining banqueters of both sexes as well as couples; standing clothed female figures; and pairs of standing female figures. Other types, such as female protomes, are less frequent. Remains of the temple found in situ must belong to stereobate courses. Ceramics from a building trench next to the foundation suggest that the courses were laid down c. 500 B.C. A later stele dedicated to Artemis suggests that she was worshipped, although the principal deity of the sanctuary has not yet been determined. The temple was situated at the edge of marshes by the Adriatic shore, near the former course of the Vjosa (Aous) river. This significant location may have served to signal the boundary of the city-state’s territory.

In September 2006, excavations were continued at the archaeological site of Bonjakët. The results of the excavation were exceptional: revealing a history of cult practice at the site over six hundred years from 650/630 BC – middle of the 1st century BC; and shedding new light on the nature of a monumental stone temple built in the late Archaic period. Excavations of the temple concentrated on exposing the south side of the foundations in Trench 15T as the stylobate and cella floor of the temple are no longer preserved (i.e. above modern ground level). Three courses of foundation were preserved and three paved surfaces, the lowest of Late Archaic date, the upper two of Hellenistic date, had been laid against the foundations. The foundations of the temple were of sandstone and its superstructure seems to have been principally of limestone. Marble appears to have been reserved for special purposes. The lowest course of the foundations consisted of carefully-fitted polygonal blocks set in a trench. Blocks in the middle course were fitted with anathyrosis, with wide borders on all but the lower surface. The upper edge of the middle course is bevelled; surfaces of blocks are carefully finished to a depth of c. 0.10m. The upper course is stepped back c. 0.30m from the middle course. In 15T only a single large block from this course was exposed: its western end has been destroyed by recent digging. A fragmentary terracotta lion’s-head spout and a piece of a Doric capital were found in the packing of the Hellenistic pavements. It seems likely that major repairs to the structure of the temple took place in the 3rd century BC. This year, the most significant finds were a fragment of a marble geison with a cyma reversa moulding, a stone lion’s-head spout, various guttae broken from their blocks, and part of a Doric column capital. It was recently brought to our attention that an architectural sculpture of the later 5th or 4th century BC, now in the Apollonia Museum in the cloisters of Shën Mri, was found 50 years ago at the Bonjakët site. Stratigraphic evidence from 15T has confirmed the impression gained from previous finds that the Bonjakët temple was first built c. 500 BC and that it continued to be used into late Hellenistic times. As a result of the excavation of 17T, it is now also clear that in the Archaic period the sanctuary extended east of the Bonjakët house complex; this is where the temple altar was most likely located. Well-preserved Archaic pottery was found on a surface just above the water table. It is suspected that the scarcity of superstructure fragments is due to large-scale spoliation. Two architectural phases were recognized in 16T. In the earliest, a narrow wall built of brick and stone was associated with pottery from c. 600 BC and a handmade terracotta figurine. Above this level, deposits of the later 6th century, including moulded figurines, had accumulated against a large worked sandstone block that was found in situ. Substantial deposits of Archaic date were also found in strata that extended beneath the lowest course of the foundations of the temple in 15T and in 05T. In the latter trench, Early Corinthian pottery was recovered and a core drilled 0.70m. below the water table indicates the survival of earlier levels. Several sherds from 15T appear to be non-Greek and may represent Illyrian types of the Iron Age. These sherds remain to be examined thoroughly. A fragment of an altar also came from 6th century deposits in this trench; foundations of the later temple rested directly on it. In the same deposit lay a bronze earring and a fragment of what appears to be an alabaster lid covered with gold leaf (c. 90 x 70mm).