Archaeological Excavations Resume in Gajtan for the Paleolithic Settlement

In the village of Gajtan, near the cave of the same name, archaeological excavations resumed for the second year in a row under the project “Gajtan, Paleolithic Archaeological Research in Albania” (GRAAL).

The project is led by archaeologist Rudens Ruka and is the result of inter-institutional cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology and several French research institutions.

The village of Gajtan is located east/southeast of the city of Shkodra, depending on the reference point and the road used. The Illyrian fortification called Qyteza e Gajtanit is an Iron Age settlement, situated on a hill northeast of the village of Gajtan, about 5 km east of Shkodra. The fortification consists of surrounding stone walls and has been declared a Category I Cultural Monument.

The Shkodra Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage announced that attention has focused on the central sector of the cave, its upper and collapsed part, precisely the area where the 1980s excavations, carried out by Anton Fistani, were interrupted. The working methodology consists of removing deposits layer by layer, with the aim of recovering microfauna and various environmental indicators.

Through field interventions and involvement in the research process, the project aims to stimulate interest and attention toward Paleolithic archaeology in Albania.

This campaign is expected to contribute to creating a fuller picture of the Paleolithic potential of the Gajtan area, helping identify and select priority zones for the 2027 archaeological research.