Archaeologists have uncovered what is believed to be Europe’s oldest lake settlement beneath the waters of Lake Ohrid in Albania. The discovery offers rare insights into early human life dating back 6,000 to 8,000 years.
A team of Swiss and Albanian researchers has been diving daily to retrieve wooden stilts, tools, and remains from the ancient site near the village of Lin. These wooden supports once held homes above water, suggesting a well-planned lakeside village.
The site is likely older than any known lakeside settlement in Europe. According to Albert Hafner from the University of Bern, this discovery predates similar communities in the Alps and Mediterranean by at least 500 years.
The lake’s underwater environment has helped preserve organic materials, including seeds, animal bones, and detailed pottery. This allows scientists to study what the ancient villagers ate and how they lived. “They relied on both farming and hunting, but agriculture was their main source of food,” said Hafner.
Lake Ohrid itself is considered the oldest lake in the world in terms of continuous existence, with an age of over one million years. It is shared by Albania and North Macedonia.
More than 1,000 pieces of wood have been collected for analysis. Experts use radiocarbon dating and tree-ring studies to estimate the village’s age. So far, only 1% of the six-hectare site has been explored.
Albanian archaeologist Adrian Anastasi noted that the community showed signs of advanced planning. “Their way of building, hunting, and fishing tells us they were very intelligent for their time,” he said.
Researchers believe the people of Lin played a key role in spreading farming and livestock practices across Europe. While the work has already taken six years, the team says fully uncovering the oldest settlement in Europe could take decades.
For more fascinating discoveries, explore the world’s oldest and largest underground city uncovered in Mardin here.
