Ancient Lakeside Settlement in Albania May Be Europe’s Oldest
Discovery highlights Albania’s deep archaeological and cultural heritage
July 24, 2025 - An ancient civilisation discovered along the shores of Lake Ohrid in Albania has astonished historians and archaeologists. Scientists believe this could be Europe’s oldest known “lake settlement,” where humans lived 6,000 to 8,000 years ago, relying on hunting, farming and animal husbandry for survival.
A team of researchers from Switzerland and Albania found wooden posts, bones and copper artefacts in just three metres of water near the lakeshore.
According to expert Albert Hafner, hundreds of people might have once inhabited this widespread lakeside settlement. However, only about 1% of the site has been excavated so far.
From prehistoric times to the present, Albania, has experienced a variety of civilisations and cultural influences with impacts from the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Although the current city was formally established in 1614, archaeological findings indicate that the region has been inhabited for much longer, possibly as far back as the Palaeolithic period.
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