An important archaeological discovery has been made in the Bulqiza Valley, where the first underground mausoleum of the Roman period identified so far in Albania has been discovered. It is a large funerary monument, dating back to the period between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The object is of particular importance for Albanian archaeology, as it contains rare architectural and epigraphic elements, including a bilingual inscription.

The mausoleum consists of three rooms and is accessed via a monumental staircase. The monument measures approximately 9 by 6 meters, while the burial chamber reaches a height of approximately 2.4 meters.

Remains of a man and a woman were discovered

The skeletal remains of two individuals, a man and a woman, were also found inside the mausoleum. They were wrapped in rare textiles interwoven with gold thread, which testifies to the high social status of the two buried. A rich funerary inventory was also discovered in the monument, including glass vessels, bone objects, weapons, and fragments of textiles decorated with gold thread.

The findings discovered in this mausoleum shed light on the funerary practices and social status of the elites of the Roman period in the territory of Albania. The discovery was made by a team of archaeologists, including Erikson Nikolli, the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the Institute of Archaeology.