The site, located southwest of the village of Rabie in the southern municipality of Memaliaj, is believed to have served as a fortified outpost on the southeastern borders of the Illyrian tribe of the Bylliones.

Working with the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Gjirokastër, experts surveyed the hilltop area where the ruins are located, documented the surviving perimeter walls and visible structures, mapped coordinates to define the site’s boundaries, and assessed the surrounding protective zone.

The ancient settlement, which sits at an elevation of 880 metres between Rabie village and the valley of the Luftinja stream, is thought to date back to the Iron Age based on earlier historical evidence.

Authorities said the inspection aims to confirm the site’s cultural significance and to inform future conservation or archaeological research projects.

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In a post on social media, Rama shared images from the excavation site and said inter-institutional cooperation is now underway to draft an Archaeological Zoning Plan on the site’s protection and management.

Excavations at the site began in 2018, led by a joint Albanian-Polish research mission under archaeologists Piotr Dyczek and Saimir Shpuza. Recent discoveries have helped map the extent of the ancient city and uncover two entrance gates.

Current work is focused on the city’s upper section, aiming to better understand its internal layout and urban planning. Preliminary findings suggest the upper city was heavily built-up as early as the mid-4th century BC.

The research mission, in collaboration with Albania’s Institute of Cultural Monuments (IKTK) and the Shkodra Regional Directorate of National Culture (DRTK), has completed detailed surveys and zoning, laying the groundwork for long-term preservation in accordance with national heritage laws.

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