In the summer of 1998, a collaborative effort between Albanian and American archaeologists launched a significant regional archaeological study focused on the area surrounding the ancient city of Apollonia. Founded in 588 B.C. near the modern city of Fier, just above the village of Pojani, Apollonia has long been a site of historical intrigue. The initiative, known as the Mallakastra Regional Archaeological Project (MRAP), is directed by Professors Muzafer Korkuti from the Instituti Arkeologjik in Tirana and Jack Davis from the University of Cincinnati. The project’s primary aim is to conduct a comprehensive survey of the surrounding landscape, cataloging all archaeological remains from the Stone Ages to modern times.

Mallakastra offers an ideal setting for such research. The region’s relative lack of industrial and infrastructural development means that archaeological sites remain largely undisturbed, unlike in many other European regions where extensive development has significantly impacted historical layers. Traditional agricultural practices in Mallakastra have also contributed to the preservation of archaeological sites, as these methods help maintain topsoil and prevent erosion. Additionally, local landowners have been supportive, allowing researchers access to their fields, pastures, and orchards.

During the initial season of MRAP’s work, spanning about twelve days, two teams of archaeologists surveyed small valleys to the east of Apollonia, covering nearly five square kilometers. By utilizing topographic maps, the teams systematically examined the landscape, identifying and mapping sites of past human activity while collecting artifacts for further analysis. These artifacts were subsequently returned to Apollonia’s museum for cataloging and entry into a computer database. Concurrently, a geologist from MRAP worked on interpreting the complex geography of the region, leading to some surprising and scientifically significant discoveries.

Before MRAP’s survey, there was no documented evidence of early Stone Age settlement in Mallakastra, in contrast to southern Albania where evidence of Stone Age occupation is well established, particularly around Saranda. MRAP’s efforts yielded over 400 chipped stone artifacts, many of which date back to the Middle Paleolithic period (approximately 200,000 to 35,000 years ago). Notably, some of these tools were created using the Levallois technique, typically associated with Neanderthals. Among the discoveries was Kryegjata B, a remarkably large Paleolithic site, possibly the largest of its kind found in Albania to date. Future research will continue to explore the Stone Age archaeology of the Apollonia region.

In addition to its Stone Age findings, MRAP has also uncovered a wealth of artifacts from Albania’s historic periods, reflecting the vibrant life of Apollonia as a bustling colonial city. Interestingly, the intensity of settlement outside the city walls appears to have been greater during the Hellenistic period (circa 4th-1st centuries B.C.) compared to the Classical period (circa 6th-4th centuries B.C.), a reversal of settlement trends observed elsewhere in the Mediterranean. MRAP aims to investigate this anomaly, exploring whether environmental or economic factors, or changes in Greek and Illyrian socio-political interactions, might explain the shift.

One of MRAP’s key research targets is Apollonia’s extensive necropolis, a large cemetery estimated to include over 400 tumuli (burial mounds) and potentially thousands of graves. Changes in burial practices might reveal insights into the blending of traditional Illyrian and Greek customs. MRAP plans to create a digital map of this tumulus field to further understand the origins and evolution of this remarkable archaeological feature, adding to the rich tapestry of Mallakastra’s historical landscape.