Archaeology of Kosovo

Archaeology of Kosovo as a field of study and research was started in the second half of the 20th century. Kosovo's field of archaeology has developed in tandem with the historical study, studies of ancient authors' sources, classic philological studies, theological data research, topographic studies and ground survey, analysis of toponyms, deciphering of epigraphic and historiographic data. First data about antique monuments in Kosovo, were documented from the end of the 19th until the beginning of the Second World War, a time period when Kosovo was visited by researchers, guides, and archaeologists such as: Evans, Boue, Hahn, Kanitz, Tomaschek, Domaschevski, Arpad, Vulic, Jirecek, Patsch, Domenico Mustilli,    etc.

In the 1950s, researchers in Kosovo began to focus on studying prehistoric and ancient times. Development of scientific archaeological research methods starts with the founding of the Museum of Kosovo in 1949, and later these studies were helped with the establishment of other relevant local and regional institutions. In 2003, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo established the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, and since then, many archaeological sites have been excavated and recorded. Since then geophysical, geomagnetic archaeometallurgical and archaeobotanic studies were performed at some archaeological sites in close cooperation with partners from Germany such as the German Archaeological Institute, and other relevant international institutions with the same inter-disciplinary access. The municipality of Ferizaj specifically has been rich in archaeological findings.

Pre-Neolithic
Due to its location and abundance of natural resources, Kosovo has been a great place for life to thrive since ancient times. The potential archaeological sites in Kosovo are increasing due to recent findings and investigations and superficial traces that provide new insights into Kosovo's antiquity. The earliest traces documented in the territory of Kosovo belong to the Stone Age Period. For instance, the Radivojce Cave, set near the spring of the Drin river, the Grnčar Cave in the Vitia municipality, and the Dema and Karamakaz Caves of Peja. There is no sufficient evidence to suggest habitation during the Paleolithic.

Neolithic (c. 6500-3500 BC)
The time frame 6500-3500 BC should be regarded as the relative real extent of the Neolithic period in the Balkans.

Some evidence suggests that women played a significant role as the "matriarchate" during the Neolithic.

Copper Age (c. 3500-2500 BC)


During the Copper Age, Kosovo saw a shift from a matriarchal to a patriarchal organized society as well as distinct social classes.

Bronze Age (c. 2500-1100 BC)


The Bronze Age followed the Copper Age, stretching in the time period from 2500 up to 1100 BC. With the advancement of the metallurgy factorial industry, and with the mixing of copper with tin, the bronze was created as an alloy. The formula invention for creating this stronger metal led towards the production of weapons, tools and jewellery. In the past, research carried out in Kosovo recorded dozens of settlements, cemeteries and fortresses of the early, middle and late Bronze Age.

Iron Age (c. 1100 - mid-4th century BC)
In the Iron Age, Kosovo used metals for weapons and tools. The area had settlements and fortresses, some with natural protection and favourable locations. Burial mounds, called tumulus graves, were a significant feature of Dardanian religion. They were scattered throughout the region, often found in groups or alone.

Roman Period
The Romans introduced their administrative and military system, extended slavery, and led to a process of Romanization in the first four centuries of the 1st millennium AD. Despite this, Dardanian population did not see significant ethnic change.

With the implementation of the agrarian policies imposed by the Roman rulers, the "ager provincialis" and "ager publicus" became the property of the Roman state. However, some local administration retained some political power. New taxes were introduced, including tributum soli and tributum capiti. During the first two centuries of Roman administration in Dardania, indigenous people were used as slaves and labor in mining, farming, and agriculture. Meanwhile, Italian veterans gained large estates and were encouraged to acquire as many slaves as needed for the hard work.

The Pax Romana created conditions for new economic developments and spread of the Roman civilization in conquered provinces. With the fall of the Dardanian Kingdom under the Roman rule and administration, the Dardanian territory became part of a new established Roman Province of Moesia, which according to the written sources happened between the year 2 and 6 BC. In the year 86 AD, at the time of the rule of the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD), Dardania became part of a new province known as the Roman Province of the Upper Moesia (Moesia Superior). 297 AD, was a very significant year for Dardania and the Dardanians, since, this year marked the creation of the Roman Province of Dardania, a self-administered province, though, within the frame of the Roman Empire. Despite the existence of the urban centres for example; Scupi, Ulpiana, Naissus, Municipium Dardanorum, etc., the Romanization of Dardania was cursory and superficial, this is also documented through the existence of Dardanian forts and towns, during the entire period of the Roman rule.

Since the second part of the 19th century and until the beginning of the Second World War, different travelers–writers like; Ami Boue, Gilfierding, Hahn, MaKenzie, Yrbi, Domaschevski, Premestein, Jastrebov, Vulic, Truhelka, Boskovic, Kaniz, Tomaschek, Jiricek, Patsch, Saria, etc., visited these parts mainly investigating and recording the Roman antiquity of the Kosovo territory.

Roman rule brought major changes in the lands inhabited by the Dardanians; they were responsible also for the urbanization of the region, but also about social, cultural, economic and religious changes influenced by the Romans, which was documented by the Kosovar pioneer of archaeology, the scientific hard worker of the Kosovo Museum, now late Dr. Emil Čerškov.

Museum of Kosovo
Kosovo Museum is the earliest institution of cultural heritage established with the goal of preserving, restoration-conservation and presentation of movable heritage on the territory. It is situated in a special facility, from an architectural point of view but also because of its location since it is situated at the old nucleus of the city centre. In fact, Kosovo Museum has been operating since 1949. However, the building of the museum was constructed in 1889 and it was designed according to Austro-Hungarian style of construction and its real aim was establishing the high military command of that time.

Th museum consists of three units: The Kosovo Museum, Emin Gjiku’s Housing Complex, where ethnological exhibition has been presented, and the Museum of Independence. The museum consists of four sectors, archaeological sector, ethnological sector, historic sector and natural sector.

Ethnological Museum
Ethnological Museum is an integral part of Kosovo Museum, located in the old housing complex, consisting of four buildings: two of which date from the 18th century and two others from 19th century. The housing complex was constructed by Gjinolli family or Emin Gjiku who then migrated to Turkey in the years 1958-59. Later on, the Natural Museum was opened in this housing complex. In the year 2006 a permanent ethnological exhibition of Kosovo museum was set in this housing complex. The concept of ethnological museum is based on 4 topics which present the life cycle starting from birth, life, death and spiritual heritage of the Kosovo inhabitants.

The Stone house or the synagogue is also a part of the museum which during the 50s was transferred from the old part of the city of Prishtina to this housing complex. Today it serves as a centre of contemporary art station.

The Archaeological Park
The Archaeological Park, respectively the Lapidarium of Kosovo Museum, was designed to become an additional part of an outdoor exhibition of archaeological heritage of Kosovo. Architectural fragments, epigraphic inscriptions, altars and kennels or grave stones, that apart from mythological scenes, funeral processions, presentation of images of the past descendants supplemented with carved inscriptions, all of these reflecting upon the spiritual and material world of Dardania’s ancient period.

In fact the Archaeological Park of Kosovo museum has been designed to serve as a lapidarium, which is a predetermined place for exhibiting stone monuments and architectural fragments of an archaeological nature. Park is foreseen to serve as a memorial place for the antiquity and the level of civilisations from ancient times and also for the organisation of cultural and educational events for children and young people.