A visit to the Monumental Tomb at Amantia

General view of the tomb on approach

A while ago I finally got to visit the huge monumental tomb excavated near the ancient city of Amantia in 2020 and it was definitely worth the wait. I had first tried to visit during August a few years ago, but the locals advised that it was a long walk from the road and it would be better to do it when it wasn’t so hot. Indeed, it’s a couple of kilometres walk each way from where you can park your car and you will have to pass several guard dogs (and probably other animals too) on the way. I recommend that you do not go on your own - one of the guard dogs was untethered and we had a couple of dodgy moments.

The grave has been given the number 27 in the inventory of monumental tombs in the various ancient cemeteries that surround the city of Amantia. Since the discovery and excavation of tomb 27 (and also as a result of illegal digging) two more tombs have been discovered and can be seen near to the entrance of the site. You can read more about them here: https://carolynperry.blogspot.com/2024/02/some-new-tombs-at-amantia.html

As well as the ‘built’ or ‘monumental’ tombs, which have been discovered around Amantia, the ancient cemeteries also contain a number of cist graves. Grave number 27 is in the southern necropolis of Amantia. The presence of monumental tombs and cist graves indicate high status burials and the likelihood of grave goods so the area around the ancient city is a prime location for illegal excavations. 27 was rediscovered following an illegal excavation, but the recent robbers were not the first to try their luck – the tomb had been not only been looted in antiquity but it had also been reused. The photograph above shows one of the later tombs. 

In the chamber

Dated to the 3rd century BC, the impressive tomb consists of a vaulted burial chamber made of large limestone blocks. The burial chamber itself is four metre square, paved with stone blocks. The chamber is reached via a six metre-long passageway built in two sections that would have been sealed by doors. The blocks of stone that form the ceiling of the passageway are exceptionally large, and so well cut: they fit together extremely well (without mortar, of course, as is the case for all monumental tombs of this period). The remains of later burials, dating to the 4th- 6th centuries AD, and built using stone from the tomb complex can also be seen above the chamber tomb.  

View from the chamber through the passageway

Plan of the tomb 

To visit the tomb, follow the road back towards Vajza and stop at the village of Ploçe, taking the sharp right turn into the village. You will need to park there and continue on foot as the road soon runs out and becomes a track and then a path. The walk starts by passing several houses with guard dogs, some untethered. Follow the path over a small stream, through trees and across scub for about 25 minutes until you see the large masonry blocks of the tomb in front of you.  

To reach the site of Amantia, take the SH76 from Vlora along the course of the River Shushica, following signs towards Mavrova, and continue until just beyond the village of Vajza. Amantia is signposted off the main road and is visible to the left, on the long limestone ridge. As you come out of Vajza, you will see Taverna Shpella on your right. This is the last chance for refreshments and a bathroom stop, as there are no facilities on site at the time of writing.  

There is an admission fee. The road is asphalted all the way to the site. There is no public transport.  

Further Reading

BUZO, J., HOBDARI, E., Nekropoli i Amantias: varre dhe shpërndarja e tyre gjatë shekujve IV-I p.Kr. / Necropolis of Amantia: tombs and their distribution during IV-I BC, Candavia 4, 2014.