International workshop: Epirus in the Roman World and New research on the Acropolis of Butrint

10th and 11th November 2022, Department of History and Cultures, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. 

 

The workshop focuses on two main topics of research dealing with the scientific activities of the Albanian and Italian Archaeological Project in Butrint (Butrint Project) and the political, economic, and social dynamics resulting from the encounter between ancient Epirus and the Roman world after the third Macedonian war, as seen through the research of Italian and International scientific projects working in Albania.

The workshop was organised by Archaeological Mission in Butrint of the University of Bologna and Archaeological Institute of Tirana.

We thank all speakers and audience who took part in the discussion for their precious participation.

 

New Research on the Acropolis of Butrint

(Proposed by Belisa Muka, Enrico Giorgi, Federica Carbotti)

The Acropolis of Butrint preserves traces of its long history from the earliest phases dating back to the Archaic period. Archaeological research was conducted several times during this century until the start of systematic investigations by the new Italo-Albanian project in 2015 (Butrint Project). The multi-layered archaeological context and the complex history of archaeological research make it necessary to compare the protagonists of yesterday and today. 

 

Epirus in the Roman World

(Proposed by Belisa Muka, Anna Gamberini, Enrico Giorgi) 

With the end of the third Macedonian war, north-western Greece entered the sphere of the Roman world. The region was included in the provinces of Macedonia (2nd century BC) and Achaia (1st century BC) before Trajan established the province of Epirus. The most recent archaeological research shows the different political, economic, and social dynamics that this meeting resulted in the various centres. Indeed, some cities in coastal and northern Epirus seem to thrive even after the Roman conquest, while others suffer abrupt destruction. The degree of adherence to Roman culture can be perceived through the analysis of urban development, funerary ritual, and material culture: the fortune or abandonment of the various centres is reflected in the analysis of these aspects.

 

 

Day 1 - 10.11.2022

Epirus in the Roman World: an overview

Aula Gambi (10:30-13:00)

 

Luan Përzhita (Academy for Albanian studies)

Belisa Muka (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Enrico Giorgi (University of Bologna)

Institutional greetings and opening

 

Björn Forsén (University of Helsinki)

The First Century after the Deluge. Some New Light on Epirus post 167 BC

 

Georgia Pliakou (Ephorate of Antiquities of Thesprotia)

The hinterland of Epirus in Roman times. The case of the Ioannina basin in Molossia

 

Will Bowden (University of Nottingham)

The Villas of Roman Epirus in their cultural context

 

Anna Gamberini (University of Bologna)

Living in Phoinike in Roman Times: the pottery evidence

 

Discussion

 

Butrint Project: new research on the Acropolis

Aula Gambi (15:00-18:30)

 

Erlind Sulo (Director of the National Park of Butrint)

Richard Hodges (American University of Rome) 

Greetings

 

Belisa Muka (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Introduction

 

Catherine Morgan (University of Oxford)

Chair

 

Veronica Castignani (British School at Rome)

Francesco Pizzimenti (University of Bologna)

The wall-circuit of the Acropolis: the new topographic survey

 

Federica Carbotti (University of Bologna)

Matteo Rivoli (University of Bologna)

Danjela Dodaj (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Taip Kaca (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

The excavations on the Acropolis of Butrint

 

Nadia Aleotti (Sapienza University of Rome)

Archaic pottery from the 2021 and 2022 excavations in Butrint

 

Francesca D’Ambola (University of Bologna)

Sacred spaces on the Acropolis: a deposit of sling shots inside the Archaic walls of Butrint

 

Discussion

 

 

Day 2 - 11.11.2022

Epirus in the Roman World – between Hellenistic and Roman age

Aula Prodi (09:00-12:00)

 

Sergio Alias (Italian Embassy in Tirana)

Greetings

 

Enrico Giorgi (University of Bologna)

Chair

 

Veronica Castignani (British School at Rome)

Fortified hilltop sites in Chaonia: new considerations

 

Giacomo Sigismondo (University of Bologna)

New data from the fortified villas of Malathre, Çumporë and Çukë

 

Julian Bogdani (Sapienza University of Rome)

Albana Meta (Albanian Institute of Archaeology)

Kestrine: new data for the long-term archaeology of a border region

 

Luigi Maria Caliò (University of Catania)

Gian Michele Gerogiannis (University of Catania)

Rodolfo Brancato (University of Naples Federico II)

Fortification and land management models from Hellenistic to Roman Epirus

 

Sofia Cingolani (Direzione Regionale Musei Marche)

Roberto Perna (University of Macerata)

Ludovica Xavier de Silva (University of Macerata)

From Antigonea to Hadrianopolis: archaeological landscapes and material culture in Chaonia and in the Drino valley between Hellenism and Roman times

 

Discussion and final greetings

 

 

Directors and researchers of the Italian archaeological projects in Albania will also join the discussion:

Giuseppe Lepore, Francesco Belfiori (University of Bologna),

Simona Antolini, Jessica Piccinini (University of Macerata)

Sonia Antonelli (University of Chieti Gabriele D’Annunzio)

Pasquale Merola (CNR-ISPC Lecce)

For information and recordings

Anna Gamberini

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Federica Carbotti

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