What was the status of the settlement in the Drino valley before the age of Hadrian (117-138 AD)?

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The Roman city of Hadrianopolis stands on the site of a previous settlement of the late classical and Hellenistic period. This was perhaps a service center within the territory of the valley of the river Drino characterized, from the late 5th century BC. from scattered settlements and no significant urban centers, among which were identified some fortified villages. The oldest structures found belong to the early imperial age: a small temple in 'opera quadrata' and a circular structure later obliterated by the theatre. In the age of Hadrian (117-138 AD), the settlement, situated along the road connecting Apollonia to Nikopolis, assumed the status of city, with the name Hadrianopolis, becoming the capital and administrative centre of reference for the roman community of the valley of the river Drino and reached its greatest expansion and monumentalization. Organized on the basis of a regular urban plan, the town occupies a rectangular area of 400m x 300-350m with streets crossing each other at right angles. In this period Hadrianopolis provided itself with the main public buildings including the theatre and baths. The theatre, located above a large artificial embankment, had a cavea of 58 meters in diameter and was constructed in 'opus caementicium'. During the 4th century AD it was restored and organized to host venationes (hunts of wild animals) and, perhaps, gladiator fights. The baths structures that are visible today in the 3th century AD replaced, reducing its size, the previous Hadrianic complex. A necropolis has been found to extend over a significant area beyond the urban limits. After a period of crisis, which lasted from the beginning of the 4th and until the end of the 5th century AD, the city center had a temporary revival during the reign of Justinian (527-565 AD) when it tooks the name of Justinianopolis. During this period a small church was built inside the theatre, houses and shops occupied the area of the baths and the ancient small temple was demolished and embedded in a complex of buildings, perhaps with a residential function. As early as the 7th century AD the city can be said to be abandoned but the name of Drynopolis and its bishopric continued to be attested throughout the Byzantine and medieval periods. Fortified villagesFrom the 5th century BC some fortified villages sprang up in the Drino valley. The best known is Paleospiti, near Frashtan, 4km south of Sofratike. The settlement is located in a narrow gorge near the road at the bottom of the valley (today SH 4) and it is characterized by a complex system of fortresses that defended a village of which are conserved streets, houses and courtyards.

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