Kamenica Mound

Kamenica Mound is a major prehistoric burial mound and archaeological site near Kamenicë in the Korçë region of southeastern Albania. It is considered one of the country's most important Bronze Age and Iron Age archaeological discoveries, with excavations revealing hundreds of burials and thousands of artifacts that illuminate nearly seven centuries of prehistoric life.

Historical significance

The site lies about 8–10 kilometers south of Korçë on the southern edge of the Korçë plain. Archaeological evidence indicates that the first central burial was created during the Late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BCE, and that the tumulus remained in use until roughly the middle of the 6th century BCE. Over generations, the mound expanded as additional graves were added around the original burial, creating one of the largest prehistoric tumuli known in Albania.

Archaeological discoveries

Excavations have uncovered more than 400 graves, approximately 425–440 human skeletons, and around 3,500–3,600 artifacts, including pottery, bronze and iron weapons, jewelry made from gold, silver, amber, and bone, and other everyday objects. These discoveries provide valuable evidence about burial customs, craftsmanship, trade, and social organization in southeastern Albania during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Researchers have also documented unusual finds, including evidence of prehistoric cranial surgery and the burial of a pregnant woman, both of which have attracted significant scholarly interest.

Excavation and preservation

Although the tumulus was identified by archaeologists in the early 1990s, it suffered extensive looting during the unrest of 1997. Rescue excavations began in 2000 through collaboration between Albanian archaeological institutions and continued over multiple seasons, recovering much of the site's archaeological record and enabling long-term conservation. Protective infrastructure and visitor facilities were later added to preserve the monument and improve public access.