Albania - The Tombs of Lower Selca

Basse Selca is a village in the Mokra area in the Pogradec region. During archaeological excavations in the years 1964-1972, in a hill near the village, an Illyrian city was discovered. This habitat was designed during the High Bronze Age and continued to be so continuously, even during the Iron Period. At the VI-V sc. before JC. the city was developed as a proto-urban center on the road that ran along the Shkumbini River. In IV sc. it has been transformed into a fortified center surrounded by a wall composed of squared stones. It occupied an area of ​​30000m2. During IV-V av. J.C. Selca was an important production center, trading center and administrative center of the Illyrian Desareti region. In III sc. have been carved into the rock four monumental tombs of prince, as original creations of the Ionic order. In one of these tombs which was reused at the end of II sc. a rich inventory of weapons, bronze and earthenware vessels, gold jewelery and emblems depicting mitological battle scenes have been discovered. The construction of the Egnatia road at I sc. brought the fall of the city. During the IV sc. Selca, as a military and administrative center, was fortified again by mortar-mortared stone walls. The Illyrian city of Lower Selca was demolished towards the VI Sc.