Statement of Archaeological Institute of Kosovo regarding yesterday’s reports in media on findings at the Archaeological locality ‘Ulpiana’

Archaeological Institute of Kosovo (AIK) deems necessary to provide some clarifications regarding yesterday’s reporting in media regarding that at the Archaeological locality ‘Ulpiana’ ‘the oldest church in the world was found’.

We would like to highlight firstly for the sake of correctness and right public information, that the reports were transmitted with a lot of fallibilities.

Excavations at Ulpiana have started since 2010 up to know. All excavation processes were directed, coordinated or authorized by Archaeological Institute of Kosovo.

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) together with Archaeological Institute in the recent years increased investments and scientific researchers at this locality. Only this year, in this locality 150 thousand Euros were invested by MCYS.

At Ulpiana, in different periods, also, different institutes from Europe worked in cooperation with Archaeological Institute, especially Archaeological Institute of Frankfurt, University of Heidelberg, Museum of Bochum, etc.

Excavations on the wide area of Ulpiana are developed in three sectors. One of them is the space under the direct supervision and interaction with AIK that is excavated also by archaeologist from Turkey, prof. dr. Haluk Çetinkaya, with his working group, that is participated also by archaeologists and technical workers of different ethnic groups from Kosovo. Thus, the information that in this space in which currently professor Çetinkaya is excavating, no one works from Kosovo, is not true. Archaeologist from Kosovo who is directly related to this archaeological excavation is Mr. Kemajl Luci. The major part of expenditures for excavations is covered by AIK, through the budget that is allocated to it by MCYS.

Professor Haluk Çetinkaya developed excavations on basis of Memorandum signed by Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with University of Beautiful Arts ‘Mimar Sinan’ in Istanbul. This Memorandum was signed in 2011 and based on this agreement, the excavations started in 2012. The Memorandum signed between parties foresees cooperation for 5 years. Furthermore, on the basis of signed Memorandum, the project of excavations is carried out by AIK and every work is conducted in interaction, cooperation and authorization of AIK.

Every finding in this space, where professor Çetinkaya is developing his excavation, is then sent to AIK for its further researches and presentation.

AIK wants to make known that reports have been sent to it for the last two years. Findings were reported yesterday on media, were mainly conducted in 2013, continuing this year, too. The major part of these findings was included also in the annual report of AIK work for 2013.

Up to now, every finding and its study is previous, or of the studying moment and archaeologists doubts. The final report, that is to be sent to AIK, shall clarify exactly the oldness of every part researched and found up to now. The assumptions of archaeologist Çetinkaya, but also of AIK, for the moment are that the church in question belongs to IV-V century of our era. But this date is not absolute because during further developments and excavations, hence, up to the end of processes, researches may issue new evidence which shall provide final evaluation based on scientific researches.

At the place where this church is found, professor Çetnikaya explained that in antique period there were first Christian martyrs of Illyrian, Flori and Lauri people. But, in media, yesterday, the information issued was that these martyrs were female. Information transmitted from media was inaccurate.

Archaeological Institute of Kosovo expresses its pleasure for the interest on archaeology shown by media and society in general that is growing. This in fact raises the awareness on archaeology and cultural heritage of our country in general.

Therefore, having a focus on right information, AIK invites all actors of society as well as media that for every reporting which is related to archaeology in the Republic of Kosovo to address AIK. This is for the sake of not misinforming the opinion and for right promotion of our culture.

AIK and MCYS always remain, as they have declared up to now, open for cooperation on any issue that is related to archaeology and cultural heritage in general.