In the heart of the north of Albania, close to Strikçan, a short distance from the border with the northern Macedonia, archaeologists brought to light a monumental tomb of the Roman era of 6 meters by 9 surface, unique in its kind in the Balkans. With his bilingual inscriptions and a dedication to the god Jupiter, the precious kit and a fragment of gold fabric, the sepulcher throws new light on the rank and the life of Gelliano, the man who was placed there. The announcement was made on the Facebook profile of the Albanian Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhja.
The tomb consists of a large underground chamber of 2.40 meters high, and 6 meters for 9 surface, in limestone blocks. On many of these blocks there are bilingual, in Latin and Greek inscriptions that have yet to be card and translated (this is because the eastern part of the Roman Empire is always Ellenofona, in other words there was talk of Greek language). The sepulcher, dated between the III and the 4th century AD, belonged to a certain Gelliano – his name appears in one of the inscriptions – which, given the monumentality of the structure, had to be a rich man. In another inscription there is an invocation to the god Jupiter.
The materials found inside the monumental sepulcher seem to confirm the status social of the deceased. Unfortunately, they have been partially compromised by two distinct episodes of violation and looting: one in ancient times, another in modern times even using a mechanical means to discover one of the blocks that served as a roof. The reporting to archaeologists came from the local community that was broadly knew the location of the site. In addition to bone remains belonging to at least two individuals, a equipment was found composed of glass and ceramic objects, and above all, stored in an extraordinary way, a piece of fabric embroidered in gold wire, an exceptional discovery. The authorities confirm that the site will be made accessible to the public as soon as possible.
