Within Albania UFO Files
Did a UFO Leave Marks at Roskovec?
Roskovec remains Albania's best-known landing claim because witnesses reported a low object and photographed dark circular marks on a road.
On this page
- Witness accounts and the brief ground encounter
- Road marks, scorched flowers and chain of custody
- Ordinary causes and requirements for reinvestigation
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Introduction
The alleged UFO landing at Roskovec on 4 May 2006 remains Albania’s best-known case involving claimed physical traces rather than distant lights or unidentified objects in the sky. Unlike many Albanian UFO reports, this incident centred on a location that witnesses said could be examined afterwards: dark circular marks on a road, reports of scorched flowers, and claims that an unidentified object briefly touched the ground before departing. Those features have made the Roskovec case a recurring reference point in Albanian media and UFO literature. At the same time, it illustrates the limits of anecdotal evidence. Although photographs of the road markings exist and multiple residents described unusual conditions, there was no documented forensic investigation, no preserved physical samples, and no verified chain of custody for the alleged traces. As a result, Roskovec is best understood as an unresolved landing claim with intriguing but weakly documented physical evidence rather than a confirmed case of an anomalous craft.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
The reported ground encounter
According to the most widely repeated accounts, the incident occurred at approximately 7:00 pm on 4 May 2006 in Roskovec, a town in Fier County. Witnesses described an abrupt environmental change before the alleged landing. They recalled the sky becoming unexpectedly dark despite previously clear weather, a sudden cold wind, bending tree branches and, in some versions, mist or dark smoke. These conditions reportedly lasted only moments before clearing as quickly as they had appeared.[Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
The principal eyewitnesses most often identified were an adult woman, Sherife Kola, and two children, including ten-year-old Mario Çela. Their descriptions vary slightly between later interviews, but several consistent elements recur:
- A grey or whitish oval or disc-shaped object.
- A thin blue band or line around part of the object.
- A very brief landing lasting only four or five seconds.
- Departure along roughly the same direction from which it arrived.
- A loud sound accompanying the event.
Some later retellings add that the child witness remained frightened for months afterwards, refusing to leave home. While this detail is frequently repeated in UFO summaries, it relies entirely on retrospective testimony rather than contemporary medical or psychological records.[Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
Why the road markings became the centrepiece of the case
Unlike most Albanian UFO reports, Roskovec produced photographs of an alleged landing site. The images show three dark circular or double-ring marks on an asphalt road. Local photographer Alim Çepele documented the markings shortly after the reported event, and these photographs have since become the defining visual evidence associated with the case.[Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
Supporters of the UFO interpretation argue that the circles were consistent with contact points made by a landed object. They also point to witness claims that:
- the markings remained visible after the event;
- they appeared unusually dark compared with the surrounding road surface;
- nearby flowers allegedly showed scorching when placed over the affected area; and
- residents believed the surface remained unusually warm for some time afterwards.
These claims have been repeated in newspapers, television features and later UFO compilations, but important details are missing. No published measurements of the circles are available, no laboratory analysis of the asphalt has been reported, and there are no known contemporaneous temperature readings or chemical examinations confirming abnormal heating or combustion.[alfapress.al]alfapress.alRaportet - Kontaktet e UFO-ve në Shqipëri - MISTERE&KURIOZITETEMay 16, 2023…
The missing chain of custody
The greatest weakness in the Roskovec evidence is not the existence of photographs but the absence of documented forensic handling.
A robust physical-evidence investigation would normally attempt to preserve and document:
- exact dimensions of the marks;
- high-resolution photographs taken immediately after discovery;
- independent witness mapping;
- samples of asphalt or soil;
- vegetation samples;
- temperature measurements;
- laboratory testing for hydrocarbons, melting, radiation or unusual chemical residues; and
- secure documentation showing who collected each item and how it was stored.
No publicly available record indicates that any of these procedures occurred. Instead, the alleged traces entered public discussion largely through witness interviews and media reporting after the event. Consequently, later researchers cannot determine whether the photographed circles changed over time, whether they pre-dated the sighting, or whether they resulted from ordinary road wear or human activity.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
The frequently repeated claim that rose petals burned when placed over ash or residue at the site is similarly unsupported by documented testing. No preserved plant samples, photographs of the experiment or laboratory reports have been published.
Could ordinary causes explain the marks?
The available evidence does not permit a definitive explanation, but several ordinary possibilities remain viable because the physical record is incomplete.
Dark circular asphalt marks can result from:
- vehicle tyre friction or spinning wheels;
- previous road maintenance;
- heat-related changes in bitumen;
- contamination from oils or fuels;
- localised burning unrelated to an aerial event; or
- intentional or accidental human activity occurring before or after the reported sighting.
Because the site was not isolated or scientifically examined immediately after the event, none of these possibilities can be confidently excluded. Likewise, the environmental descriptions—rapid darkness, wind and apparent atmospheric disturbance—could reflect highly local weather conditions or subjective perception during an unexpected event, although the available evidence is insufficient to determine exactly what occurred.[Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
Importantly, sceptical explanations are constrained by the same lack of documentation that limits extraordinary interpretations. The missing evidence prevents either side from conclusively demonstrating what produced the road markings.
How Roskovec compares with stronger physical-trace investigations
Roskovec is often described as Albania’s strongest physical-trace UFO case simply because photographs of alleged landing marks exist. That distinction should not be confused with evidential strength.
Internationally, the most heavily investigated landing-trace cases typically include combinations of:
- documented police involvement;
- multiple independent photographic surveys;
- soil chemistry;
- botanical analysis;
- radiation measurements;
- laboratory examination of trace materials;
- long-term monitoring of vegetation; and
- complete investigative reports.
Roskovec possesses almost none of these elements in publicly accessible form. Its evidential value therefore rests mainly on the convergence of witness testimony and photographs rather than on independently verified physical science. The case occupies an intermediate position between a simple eyewitness sighting and a properly investigated trace event.
What a modern reinvestigation would require
Nearly two decades after the incident, opportunities for recovering original physical evidence are extremely limited. Nevertheless, some historical questions could still be addressed through systematic documentation.
Useful avenues for reinvestigation would include:
- locating the highest-resolution original negatives or digital files of the road photographs;
- identifying the precise landing location for comparison with historical imagery;
- interviewing surviving witnesses separately using modern cognitive interview methods;
- determining whether municipal road maintenance records mention repairs or existing damage;
- establishing when the photographed circles first appeared and how long they remained visible; and
- collecting any unpublished photographs taken by residents shortly after the event.
Even if no extraordinary explanation emerged, such work would substantially improve understanding of what actually happened and would separate well-supported observations from details that accumulated through repeated retellings.
What the Roskovec evidence ultimately shows
Roskovec remains an important case within Albania’s UFO history because it is one of the few reports associated with alleged landing traces rather than distant aerial observations alone. The photographs of dark circular road markings and consistent witness claims ensure that the incident continues to receive attention in discussions of Albanian UFO cases.[Wikipedia]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
However, the available evidence falls well short of demonstrating that an unidentified craft landed. The photographs document unusual marks but do not establish their origin. Claims of heat effects, scorched flowers and other physical consequences were never subjected to documented scientific testing, while the absence of preserved samples and a verifiable chain of custody prevents later investigators from independently evaluating the most significant evidence. The Roskovec incident therefore remains best classified as an unresolved landing claim whose reputation rests on witness testimony and incomplete physical documentation rather than on confirmed forensic proof.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaUFO sightings in AlbaniaUFO sightings in Albania
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Endnotes
1.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: UFO sightings in Albania
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_sightings_in_Albania
2.
Source: top-channel.tv
Title: Top Channel Roskoveci, vendi i vizituar nga UFO-t
Link:https://top-channel.tv/2014/05/13/roskoveci-vendi-i-vizituar-nga-ufo-t/
Source snippet
Top ChannelRoskoveci, vendi i vizituar nga UFO-t - Top Channel...
3.
Source: alfapress.al
Link:https://alfapress.al/mistere-kuriozitete/raportet-kontaktet-e-ufo-ve-ne-shqiperi-i63483
Source snippet
Raportet - Kontaktet e UFO-ve në Shqipëri - MISTERE&KURIOZITETEMay 16, 2023...
Published: May 16, 2023
4.
Source: alfapress.al
Title: The strangest mysteries in Albania
Link:https://alfapress.al/english/mistere-kuriozitete/misteret-me-te-cuditshme-ne-shqiperi-i23870
5.
Source: top-channel.tv
Title: UF O-t në Shqipëri
Link:https://top-channel.tv/2013/10/22/ufo-t-ne-shqiperi/
Additional References
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Source: ganjingworld.com
Link:https://www.ganjingworld.com/article/1im6d3ot1lm3Om0AdPguo69PY1ct1c
Source snippet
Technology for Humanity | Video & Movie StreamingJuly 9, 2026 — Jul 9, 2026 Image: A Century of UFO Sightings in Albania, From Mountain G...
Published: July 9, 2026
7.
Source: voxnews.al
Title: ufo ne roskovec fotografi nxjerr pamjet femija qe e pa u tramuatizua i48451
Link:https://www.voxnews.al/english/aktualitet/ufo-ne-roskovec-fotografi-nxjerr-pamjet-femija-qe-e-pa-u-tramuatizua–i48451
Source snippet
UFO in Roskovec, photographer reveals footage: Child who saw him was traumatized for six months, said he was a......September 17, 2023 —...
Published: September 17, 2023
8.
Source: koha.net
Title: UF Os in Albania under the surveillance of the State Security since the 60s
Link:https://www.koha.net/en/lemsh/ufo-t-ne-shqiperi-nen-vezhgimin-e-sigurimit-te-shtetit-qe-ne-vitet-60
Source snippet
UFOs in Albania under the surveillance of the State Security since the 60s - KOHA.net...
9.
Source: gazetaexpress.com
Title: UF O in Roskovec?
Link:https://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/ufo-ne-roskovec-fotografi-nxjerr-per-here-te-pare-pamjet-femija-qe-e-pa-nga-afer-ishte-i-traumatizuar-foto/
Source snippet
Photographer releases footage for the first time: Child who saw it up close was traumatized (PHOTOS)September 18, 2023 — UFO IN ROSKOVEC?...
Published: September 18, 2023
10.
Source: koha.net
Link:https://www.koha.net/fr/lemsh/ufo-t-ne-shqiperi-nen-vezhgimin-e-sigurimit-te-shtetit-qe-ne-vitet-60
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Source: joq-albania.com
Link:https://joq-albania.com/artikull/68822.html
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Source: koha.net
Link:https://www.koha.net/el/lemsh/ufo-t-ne-shqiperi-nen-vezhgimin-e-sigurimit-te-shtetit-qe-ne-vitet-60
13.
Source: koha.net
Title: Ovnis en Albania bajo vigilancia de la Seguridad del Estado desde los años 60
Link:https://www.koha.net/es/lemsh/ufo-t-ne-shqiperi-nen-vezhgimin-e-sigurimit-te-shtetit-qe-ne-vitet-60
14.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Trans-en-Provence Case
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuptR_x1tRU
Source snippet
Policeman Shares Evidence Of “Alien” Egg-Shaped Craft In New Mexico...
15.
Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DopJlScebK8
Source snippet
Nadir Murra: Në Roskovec u rrëzua një UFO...