1. Archaeological Heritage Management: the case of Albania
Ols LAFE, M.A.
Director
Cultural Heritage Directorate
Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports

2. Albania is situated on the east coast of the Adriatic and Ionian seas and forms part of the Balkan Peninsula
About 70% of the country is mountainous. The coastline extends for about 450km

3. Law No. 9048, On Cultural Heritage defines a ‘cultural monument’ as the object or the construction of cultural and historical values protected by the state.
The 2003 law, 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 September 2011

4. Other definitions
“Aarchaeological park” : the area holding environmental values, on which are preserved construction remains, discovered by excavations and protected by the state
“Archaeological values”: monuments, historic settlements of various types, objects or parts of constructions and settlements, found from archaeological excavations, with historic and archaeological values
“Archaeological area”: the area on which are situated monuments found from archaeological excavations or where the presence of archaeological layers has been verified
According to Law no. 9048, material values of cultural heritage are: Centres, zones and regions, inhabited or uninhabited, of archaeological, historical, ethnological, architectonic and engineering values. As such are valued objects being in a ruinous state, over 100 years old

5. 9 archaeological parks
Butrint, Apollonia, Finiq, Antigonea, Bylis, Amantia, Orikum, Lezha, Shkodra
10 archaeological protected areas
Shkodra, Lezha, Kruja, Durres, Vlora, Elbasan, Saranda, Berat, Tirana, Selca e Poshtme

6. Albania has over 2000 cultural monuments and archaeological sites, which can be divided into several major categories:
1.Houses
2.Fortresses and castles
3.Religious architecture
4.Archaeological sites

8. Archaeology at MoTCYS Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports
National Board of Archaeological Parks
National Council of Archaeology
National Park of Butrint Board

9. Archaeology at the Ministry of Education and Science
Centre for Albanological Studies
Institute of Archaeology
Prehistory, Greek and Roman, Late Antique and Medieval Departments

10. 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

11. 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 National Archaeological Parks Board makes decisions on strategies, annual programmes, regulations and management of all Albanian archaeological parks, except Butrint

12. According to the heritage law, all research, test excavations and archaeological excavations are a state monopoly Also, objects found during archaeological excavations are property of the state

13. Approving archaeological projects
1. Approval by the scientific committee of the Institute of Archaeology, Centre for Albanological Studies.p
2. Approval by the National Council of Archaeology (which does not approve the funding)
The co-financing by the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports as a normal step between 1 and 2.

14. Private archaeology
According to article 46 of the Law on Cultural Heritage, the Archaeological Service Agency, trough its own structures and in collaboration with individuals or subjects licensed in this field, conducts the monitoring of archaeological values
This is for the first time in the history of Albania, that the law provides space for the creation of a system that allows archaeologists to get a permit

15. Private archaeology
In 2008 the National Council of Archaeology approved the regulation for issuing permits to archaeologists
Two major types of permits are applicable:
Type A (individuals and firms)
Type B (underwater archaeology)

16. Archaeology permits since 2009

17. Setbacks of the law
The highest fine for excavating without proper permission in areas of archaeological potential is about euros
When compared to Kosova ( euros) these provisions are rather small. Greece applies only prison sentences
Penal implications are mentioned, but rarely put to practice

18. Some key issues for the future
Create the GIS Archaeological Map of Albania
Widening the perception of what constitutes archaeology and heritage
Fostering the perception of cultural heritage as positive contributor to the establishment of civil society
Strengthen the educational system
Lack of infrastructure supporting archaeology and heritage
Lack of adequate funding

19. Use of cultural monuments

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!