Archaeological heritage management in Albania
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports and the management of archaeological heritage
The central government has a commendable focus on the protection of heritage. Efforts to protect heritage can
be undermined by budgetary limitations as in many countries.
Within MoTCYS is positioned the National Council of Archaeology (NCA), the central administrative authority for
questions regarding the management of archaeology in Albania created in 2008, based on the Cultural Heritage
Law No. 9048, 7.4.2003. NCA approves the in principle the criteria for research, documentation and archiving of
data and archaeological material. The National Council of Archaeology gives the final approval for archaeological
projects, whether they are being planned by the Institute of Archaeology or the Archaeological Service Agency.
The role of this council is to ensure that excavations will make a concrete contribution to the understanding of
Albanian heritage.
The 2003 law, has been amended further in 2006 and 2008. These amendments have allowed for a strengthening of the Regional Directorates of National Culture and the creation of the Archaeological Service Agency
(ASHA). The Law is currently under full revision, expected period for parliament discussion and approval during
early 2012.
The Ministry of Education and Science and archaeological research
Within MES is situated the Centre for Albanological Studies, which amongst other institutions, holds the Institute of Archaeology, responsible with the scientific excavations in Albania. The Institute of Archaeology (IoA)
undertakes scientific research and has the right to organise excavations with Ministry of Education and Science
state budget funds or based on international funding and support. IoA has a large archive and collection with
the most important archaeological objects recovered in the country.
Archaeological sites
Albania has a very rich archaeological resource such as prehistoric sites, ancient Illyrian monuments, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine sites and a series of Ottoman castles. Under communism, significant attention was
directed towards the protection and preservation of archaeological sites.
New political conditions of the 1990s and the desire for freedom meant much greater population movement
around the country. Many monuments and sites in urban areas became vulnerable, a situation worsened by the
fragile legal institutions. It is only recently that it is possible to discern a more positive attitude towards archaeological sites which is a result of the consolidation of the government interest, economic development, the collaboration and the influence of foreign foundations and institutions as well as the changing community awareness and interest towards the protection and preservation of archaeological assets.
There are 9 archaeological parks and 10 archaeological areas in Albania as of 2011. An “Archaeological park” is
the area holding environmental values, on which are preserved construction remains, discovered by excavations
and protected by the state, while “Archaeological area” is the area on which are situated monuments found
from archaeological excavations or where the presence of archaeological layers has been verified.
Approving archaeological projects
There is a step by step process on approving archaeological projects. Approval by the scientific committee of
the Institute of Archaeology, Centre for Albanological Studies. The co-financing by the Ministry of Education or
Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports as a normal step between 1 and 2. Approval by the National
Council of Archaeology (which does not approve the funding.
Contract archaeology
According to article 46 of the Cultural Heritage Law, the Archaeological Service Agency, through its own structures and in collaboration with individuals or subjects licensed in this field, conducts the monitoring of archaeological values.
For the first time in 2008 the National Council of Archaeology approved the regulation for issuing permits to
archaeologists. As of 2011, 4 company permits and 10 individual have been approved.
The National Council of Archaeology has approved the regulations and standards of conducting archaeology
which set the rules of how to conduct archaeology. When e developer aims at exploring a given area, the Cultural Heritage Law provides the requirement for the developer to fully pay for the research, excavation and publication of finds. The NCA reviews the request of the developer and drafts the specific requirements for that area (type of investigation, methodology, ways of recording the material, storage permission, etc). The developer
can chose to conduct the work by selecting from the Archaeological Service Agency website a company which
may be willing to do the work. The developer has to notify all the companies and give them the official guidelines offered by the government agency and receive the respective offers. The developer than selects one offer
and the NCA takes it further for discussion.
If the offer is suitable and follows the guidelines is consequently approved, instead it could be returned to the
developer for review. As a last solution, if the developer and private companies cannot collaborate, the government takes over the works.
The future of archaeological management
As the country’s system of cultural heritage management and law are under revision, it is early to say what will
be the final form of its organizational scheme. It is to be understood that contract archaeology will be integral
part of the revised system, with the government structures monitoring and evaluating the interventions.