Selim Islami, archaeologist, one of the founders of Albanian archaeology, professor, died in Tirana. He was born in Pandelejmon, Saranda, in 1923. He attended the “Normal” school in Elbasan and higher studies at the “Lomonosov” University in Moscow (1946-1951). He started working at the Institute of Sciences, then at the Institute of History, at the Institute of Archeology, where he worked until the end of his life. In the years 1956-1966, he was in charge of the archeology department at the Institute of History and Linguistics. Directed the works in the mounds of Mati (1952-1956) and then in other centers, such as: Gajtan, Pazhok, Xibër, Zgërdhesh, Butrint, etc. In the years 1958-1960, he led the research of the Albanian-Soviet archaeological expedition in Apollonia. He is the author of a number of scientific articles; co-author of the works “Historia e Shqipërisë“ (“History of Albania”) vol. I (1959) and “Historia e popullit shqiptar“ (“History of Albanian people”) vol. I (2002); responsible editor of the collection “Ilirët dhe Iliria te autorët antikë“ (“The Illyrians and Illyria in ancient authors“) and the book “Les Illyriens ” (Tirana, 1985). In the years 1981-1985, he was the editor-in-chief of the magazine “Iliria”. In addition to the research and studies about the Illyrian city, the basic object of his studies was the political history of the Illyrian state. As an external lecturer, he taught archeology and ancient history at the University of Tirana. With his scientific and managerial activity, he provided special help for the illumination of the basic problems of archeology and the ancient history of our country. (In the photo: Selim Islami)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1049.
Photo: © https://2lonline.com/prof-dr-selim-islami-arkeolog-nje-figure-emblematike-edhe-per-gjilanin/
Graphic processing: AHCF
