Archaeologists in Albania have discovered a large Roman burial chamber dating back to the 3rd–4th century AD, marking the first find of its kind in the Balkan country, once part of the Roman Empire, Reuters reported.
The discovery was made after locals noticed unusual stones on a plateau near the border with North Macedonia. Excavations, led by the Institute of Archaeology, revealed an underground structure with limestone slabs engraved with Greek inscriptions.
Lead archaeologist Erikson Nikolli stated:
“The inscription tells us the person buried here was named Gelliano, a typical name of the Roman period. We are uncertain about the identity of the second individual, but most likely it was a family member.”
The tomb, measuring nine by six meters, is believed to belong to a wealthy Roman, far more monumental than other graves found in the region.
Among the finds were embroidered fabric with gold threads, confirming high social status, as well as glassware, knives, and ritual items. The tomb appears to have been looted at least twice — once in antiquity and later with heavy machinery.
One inscription also dedicated the tomb to the god Jupiter, while other undeciphered carvings are believed to belong to a separate monument nearby.
Local authorities, with tourism booming in Albania, are already planning to develop the site into a tourist attraction, as residents flocked to see the historic discovery.
