{"id":151341,"date":"2019-06-28T08:28:52","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T12:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=151341"},"modified":"2019-06-27T16:25:55","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T20:25:55","slug":"snapshot-elic-weitzel-kosovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2019\/06\/snapshot-elic-weitzel-kosovo\/","title":{"rendered":"Snapshot: Elic Weitzel in Kosovo"},"content":{"rendered":"

In some parts of Kosovo, scattered right on the surface of the soil are numerous artifacts, some of which date back as far as 8,000 years. Local archaeologists know there are dozens of archaeological sites somewhere in the area, but no one is sure exactly where they are.<\/p>\n

For the past two summers, UConn graduate student Elic Weitzel has traveled to Kosovo to survey for ancient artifacts to help pinpoint the locations of these sites, so that more can be learned about the area\u2019s rich \u2013 and oftentimes fraught \u2013 history.<\/p>\n

The region is thought to have been inhabited for nearly 10,000 years. Weitzel says the archaeological records of Kosovo and other Balkan countries reflect conflict and conquests \u2013 with unrest continuing even after the recent wars and Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008 \u2013 but the region was also an area that the first people to introduce farming to Europe would have traveled through. As a scholar of early farming, this research will expand his expertise in the field, as well as hone his research skills as he helps to identify, date, and reconstruct the past.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A prehistoric stone axe, possibly Neolithic, found north of Banja e Pej\u00ebs. Through analysis of the artifacts found, the researchers hope to identify key archaeological sites for future study. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
3<\/div>
A prehistoric stone axe, possibly Neolithic, found north of Banja e Pej\u00ebs. Through analysis of the artifacts found, the researchers hope to identify key archaeological sites for future study. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Prehistoric<\/a>
Prehistoric stone tools, likely from the Neolithic period. The artifacts found by the researchers are being stored in the capital Prishtina, with the Kosova Institute of Archaeology. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
16<\/div>
Prehistoric stone tools, likely from the Neolithic period. The artifacts found by the researchers are being stored in the capital Prishtina, with the Kosova Institute of Archaeology. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Prehistoric<\/a>
Prehistoric stone tools, likely from the Neolithic period. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
Weitzel7<\/div>
Prehistoric stone tools, likely from the Neolithic period. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Prehistoric<\/a>
Prehistoric stone tools (likely from the Neolithic period) from all stages of the tool manufacturing process. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
Weitzel6<\/div>
Prehistoric stone tools (likely from the Neolithic period) from all stages of the tool manufacturing process. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Prehistoric<\/a>
Prehistoric ceramics, mostly from the Bronze Age, from various sites near Peja. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
2<\/div>
Prehistoric ceramics, mostly from the Bronze Age, from various sites near Peja. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Roman<\/a>
Roman and Medieval period ceramics from various sites near Peja. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
1<\/div>
Roman and Medieval period ceramics from various sites near Peja. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A Late Roman monastery (4th-6th century CE) at the foot of the Albanian Alps. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
4<\/div>
A Late Roman monastery (4th-6th century CE) at the foot of the Albanian Alps. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Surveyed<\/a>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. Through the surveys, the researchers hope to identify key archaeological sites. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
Weitzel8<\/div>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. Through the surveys, the researchers hope to identify key archaeological sites. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Surveyed<\/a>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. Artifacts are brought to the surface through the freezing and thawing of the soil, and by plowing, which also moves objects around. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
9<\/div>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. Artifacts are brought to the surface through the freezing and thawing of the soil, and by plowing, which also moves objects around. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Surveyed<\/a>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
Weitzel10<\/div>
Surveyed fields near Banja e Pej\u00ebs in Western Kosova. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A view of Rugova Canyon west of Peja, Kosova. The canyon has been used as a way to access the high mountains for thousands of years. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
11<\/div>
A view of Rugova Canyon west of Peja, Kosova. The canyon has been used as a way to access the high mountains for thousands of years. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A Kosovo Liberation Army flag in Sudenic\u00eb, Kosova, where a Kosovo Liberation Army base existed during the Kosovo War. Weitzel says the recent war resulted in damage to some archaeological sites, particularly when one side viewed the site as the cultural heritage of the other. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
12<\/div>
A Kosovo Liberation Army flag in Sudenic\u00eb, Kosova, where a Kosovo Liberation Army base existed during the Kosovo War. Weitzel says the recent war resulted in damage to some archaeological sites, particularly when one side viewed the site as the cultural heritage of the other. (Elic Weitzel\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Some<\/a>
Some of the RAPID-K crew hiked to the top of a mountain near Bog\u00eb, Kosova, on their time off. Elic Weitzel is on the far right. (Photo by Dukagjin Mehmetaj)<\/div>
13<\/div>
Some of the RAPID-K crew hiked to the top of a mountain near Bog\u00eb, Kosova, on their time off. Elic Weitzel is on the far right. (Photo by Dukagjin Mehmetaj)<\/div><\/div>\"Elic<\/a>
Elic Weitzel (center) takes a break from work to enjoy some baklava with members of the crew near Banja e Pej\u00ebs on Bajram (Eid al-Fitr). (Photo by Zhaneta Gjyshja)<\/div>
15<\/div>
Elic Weitzel (center) takes a break from work to enjoy some baklava with members of the crew near Banja e Pej\u00ebs on Bajram (Eid al-Fitr). (Photo by Zhaneta Gjyshja)<\/div><\/div>\"The<\/a>
The crew of RAPID-K 2019, wearing project t-shirts, in Peja, Kosova. Peja is the third-largest city in the country. (Photo by Sylvia Deskaj Galaty)<\/div>
17<\/div>
The crew of RAPID-K 2019, wearing project t-shirts, in Peja, Kosova. Peja is the third-largest city in the country. (Photo by Sylvia Deskaj Galaty)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The UConn graduate student is part of a team led by Mike and Sylvia Galaty from the University of Michigan and Haxhi Mehmetaj from the Kosova Institute of Archaeology. The researchers are in the midst of a multiyear survey project in Kosovo called RAPID-K: Regional Archaeology in the Peja and Istog Districts of Kosova<\/a>. (Kosovo is known as Kosova among the country’s majority Albanian population. Peja and Istog are cities in the western part of the country.)<\/p>\n