"Ulpiana" half-abandoned by the state, target of thefts and satanic messages

It is a monument that the state permanently protects, but the Archeological Park of Ulpiana is unprotected from vandals and thieves. Such a case has already been registered. The Police and the Prosecutor's Office are dealing with the case described as serious theft. The only archaeological park in Kosovo has no guard at night and the vandals have left some messages there, such as a goat's head with three sixes, a satanic message. The case is also related to the burning of crosses in the name of the festival

The only archaeological park in Kosovo "Ulpiana" has become a victim of vandalism. The breaking of the containers where the work tools are kept, the drawing of a satanic symbol left as an order, are the acts that the Ministry of Culture is dealing with. In addition, the private property of a worker with Serbian ethnicity, who is engaged as part of the staff in this archaeological site, was also damaged. While the State Police and Prosecutor's Office have been put in motion, cultural heritage institutions are expected to increase investments and inspections in order to preserve and maintain the archaeological park, which presents evidence of civilization from the first centuries of our era.

Police: "Serious theft and is being investigated"

In the morning of the 11th day of this month, the employees engaged in the archaeological park "Ulpiana" noticed that the property was damaged. They immediately informed the Police. 

"In that location, a container was forcibly opened, which is used for equipment and work tools, from where some equipment was taken and some furniture was demolished. The case has been classified as a serious theft and is being investigated in coordination with the Prosecutor's Office", reads the response of the Kosovo Police. 

Two containers with work equipment were broken open while an employee porch was vandalized. On the other hand, as a message it is conveyed through a graffiti. A goat's head along with the three numbers "666" are spray painted. It is about a demon that demands human sacrifice. On the other hand, an employee of Serbian ethnicity, who is engaged in the locality, had two greenhouses damaged in a plot adjacent to the Archaeological Park. Although the institutions have not mentioned it, KOHA has learned that the local Serbs were irritated by the "Ulpiana Fest" festival. At the festival held in September, Catholic crosses were lit during the evening, as a symbol of the locality, since, according to archaeological data, a church building was also located there, even the structures of one of them are the largest in the Balkans discovered until now. 

KOHA has learned that for this action, the deputy mayor of Graçanica, Leutrim Ajeti, was asked for clarification in the Municipal Assembly. The same explained the assembly members in writing.

Damage and "graffiti with disturbing symbolism"

Milot Berisha, leader of the project for turning part of the locality into an archaeological park, said that it is an unacceptable and disturbing act for such a place of special historical and cultural importance. 

"Although the archaeological structures were not affected, the damage to the Park's property underscores the need for increased security measures and public awareness," he said. As for the motive, he said that at this stage there are no clear indications. According to him, taking into account the expropriation of properties, the possibility is not excluded that this act is related to recent developments, but the motives will be clarified by the Kosovo Police and the relevant bodies. 

“The graffiti in question, from what I perceive, contains disturbing symbolism, including the 'goat's head' and the number 666, which often have specific meanings in popular and religious culture. The presence of these symbols in an archaeological site like 'Ulpiana' is an indication of intentional vandalism that damages not only the property, but also the integrity and values ​​of this place of our national heritage," he said. 

Circumstances show that the act was committed at night, when none of the five people involved in the park were there. 

Archaeologist Berisha, at the same time acting director of the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, has shown that "Ulpiana" has 5 employees engaged for storage and maintenance in two shifts: from 08:00 to 24:00. 

"Despite this commitment, the lack of electrification of the Park has created a security gap, but with the completion of the expropriation process of 23 hectares, the process of electrification, lighting and surveillance with sophisticated tools will begin very soon," he said. Regarding security, he added that since July the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo has started the procedures for signing a cooperation memorandum with the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the security of the Park by the Kosovo Police 24 hours a day. According to him, the signing of this memorandum is expected to take place soon, and as soon as the necessary preconditions are met, we will intensify our efforts to guarantee full supervision of the Park at all times.

Emergency measures to strengthen security

On Monday of this week, the management unit of the archaeological park "Ulpiana-Iustiniana Secunda" initiated emergency measures to strengthen security. 

“Frequent and unannounced inspections of custodial personnel to guarantee increased vigilance and efficiency; the purchase of two heating devices (gas heaters) for storage stations, to improve working conditions during the winter season", are some of the measures that Berisha listed. According to him, for the first six months of 2025, long-term actions are foreseen to guarantee the security of the Park, including electrification and "smart" lighting of four sectors of the Park, with a final deadline of June 2025.

"Installation of surveillance cameras to ensure 24-hour surveillance of the archaeological site; The installation of warning signs to stop vandalism and partial fences for the physical protection of the area", are other measures. According to Berisha, these immediate and planned measures aim to increase surveillance and protect this extraordinary cultural heritage for future generations. 

At the end of October of this year, the Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Çeku, appointed as part of the management staff Bariu Zenelaj as chairman, with members Milot Berisha, Ilir Culaj, Festa Nela and a member from the Municipality of Graçanica. 

The state's relationship with "Ulpiana" has constantly progressed and regressed. In August of this year, the Government of Kosovo put an end to the processes of expropriation of the plots where the archaeological site of "Ulpiana" - the most important in the country - and that of Dresnik are located. The government has authorized institutions to make payments for plots. 

In October last year, the management plan for the archaeological park "Ulpiana" was approved. It was approved seven years since a part of the archaeological site of "Ulpiana" was "cut the ribbon" to become an archaeological park with three sectors. Well, there are no changes on the ground. Now at least there are promises on paper.

In the works carried out over the years, in the structures of the largest church discovered so far in the Balkans, a Latin inscription was found on the mosaic with different motifs. There it is clarified that it was the emperor Justinian who personally initiated the construction of the city of Justiniana Secunda. The inscription is found in the central area of ​​the church, a space that has been seen from all sides of the cult object.
Beyond this, the details of the inscription reveal other personal and political circumstances of the time when this side, as part of the Empire of the time, was ruled by the emperor of Dardanian origin, Justinian. The Dardanian continuity until the Middle Ages is also proven through the inscription in Latin.
But the state has constantly had problems with the commitment of staff for maintenance. For months the locality has functioned as abandoned, although it is the most visited in the country. 

The state has been continuously neglectful in relation to "Ulpiana", the same as with all the archaeological sites where a lot has been invested. In "Ulpia", Kosovo has invested over one million euros over the years. Seven years has been waiting for the management plan. However, putting this plan into operation does not even appear on the horizon. None of the time gaps when the archaeological park was made have been filled. The 47-page document is a kind of manual for the management of the Archaeological Park until 2027. It includes the statement of importance, vision, branding, history, areas of action and the action plan.

In the scheme of organization and operation of the Park, there will be a management board with five members: the manager or person in charge of the Park and the professional and administrative staff. The professional staff will include an archaeologist, a conservator, two cicerones and a curator. As for the technical staff: four maintainers, four people for physical security and a cafe and souvenir shop are planned. Additional services were foreseen in the Park project, but were never realized.
The establishment and operation of the laboratory and the drafting of the conservation plan are expected to be completed by 2026. Archaeological research will continue.

"Establishment of the management unit; The integration of hiking trails and other assets, such as the Graçanica Monastery, Veletini, Kishnica, the network of tracks and galleries of ancient mines in the area of ​​Shashkoc and Janjeva and others, within the tourist offer", are the goals with medium priority and which are expected to be completed by 2028. The Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Institute are mainly responsible for these points. There are two deadlines for the establishment of the management unit. In another case, it is written that the deadline is 2026.

The installation and extension of the network of electrical installations, cars, water supply and sewerage, sanitary nodes, are plans that must be completed by 2025. Whereas the installation of the necessary infrastructure for staff accommodation and scientific research activity in the field has time until 2028.

The action plan also foresees the determination of the spaces that can be used for alternative functions and the drafting of the business plan. The year 2028 is considered to be the deadline for securing income for the Archaeological Park from the sale of tickets, souvenirs, replicas and promotional materials.

The situation so far in the locality, despite what is seen, has not been good at all. Continuous conservation was lacking. There were constant problems until the maintenance of the temporary toilets was not paid, making it impossible to clean and use them. It is usually camouflaged in terms of maintenance to the extent that the temporary staff even bought gasoline for cutting the vegetation and mowing the grass. And, now he also faces vandalism.