Archaeological excavations reveal new findings in Spina and Antigonea

New archaeological campaigns in Italy and Albania are providing fresh insights into ancient Mediterranean civilizations.

In the Ferrara region of Italy, the University of Bologna has launched its seventh archaeological campaign at the site of the ancient Etruscan port of Spina. This mission aims to reconstruct the city's western boundary near the ancient lagoon. Researchers are investigating the embankment and adjacent residential areas, including houses and canals, to understand urban organization and identify phases of construction preceding the monumental structures built around 300 BCE. The project involves an international team of students and researchers from Italy, France, and various research institutes.

Simultaneously, in southern Albania, the sixth excavation campaign at the Hellenistic city of Antigonea has concluded. Conducted by the University of Macerata and the Archaeological Institute of Tirana, the excavations focused on the city's agora. The findings include monumental structures and, significantly, buildings that predate the city's official foundation by King Pyrrhus in the third century BCE. These discoveries, which include the first complete excavation of a private residence, are expected to reshape the known history of the settlement.