Butrint: At the Crossroads of the Mediterranean

Focusing on the archaeology and history of Butrint in southern Albania, this book begins by looking at its foundation in the Bronze Age period through to the contemporary era, where it is now a popular tourist destination. Richard Hodges, who has excavated at the site for over thirty years and is a trustee of the Butrint Management Foundation, looks at the Mediterranean seaport and its changing landscape over the course of five thousand years. Organized chronologically, Hodges presents the latest archaeological data and surveys on specific individual sites ranging from the ancient Greek sanctuary and the Roman colony to the early Medieval Byzantine kastron and the arrival of the Venetians in 1386. He concludes with the arrival of the Italian Archaeological Mission in 1928, whereupon Butrint’s long and glorious history was discovered, cementing its mark as the premier archaeological site in Albania. Designed for students and general readers, this book offers an accessible and lively account of Butrint’s fascinating cultural history.