The modern city of Durrës was developed and built on top of the upper layers of ancient Epidamnos - Dyrrachion, founded as a polis in the 7th century BC by Corcyra and Corinth. The location has had an uninterrupted continuation of the city life from antiquity to modern times. Archeological layers from antiquity to modern times are documented on this site. Archaeological evidence related to the foundation of the Greek colony of Epidamnos - Dyrrachion are generally found below 4m from the modern surface. Remains from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods are very few and not visible on the surface. Monuments from the earliest, pre-Roman periods, are very few compared to Byzantine and later periods. The most representative monuments consist of an altar of the 4th century BC, discovered in the area of the former marshland, votive deposits belonging to the cult of Artemis, perhaps part of the Artemision complex. Two sanctuaries were identified in the northern part of the city, the remains of a temple in the hilly uplands near Spitalla and the foundations and damaged structures of the Cape of St. Paul, both previously unknown monuments and the only structures in situ, unlike other traces of shrines documented from time to time. The tutelary deities of these extra-urban sanctuaries, one dating to the Archaic period and the other to the Hellenistic period, are still unknown.

Po ashtu, përmendim edhe varrezat e periudhave klasike dhe helenistike, në kodrat e Dautëve dhe Kokomanëve dhe një numër i madh varresh të periudhave helenistike, romake, dhe të antikitetit të vonë, zbuluar së fundmi gjatë gërmimeve të shpëtimit në afërsi të shkollës Eftali Koçi.

In addition to these early remains of the city, several important sites were documented in the northern hilly uplands of Durrës during the Durres Regional Archaeological Project (DRAP). The project located around 30 new potential sites belonging mostly to pre-Roman eras through intensive surface surveys.

British and Albanian archeologists also discovered a section of the Hellenistic/ Roman circuit wall near the main entrance of the modern port in 2002.

Roman era remains are more visible and better preserved than earlier phases, so they are more prominently represented in the archaeological record. Other than the Roman Amphitheater, it’s worth mentioning the macellum and the Roman Baths, which were integrated into and turned into cultural heritage site of interest under the central building of The Palace of Culture. Piers belonging to the Roman Aqueduct of Epidamnos - Dyrrachion and other related structures (tunnels and wells) were found during agricultural work in the Socialist period and were well documented. These structures date to the first half of 2nd century AD.

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Designed and created by Sabian Hasani, Matthew Naglak, and Tyler Duane Johnson with the support of the Albanian Ministry of Culture and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Tirana.