The prestigious international news agency Reuters has shed light on a major archaeological discovery in Lake Ohrid, near the village of Lin in Pogradec, Albania. According to the report, archaeologists have uncovered what may be the oldest known human settlement in Europe built on a lake, dating back as far as 8,000 years.
Researchers from Switzerland and Albania have unearthed compelling evidence of an organized community that practiced both hunting and agriculture. Working daily in underwater excavations about three meters below the lake’s surface, the team has carefully recovered wooden piles that once supported stilt houses. Alongside these, they have found remains of both domesticated and wild animals, intricately carved ceramic vessels, and copper artifacts.
Albert Hafner, a professor at the University of Bern, told Reuters that similar lake settlements have been discovered in Alpine and Mediterranean regions, but the site in Lin is significantly older—by at least 500 years. The settlement is estimated to have been inhabited between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago.
"Because the site is underwater, organic material has been exceptionally well preserved," said Hafner. "This allows us to understand what these people ate and what they cultivated."
The age of the findings has been determined using radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology, the study of tree-ring patterns. Over 1,000 wood samples have already been collected, and researchers estimate that the site, which could have housed several hundred individuals, spans roughly six hectares. Despite six years of ongoing work, only about 1% of the area has been excavated so far.
Hafner noted that the people who lived at Lake Ohrid likely played a key role in spreading early agricultural and livestock practices throughout other parts of Europe. “They were still hunting and foraging,” he said, “but stable food sources came increasingly from farming.”
Albanian archaeologist Adrian Anastasi emphasized the significance of the discovery and the scale of the work ahead. “It may take decades to fully explore this area,” he said. “From their way of living, eating, hunting, fishing, and the architecture of their settlement, we can say they were remarkably advanced for their time.”
Just a month ago, the first phase of construction work at the site concluded, revealing not only living structures but also fortifications—suggesting the community invested in protective measures as part of their settlement planning.
This discovery offers a rare and detailed glimpse into prehistoric life and highlights the crucial role of the Balkans in the development of early European civilizations.