After completing his studies in Vienna, Hasan Ceka returned to Albania in 1930 and began working at the National Library, where he formed an initial archaeological collection still preserved today by the Institute of Archaeology Library. During this period, he also represented Albania in international archaeological missions at Apollonia and Butrint.

In 1947, Ceka led the first indigenous archaeological expedition to Apollonia and helped establish the Archaeological-Ethnographic Museum in Tirana. Returning permanently to Apollonia in 1956, he dedicated the rest of his career to researching the ancient city. Prof. Ceka is widely credited with discovering vital monuments there, including an architectural complex near the Agonothetae building and the city’s nymphaeum.

Alongside his excavations at Apollonia, Prof. Ceka dedicated himself to collecting and preserving ancient and medieval coins. As an expert in ancient numismatics, he highlighted his research with the 1965 publication Illyrian Numismatics and prepared the important work Dyrrah and Apollonia coins.”

Professor Hasan Ceka was an expert in ancient Greek and Latin. His skills helped him co-author the Albanian translation and preparation of Illyrians and Illyricum in the Ancient Authors. He wrote many scientific articles and studies that were published both in Albania and abroad. Many of these works appear in his collected volume, In Search of Illyrian History. The distinguished archaeologist and researcher passed away on November 2, 1998.

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“This group of experts and academics will play an important role in the promotion of scientific research in and on Butrint, to advise the Butrint Management Foundation and Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, as an additional collegial and multilateral contribution, to the challenge of sustainable and comprehensive management of the cultural, environmental and universal values ​​of the Butrint National Park and World Heritage”, wrote the minister in the social media.

Blendi Gonxhja thanked all the members of the Butrint Research Group, wishing success to the president-elect Neritan Ceka, and other members, such as Iris Pojani, Enrico Giorgi, Eugene Jo, Elda Marku, Endrit Kullaj, Greta Balliu, Lantona Sado and Kristo Kauri, personalities and protagonists from different fields and institutions, inside and outside the country./p.s./

Prof. Ceka spoke about the significant change in recent years in the main objectives of Albanian archaeological research, as well as in the forms of organizing scientific research, but also promoting the management of archaeological cultural heritage.

The international scientific conference “Present-day problems of Albanology” was held at the venues of the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of Albania.

Prof. dr. Ceka emphasized that the engagement of foreign researchers directly in archaeological research in the field, as well as the creation of a new archaeological school in the Republic of Kosovo, have created a more articulated landscape of archeology in Albania.

In his statement, archaeologist Ceka emphasized the main problems facing Albanian archeology today in the field of Illyrian antiquity like coordination of research with the Ministry of Culture and financial support for archaeological research.

Through this statement Prof. Dr. Ceka also made some concrete proposals for solving the existing problems./p.s./

“Our underground holds many other evidences for our ancestors, and what has been discovered so far is thanks to the tireless work and full dedication of our archaeologists. Therefore, on his birthday, we remember the man who for more than half a century devoted himself entirely to research and studies on Albanian archaeology “, stressed today the General Directorate of Archives.

Hasan Ceka studied in Vienna where he distinguished himself as an excellent student. After returning to Albania, in 1930, he worked at the National Library, created an archaeological collection, which is still inherited by the Library of the Institute of Archaeology, and has represented Albania at foreign archaeological missions in Apollonia and Butrint.

In 1947, he led the first archaeological expedition to Apollonia and the work for creation of the Ethnographic Archaeological Museum in Tirana. In 1956, he returned to Apollonia to dedicate all his research and study activity to the ancient city. The credit goes to Ceka for the discovery of an architectural complex near the Agonotet building, the city nymph and many other works.

Prof. Ceka passed away on November 2, 1998.

The Directory of the Archives has also published a photo of Prof. Hasan Ceka as well as the memorandum on establishment of the National Museum by archaeologist Hasan Ceka, a document which is preserved in the Central Archives of the State. /j.p/p.s./