- published: 29 Apr 2016
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Korçë (Definite Albanian form: Korça, other names see below) is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people (2009 census), making it the sixth largest city in Albania. It stands on a plateau some 850 m (2,789 ft) above sea level, surrounded by the Morava Mountains.
Korçë is named differently in other languages: Aromanian: Curceaua or Cоrceaо; Bulgarian: Корча, Korcha or Горица, Goritsa (archaic form); Greek: Κορυτσά, Koritsá; Italian: Coriza; Turkish: Görice.
Neolithic remains have been found indicating occupation of the site from 4000 BC onwards. The Copper Age lasted from 3000 BC to 2100 BC. Mycenean pottery was introduced in the plain of Korçë during the late Bronze Age (Late Helladic IIIc), and has been claimed that the tribes living in this region before the Dark Age migrations, probably spoke a northwestern Greek dialect. The area was on the border between Illyria and Epirus and according to a historical reconstruction was ruled by an Illyrian dynasty until 650 BC, while after 650 BC a Chaonian dynasty. During this period the area was inhabited by ancient Greek tribes, possibly Chaonians or Molossians, which were two of the major three tribes inhabiting the region of Epirus. Archaeologists have found a gravestone of the 2nd or 3rd century AD depicting two Illyrian blacksmiths working iron on an anvil near modern Korçë.