The discovery has also been nominated for the Special Award. The honours will be presented during the 28th Mediterranean Archaeological Tourism Exchange (BMTA), to be held in Paestum, Italy, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2026.

The discovery has been ranked among the five most important archaeological finds of the year worldwide, alongside discoveries at sites including Pompeii and Vulci, as well as in Egypt and Türkiye.

The find provides new archaeological, historical and epigraphic evidence from a previously unstudied area, shedding light on social dynamics, the organisation of local elites and funerary architecture during the Late Roman period in the Bulqizë Valley and surrounding areas.

Researchers said the discovery opens new avenues for studying communication networks and social transformations in the interior of the Roman provinces during the period.

The research was carried out under the “Archaeological Research in the Bulqizë Valley” project by the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the Institute of Archaeology. Albania’s participation in the event marks the country’s first appearance through an archaeological discovery and offers an opportunity to showcase its cultural heritage internationally.

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