Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84; http://aaatec.org/art/a_lt2
Megalithic Structures and Dolmen Orientation in
Bulgaria
Lyubomir Tsonev1, Dimiter Kolev2
1
Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee
blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria; e-mail: ltsonev@abv.bg
2
Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee blvd.,
1784 Sofia, Bulgaria; e-mail: dzkolev@abv.bg
Abstract
A review of the main types of megalithic and quasi-megalithic monuments in Bulgaria is
presented together with maps of their localization. A large and modern data base about the
orientation of 110 Thracian dolmens (XII-VII c. BC) is interpreted in detail. The astronomic
orientation principle is tested. The azimuths occupy wide sectors in South excluding the
generalized north direction, but there is a little evidence for astronomically significant
orientations. Looking for additional orientation principles we made a topographic analysis of
dolmens. It was found that in numerous cases dolmens are oriented towards some height or
peak on which ancient rock-cut sanctuary exists. Another curious principle was observed in a
dolmen group in North Sakar Mountain: the neighborhood principle. As a next step the
orientation of the dolmens was compared with the orientation of the classic temples under
tumuli in the Thracian region (VI c. BC – III c.). The interaction between continuity and
evolution is proved: the main dolmen orientation principle – towards the Sun god – has been
preserved in the temple orientation in the next epoch.
Keywords: megalithic monument, Thracian dolmen, Sun god, North Sakar Mountain,
archaeoastronomy
1. Introduction
Bulgaria has numerous historic monuments from different epochs. The habitation of caves
(Magurata, Kozarnika, Bacho Kiro caves etc.) gives the first traces of human life here. Later
people started to build their homes – this was the first step of “civil” stone architecture
(Durankulak). Achieving a definite level of culture people began to develop also the sacral
architecture. The first cult places were the rock-cut sanctuaries. Accumulating technological skills
the ancient people in the Balkan Peninsula passed from the rock-cut to megalithic monuments:
menhirs (individual, alignments, cromlechs, grids) and then dolmens (single camera, two cameras,
eventually with dromos etc.).
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
56
The megaliths in West Europe and in Caucasus are rather popular, but the Balkan megaliths are
practically still unknown for the wide public. The Balkan megaliths are concentrated in the East
and South-East regions of Bulgaria, some dolmens are registered also in North-East Greece and in
North-West Turkey. The dolmens are dated only by their last use as funeral places. The official
dating so obtained is XII-VII c. BC [1]. The menhirs have not been subject of dating procedures,
but in principle they are supposed to be earlier than the dolmens so we can assume as a hypothesis
only a dating to XV-X c. BC. Obviously new dating techniques must be applied (e.g. optically
stimulated luminescence of the surface stone layer) in order to obtain more reliable data.
In VI c. BC the building of dolmens ceases and the Thracians begin to build more sophisticated
stone temples and graves which are covered by tumuli (tumuli or kurgan culture). These new
objects are no longer megalithic monuments (relatively big monolithic building units, megaliths)
but use a quite different architectural technique (relatively small building units - stone
blocks/bricks of rectangular form - microliths). The new technique appears in Thrace under the
influence of Ancient Greece and Ancient Persia. The horizontal plans of the temples are similar to
the most complex dolmens but there exist also more sophisticated schemes. This type of
constructions disappears in the Roman era in III c. AD only, being substituted by the well known
roman architecture combining stone with fired bricks and never using tumuli in the temple design
[2-4]. In the present study we shall concentrate on the megalithic objects.
2. Megalithic, quasi-megalithic objects and classic Thracian temples in Bulgaria – types and
location
In recent time most of the various megalithic and quasi-megalithic objects on the Balkan
Peninsula (especially in Bulgaria) were described systematically [5]. We present here a map which
gives the picture of their spatial distribution. It is evident that the Balkan megalithic area interacts
not only with West Mediterranean culture (Malta etc.), but also with East megalithic centers like
Caucasus (West Caucasus dolmens) [6], Armenia (menhirs in Zangezur) [7] and Ural (various
kinds of megaliths near Sverdlovsk) [8,9].
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
57
2.1. Menhirs and their combinations
Menhirs are found in principle not only as isolated stone blocks but also as combinations of rock
pillars fixed into the ground, each combination being planned and interpreted as a common sacral
object: alignments, cromlechs and grids.
About 10 individual menhirs survived in Bulgaria [5]. In South Bulgaria: 1 in Sakar Mountain, 4-5
near the town of Haskovo, 1 near the town of Blagoevgrad (South Bulgaria). In North Bulgaria: 4
near the town of Pleven, 1 near the town of Silistra.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
58
About 150 menhirs arranged in disordered groups or in rectangular grids are preserved near the
town of Pliska (North East Bulgaria) – the so called “devtash” menhirs (devtash = evil-stone).
They have been discovered and published by Karel Shkorpil in 1905 [10]:
We give here some modern photographs of these objects:
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
59
Several similar menhir groups exist north from the towns of Edirne and Lalapasa (North Turkey)
close to the Bulgarian border.
5 cromlechs are registered in Bulgaria today [5]. The most impressive are two of them: (1) the
cromlech at the village Dolni Glavanak (East Rhodope Mountain, found by G.Nehrizov in 1998);
(2) the cromlech at the village Staro Zhelezare (North from the town of Plovdiv, found by G.Kitov
in 2002, practically destroyed today). Both cromlechs include about 50 menhirs.
The information about all menhirs and combinations still existing in Bulgaria is collected in the
following map [13]:
60
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
2.2. Dolmens
According to some authors [1, 11, 12] more than 800 such objects survived up to the end of XIX
c. Unfortunately, today – at the beginning of XXI c. – our investigations show that not more than
200 of them still exist in acceptable condition, mostly damaged. The rest of the dolmens have been
probably destroyed in the beginning of XX c.
The dolmens are the most numerous megalithic structures on the Bulgarian territory and are
concentrated in three typical regions: Strandzha Mountain (about 60), Sakar Mountain (about 80)
and East Rhodope Mountain (about 40) [5, 13]. Several rock-cut caves (about 50) imitate the
structure and the dimensions of the typical dolmens and we call them “rock dolmens” and
consider them as quasi-megaliths [5].
The dolmens have different constructions expressed mainly in the plan of the stone blocks
supporting the big covering plate.
In Thrace only “camera type” dolmens have been built with a great diversity of constructions:
…
We give here actual photos of several important relatively good preserved Thracian dolmens:
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
Dolmen 1, vill. Golyam Dervent, West part of North Strandzha Mnt. Carved front plate.
Biggest dolmen in Strandzha Mnt.
Dolmen 2, village Golyam Dervent, West part of North Strandzha Mnt. Carved front plate.
61
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
Fragments from the carved front plate of dolmen 2, village Golyam Dervent
62
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
63
2.3. Stone plates circles
This kind of megalithic structure is probably specific for the Balkan Peninsula. Cromlech
represents several crude pillars forming a circle which are vertically fixed in the terrain at certain
distance between them. Stone plates circle means a compact circular fence (around a dolmen or a
tomb or a cist burial) which is formed of numerous big stone plates, vertically fixed in the terrain
and contacting tightly at their lateral edges. This technique has megalithic character and differs
essentially from the dry masonry applied in the numerous ordinary and cyclopic stone walls. The
most perfect example of stone plates circle on the Balkan Peninsula is situated in Mycenae and
enveloping the famous king‟s tombs.
We have registered 6 such objects in Bulgaria till now [5] and their location is shown in the next
map [13].
2.4. Quasi-megalithic monuments
We introduce the notion “quasi-megaliths” for objects representing simultaneously megalithic
(spatial combinations of big and crude stone pillars and plates without any layer-over-layer
masonry) as well as non-megalithic building techniques (dry masonry of small stone blocks,
cyclopic walls or objects partially hewn in rocks). We ascertained 9 quasi-megalithic objects in
Bulgaria today [5, 13].
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
64
We shall mention here the two most impressive monuments of this kind only:
(1) Underground well-temple at Garlo village, near the town of Breznik, West Bulgaria (40 km
from Sofia) [14], [15].
(2) Tumulus tomb at Vetren dol village, near the town of Shumen, NE Bulgaria [16]
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
65
2.5. Classic Thracian temples under tumuli
The Thracian classic temples are concentrated in three basic regions: (1) around the town of
Kazanlak, Central Bulgaria, (2) north-west from the town of Plovdiv, South Bulgaria, and (3) near
the town of Isperih – Sboryanovo Archaeological Preserve, North East Bulgaria. The groups (1)
and (2) are connected historically with the kingdom of Odryssian and the group (3) – with the
kingdom of Getae. Their horizontal planning is similar to some of the most complicated Thracian
dolmens, but the coverage – false cupola and vaults – reminds the monuments in Mycenae.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
66
Together with the plans and photos of the most interesting undertumular temples we show also their
territorial distribution in respect to the megalithic areas [3, 4, 18-22].
67
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
3. Orientation of megalithic objects
Orientation is basically a geographic characteristic. It obtains an archaeo-astronomical
significance only in the cases where the axis of the archaeological object is proved to be connected
with the position of some celestial body (Sun, Moon, star, constellation) or with some astronomic
phenomena (rise, set or culmination of the mentioned objects).
The first attempts to examine the astronomical properties of very ancient objects are made in West
Europe. The famous monuments in Stonehenge and New Grange have acquired already world
wide popularity. Their geometry and orientation are connected undoubtedly and very exactly with
a special position of the Sun – the winter solstice Sunrise.
The same feature is realized accurately also in three West European dolmens and it is undoubtedly
tightly connected with the corresponding ideology – Labby Rock (inland dolmen A), Faldouet
(East-shore dolmen B) and Porz Guen (West-shore dolmen C). These dolmens are very old IV-III
mill. BC. In all three examples we observe one and the same point of interest - the Sunrise point
on the shortest day of the year, when the Sun stops to decline and is born again. Not the Sunset
was important but the Sunrise, the birth of the new Sun-God.
Such facts stimulated a great interest in paleo-astronomical research. Some typical examples for
various European monuments are shown here:
Orientations of tumulus-tombs from Los Milares
(1) and from Granada (2), Spain [23].
Orientations of two megalithic
necropolises in South Iberia [37].
68
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
Orientation of 644 Dolmens in Caucasus Mountain
[6].
Orientation of 99 Dolmens in
Mecklenburg, East Germany [24].
Orientation of 120 rock-cut tombs NE from Varna, Bulgaria [25].
The picture is a little bit disappointing: the orientation of a multitude of similar objects is in no
way homogeneous! A significant spread of the individual axes is observed.
We are forced to conclude that in the megalithic epoch: (i) the astronomic orientation principle is
not universal in time and in space; (ii) it acts in combination with other considerations; (iii) the
orientation process has been technically not very precise.
5. Cults in Thrace as spiritual background for the orientation of megalithic objects
It has been already proven with a high degree of reliability that THE SOLAR CULT is most widely
represented in sacred monuments over the territory of ancient Thracia - north and central part of
the Balkan Peninsula [26]. Some artifacts originating from V - IV mill. BC allow to be interpreted
as solar and lunar calendars: decorated clay figurines from Ovcharovo village near Targovishte,
North-East Bulgaria, and golden plates with symbolic scenes from Letnitsa village near Lovech,
Central North Bulgaria. Traces from solar cults are detected in numerous ancient rock-cut shrines
dated in II mill. BC: Belintash, Harman-kaya and Angel voyvoda in Rhodope Mountain, rock-cut
ritual complex in Sliven region in Balkan Mountain.
Solar monuments are found from I mill. BC till the Roman time IV c. AD: Thracian cult buildings,
rock-carvings near Burgas, southern Black sea coast, rock tombs near Kavarna, northern Black sea
coast, Sarmizegetusa ritual complex in Romania.
In the period ХІI-VІ c. BC in the East part of the Balkan Peninsula a relatively big and multiform
megalithic field appears, including several hundreds of dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs etc. The
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
69
Thracian dolmens are studied from an archaeoastronomical viewpoint in the beginning of XXI c.
[27-31]. As it will be demonstrated in detail further in the present review, they do not demonstrate
well defined orientation but they are also directed to the South semi-horizon predominantly, i.e. to
the culmination of the sun, to the Sun god in his maximum power.
In the interval V - II c. BC the megalithic technique in Thracia is replaced by skilful masonry of
well processed quadrae and of fired bricks. The typical sacred objects created in Thracia are
monumental tombs and/or temples under tumuli. As shown by means of photographs and schemes
above they combine the horizontal plans of the most developed two-camera dolmens with dromos
(the local Thracian tradition) with the older pattern of Aegean vaulted constructions (the
Mycenaean tradition) and with the tumular coverage of Scythian origin. [3, 4, 18]. The classic
Thracian temples under tumuli from the period V c. BC - III c. AD demonstrate the same
predominantly southern orientation of the dromos.
LUNAR OR STELLAR CULTS are not noticeably documented in ancient cult monuments in Thracia
with one curious exception - the Baylovo cave near Sofia [26 (1991)]. A good review about the
astronomical knowledge in the classical Thracian society from the middle of I mill. BC till the end
of the Roman time as described by ancient authors is presented in [26 (1991)].
6. Orientation of menhir grids in Bulgaria
Menhir alignments are described in the literature but they are not preserved in Bulgaria today.
K.Shkorpil [10] reports two kinds of menhir groups in the vicinity of the village of Pliska, NE
from Shumen: ordered and disordered groups. The ordered menhirs are located on the terrain as
rectangular grids and therefore they could be analyzed as oriented structures.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
70
Grid arrangement of menhirs occurs rather rarely - some examples from UK and France (Brittany)
are shown here. Some of the grids are oriented to a tumulus, some – to a dolmen, some - to a kind
of cromlech, but some of them do not have any noticeable orientation centre at all (at least
survived till modern times).
Menhir grids in UK and France [32]
The menhir grids near Pliska as a specific manner of arrangement are not unique among the
menhir areas in the world. However, it is practically impossible to be proved today if the grids
around Pliska have had some kind of centers of orientation in the megalithic epoch: the terrain has
been cultivated rather long time. The direction of such structures cannot be defined strictly. Let us
accept the following convention for the orientation of a grid: from all 4 possible directions of the
menhir rows we choose that direction, which is most close to South. Based on such assumption we
find that the azimuths of the groups are distributed close to the exact South: 153o, 172o, 180o, 192o
and 194o :
This conclusion stays in agreement with the most developed solar cult in Thrace but is not unique
in the megalithic world - the “devtash” menhir grids near Pliska are similar to the stone-rows in
West Ireland for example:
Orientation of stone-rows in West Ireland [33].
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
71
5. Orientation of dolmens in Bulgaria – global picture
A special study of the dolmens‟ orientation in Bulgaria, based on published data and schemes
only, was undertaken by N. Dermendzhiev in his PhD thesis [34]. He analyzed about 60 dolmens
from archaeo-astronomical point of view to verify if they are oriented to some astronomical events
(mainly sunrises or sunsets) or not. Hе concluded that the Thracian dolmens are most frequently
oriented towards South in a very wide angular interval and are definitively not directed to sunrise
or sunset points. He supposed that this fact reflects some taboo funeral practices.
In order to prove the presence of astronomic elements in the orientation of the dolmens in Bulgaria
by direct modern measurements two astronomers from Spain - A.C.González-García and
J.A.Belmonte (Autonomous University of Madrid and Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) proposed and supported two expeditions 2006 and 2008. The research team included also
investigators from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Dimiter Kolev, Vesselina Koleva
(Institute of Astronomy) and Lyubomir Tsonev (Institute of Solid State Physics).
The first expedition in 2006 made a tour over the East and Central parts of North Strandzha
(North Strandzha Mnt. lies in Bulgaria and South Strandzha Mnt. lies in Turkey; we divide for
convenience North Strandzha Mnt. in East, Central and West part). 31 dolmens were localized
and measured. The results were published elsewhere [35]:
The long solid lines are the solar limits, while the long dashed lines are the lunar limits. Certain
slight concentration to the South-West is noticed. We present some typical examples here:
Dolmens in East part of North Strandzha Mnt.: vill. Brashlyan (left) and Black Sea coast around
Primorsko resort (right).
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
72
Dolmens in Central part of Strandzha Mnt.: vill. Evrenozovo (left) and Zabernovo (right).
The second expedition in 2008 included West and Central parts of North Strandzha, Sakar and
East Rhodope Mountains. 54 dolmens were visited. Combined with the previous 31 dolmens the
entire data base increased to the position and the orientation of 31+54=85 dolmens [27, 36]. Here
are some typical examples of physical maps where dolmen orientation is plotted:
Orientation of dolmens near vill. Golyam Dervent, West part of North Strandzha Mnt.
Dolmens near the vill. Belevren, Central part of North Strandzha Mnt.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
73
Dolmen group near the vill. Chernichevo, Krumovgrad region (East Rhodope Mnt.)
Orientation of the dolmens near the vill. Zhelezino and Plevun, Ivaylovgrad region (East Rhodope
Mnt.).
The cumulative histogram looks as follows:
85 dolmens from the expeditions in 2006 and 2008
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
74
There are no dolmens with the entrance facing North, and all dolmens face from exact East to the
summer solstice sunset, with a clear concentration toward the South-West, originating mainly
from the Strandzha dolmens. Most of the dolmens oriented in East and West correspond to East
Rhodope Mnt. and South Sakar Mnt. In total, 74% of the dolmens are outside the solar extremes
(rising or setting), which is observed among most megalithic groups in the Mediterranean [23].
Also 67% of the dolmens are outside the lunar extremes.
The third expedition in 2010 covered Sakar Mountain only. 25 new dolmens were registered. So,
the data base increased to 85+25=110 dolmens, and this is not the final number. New expeditions
are needed to finish this research program. The conclusions became more reliable. The
accumulation of new data does not influence noticeably the main impression about the global
orientation behavior of the entire dolmen area in Bulgarian territory:
Orientation of 110 dolmens in Bulgaria measured in 2006, 2008 and 2010 [13].
There is a clear maximum at 198o, the extremes of this maximum are around 182o and 225o. The
maximum is thus skewed toward the South-West. It is connected with Strandzha dolmens. The
dolmens in Sakar Mnt. (as well as in East Rhodope Mnt.) are distributed uniformly:
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
75
Conclusions about the global azimuthal distribution:
The global analysis and give us the reasons to make the following observations.
First: Absence of a strongly expressed and astronomically important direction is obvious. It seems
not likely that the dolmens have been built according to astronomically noticeable directions
(risings or sets of Sun, Moon or some stars). There is only a tendency towards South but it is in no
way a binding rule. All dolmens are oriented roughly to the South semi-horizon, i.e. the dolmen
builders have tried to keep at least a weak connection with the Sun (Sun-God) when it is relatively
high over the horizon.
Second: The maximum in the azimuthal distribution is generated mainly by the contribution of the
Strandzha dolmens and it is connected with the Sun highest daily position rather then with Sunrise
and Sunset. The orientations of the dolmens in the other two regions (Sakar and Rhodope Mnt.)
are spread more or less uniformly between South-East and South-West, without a clearly
expressed maximum. In this sense the orientation tendencies in the three geographic regions are
different. Therefore the examination of some smaller dolmen areas after the global analysis seems
to be desirable and can be recommended.
Third: Examining particular objects we observed drastically different orientations of several very
closely located dolmens. This situation cannot be a result of one and the same orientation
principle.
Fourth: There is not even a single dolmen oriented between azimuths -60° (or 300°) and 80°, i.e.
the North semi-horizon is excluded by the dolmen builders in principle. The purely east orientation
is demonstrated very rarely – only by several dolmens in East Rhodope.
Fifth: The study of dolmen orientation has not to be reduced to the global statistics. It is
recommended to combine different levels of analysis – global (3 mountains together), regional
(each mountain separately) and local (part of a mountain) – in order to derive all possible
information. It is very hard, if not impossible, to find out the orientation reasons for each
individual dolmen from the ensemble.
In other words, the astronomical orientation of the dolmens in Bulgaria is not categorically
expressed. However, such assumption should not be rejected a priori as far as the azimuth sector
of the risings and sets of the Sun is wide enough. We have to look for other orientation principles,
which are applied together with the basic solar principle.
6. Looking for additional orientation principles
After obtaining the global picture accumulating all data from the three mountains in Bulgaria into
a simple histogram we decided to extract more information on a different way – REDUCING the
examined dolmen area and PLOTTING of the dolmen directions on the respective relief-map. In this
way we succeeded to find out two additional orientation principles of a lower level. In order to
illustrate this methodology we present here the combined orientation-topography scheme of the
dolmens in Sakar Mnt. including all registered objects (2008+2010). The resulting picture [30, 36]
is rather complex:
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
76
6.1. “Sacral topocentric” principle
Sakar Mnt. turns out to be a very interesting region when examined closely. In most cases the
dolmens “are looking” at a hill or at a peak located somewhere in the generalized South azimuthal
sector. Therefore the key idea of the dolmen builders seems to be based on the special respect to
the “peak”, “mountain”, “rock” (some of the peaks are rocky). These topocentric connections
show that the astronomical orientation has not been the decisive argument for the megalithic age
people when choosing the dolmen orientation. For many dolmens the surrounding landscape
offers not one but several hills satisfying the requirement to lie in the generalized south azimuthal
sector. The idea “to see” some peak is not sufficient to explain the real orientation of each
individual dolmen. Therefore the question why a specific peak has been chosen and not some
neighbor of it remains open for the present. We noticed that the “dolmen attracting peaks”
contain very ancient rock-cut sanctuaries!
Not all Sakar dolmens are oriented according to the combined “solar & sacral-topographic”
principle. However, most of the objects in South Sakar Mnt. satisfy it obviously [27, 36]:
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
77
Orientation of South Sakar dolmens to sacred peaks: Tekebair and Dervish hill in Sakar Mnt.,
Prestoy, St. Marina and Sheynovets peaks in East Rhodope Mnt.
Example A. The dolmens in Nachevi chairi (North Sakar, village Hlyabovo) looking at the nearby
hills Masarliyski vazvisheniya (450-500 m) above the neighboring village Balgarska polyana.
According to our information these hills are not a casual place: big dolmens have existed there in
the past times (now destroyed).
Example B. A very impressive example offer many dolmens in the West part of South Sakar Mnt.
- their “target-peaks” are very distant (more than 50 km!) - St Marina (709) and Prestoy (610),
situated in the Rhodopean ridge called Gorata („The forest’). Recently the archaeologists found
there about one hundred rock-cut niches forming the cult centre Gluhite kamani from III-II mill.
BC.
Example C. Sometimes several peaks are collinearly arranged in respect to a given dolmen. For
example the orientation axis of the dolmens near the village Cherepovo passes firstly over the
peak Gradishte (368 m) in Sakar Mnt. itself and than over the much more distant peak St. Marina
(709 m) in Gorata ridge.
Example D: The big dolmen in Byalata treva is looking at one nameless small peak (665.4 m) in
Sakar Mnt., but also at the imposing peak Sheynovets (703 m) on the far horizon. Peak Sheynovets
(703) is situated on the very East end of Gorata ridge, but in the vicinity of this peak another big
group of rock-cut niches is located which possesses also the characteristics of a typical very old
Rhodopean sanctuary.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
78
Example E. Let‟s pay attention to the dolmens in the East part of South Sakar Mnt. – around the
village Radovets. We find there a group of about 15 small dolmens. From the place where this
group is situated one can see two peak zones: (1) In South-West direction - the very distant
Rhodopean ridge Gorata and (2) In West direction - the relatively close Monastery Hills (15 km)
which form the South foot of the Sakar Mnt. All dolmens near the village Radovets face
definitively the Monastery Hills (including Dervish hill) and not Gorata ridge!
Our investigation found out that the sacral relation between the South Sakar Monastery Hills and
the Rhodopean ridge Gorata is recorded in the local folklore.
6.2. “Neighbor” principle
Some of the North Sakar dolmens forming the most populated group in the triangle between the
villages Bylgarska polyana – Hlyabovo - Sakartsi demonstrate a curious and even more complex
orientation behavior. While some of the dolmens are looking at prominent hills or peaks (like both
dolmens in the locality Nachevi chairi), other are directed rather to ... another neighboring
dolmen! For example, the dolmen in the locality Gaydarova peshtera is oriented almost perfectly
to the big dolmen in the locality Byalata treva. The dolmen in the locality Zhelyov dol, south from
Sakartsi, is also oriented to the very impressive pair of dolmen-tumuli in the locality Mangara,
near the peak Kemiktepe (759.8 m). The dolmens in the locality Mangara have the highest altitude
among all investigated dolmens (700-705 m). They are oriented possibly to the peak Taushanbair
(594.1), which is more than 100 m lower and is situated about 3 km apart in South direction (it
corresponds well to the measured altitude of the horizon of -1° – -2°). The big two-camera dolmen
in the locality Byalata treva is directed most probably to the peak 665.4 m, while the second small
and poorly preserved dolmen is looking approximately towards both Mangara-dolmens.
When one dolmen is looking at another dolmen the following question arises: Is this a sign for
subordinate hierarchic dependence? In such cases we could suppose a temporal sequence in
building the respective dolmens – the target-dolmen has to be the earlier one. In the same time the
orientation to another dolmen can coincide with the direction to some peak in the landscape. Here
once again the question about the choice of the dolmen’s place arises together with the question
about the methods to trace the direction if a direct visibility is missing.
Even the combination between astronomical, topocentric and neighborhood arguments cannot
explain the cases, where near-by placed and possibly synchronous dolmens are “looking” in quite
different directions – like the locality Byalata treva in North Sakar. So we are forced to look for
additional orientation principles. Another possible hypothesis could be that the dolmens are
oriented according to individual preferences like totem traditions.
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
79
Dolmens near the villages Balgarska polyana, Hlyabovo and Sakartsi (North Sakar Mnt.).
The vertical black lines denote the south direction; the light-colored arrows denote the magnetic
azimuths, the black inclined arrows give the dolmen orientation [27, 36].
The combination of several principles leads us to a new problem - the problem about their
hierarchy and also about the possible compromises between them. Based on the entire analysis
presented so far we conclude that in situations like the three West European dolmens A, B, C
mentioned in the beginning of Sect. 3 we have to be very carefully - we should avoid
overestimation of orientations of single dolmens belonging to rather different megalithic areas
with different cult background; especially when these dolmens have been mentally separated from
the respective ensembles where they belong in principle.
7. Comparison between orientation of dolmens and orientation of classic Thracian temples
In Sections 5 and 6 we proved that it is very fruitful to analyze the dolmens on different levels in
space: global, intermediate, local. In a very similar way we tend to suppose that it will be useful if
we stratify the total of Balkan dolmens on different levels in time. May be this approach will
enable to demonstrate the evolution of the orientation concepts at different stages of the megalithic
development.
Unfortunately, we met a serious difficulty here which cannot be overcome in a visible future. For
such investigation we need noticeably more exact dating of all Balkan dolmens. The interval for
building the Thracian dolmens which is officially accepted today XII-VII c. BC is too wide to give
the opportunity for serious research on dolmen evolution. In other words, a new dating offensive
from the very beginning is indispensable which has to use modern precise dating techniques like
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) [38-42].
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
80
As long as we await the realization of the above described research program (which will not
happen in a near future), we decided to look for additional information comparing the orientation
histogram of the dolmens from the earlier period XII-VII c. BC AS A WHOLE with the orientation
histogram of the classic Thracian temples built immediately after the dolmens, i.e. during the later
period VI c. BC – III c. AD AS A WHOLE. We have some reasons to suppose that both kinds of
archaeological monuments (dolmens and classic temples under tumuli) are built by the same
ethnic group – Thracians - at consecutive stages of its evolution.
The data about the dromos directions of temples are taken from the literature [17]-[22]. The
comparison is extraordinary interesting.
The later (classic temple) histogram helps us to clarify some details in the earlier (dolmen)
histogram. We find here some similarities – expression of the cultural tradition, of continuity, as
well as some differences – demonstration of cultural development.
Conclusions about the dolmen and temple orientation in Thrace
First: The old megalithic building technique has been replaced by the new microlithic building
technique, but the sacral, religious, ideological contents of the temples has been preserved in the
new historic epoch. The main principle – orientation mainly to the Sun (Sun-God) in its highest
daily position and sometimes to its equinox positions - has remained the same in the new epoch!
This fact represents convincingly the continuity in the cultural development in Thrace during two
consecutive historic periods.
Second: The temple builders have been attracted besides by the Sun highest daily position also by
the Sun equinoxes and not by the Sun solstices! These two attractive orientations are present also
in the dolmen epoch, but they are not so clearly expressed for two reasons: (a) the lower
orientation precision of the dolmen builders; (b) the dolmen builders often combined the main
principle (an indispensable but weak connection with the Sun, i.e. orientation to the generalized
South) with various additional local non-obligatory considerations (sacred topocentrism,
neighborhood etc.) according to a hierarchical scheme which is rather complicated and still not
clear enough.
Third: The contrast in the later histogram is stronger in respect to the earlier one - the essential
cult ideas (i.e. orientation principles and respective directions) are underlined in respect to the
ideas of lower significance. This transformation may be provoked not only by the purely technical
elaboration of the orientation skills in the classic epoch but also by the evolution of the cult ideas,
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
81
practices, rites etc. The temple histogram is simplified and the really astronomically relevant
directions are more clearly outlined. Therefore, the role of the additional, local, secondary
orientation principles from the dolmen epoch becomes weaker, the main principle dominates
already. The cult to the Sun undergoes an original purification and simplification. This process is a
manifestation of the parallel running territorial and economical consolidation of the Thracian
tribes which reaches its maximum in the foundation of the Odryssian kingdom (South-East
Bulgaria) and Getae kingdom (North-East Bulgaria) about V c. BC.
Taking in mind the canonical and obligatory East orientation of the new Christian temples which
appeared in the Balkan Peninsula in Roman times (since IV c.) we have a good reason to conclude
that archaeo-astronomical measurement and analysis can give additional specific and useful
information about the state and the development of ancient societies.
Acknowledgements
The authors express gratitude to the following institutions and persons for their support: Prof.
A.S.González-García (Madrid, Spain); Prof. D. Mitova-Dzhonova, DSc (Sofia, Bulgaria); Mr.
Hristo Hristov (Kazanlak, Bulgaria), Mrs. Reni Apostolova and Mr. Filip Apostolov (Shumen,
Bulgaria), Mr. Theodor Rokov (Varna, Bulgaria), Mr. Yanko Dinchev (Plovdiv, Bulgaria).
References
1. Megalitite v Trakiya, Chast I [Megaliths in Thrace, Part I] pod red. na Iv.Venedikov
i Al.Fol, Sofiya, izd. Nauka i izkustvo, 1976; Megalitite v Trakiya, Chast II –
Trakiya Pontika [Megaliths in Thrace, Part II – Thracia Pontica] pod red. na Al.Fol,
Sofiya, izd. Nauka i izkustvo, 1982.
2. Concheva, M. Xudozhestvenoto nasledstvo na trakijskite zemi [The Artistic Heritage
of the Thracian Lands]. Sofiya, izd. Nauka i izkustvo, 1971.
3. Ruseva, M. Trakijska kultova arxitektura [Thracian Cult Architecture]. Yambol, izd.
Ya, 2000.
4. Ruseva, M. Trakijskata grobnichna arxitektura v b"lgarskite zemi prez V-ІІІv.pr.n.e.
[Thracian Sepulchral Architecture in Bulgarian Lands in V-III c. BC]. Yambol, izd.
Ya, 2002.
5. Internet site: www.balkanmegaliths.bgjourney.com (accessed on 20.12.2013)
6. Markovin, V.I. Dol'meny zapadnogo Kavkaza [Dolmens of West Caucasus]. Moskva,
izd. Nauka, 1978.
7. Balyan, V. Zagadkata Zangezur [The Mystery of Zangezur]. Plovdiv, izd.
Parekordzagan, 2012.
8. Grigor'ev, S.A., L.V.Ivas'ko, S.V.Slepuxin, N.Yu.Berdyugina, S.S.Galin
Megaliticheskaya tradiciya na Urale i problema Pyshminskix dol'menov [Megalithic
Tradition in Ural and the Problem of the Dolmens in Pishma]. Izvestiya
Chelyabinskogo nauchnogo centra [Proceedings of the Chelyabinsk Scientific
Centre], vyp. 3 (33), 2006.
9. Grigoriev, St.A., J.A.Vasina Megaliths of the Vera Island in the Southern Urals.
Monumental Questions: Prehistoric Megaliths, Mounds, and Enclosures.
Proceedings of the XV World Congress of the International Union for Prehistoric
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
and Protohistoric Sciences, Ed. by D. Calado, M. Baldia, M. Boulanger, BAR
International Series 2123, 2010.
10. Shkorpil, K. Aboba-Pliska [Aboba-Pliska]. Doklady Russkago arxeologicheskago
instituta v Konstantinopole, Tom X [Proceedings of the Russian Archaeological
Institute in Constantinople, Vol. X], Vena 1905.
11. Shkorpil, K. Starinni pametnici po chernomorskoto krajbrezhie, Chast І: Megalitni
pametnici i mogilishta [Ancient Objects along the Black Sea Coast, Part I:
Megalithic Monuments and Tumuli], Sofiya 1925.
12. Bonchev, G. Megalitni pametnici v Sakar planina [Megalithic Monuments in Sakar
Mountain]. Sbornik za narodni umotvoreniya, nauka i knizhnina [Series on folklore,
science and literature] tom 18, Sofiya 1901.
13. Conev, L. Megalitite v B"lgariya: nalichnost, specifika, datirane, turisticheski
potencial [The Megaliths in Bulgaria: Presence, Specificity, Dating, Tourism
Potential]. Dokladi ot ІІІ nacionalna konferenciya „B"lgariya v svetovnoto kulturno
nasledstvo”, Shumen, 17-19 maj 2012 [Proceedings of the 3-rd National Conference
“Bulgaria in the World Cultural Heritage”, Shumen, May 17-19 2012], in press.
14. Mitova-Dzhonova, D. Proizhod i s”shtnost na proto-sardinskite sakralni kladenci
III-I hilyadoletie pr. Hr. [Origin and Essence of the Proto-Sardinian sacral wells IIII millennium BC]. Sofiya/Cagliari, izd. Ivrai, 2007.
15. Conev, L. Gipoteza ob astronomicheskoj funkcii podzemnogo kolodca sardinskogo
tipa v Bolgarii [Hypothesis about the Astronomic Function of the Underground Well
Temple of Sardinian Type in Bulgaria]. Archaeoastronomy and Ancient
Technologies 1(1) 2013, 89-100
16. Ginev, G. Trakijska grobnica pri selo Vrani kon, obshtina Omurtag [Thracian Tomb
near the Village Vrani Kon, Omurtag Municipality].– Arxeologiya [Archaeology
(Institute of Archaeology at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)], god. XL, kn. 3-4
(1999), str. 43-48.
17. Stefanov, J. Stomogilie [The Region of Hundred Tumuli], Veliko T"rnovo, izd. PIK,
2006.
18. Kitov, G. D. Agre V"vedenie v trakijskata arxeologiya [An Introduction to the
Thracian Archaeology], Sofiya, izd. Avalon, 2002.
19. Gergova, D. K. Venedikova Demir baba teke – b"lgarskiyat Jerusalim [Demir Baba
Teke – the Bulgarian Jerusalem], Sofiya, izd. Agato, 2007.
20. Gergova, D. Sboryanovo – sveshtenata zemya na getite [Sboryanovo – the Sacred
Land of Getae], Sofiya, izd. B"lgarski bestsel"r, 2004.
21. Mateva, B. Nepoznatata zemya Sboryanovo [The Unknown Land Sboryanovo],
Varna, izd. Slavena, 2004.
22. Kitov, G.; K. Zarev, E. Dimitrova The Valley of Roses and Thracian Rulers, ed. by
K. Zarev and V. Denev, Plovdiv, Publ. house Vion, 2001.
23. Hoskin, M. Tombs, Temples and Orientations in the Western Mediterranean.
Proceedings of the International Conference OXFORD VI and SEAC 99 “Astronomy
and Cultural Diversity”, ed. by C.Esteban and J.A.Belmonte, Organismo Autónomo
de Museos de Cabildo de Tenerife, Tenerife, 2000, p. 27-34.
24. Kehenscherper, G. Hünengrab und Bannkreis. Leipzig, Jena, Berlin, Urania Verlag,
1983.
82
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
25. Toptanov, D. P.; V"lev, V. Dermendzhiev Orientaciya na skalnite grobnici ot
nekropol № 1 v arxeologicheskiya kompleks „Yajla” pri s. Kamen bryag,
Tolbuxinsko [Orientation of the Rock Tombs from Necropolis No.1 in the
Archaeological Complex “Yajla” near the Village Kamen Bryag, Tolbukhin Region].
Interdisciplinarni izsledvaniya [Interdisciplinary Studies], tom XVІІІ, Sofiya, izd.
NAIM-BAN, 1991.
26. Interdisciplinarni izsledvaniya: Dokladi ot P"rviya nacionalen simpozium po
arxeoastronomiya v B"lgariya (1988) [Interdisciplinary Studies: Proceedings of the
1-st National Symposium on Archaeoastronomy in Bulgaria (1988)], red. P. V"lev,
M. Gyurova, Sofiya, izd. NAIM-BAN i Ministerstvoto na kulturata, Tom XVII 1990, Tom XVIII – 1991.
27. Kolev, D.; Tsonev, L.; Gonzalez-Garcia, A.C.; Koleva V. Orientation of the dolmens
in Bulgaria. Proceedings of the International Conference “Geoarchaeology and
Archaeomineralogy”, Oct. 29-30, 2008, Sofia, Publ. house St. Ivan Rilski, 2008, pp.
169-174.
28. González-García, A.C.; Kolev, D.Z.; Belmonte, J.A.; Koleva, V.P.; Tsonev L.V. On
the Orientation of Thracian Dolmens. Archaeoastronomy. The Journal of Astronomy
in Culture, Volume XXII (2009), pp.21-33.
29. Conev, L. Megalitite v B"lgariya [Megaliths in Bulgaria], Sofiya, izd. Farago, 2010.
30. Conev, L.V.; Kolev, D.; Dinchev, Ya. Dolmenite v Sakar planina [Dolmens in Sakar
Mountain]. Dokladi na konferenciyata „Chovek"t i Vselenata”, Smolyan 07.11.2011
[Proceedings of the Conference “Man and Universe”, Smolyan 07.10.2011],
Smolyan 2011.
31. Tsonev, L.V.; Kolev, D.Z. Bulgarian megaliths: present state and perspectives for
further research. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry Journal, Rhodes
University, Vol.12 (2012), No.2, pp. 15-19.
32. Fergusson, J. Rude Stone Monuments, Publ. by John Murray, London, 1872.
33. Prendergast, F.T. The Stone Rows of the West of Ireland: A Preliminary
Archaeoastronomical Analysis. Proceedings of the International Conference
OXFORD VI and SEAC 99 “Astronomy and Cultural Diversity”, ed. by C. Esteban
and J.A. Belmonte, Organismo Autónomo de Museos de Cabildo de Tenerife,
Tenerife 2000, p. 35-42.
34. Dermendzhiev, N.V. Metodologiya na arxeoastronomicheskite izsledvaniya. Analiz
na obekti i naxodki ot teritoriyata na B"lgariya [Methodology of
Archaeoastronomical Investigations. Analysis of Objects and Finds from Bulgarian
Territory], kandidatska disertaciya [PhD thesis], Biblioteka na sekciya „Sl"nce” v
Instituta po astronomiya pri B”lgarskata Akademiya na Naukite, Sofiya, 2007.
35. González-García, A.C.; Koleva, V.; Kolev, D.; Belmonte J.A. Thracian dolmens and
their orientations. Archaeologia Baltica, Vol.X, Sp. Issue (2008), Klaipeda, Klaipeda
University Press, pp. 170-174.
36. Kolev, D.; Koleva, V.; Conev, L.; Gonzalez-Garsia, A.S. Trakijski dolmeni v
B"lgariya [Thracian Dolmens in Bulgaria]. Dokladi ot P"rvi simpozium „Megaliti na
Balkanite” (Sofiya 2009) [Proceedings of the First symposium “Balkan megaliths”
(Sofia 2009)], pod red. na L. Conev i K. Maricas, Sofiya, izd. Zaxarij Stoyanov i
Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Oxridski”, 2009. (available on the site:
www.balkanmegaliths.bgjourney.com - accessed on 20.12.2013)
83
84
Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
37. Belmonte, J.A.; Esteban, C.; Caballero, R.S.; Betancort, A.P.; Genova, R.; Cruz M.
Astral gods, tombs and sacred mountains: the case of Mediterranean Africa.
Proceedings of the IV SEAC Meeting “Astronomy and Culture”, Ed. By C. Jaschek,
F.A. Barandela, Salamanca, 1997, pp. 247-254.
38. Aitken, M.J. An Introduction to Optical Dating, Oxford University Press, 1998.
39. Liritzis, I.; Guibert, P.; Foti, F.; Schvoerer, M. The Temple of Apollo (Delphi)
Strengthens Novel Thermoluminescence Dating Method. Geoarchaeology: An
International Journal, Vol. 15, (1997), No. 5, pp. 479-496.
40. Theocaris, P.S.; Liritzis, I.; Galloway, R.B. Dating of Two Hellenic Pyramids by a
Novel Application of Thermo-Luminescence. Journal of Archaeological Science,
Vol. 24 (1997), pp. 399-405.
41. Liritzis, I. Advances in Thermo- and Opto-Luminescence Dating of Environmental
Materials, Part II. Global Nest, the International Journal, Vol. 2 (2000), No.1, pp.
29-49.
42. Liritzis, I. Surface Dating by Luminescence: an Overview. Geochronometria, Vol.
38 (2011), No. 3, pp. 292-302.
28.12.2013
© This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative
Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).