THE FORTTRES OF HARILAQ

THE LOCATION OF HARILAQ’S FORTESS The fortress is located in an altitude of maximum 766 metres above sea level, and is approximately sited 9 km southeast from the town of Kosovo Polje and only 2 kilometres west from Pristina International Airport "Adem Jashari".

THE FORTRESS OF HARRILAQ The fortress differs from the other castles for the construction of the curtain wall, for interior architectural structures and binding material used. Situated on top of a hill, like most castles from this period in the region, it controls a large landscape view over a large area of Kosovo, seeing clearly portions of the Municipalities of: Fushe Kosove, Prishtinë, Obiliq, Lipjan, Ferizaj, Shtime and Drenas.[5] Besides toponyms known to local population, as the castle or the Upper Gradina, there is identified a large concentration of stones and bricks, unusual for the locals' tradition of contemporary constructions, which were taken and used by residents of the area, presenting clear indications of the existence of a castle in the village of Harilaq.

THE FORTRESS OF HARILAQ

THE HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

The first archaeological trial trenches and test excavations were undertaken by the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo in 2005 and were a product of visits preceded by archaeological results of preliminary archaeological reconnaissance, during which are obtained indications of the existence of walls and architectural objects I this realm. Following the results obtained from these excavations survey, they were continued in 2006–2010 by the Museum of Kosova led by Fatmir Peja, head of Archaeology Sector at the Museum of Kosovo. During the survey and excavation expeditions there were detected: rampart, architectural object inside the wall and a considerable amount of movable archaeological inventory.[8]

DISCOVERED ARCHITECTURAL OBJECTS During the archaeological excavation expeditions of 2005–2010, except the rampart, there were discovered distinctive architectural objects which are specific to this castle only, as: the variety of building techniques, the shape of the rampart, and interior objects, which for now, are unique. In the absence of analogy with any other castles discovered in the central Balkans, their exact destination cannot be determined. These objects are characterized in a closed environment, also by the binding material of masonry that is used: mortar composed of lime and river sand, sand mixed with lime and crushed bricks, which dominate as plaster in certain locations, and mud. The Harilaq Fortress is built on the remain of an earlier prehistoric settlement, attested by the archaeological findings.[