TIRANA, August 27 – Léon Rey, the French archaeologist who discovered and documented Apollonia’s archaeological heritage, was born on August 27, 1887.
Following a 1923 agreement between the Albanian and French governments, Rey led the French archaeological mission in Albania. He directed excavations at Apollonia for 14 years. The work uncovered important monuments and evidence from antiquity. Rey also pioneered aerial photography to document ancient ruins, using French military aircraft.
Rey sought to establish a museum in Fier to display objects discovered during the excavations. The government of the time did not support the project. In 1936, Albanian patriots helped turn the historic building in Vlore that had housed the Provisional Government after independence into an archaeological museum.
He also documented his work through the scientific journal Albania: Notebooks on Archaeology, History and Art in Albania and the Balkans. Published in Paris from 1925 to 1939, the journal featured important studies on Albanian and Balkan archaeology, history and art. Rey died in Paris on November 9, 1954.
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