In Shkodër was born Skënder Anamali, archaeologist, specialist in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, and professor. He completed high school in his hometown while he attended higher studies at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Padua (Italy). In 1947 he started working as an archaeologist at the Institute of Sciences in Tirana and together with Hasan Ceka opened the first archaeological museum (1948). He undertook independent excavations in the cities of Amantia, Apollo and Durrës. His activity focused on tracing, discovering, and studying the culture of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. He made systematic excavations in the medieval cemetery of Kruja, Koman, Bukli, Shurdhah, in the basilica of Lin, in the fortress of Pogradec, in the fortress of Stelush, in the basilica of Ballsh, etc. The scientific results of the excavations were reflected in over 70 articles and studies published abroad, where it defines the components of the tree culture, the process of birth and autochthonous development of its bearers. Skënder Anamali is the author of the monograph on the Illyrian city of Amantia, co-editor of the volume, “Ilirët dhe Iliria tek autorët antikë” (Illyrians and Illyria among antiquity authors) (1965), co-author of the works “Historia e Shqiperise” (History of Albania) (1959), “Historia e Popullit Shqiptar” (History of Albanian People) volume I (2002). Skender Anamali was a “International Association for Greek and Latin Epigraphy” member based in Paris. He helped in the establishment of several archaeological museums. He passed away in 1996. (In the photo: Skënder Anamali)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 69.
Photo: © Academy of Albanological Studies
Graphic processing: AHCF
