stërvitjesh

Stërvitjesh was a term used to describe the agricultural practices employed by Albanian farmers in the medieval and Renaissance periods. The word is derived from the Albanian language, with "stërvit" meaning "worked" or "tended" and "esh" indicating a place or location. This concept is significant as it highlights the importance of sustainable land management and agriculture in the region's history.

The stërvitjesh system typically involved multiple families working together on communal land, utilizing techniques such as crop rotation, terracing, and irrigation to maximize crop yields. These elaborate systems allowed for high productivities and catered to the region's demographic needs, satisfying the population's food demand.

Evidence of stërvitjesh can be observed in numerous archaeological sites throughout Albania, demonstrating its widespread adoption across the country. Studies suggest that this agricultural system existed from the Illyrian era (8th century BC to 168 BC) and continued into the Middle Ages.

Archaeological excavations have revealed a large number of remains associated with the stërvitjesh system, including tools, agricultural equipment and the layout of the cultivated land. Preserved records also point to an intricate network of mountain water conduits that supplied these agricultural areas. Stërvitjesh systems are significant not only for their impact on Albania's self-sufficiency but also as an example of communal land use, a method used to till fertile grounds conserving soil and valleys along with allowing manual care and reforestation of big exhibits of stërvitjesh.