.svg)  Shown within Albania | |
| Location | Shkodër, Albania |
|---|---|
| Region | Illyria |
| Coordinates | 42°7′22″N19°34′30″E / 42.12278°N 19.57500°E /42.12278; 19.57500 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age, Classical |
| Cultures | Illyrian |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Public |
Kratul was anIllyrian settlement and fortification located in the territories of theIllyrian tribe ofLabeates. The archaeological material indicates that life at the settlement was active from the earlyIron Age (beginning of 1st millennium BC) until the 1st century AD. In the modern era it is the name of a city situated in Albania, north of Boks.[1]
Kratul fortification represents a good example that sheds light on the typology of military architecture amongIllyrians.[2] The fortification wall encloses an elliptical shape area (which is uncommon among other fortifications but adopts well to the terrain) and covers about 0.5 ha. The wall was built using large blocks on both curtains, while the core is filled with smaller stones. The blocks are unworked and nomortar has been used. The walls' width goes up to 3.35 m while the height is 2.55 m.Three gates which served for communication have been identified. Two of them are across each other respectively on the north and south side, while the third one is on the east side. From a typological point of view the Kratul fortification is similar to that ofGajtan, although there are substantial changes in plan such as towers and the regular elliptic shape, which make it an interesting site. So far, there have been no trace of houses found inside the settlement.[1]
The Kratul fortification ruins are situated on the hill with the same name, at an altitude of 143 metres (469 ft) above sea level. They lie over the nowadays village of Boks, part of the municipal unit ofPostribë inShkodër County. On the plain south of the village's outskirts, near the left banks of Kir river, are located 160 tumuli of Shtoj, which date back to the earlyBronze Age.[3][failed verification] Kratul itself is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the northeast ofShkodër city center and only 600 metres (2,000 ft) north ofMes Bridge, a cultural monument.
