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Filming of foreign tourists on their trips to Albania's aerological sites in the ancient city park in Finiq has sparked debate.
Several bulldozers were filmed digging over ancient ruins and were initially thought to be treasure hunters destroying the cultural site.
Top Channel investigated and discovered that after the excavations carried out in recent days in the Ancient Park of Finiqi, there were no treasure hunters, as initially reported by tourists, but state employees, who were digging in the middle of the archaeological park with heavy equipment.
In this protected area, the project "Restoration and consolidation of the surrounding wall" has been launched, with a decision dated July 25, 2025 of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, following the request made by the National Institute for the Registration of Cultural Heritage. The institution responsible for the implementation of the works is the Vlora Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage.
The question marks are huge, not because permission has been granted to restore the archaeological site's perimeter wall, but because of the way these interventions are being carried out. Allowing heavy equipment into the heart of the ancient park seriously jeopardizes the integrity of the site, violating the exposed archaeological layers and ancient structures that have been carefully uncovered over the years.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Finiqi and other local authorities stated to Top Channel that they had no knowledge of any such intervention initiated in the ancient park.
But does this method of intervention jeopardize the nearly 10-year work of archaeologists? The answer is clear according to archaeologist Halil Shabani, who calls this practice intolerable, emphasizing that such methods are not implemented in any country where archaeological conservation and restoration standards are respected.
Minister Blendi Gonxhe has also reacted to the tourists' claims, emphasizing that approved restoration works are taking place in Finiq, which are being carried out according to legal standards and procedures.
Gonxhe explains that "Considering the heavy weight of the fallen cyclopean stones, in such cases, specialized lifting equipment with a capacity of up to 4.8 tons is used, fully in accordance with the norms and criteria of VKM no. 1099/2020. It is precisely these tools and activities that have been misinterpreted as illegal excavations, while they are part of the documented restoration process."
The Forum for the Protection of Cultural Heritage has also reacted strongly. According to the forum, no archaeological site of this importance can be entered with such tools that severely damage cultural and archaeological layers.
" In response to the high media interest in the Finiq Park issue, the Ministry of Culture has issued a press statement indicating that the excavator works at the Finiq Acropolis are authorized by it.
Meanwhile, the media present at the archaeological site did not find any archaeologists or restorers.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Culture, these works are being carried out by the company "JOGI shpk".
With a very simple search on the administration's websites, it can be proven that the firm "JOGI shpk" has no similar experience in restoring ancient walls of international importance like Finiqi.
"Second, these works authorized by the Ministry of Culture are not presented on the IKTK website, the website where all decisions of this institution are published ," the statement says.
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