The Conference "Albanian Archeology" opens on the 75th anniversary of its creation

Today in the "Aleks Buda" hall at the Academy of Sciences of Albania, the Conference Albanian Archeology on the 75th anniversary of its creation: achievements, innovations and perspectives organized by the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo was held.

The conference was opened by Prof.Dr. Gëzim Hoxha, Head of the Albanian Social Sciences Section at the Academy of Sciences of Albania, who welcomed the attendees. Then the President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, acad. Skender Gjinushi delivered the welcoming speech. After welcoming everyone present, he pointed out the early connections of archeology with humanism in the Albanian territories, the stages of the development of archaeological interest in the court of Ali pasha Tepelena, of the archaeological interest of the Italian school of archaeology, with Luigi Ugolini and Domenico Mustilli; the French school, with Leon Rey; the Austrian school with Karl Patch, Camillo Praschniker and Baron Franz Nopsca, as well as the beginning of systematic excavation for the discovery of material culture in the main sites related to the pre-Illian prehistoric period, such as the cultures of Maliq and Mati; with the period of the Illyrian civilization such as the cities of Amantia, Bylis, Lissus, Shkodra, etc. by Albanian archaeologists.

Albanian archeology - pointed out acad. Gjinushi - was institutionalized as specialized research with state support in 1948, with the establishment of the country's first archaeological museum, which also marks its return to its own country. With this decision, Albanian archeology became a real science and within two decades both scientific romanticism on the one hand and the use of the Albanian underground to enrich the museums of large countries, as had happened before with Greek and Egyptian culture, were overcome. , Jews and Hittites. The support and interest in the institutionalization of archaeological research increased further with the establishment of the institute, the union of the Albanianology institutes and the formation of the Academy of Sciences. From there Acad. Gjinushi spoke about the generations of well-known archeological researchers in Albania. The first enlightened generation of the founders of Albanian archaeology, - emphasized Acad. Gjinushi - with Hasan Ceka, Selim Islam, Frano Prend and Skënder Anamali, has the historical merit of not only taking the discovery of ancient civilizations into their own hands, but as was assessed by foreign researchers invited to the second Albanian conference dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Gjergj Kastriot (1968), with its achievements, it made Albanian archeology enter the European archaeological science through the big gate. While Eqrem Çabej, in the 1st Assembly of Illyrian Studies (1972), would affirm that the greatest achievement of that assembly was that it was proven that the new Albanian archeology was successfully offering convincing arguments in favor of validating theses defended in linguistics about the antiquity of Albanian, its Illyrian source and the uninterrupted historical-territorial continuity here where we are. The second generation of archaeologists, continued Acad. Gjinushi, with personalities such as Muzafer Korkuti, Bep Jubani, Neritan Ceka, Aleksandra Mano, Aleksandër Dhima, Apollon Baçe and Aleksandër Meksi, has the merit of not only further elevating archeology as a science , as a competitive science with the Albanianology that was developing in the world, and at the same time as a promoter of the values ??of the Illyrian-Albanian civilization abroad in a time of isolation, but, also, that changed the role of archeology within the framework of other Albanianological disciplines. Now, archeology is not simply a supporter of language-based theses about the ethnogenesis of Albanians and their identity or an argumentative of the role of their culture, but has clearly gone in the direction of changing the hierarchy among them, taking a leading role, as archeology often goes where language cannot go. Evaluating the current archaeologists, Academician Gjinushi pointed out that a third generation of Albanian archaeologists, formed and self-formed by European academic requirements, with external cooperation links abroad and with new discovery technologies, is demonstrating in an argumentative way as a whole the archaeological map of the country, increasingly transforming the hinterland, until recently somewhat forgotten, in search priority. These three generations, which make up the history of archeology, will be honored in every jubilee, today and in the future, they will be honored by the generations to come, who will need more will and training to overcome their achievements. .

Then Acad. Gjinushi spoke about the disciplinary combination of archeology with anthropogenetics and DNA analysis, phylogenetics and artificial intelligence that aim to go to the source of civilizations, languages ??and cultures; valuing this experience, acquiring it and updating it with contemporary knowledge is a condition for not being left behind. This conference will certainly present questions and solutions for this new reality.

In summary, - concluded acad. Gjinushi - regardless of the problems that scientific research has had in us, either from ideological limitations or from the labyrinths of transition, in this 75th anniversary we can say with complete conviction that this decades-long contribution of the Institute of Archeology and archaeologists from all for generations, in cooperation with the most well-known centers and equally valued specialists of European archaeology, has made Albanian science not simply want and affirm the age and antiquity of the origin of the Albanian people, but to base and prove them those with scientific facts and artifacts, instead of enthusiastic and amplifying amateur affirmations; has led to the dominance of scientific arguments based on many years of archeological findings for all periods: from the prehistoric ones; for the continuity and connections between them from the Para-Illyrians, the Illyrians of Arberi to the Albanians; turning them into uncontested arguments accepted more and more widely by world Albanianology. It is these achievements, especially those during the last 10 years, that constitute the source of scientific innovations, at the same time the cause and the need for the drafting of a synthesized history of Albanians by the Academy of Sciences, in close cooperation with the institutes of Albanian studies and the departments of high schools.

The conference was addressed by the President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, acad. Mehmet Kraja. After greeting those present, Acad. Mehmet Kraja congratulated the anniversary of the institutional beginning of Albanian archaeology, which is related to the establishment of the relevant institute, one of the most valuable institutions of the cultural heritage of Albania. Kosovo - continued acad. Kraja, in this case the Academy, but the archaeologists of Kosovo in the first place, have joined you, to recognize the institutional work in the field of archeology as one of the most valuable works that the Albanian state has done, giving gave value and scientific arguments to theses and hypotheses that until recently were suspended, not only in Albanian and Balkan knowledge, but also in the world. we pull them out of the ground. Albanian archeology has already done this. Respect for all those who in any way discovered that in this space, despite the storms and great erosions, the land speaks Albanian!

From there, Acad. Kraja stopped at the description of archeology in Kosovo, where according to him it has gone through dark periods, the period when the evidence for the Illyrian-Albanian continuity was sometimes punished with bullets, as in the case of Gjeçov, or with poisoning, as in the case of the Hungarian anthropologist Nemeshkeri, who was supposedly poisoned, after submitting a preliminary report that the Medieval Necropolis of Vërmica testified to a non-Slavic population, with continuity from the 2nd century BCE, the 5th and 6th centuries in the early Middle Ages, and later in IX-XI centuries. This Illyrian-Albanian continuity in the former Yugoslavia was considered hostile, so much so that it could be punished with death.

From there Acad.Kraja stopped at the contribution of Father Shtjefën Gjeçov, the founder of Albanian archaeology. The Franciscan priest Shtjefën Gjeçovi emphasized, Acad. Kraja, as you know, was born in Janjevë, where later, during the time I remember, a Catholic Christian community lived. His birth house is still there today, only that the Yugoslav government, which included a number of Kosovars, did not want Shtjef Gjeçov, who not only killed him in 1929, but did not even honor him. the enlightened man, who bequeathed two immortal monuments: he founded Albanian archeology and codified the most important work of Albanian customary heritage, the Canon of Lekë Dukagjin. From this lectern, I want to thank the municipality of Lipjan, which after the 1999 war restored, renovated and declared the house-museum of Shtjefën Gjeçov in Janjevë, which was destroyed and left in oblivion.

From this platform, I want to inform you that the Academy of Kosovo will officially request from the institutions of Kosovo, that the year 2024, which falls on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Shtjefën Gjeçov, be officially announced as the "Year of Gjeçov". We have already included in the program of our puja a scientific conference for Shtjefën Gjeçov, in October of the next year, which falls on the month of Shtjefën Gjeçov's birth and death. This is the least we can do in respect of the one who was the first among the Albanians to hear the voices from the depths of our speaking land.

The conference will continue its work for two consecutive days, where archaeologists and cultural heritage researchers will talk about the achievements, innovations and perspectives of Albanian archaeology. At the conference, prominent academics and professors from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and abroad such as Muzafer Korkuti, Adem Bunguri, Neritan Ceka, Apollon Baçe, Gëzim Hoxha, Skënder Muçaj, Belisa Muka, Arben Hajdari, Sha Gashi, Milot Berisha, Kemajl Luçi, Luan Perzhita, Rovena Kurti, Muhamet Bela, Skënder Aliu, Ervin Kujtila, Brikena Shkodra-Rrugia, Eduard Shehi, omas Maurer, Elvana Metalla, Olgita Ceka, Jamarbër Buzo, Roberto Perna, Sabina Veseli, bana Meta, Julian Bogdani, Jean-Luc Lamboley, Elisabeth Deniaux, Dhimitër Çondi, David Hernandez, Kriledjan Çipa, Mariglen Meshini, Olsi Lafe, Errikos Maniotis, Skender Bushi, Lida Miraj, Damian Komata, Suela Xhyheri, Skender Muçaj, Era Xhaferaj, Tomor Kastrati, Shafi Gashi, Arianit Buçinca, Premtim Alaj, Sedat Baraliu, Burim Rexhepi, Ilir Culaj, Mixhahit Pollozhani, Jeldëz Asani.