{"id":22528,"date":"2021-10-14T16:30:52","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T14:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=22528"},"modified":"2021-10-14T16:37:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T14:37:22","slug":"ancient-bylis-excavations-for-the-discovery-of-cistern-continue-for-3rd-consecutive-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/ancient-bylis-excavations-for-the-discovery-of-cistern-continue-for-3rd-consecutive-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Excavations for the discovery of 5th-century cistern continue for 3rd consecutive year in Bylis"},"content":{"rendered":"

For days now, the expedition of the Archeological Institute has been working at the National Archeological Park of Bylis, where for the third year in a row, excavations are being carried out, with the mission of discovering a water cistern, belonging to the ancient city and served to store the water reserves of a stadium.<\/p>\n

Work on this historic object that remains the largest of its kind in the Balkans, will continue through to October 20.<\/p>\n

Apart from simultaneous excavations, experts are also working on its restoration.<\/p>\n

The structures working on this joint expedition include the Institute of Archeology in collaboration with the Bylis Academy of Science, the Archeological Park Bylis and its geophysical group.<\/p>\n

‘The Crown of the Illyrian civilization’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Archeologist Neritan Ceka told Euronews Albania that a lack of adequate methodology and funding, as well as cultural heritage reforms, have delayed excavation work since its first finding in the 80s.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike other monuments, it is entirely above the ground. Imagine a large cistern built with stone blocks, 8 meters high and 50 meters long which was holding millions of liters of water\u201d, said Ceka.<\/p>\n

He also called for international investments for the excavation and restoration project.<\/p>\n

\u201cBylis is a ray of hope for this place, to transform it from a place that was stinking from oil to a place where tourism can flower. This is the richest region, the crown of the Illyrian civilization, which had a theater, stadiums, and intricate engineering accomplishments\u201d, the archeologist explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the only object we have where during the winter the water from the stadium was gathered in a cistern that was the largest in the Balkans\u201d, concluded Ceka.<\/p>\n

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