Petrit Latifi

The Illyrian gold funeral mask from Trebeništa near Ohrid dates back to the 6th century BC. It was discovered in an ancient necropolis in a region historically inhabited by the Illyrians, the ancestors of modern Albanians.

This area is part of the Albanian ethnographic territory, long before the arrival of Slavic peoples in the Balkans during the 6th and 7th centuries AD. After its discovery in the early 20th century, the mask was taken to Belgrade and remains in the National Museum of Serbia. This is one of many examples where cultural artifacts from Albanian lands have been removed and wrongly kept during political and military control.

Longer edition

The Illyrian gold funeral mask from Trebenishte, near Ohrid, is a priceless artifact belonging to the cultural heritage of the Albanian people. It dates back to the 6th century BC and originates from a region historically inhabited by the Illyrians, the direct ancestors of modern Albanians.

Long before the arrival of Slavic peoples in the 6th-7th centuries AD, this land was already a vibrant center of Illyrian civilization. Removing such an artifact from its place of origin and placing it in Belgrade is not simply a relocation – it is an act of cultural appropriation that ignores the object’s deep historical and ethnic roots.

This practice is emblematic of a broader pattern in which Albanian cultural artifacts were taken during periods of political or military domination. Such actions distort history, denying Albanians access to their heritage and erasing the continuity between ancient Illyrian civilization and modern Albanian identity.

By keeping the mask in Belgrade, the Serbian state effectively rewrites the narrative of the region, creating the false impression that the artifact belongs to a culture with no historical connection to it.

Furthermore, keeping the mask violates widely recognized international ethical standards, including UNESCO’s conventions on the protection and return of cultural property. Beyond legality, there is a clear moral imperative: cultural treasures belong in their original context, where they can be preserved and appreciated by the people whose ancestors created them. Relocating them strips them of their historical meaning and denies local communities the opportunity to engage with their past.

In addition, such acts of appropriation perpetuate historical injustice, serving as symbols of political oppression and cultural exploitation. They create enduring tension between communities and set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that cultural theft is acceptable whenever power changes hands. The right action is the immediate return of Illyrian Albanian artifacts, including the Trebenishte funerary mask, to their place of origin, restoring both historical truth and cultural justice.

Source: National Museum of Serbia