Archaeologists unearthed an ancient Roman tomb in Albania after locals noticed unusual stones, and plans are already underway to turn the site into a tourist destination.
The tomb, which experts say dates back to the third or fourth century, was discovered near the North Macedonia border and is believed to be the final resting place for a “member of the upper class.”
“We also uncovered a piece of fabric embroidered with gold thread, which confirms our belief that we are dealing with a member of the upper class,” lead archeologist Erikson Nikolli said of the find. “The inscription tells us that the person buried here was named Gelliano, a name typical of the Roman period. We are uncertain about the identity of the second individual, but it is likely a family member.”
Glass plates and knives were also found inside the 29-foot by 19-foot tomb.
Additional inscriptions were located nearby but have yet to be deciphered. The first-of-its-kind discovery in Albania was dedicated to the god Jupiter, experts say.
Nikolli also explained that the 1,800-year-old tomb appeared to have been raided twice in the past, once in antiquity and another time when heavy machinery was used to remove a large rock that sat on top of the chamber.
