Archaeology of Kosovo as a field of study and research was started in the second half of the 20th century. Kosovo's field of archaeology has developed in tandem with the historical study, studies of ancient authors' sources, classic philological studies, theological data research, topographic studies and ground survey, analysis of toponyms, deciphering of epigraphic and historiographic data. First data about antique monuments in Kosovo, were documented from the end of the 19th until the beginning of the Second World War, a time period when Kosovo was visited by researchers, guides, and archaeologists such as: Evans, Boue, Hahn, Kanitz, Tomaschek, Domaschevski, Arpad, Vulic, Jirecek, Patsch, Domenico Mustilli,[1][2][3][4] etc.
In the 1950s, researchers in Kosovo began to focus on studying prehistoric and ancient times. Development of scientific archaeological research methods starts with the founding of the Museum of Kosovo in 1949, and later these studies were helped with the establishment of other relevant local and regional institutions. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo established the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, and since then, many archaeological sites have been excavated and recorded. Since then geophysical, geomagnetic archaeometallurgical and archaeobotanic studies were performed at some archaeological sites in close cooperation with partners from Germany such as the German Archaeological Institute, and other relevant international institutions with the same inter-disciplinary access. The municipality of Ferizaj specifically has been rich in archaeological findings.[5][6][7]
Due to its location and abundance of natural resources, Kosovo has been a great place for life to thrive since ancient times.[8][bettersourceneeded] The potential archaeological sites in Kosovo are increasing due to recent findings and investigations and superficial traces that provide new insights into Kosovo's antiquity.[9][10] The earliest traces documented in the territory of Kosovo belong to the Stone Age Period. For instance, the Radivojce Cave, set near the spring of the Drin river, the Grnčar Cave in the Vitia municipality, and the Dema and Karamakaz Caves of Peja. There is no sufficient evidence to suggest habitation during the Paleolithic.[11]
During the Copper Age, Kosovo saw a shift from a matriarchal to a patriarchal organized society as well as distinct social classes.[14][bettersourceneeded]
The Bronze Age followed the Copper Age, stretching in the time period from 2500 up to 1100 BC. With the advancement of the metallurgy factorial industry, and with the mixing of copper with tin, the bronze was created as an alloy. The formula invention for creating this stronger metal led towards the production of weapons, tools and jewellery. In the past, research carried out in Kosovo recorded dozens of settlements, cemeteries and fortresses of the early, middle and late Bronze Age.[15][16]
In the Iron Age, Kosovo used metals for weapons and tools. The area had settlements and fortresses, some with natural protection and favourable locations. Burial mounds, called tumulus graves, were a significant feature of Dardanian religion.[17] They were scattered throughout the region, often found in groups or alone.[18][19]
The Romans introduced their administrative and military system, extended slavery, and led to a process of Romanization in the first four centuries of the 1st millennium AD. Despite this, Dardanian population did not see significant ethnic change.[21]
With the implementation of the agrarian policies imposed by the Roman rulers, the "ager provincialis" and "ager publicus" became the property of the Roman state. However, some local administration retained some political power. New taxes were introduced, including tributum soli and tributum capiti. During the first two centuries of Roman administration in Dardania, indigenous people were used as slaves and labor in mining, farming, and agriculture. Meanwhile, Italian veterans gained large estates and were encouraged to acquire as many slaves as needed for the hard work.[22]
The Pax Romana created conditions for new economic developments and spread of the Roman civilization in conquered provinces. With the fall of the Dardanian Kingdom under the Roman rule and administration, the Dardanian territory became part of a new established Roman Province of Moesia, which according to the written sources happened between the year 2 and 6 BC. In the year 86 AD, at the time of the rule of the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD), Dardania became part of a new province known as the Roman Province of the Upper Moesia (Moesia Superior). 297 AD, was a very significant year for Dardania and the Dardanians, since, this year marked the creation of the Roman Province of Dardania, a self-administered province, though, within the frame of the Roman Empire. Despite the existence of the urban centres for example; Scupi, Ulpiana,[23]Naissus, Municipium Dardanorum,[24] etc., the Romanization of Dardania was cursory and superficial, this is also documented through the existence of Dardanian forts and towns, during the entire period of the Roman rule.
Since the second part of the 19th century and until the beginning of the Second World War, different travelers–writers like; Ami Boue, Gilfierding, Hahn, MaKenzie, Yrbi, Domaschevski, Premestein, Jastrebov, Vulic, Truhelka, Boskovic, Kaniz, Tomaschek, Jiricek, Patsch, Saria, etc.,[25] visited these parts mainly investigating and recording the Roman antiquity of the Kosovo territory.
Roman rule brought major changes in the lands inhabited by the Dardanians; they were responsible also for the urbanization of the region, but also about social, cultural, economic and religious changes influenced by the Romans, which was documented by the Kosovar pioneer of archaeology, the scientific hard worker of the Kosovo Museum, now late Dr. Emil Čerškov.[26][27]
Kosovo Museum is the earliest institution of cultural heritage established with the goal of preserving, restoration-conservation and presentation of movable heritage on the territory. It is situated in a special facility, from an architectural point of view but also because of its location since it is situated at the old nucleus of the city centre. In fact, Kosovo Museum has been operating since 1949. However, the building of the museum was constructed in 1889 and it was designed according to Austro-Hungarian style of construction and its real aim was establishing the high military command of that time.[28]
Th museum consists of three units: The Kosovo Museum, Emin Gjiku’s Housing Complex, where ethnological exhibition has been presented, and the Museum of Independence. The museum consists of four sectors, archaeological sector, ethnological sector, historic sector and natural sector.[29][30]
Ethnological Museum is an integral part of Kosovo Museum, located in the old housing complex, consisting of four buildings: two of which date from the 18th century and two others from 19th century.[31] The housing complex was constructed by Gjinolli family or Emin Gjiku who then migrated to Turkey in the years 1958-59. Later on, the Natural Museum was opened in this housing complex. In the year 2006 a permanent ethnological exhibition of Kosovo museum was set in this housing complex. The concept of ethnological museum is based on 4 topics which present the life cycle starting from birth, life, death and spiritual heritage of the Kosovo inhabitants.[32]
The Stone house or the synagogue is also a part of the museum which during the 50s was transferred from the old part of the city of Prishtina to this housing complex. Today it serves as a centre of contemporary art station.[33]
The Archaeological Park
A view of a portion of the Archaeological Park.
The Archaeological Park, respectively the Lapidarium of Kosovo Museum, was designed to become an additional part of an outdoor exhibition of archaeological heritage of Kosovo. Architectural fragments, epigraphic inscriptions, altars and kennels or grave stones, that apart from mythological scenes, funeral processions, presentation of images of the past descendants supplemented with carved inscriptions, all of these reflecting upon the spiritual and material world of Dardania’s ancient period.[34]
In fact the Archaeological Park of Kosovo museum has been designed to serve as a lapidarium, which is a predetermined place for exhibiting stone monuments and architectural fragments of an archaeological nature. Park is foreseen to serve as a memorial place for the antiquity and the level of civilisations from ancient times and also for the organisation of cultural and educational events for children and young people.
Ulpiana was an ancient Roman city located in what is today Kosovo. It was also named Justiniana Secunda. Ulpiana is situated in the municipality of Gračanica, 12 km to the southeast of Pristina. The Minicipium Ulpiana - Iustiniana Secunda was proclaimed archaeological park under permanent protection of Kosovo by the Kosova Council for Cultural Heritage in 2016. The Archaeological Park has a surface of 161.10 hectares and a surrounding protection zone of 96.23 hectares. Ulpiana was among the largest settlements in the Balkans of the late antiquity.
Pristina is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.
Municipium Dardanorum or Municipium Dardanicum was a Roman mining town whose life lasted from the 2nd to the 4th century AD, that was connected with the workings of. Its remains are situated in the northern part of Kosovo, located approximately 27 kilometres north of Mitrovica, about 65 km northeast of Ulpiana in the Municipality of Leposavic, localized in the village of Sočanica in the province of Moesia Superior, later the Roman province of Dardania.
Part of a series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
Goddess on the Throne (Albanian: Hyjnesha në fron; figurine found at the site of the Tjerrtorja spinning mill in Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, in 1956. The seated terracotta figure is a well-preserved specimen of small Neolithic plastic Vinca culture. It measures 18.5 cm high and is dated to 5700–4500 BC.
Part of series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
Part of series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
The Roman heritage sites in Kosovo represent a multitude of monuments of material and spiritual culture, which reflect the Roman period in this region. Among them, a special place is occupied by those that represent the development of art, such as the plastic monuments that are more frequent, and at the same time occupy an important place, because with the presentation of figures in relief and with numerous inscriptions they speak to us enough for this period.
Part of a series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
Part of a series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
Recorded traces of the Vërban archaeological site, inform us a lot about site selection for the settlement building during the Roman times. The site is set close to Klokot, in an alluvial terrace stretched along the Morava river flow, an area known for the fertile land and near the warm thermal mineral waters spring. One of the most interesting accidental archaeological discoveries is a sculpture found near the Banja e Kllokotit, a masterpiece of the Dardanian art, presenting an example of the distinguished autochthonous sculpturing art, of advanced artistic creation. It is sculptured in qualitative marble, and reflects a figure of a high-toned Dardanian lady.
Viciano or Station Viciano was a Roman road station of unclear location, somewhere in Kosovo field.
The Fortress of Harilaq is situated on top of the hill known by the local toponymy as the Gradina – Harilaq, set in an elevated and dominant position, west from the Harilaq village. The fortress is located in an altitude of maximum 766 metres above sea level, and is approximately sited 9 km southeast from the town of Kosovo Polje and only 2 kilometres west from Pristina International Airport "Adem Jashari".
As the capital city of Kosovo, Pristina is the heart of the cultural and artistic development of all Albanians that live in Kosovo. The department of cultural affairs is just one of the segments that arranges the cultural events, which make Pristina one of the cities with the most emphasized cultural and artistic traditions.
Historical monuments in Pristina are made up of 21 monuments out of a total of 426 protected monuments all over Kosovo. A large number of these monuments date back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Since 1945, the Yugoslav authorities followed the idea of constructing a modern Pristina by relying in the urban development motto “destroy the old, build the new” and this resulted with major changes in the structure of the buildings, their function and their surrounding environment. However, numerous types of monuments have been preserved, including four mosques, a restored orthodox church, an Ottoman bath, a public fountain, a clock tower, several traditional houses as well as European-influenced architecture buildings such as the Museum of Kosovo. These symbolize the historical and cultural character of Pristina as it was developed throughout centuries in the spirit of conquering empires.
The strategic position of the region of Mitrovica in the middle of two great rivers Ibar and Sitnica and its mineral wealth in Albanik, made this location populated since prehistoric period. This region was populated by Illyrians, respectively members of the Dardan tribe. The first data for the archaeological sites in the region of Mitrovica, begin with the researches of Sir Artur John Evans, who was the first to pinpoint the Roman town of the Municipium Dardanourm. In the archaeological sites of the region of Mitrovica were found traces and objects from different periods such as; Neolithic, Roman, late antiquity and medieval period. Objects and figurines include: fortress vestiges, necropolis, Terpsichore figure, statues, sarcophagus, altar, jewelry, etc.
Tourism in Pristina attracted 36,186 foreign visitors in 2012, which represents 74.2% of all visitors that visited Kosovo during that year. Foreign visitors mostly come from countries like Albania, Turkey, Germany, United States, Slovenia and North Macedonia, but also from other countries. Some of the most visited places in Pristina are Batllava Lake and Gadime Marble Cave, which are also among the most visited places in Kosovo.
Kosovo Museum is the national museum of Kosovo, located in the city of Pristina. Established by Yugoslav authorities in 1949, this is the largest museum in Kosovo. It is situated in a 1889 Austro-Hungarian-style building, formerly used as the high military command headquarters.
Duboc Fortress is situated above the Ceçan, part of the Ciçavica mountain chain, in the village of Duboc, approximately 10–12 km in the south-west of the Municipality of Vushtrri.
References
↑ Drançolli, J. (ed.) 2006. Kosova archaeologica - Kosova arkeologjike. Prishtinë: Instituti Arkeologjik i Kosovës.
↑ Mustilli, Domenico. 1942. Archeologia del Kossovo. 1941-XX. In Estratto del volume “Le terre Albanesi redente”, I – Cossovo, 93–111. Roma: Reale Accademia d’ Italia. Centro Studi per l’Albania.
↑ Хоџа, З. (2019). Ранохристијанската архитектура на територијата на Косово (Doctoral dissertation, Филозофски факултет, Скопје).(in Macedonian)
↑ Drançolli, Jahja. (2014). Kosova: Archaeological Heritage. Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. 4308-4319. 10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_1307.
↑ Milot Berisha, Archaeological Guide of Kosovo,Prishtinë, Kosovo Archaeological Institute and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2012, Pg.12.
↑ Milot Berisha, Archaeological Guide of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo Archaeological Institute and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2012, Pg.33.
↑ Milot Berisha, Archaeological Guide of Kosovo,Prishtinë, Kosovo Archaeological Institute and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2012, Pg.34.
↑ "Illyrian tombs in Boka-Përçeva (Klina)"[Tumat ilire në lokalitetin Boka në Përçevë]. Kosovo Cultural Heritage Database (in English and Albanian). Republic of Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
↑ Buqinca, Arianit (2022). Dardanët e Ilirisë VI-I p.e.s. (in Albanian) (1sted.). Prishtinë: Instituti Albanologjik - Prishtinë. pp.226–365. ISBN9789951241557.
↑ Milot Berisha, Archaeological Guide of Kosovo,Prishtinë, Kosovo Archaeological Institute and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2012, Pg.34.
↑ Masotti, Francesca (24 May 2018). "Top Museums to Visit in Pristina". Culture Trip. Retrieved 14 June 2021. Each museum has something special to share about the history of the nation, from archaeological ruins to Ottoman-era artifacts to witness accounts of the time of independence
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