Location: Between the towns of Lac and Bruc
Entrance Orientation: S
Cave Formation: Horizontal
Main Research Years: 1978-1980
Occupation Eras and Dates:
Pre-neolithic, EN, MN, MBA,
Prendi, F. Andrea, Z. 1981. Te Deheria Te Reja MBI Neolitin Ne Shqiperi. Illiria 2:20.
Cave Description: This cave is long and narrow, about 6m wide at the entrance. It is one long main chamber that has been excavated and published to date.
Research Chronicles and Data:
Excavated by F. Prendi between 1978-80. Excavations that occurred in the 1980's discovered a narrow Eneolithic stratum, in which a chisel, bronze axe and fluted black pottery.
At the caves entrance a small test pit 1.0 m by 1.0 m distinguished three cultural layers. The oldest of them, Blaz I, has been called Mesolithic layer. There were numerous flint blades and many animal bones, which were mostly split and show simple tool marks. Since no pottery was found, the excavator interpreted it as the remains of the Mesolithic horizon. However, it is emphasized that it would be necessary to examine a greater surface for a more precise chronology.
The excavators suspect that here was most likely a work space for flint since the blades found without retouch seem to be blanks and there is debitage material. Many blades are similar in shape and size those of the Early Neolithic.
Consequently, Blaz I and Blaz II were possibly consecutive and belonged to the Early Neolithic. Following Prendi and Andrea, Blaz II represents the Early Neolithic culture in the interior of Albania.
Blaz II is best represented at point B in an area of 13 square meters. The depth of the Eneolithic layer is 0.26m.
Among the finds, the pottery is predominant. It consists of relatively good sand clay, and shows occasional mica additive which is visible on the surface. It is most often gray, light brown or brick red and thick-walled ceramics are as rare as shiny black, brown or occasionally red goods.
The main vessel forms are bulbous pots without necks with a thinner rim. Other types have a short, narrow rims.
Pseudobarbotine ceramics account for only 5% of the decorated pottery. The Impresso ceramics by Blaz II are in several aspects comparable with the relevant ceramics of Podgorie I Vashtemi. In addition, there are analogies to Impresso ceramics from Zelena Pecina III, Obre I, Crvena Stijena III and Smilčić I and for Molfetta ceramic in South Italy and pre-Sesklo in Thessaly. Both authors date Blaz II relative chronologically as the same time as I Kolsh, ie in the Phase IIb Starcevo.
Known as Blaz III, Middle Neolithic Culture, immediately following the Early Neolithic layers. It has a depth of 0.7m and provided a relatively rich material that show the characteristic elements of this phase.
Among the pottery are vessels with thick, medium thick and thinner walls and in gray, black, brown, and less frequently in red colours.