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Folk Culture Albania has a very rich folk culture.It was first studied in the 19century,initially mostly by foreign scholars who were interested in linguistics.The ballad of Doruntina was the object of a pionieering study by the German poet Burger.In general,there is a marked difference between the northern and the sourthern traditions.In the north songs are usually sung by a single individual,and the dominant pattern is of heroic narrative,on historical themes,usually the struggle against the Turks. In the south music and song are more communal,with songs and poems for several performers,often with a choral element.There are also many different folk dances for each region.In the south dances are often accompanied by polyphonic songs,of great antiquity.In the commoner dances the performers move in a rectilinear pattern,and with pirouettes.Albanian music uses a variety of traditional instruments,some of which are unique to the country.The flute is the most common instrument,along with the bagpipes,the drum and the lahuta. The lahuta is a stringed instrument resembling the medieval and Renaissance lutes of northern Europe and is one of the most ancient instruments still in use in Europe.It was used by the ancient oral poets to call the attention of the audience to their recitations.in the north the cifteliais widely played,a small mandolin with a very long thin neck and two strings. The Institute of Popular Culture in Tirana has been collecting traditional songs,dances and poetry since the war,and has over a million verses, 40,000 proverbs,and about 10,000 musical recordings.A useful volume for those who do not read Albanian is Chansonnier Epique Albanais, which includes many well popular verses. |
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First traces of human society in Albania. Systematic exavations of Albanian territory,especially after the Second World war,have almost succeeded in filling the large gap in our knowledge about prehistoric and ancient times.Research has revealed that Albania is a country with an ancient civilization. We can now confirmthat prehistoric era is as well known as that of many other European countries.The first traces of man discovered so far on Albanian territory go back to the midle and late Palaeolithic period.This era (stretching overall from 100,000 to 10,000 BC) is represented by findings along the shores of Ionian sea and at the foot of Mt Dajti,near Tirane,in central Albania.These remains include tools made of microlithic,calcinous deposits and fossils of wild beasts.The discoveries made in the Neolithic sites are of particular interest.The Cakran settlement,situated in the southern coastal area,which belongs to middle Neolithic times (5000 BC) has brought to light remains of huts,either partially or totally buried in the ground,earthenware vases,decorated with painted motifs,anthropomorphic vases,stone tools. The Cakran civilization is very similar to contemporary civilizations north of the Adriatic.Of all the prehistoric settlements in Albania, the most important is that of Maliq,a locality situated on the Korce plateau.The northern section of this plateau,also called the plain of Maliq, was even in those early days submerged by the waters of a shallow lake. |
| National Archaeological Museum The "National Archaeological Museum,has a collection of about 1800 objects exavated from different sites in Albania. The visitor with only a general interest in prehistory and the ancient world may find the excellent exhibits from these periods in the National Historical Museum in Skanderbeg Square sufficient for their needs, particulary as that museum contains what are generally accepted to be the finest ancient works of art discovered in Albania,such as the "Goddess of Butrint".But there is much of interest here,and it is well worth a visit(opening times 10.00-16.00daily)The museum is mainly notable for the richness of its Illyrian collection,which is the largest in the world.Much of it has been unearthed in exavations organised since the war at sites such as Zgerdhesh,Hollm,Rrisp and Gajtan.The layout and lighting of this museum are exellent.Enter through a glass door in the main entrance hall,to Room 1,past a bookstall and souvenir shop on the left.Publikation of Illyriaand other journals has now resumed.On the right are a number of examples of Byzantine stone carvings on columns,and a 2CAD statue of lion,from apollonia.Room 1 contains material from the New stone age in Albania,flints,ceramics bone needles and other items from Cakran and Dunavec.Other display material from the New stone age from Kamnikand Maliq,including the first human images found in Albania,small carved female deities,and carved deer antlers.room 2 is devoted to the Bronze age,case 1,ceramics and Weapons from Cinemak and Pazhok,Case 2 the Iron agewith material,mainly swords,daggers,a tripod,spear heads and other weapons,from Kuci i Zi ,Barc,Rapcke.Turn left to cross Room 3,with material from amantia,showing Greek influences,with ceramics,small cult objects,silver coins and jewellery,and terracotta figures.From Byllis and Apollonia there is similar material,but with a higher standard of workmanship and technology. |