🏛️ BOJUSEN: THE LOST ILLYRIAN CITY HIDDEN IN THE LANDS OF RROGOZHINË 🇦🇱
An untold chapter of Albanian history waiting to be rediscovered.
The territory of Rrogozhinë, known today for its strategic position and cultural significance, may hold within its hills and valleys the remnants of an ancient civilization — a city that once thrived thousands of years ago but was lost to time: the Illyrian city of Bojusen.
đź“Ť Where Was Bojusen Located?
Historical and linguistic studies, supported by archaeological evidence, point to the possibility that Bojusen was located in the area of Gosë, in the broader Rrogozhinë region. Artifacts discovered between Bishti i Zhurit and Sopet e Luzit suggest the existence of a large and organized settlement. Among the most telling finds are two bronze axes, remarkably similar to those uncovered in Shkodër, indicating a connection to the wider Illyrian culture and dating the site as far back as the 12th century BCE.
These findings reveal not only the presence of life but signs of a developed and possibly influential city, with trade, warfare, and craftsmanship as core elements of its society.
🌊 The Shifting Path of the Shkumbin River
What makes Bojusen’s possible location even more intriguing is its proximity to the Shkumbin River — known in antiquity as Skampin. Historical evidence suggests that the river once flowed along a different course, closer to present-day Rrogozhinë. Over centuries, geophysical movements reshaped the land, altering the river’s path and possibly contributing to the city’s decline and eventual disappearance.
Being situated along this vital waterway would have given Bojusen a strategic advantage — controlling access to trade routes and natural resources.
🔥 The Fall and Destruction of Bojusen
The fate of Bojusen, like many ancient cities, is shrouded in mystery. But linguistic traces offer a clue: the modern name “GosĂ«” is believed by linguists to be a derivation of “Bojusen”, transformed by time and language evolution. Supporting this are the many fragments, structures, and artifacts uncovered in the area, dating to the 5th–4th centuries BCE, suggesting that this was not merely a settlement but a center of Illyrian civilization.
Bojusen was likely built near the Via Kandavia, one of the ancient roads that would later become part of the famed Via Egnatia, the Roman Empire’s crucial east-west artery. This prime location made it a thriving hub — but also a target.
According to some hypotheses, the city met its end in the 5th or 6th century CE, possibly due to slave revolts or invasions by barbarian tribes during the chaotic decline of the Roman world. The devastation was so great that it was followed by a massive fire, one that scorched the entire Shkumbin valley, including Rrogozhinë and extending to Kryeluzaj.
After this catastrophe, Bojusen vanished from historical records, leaving behind only scattered traces in the soil, stones, and stories.
đź—ż Why Bojusen Still Matters Today
The study of Bojusen is not only a historical curiosity — it is a key piece in the puzzle of Albania’s ancient heritage. Discovering more about this city could reshape what we know about the Illyrians, one of the most mysterious civilizations in Europe.
Every bronze axe, every piece of pottery, and every buried wall is a whisper from the past — urging us to look closer, dig deeper, and uncover the truths still hidden beneath the land of Rrogozhinë.
📚 Bojusen may be lost — but it is not forgotten. It lives on in language, land, and legend.