Illyrian archaeological discoveries in Koroshishte of Struga / The institutions of North Macedonia distort the truth

In an extraordinary archaeological discovery in Struga, an ancient helmet has been found, which is thought to belong to the Illyrian tribe of the Enkeleites and dates back over 2,500 years.

Helmets of this type, known as "Corinthian helmets", were used in Southern Illyria, especially by the well-known historical figure, King Pyrrhus of Epirus. This discovery, along with other important artifacts such as bronze and gold pottery found in the royal tomb, has reverberated throughout the region for its historical and cultural value.

But the Macedonian media and the Ministry of Culture of North Macedonia are trying not to connect these archeological findings with the Illyrian period, but are trying to sell the event as if they were found in a village in North Macedonia, that is, not in Albanian territory.

Fiksi traveled to the village of Koroshisht in Struga to see the excavations being done up close. Upon arrival, the group was informed that the work was finished and that the field in which the archaeological artifacts were found had returned to its previous state.

Fiksi contacted the owner of the land where the excavations took place, Mr. Chief Shemshedin, who told Fiks how he had found these artifacts. Initially, while working the soil with a pickaxe in 2020, he had found the first helmet. "Then I came across some stones and it was difficult to dig, so I took an excavator and then we found the bronze helmet, which we took to the museum of Ohrid," says Shemshedini.

After 4 years, a group of archaeologists showed interest and went to his property, where they asked him for permission to do specialized excavations.

But from 2020 to 2023, no one bothered to declare the area an archaeological area.

In order to better understand the significance of the artifacts found, Fiksi also met the Albanian archaeologist Fitni Dalipi. Mr. Dalipi has joined the group of Macedonian archaeologists since the first day of excavations. Dalipi says that some things were found in this area, such as needles, a helmet, pieces of gold. Even they, as archaeologists, think that there they can find the ruins of a civilization that belongs to the 6th century BC. These artifacts belong to the Illyrian Enkelej tribe, who lived in the regions around Lake Ohrid and who created the first dynasty of the Illyrian kingdom at the end of the 5th century BC. Meanwhile, Macedonian archaeologists do not want to accept this fact.

Fiksi also contacted the deputy mayor of Koroshisht village, Mr. Xhemil Alla, who declared that the entire village and residents are ready to make their lands available to archaeologists. This is because they feel very lucky that Illyrian artifacts have been found in their lands. "This proves the antiquity of the Albanian people in these lands," says Vice President Alla.

But another thing is written and said in the media of the neighboring country, who are struggling with disinformation, giving another connotation to the archaeological findings. the first thing the Macedonian media do is that they have changed the location of these archaeological finds, removing them from settlements with Albanian population and informing that the excavations were done in the village of Volinë. The village with a Macedonian population that is separated from the village of Koroshishte by only one bridge. The village of Koroshishte has over 90% of the Albanian population and lies to the northeast of Struga.

What raises even more doubts to distort the truth of the origin of these archaeological artifacts, is that the Macedonian archaeologist Pasko Kuzman is also seen in the group of archaeologists. The latter was sentenced in 2014 by the Criminal Court in Skopje to three years in prison for illegal excavation and sale of archaeological objects.

Even in the official reaction of the Minister of Culture of North Macedonia, not a single word says that these artifacts belong to the Illyrian period. In response, the minister only asserted that these archaeological findings belong to the sixth century before our era and represent an archaic necropolis./Top Channel