The Via Egnatia (Albania) Project and the bridge at Topçias

The Via Egnatia has attracted limited attention over the last half-century. The ancient road, crossing Albania between Durrës (Dyrrachium) and Qafe Thane, was one of the major thoroughfares of antiquity, and it remained in use until modern times. This brief report describes the work of the new Albanian Rescue Archaeology Unit, working in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology of Albania, in an attempt to document parts of the road which may be threatened by infrastructure development.

The survey was organised during April and May 2000 and involved both systematically walking the line followed by the Via Egnatia and visiting sites of different periods that developed along it. During the first season, our survey concentrated upon the area between Bradashesh (identified as themutatio Ad Quintumof the Roman itineraries), near Elbasan, and Qukës (mutatio In Tabernasof theItinerarium Burdigalense, orTrès Tabernaeof the Antonine Itinerary) (fig. 1).