TIRANA, August 26 – The Academy of Sciences today commemorated Hasan Ceka, one of the founders of Albanian archaeology. Ceka was born on August 25, 1900. He studied archaeology and history and later became known for laying the foundations of archaeological research in Albania.
Ceka studied in Vienna and returned to Albania in 1930. He then worked at the National Library. He created an archaeological collection that remains part of the Library of the Institute of Archaeology. He also represented Albania in foreign missions at Apollonia and Butrint. In 1947, he led the first archaeological expedition at Apollonia. He also worked to establish the Archaeological-Ethnographic Museum in Tirana.
In 1956, Ceka returned to Apollonia and devoted his research to the ancient city. He discovered an architectural complex near the Agonothetes building, as well as the city’s nymphaeum and other monuments. In addition, he focused on collecting and preserving Albania’s ancient and medieval monetary heritage. His work on ancient coins led to the 1965 publication of “Problems of Illyrian Numismatics”. He also prepared “The Coins of Dyrrachium and Apollonia”.
Ceka knew Ancient Greek and Latin and contributed to the Albanian translation of “The Illyrians and Illyria in Ancient Authors”. He published numerous articles, studies and papers in scientific journals in Albania and abroad. His research later appeared in the volume “In Search of Illyrian History”. Archaeologist and scholar Hasan Ceka died on November 2, 1998.
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