NivicaArchaeology

16/03/2022

In just over a month, the team will land back in Nivica for our next field season. We are busy packing and planning for more survey & excavation across the beautiful landscape of the Kurvelesh 🇦🇱🦅

03/09/2021

So not directly related to my research, but I decided to create a 3D model of the Çorovodës Bridge on the outskirts of Nivica while the stream has dried up for the summer. It is far from perfect, but for a quick job its not bad!

A quick low quality model of Çorovodës Bridge in Nivica. Its date is a little unclear, but cerntaly during the Ottoman rule of Albania.

01/09/2021

So far I have spent the last few days photographing and measuring up some of the old buildings in Nivica and Rexhin (Rexhin and Nivica are almost the same place today). The reason why this is important is that as the village changes with the new road and more tourists, some of these older houses will be demolished, others might be renovated and cover up some of the early features of these houses. That way, by recording them today, we know what they looked like tomorrow!

It is also really useful for my research to reconstruct some of houses on the Kala that were destroyed in 1913 when the Greeks invaded. Some of the footprints on the Kala are very simmilar to buildings that are still standing. Starting next week I will start recording in more detail some more of the ruins on the Kala.

Some of the locals (and some cows, pigs, and goats) seem a bit confused why an archaeologist is recording buildings that were only abandoned 20 years ago, but it is all part of the story of Nivica!

28/08/2021

Yesterday, a lot happened! A journey up the mountain on the incredibly smooth new road (what a difference!), a suprise meeting with one of our friends in the village we thought was in Philadelphia, and a beautiful evening at Bujtina mbi Kanion -Nivica my new home away form home for three and a bit weeks.
I guess the hard work can wait for a few days...!

Today was just a walkover survey of the Kala to start planning the work ahead. Tomorrow, the same, but for the old buildings in Nivica and Rexhin.

27/08/2021

A short night's stay in the famous Tepelenë, an often overlooked but very beautiful town guarding the entrance to the Kurvelesh.

25/08/2021

We're almost back for a small season of archaeology in the mountains! And by small we mean just one person -- our surveyor Alex Birkett!

He is currently studying for his PhD and as part of his research is heading up to the mountains survey the buildings and ruins of Nivica. This will help build a 3D reconstruction of the old village of Nivica that was destroyed in 1913.

Alex will be taking over the page with updates on what he has been up to as part of Project Nivica Archaeology. He will be in Nivica for just under a month, so keep an eye out of updates both here, on our Instagram, and on Alex's twitter ''

27/05/2020

Join us 13-14 June for the DigNation Festival!

This is a huge, free, virtual festival celebrating amazing archaeology projects around the world.

You need to register in advance, sign up here:

13 - 14 June 2020 / A big, free, online festival celebrating amazing archaeology projects around the world

13/03/2020

Unfortunately, we've decided to postpone our season for this year due to the pandemic situation.
In the meantime, check out this incredible 3D tour of the collections at Butrint, a spectacular UNESCO world heritage site.

Muzeu Arkeologjik Butrint u krijua në v. 1950 në mjediset e fortesës veneciane, në akropolin e qytetit antik të Butrintit, me materialet arkeologjike të zbuluara nga Misioni Arkeologjik Italian i drejtuar nga L. M. Ugolini (shih), që shpëtuan nga shkatërrimet e Luftës II Botërore. Fillimi...

12/02/2020

Welcome to the new Project Nivica Archaeology page! We'll use this page to share updates of our survey, excavation, research, and all aspects of heritage.
We're now affiliated with the Royal Agricultural University and will have exciting updates to share on that front soon!