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ANCIENT ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES IN BULGARIA
1P. Maglova*, 2A. Stoev**
penm@abv.bg,**stoev5 2@ abv.bg
1Space Research and Technology Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Zagora Department 2Yuri Gagarin Public Astronomical Observatory Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Abstract. In this paper we consider several types of monuments, which yield evidence for the astronomical practices and beliefs of peoples from the Eneolithic (Chalcolith-ic) and later epochs — Belintash, Tatul, Tangarduk Kaya, Harman Kaya, Kovil, and Par-makla Kaya in East Rhodopes, Tsarevi Porti in West Rhodopes, Zaychi Vruh (Cabyle) and Buzovgrad in the Sredna Gora mountain, Markov kamak in the Rila mountain, and Lilyach in the Konyavska mountain. Discussing these specific monuments, we show how astronomy was woven into everyday and spiritual life, revealing insights into people's concepts of space and time. These monuments, where positional systems for Sun observations are discovered, we call ancient astronomical observatories.
Keywords: Ancient astronomical observatories, Rock-cut monuments, sanctuaries, Positional systems for Sun observations, Great Mother-Goddess, equinox and solstice, calendar.
For citation: Maglova P.V., Stoev A.D. Ancient astronomical observatories in Bulgaria. Heritage and Modern Times. 2020;3(3):85-98.
Introduction
People have always contemplated their environment, including the sky and celestial phenomena. They acted in accordance with these phenomena, reflected them in their places of habitation and constructed their worldviews. From the Early Prehistory to the Neolithic and Eneolithic basic astronomical knowledge is transformed into suitable systems of time-reckoning and cosmographic models.
The Eneolithic age (5000-3000 BC) is one of the brightest periods in Prehistory in the Bulgarian lands. According to experts, in this era very ancient ethnicity and complex culture was born [1; 2]. Hundreds Eneolithic settlements were found in Bulgaria - they are well built, with streets oriented according to the cardinal directions, protected by wooden or clay fence. Further, during the Bronze Age (3100-1200 BC) a process of gradually improving of the economy and evolution of the socio-economic life takes place in Bulgarian lands. At that time creation of megalithic and rock-cut monuments blossomed [3]. The rock-cut monuments - sanctuaries and tombs are the only almost completely preserved representatives of monumental religious architecture of the ancient people from the Eneolithic to the end of the Iron Age in Ancient Thrace.
© Maglova P.V., Stoev A.D., 2020
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Ancient observatories and their archaeoastronomical research
The study of the spatial organisation of the monuments and the existence of obvious linear and circular structures offer sufficient and serious data about the existence of orientations, targets and solar-cult architecture. That is why the rock-cut monuments and cave sanctuaries became an object of independent archaeoastronomical research [4]. It is based on our knowledge about the place of astronomy in the culture of ancient archaic societies who lived on these lands, as well as on registration, analysis and interpretation of their structural elements. These investigations allow us to learn about astronomical knowledge, practices, art, belief, custom, understandings, and values of the societies who lived on Bulgarian lands.
For every object, a preliminary investigation of the archaeological data from excavations such as artefacts found on its territory, as well as estimations about its chronological boundaries of existence have been made.
The research continues with preparation of a high precision orthogonal and tachometric plan of the rock-cut monument by Theo 010 theodolite and measurement of the basic sight directions on its territory. Horizontal and vertical angles are measured and the mean-square error is ± 6 cc. From the place of sighting presumed for the ancient observer a photo panorama of the local horizon has been made. In addition, azimuths of characteristic relief marks from the visible horizon line have been measured in order to find their relation to arrangements and orientations at the investigated site.
Geographic coordinates - latitude and longitude of the rock-cut monuments have been determined by the help of a GPS receiver and several consecutive observations of a Ursa Minor.
The studied rock-cut monuments
Positional systems for Sun observations are discovered on the territory of the following rock-cut monuments on Bulgarian lands.
Generally, such rock-cut sites are situated on comparatively high places, near settlements and water springs, and have a specific zero position in relation to the local horizon line. The basic rules of shape creation made by ancient builders of megalithic and rock-cut objects are probably based on their knowledge of the organization of forms in living and non-living nature connected with the cult of the Heaven and the Sun. Last but not least is the process of creating and maintaining a calendar, especially needed in the social organization and religious practices of the society.
Belintash, near the Mostovo village, Plovdiv district. It is situated on a large plateau, high on the Rhodope mountains. Deep river valleys separate it from the higher mountain ranges. The plateau is north-south oriented and its lowest part descends to the Sushitsa River valley, in a narrow stone gorge.
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The area is 5-6 acres, the length is about 300 m and the height is 30-40 m. The archaeological explorations proved that the ancient sanctuary dates back to the 5th millennium BC. It is supposed that site played the role of a central sanctuary for a much larger area - the whole territory of the Rhodopes and even the Upper Thracian Plain with the tribes inhabiting it [5].
In 2011, remains of an artificially built wall, located across the Belintash plateau, were found. According to them, the wall has probably separated the most sacred part of the sanctuary from the rest of the territory. The place of a massive entrance door was also found. This is evidenced by cut in the rock footholds of supporting columns and grooves for moving at opening. Ceramic pots and tools, a bronze ornament, and fragments of a ceramic female figurine are also found.
According to recent studies, it can be argued that from the 5th century BC until the end of the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) and the whole 1st millennium BC, the sanctuary was operating, but as a result of some conflict at the end of the fourth or third century BC, the sacred site was forcibly destroyed [6].
There are also traces of the foundations of a facility at the highest point in the central part of the plateau. Cylindrical hollows, which have been used as footholds of wooden supporting columns are cut on an artificially leveled ground. Two basins with precision cylindrical shape with diameters of 1.65 and 2.10 meters are cut in the main rock. One of them is located at the upper end of the northern part of the plateau and the other - at the southern lower end of the central part of the plateau. The two basins are connected with a system of drainage channels and grooves designed to collect rainwater.
The existing cult to the Sun in the Eneolithic era and later would require objective knowledge of the movement of this central heavenly body, in addition to the religious-mythological notions. The careful view of the central part of the plateau shows that there is a precisely leveled two-level ground at its highest point. Archaeoastronomical investigations show that it served for observations of sunrises at astronomically significant points on the horizon (solstice and equinox) [7].
Zaychi Vruh (Cabyle), Sredna gora mountain. Zaychi Vruh is an Early Bronze Age megalithic monument situated around the famous Thracian capital of Cabyle. At the end of the 4th, and the beginning of the 3rd c. BC, Cabyle was the capital of the Odrysian dynasty of Spartok. It is located on the east side of the two-peaked hill "Zajchi Vruh", which is in the sights of the acropolis of the ancient city of Cabyle and is the only hill dominating over the Yambol field. The rocks are evened and worked at the top. Mutually perpendicular trenches with a variable depth have been hewn out in the rocks and oriented East - West and North - South. Thus, the massif has adopted a specific cross-like shape. There
is an exact coincidence of the straight line towards the points of sunrise during vernal and autumnal equinox and the line of the East - West trench. The projection of the main meridian at the place of observation coincides with the North - South trench.
Bas-relief image of the Goddess Cybela is found at the south-west corner of the "cross", next to the trench East - West. There is a rock, located diagonally, following Cybela's image, which is artificially evened out so the first solar rays can illuminate Cybela's image each morning in the period between vernal and autumnal equinox (i.e. during the time of vegetation - half year).
Investigations of the North-South trench show, that an observer standing in its maximal depth can see the line of the main meridian at the place of observation. Consequently, he or she can practically establish the culmination moments of such bright luminaries in the sky as the Sun, Moon, planets and bright stars. Using this relatively precise instrument at Cabyle, the ancient observers could have measured time in units larger than a day - a year, half a year, or the duration of the seasons. At the same time, observing the daily solar culmination and some of the brighter stars, they could measure time in units smaller than a day.
There are also foundations of an edifice made from large levers stones, which form a square. To the south, at a distance of about 2 km, following the North - South trench, one can see two mounds, almost one behind the other. During archaeological excavations, specialists discovered large quantities of wood ashes. This shows that mounds, which define the meridian line, were used as light markers at night observations of bright stars [8; 9].
Tatul, near the Tatul village, East Rhodopes. The highest part of the rock sanctuary is cut in the form of a truncated pyramid. On the top of the rock, there is a sarcophagus, trap-door, outfall, connecting the "sarcophagus" with a vaulted niche beneath it, which contain a second "sarcophagus" with the same orientation and a possibility of closing with a trap-door. The axis of the "sarcophagus" is oriented towards the sunrise during a winter solstice. Large amount of solar symbols - circles of different size hewn out in the rock - are discovered in the region of the Tatul sanctuary. It is supposed, that observation of the Sun during vernal and autumnal equinox are used for determining the active agricultural period as well as for servicing the cult towards the Sun - it dies and come into the world again - mentioning the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one [10].
The Tangarak Kaya cave sanctuary is located in East Rhodo-pes. It represents an additionally processed tectonic crack in the rock volume. The cave entrance is highly elongated, further styled with phallic shape. An artificial gallery was created, following the main tectonic fissure. The gallery is 22 m long and has an average width of 1.5 m. The cave's bottom had been formed especially to fulfill the role of an altar. Small terrace is
hewn out of the rock underneath the altar. Tangarak Kaya cave sanctuary can be considered as a projective system of observation of the Sun culminations. The Sun culminates high above the horizon during the summer and the higher outer contour of the entrance opening is projected on the floor of the gallery. During winter, when the Sun culminates at lower heights, the lower inner contour of the entrance opening is projected. The day, in which solar beams reach the altar, can be used for determining of the winter solstice - the beginning of one calendar cycle, as people thought in Eneolithic. Thus, the duration of one tropical (solar) year can be defined.
During the winter solstice, once per year solar rays penetrate into the cave and reach the altar, embodying the sacred marriage between the God-des-mother and the God-Sun [10; 11].
There are additional elements to every rock-cut monument. The focus of the composition is a visual (or projective) device, that allows observation of the Sun in astronomically significant points of the celestial sphere and the horizon. The autochthonous relief structure of the rock - cut monument "Harman Kaya", East Rhodopes was used in the Eneolithic Age for positional astronomical observations of the Sun during the summer and winter solstice, and equinoxes [12] through the methods of the so-called vector-horizon astronomy.
Buzovgrad, Sredna Gora mountain is a megalithic monument from ancient Central Thrace, located on a rocky hill near the village of Buzovgrad, with an excellent vista to the south, north and west. The main rock group is in the top part of the hill. Two separately shaped rock blocks, placed one on top of the other, close the upper part of the aperture, thus forming a trilith. The supporting columns are part of the main rock of the massif. Part of the main rock is additionally shaped to form something like a "throne" at a distance of about 6 m southeast of the trilith. It is supposed that the trilith was used for sunset observations during the summer solstice - June 21 - solar beams pass through the trilith and illuminate the "throne". The Triglav mountain peak (2,276 m) in the Balkan Range is clearly seen from that place, falling into the centre of the light aperture of the trilith.
The summer solstice probably marked the "ritual beginning" of the culmination of agricultural season, which corresponds to the approximate date of the most important feast of the Eneolithic community [8, 13].
Markov Kamak is a sacred megalithic complex under the Tsarev peak, Rila mountain. It is supposed, that the most sacred part of the sanctuary is the complex, composed from trilith (rock arc), megalith (stone egg) and rock mushrooms marked by hewn out of them sacrificial altars. This monument is the first one - characteristic representative of the archaeoastronomi-cal objects in Bulgaria found in the high mountain at more than 1500 m above the sea level. We suppose, that it is an ancient solar observatory devot-
ed to the cult towards the Sun and the Great Goddess-Mother (Cybela). This monument has a construction of a typical positional system for solar observations coinciding with the sunrises and sunsets on the line of the horizon during the summer solstice. As the sun rises, the sun's rays pass through the arch and, penetrating to the west, they lighten an enormous egg-shaped stone block with numerous altars carved on it. The point of sunrise is marked by a rock mushroom with a whole system of rock-cut altars and chutes. It is situated on the near eastern horizon. The point of sunset at the day of the summer solstice observed by Markov Kamak is Peak Kurtman, at which a circle shaped cult facility was found [14].
The rock arch complex of megalithic sanctuary "Tsarevi Porti" is located near the village of Kovachevitsa, West Rhodopes. The rock arch is cut high in the mountains, in a natural rock. To the south, there is a large playground with hewn in the bedrock altar. The orientations of the arch is such, that during the summer solstice the sun rises over the opposite Popova kapa peak, sunlight goes through the arch and illuminates the altar (Fig. 1).
Eastern orientation, geometry and ratios between the different functional elements of the sanctuary show that it has been deliberately constructed and continuously exploited for maintenance of solar calendar [15].
Fig. 1. Orientation of the main structural elements and astronomical azimuths within the rock arch "Tsarevi Porti"
Kovil - archaeological rock complex near the village of Kovil, East Rhodopes. The rock-cut monument is a part of a vast sacred territory, with a large number of megalithic and rock-cut monuments. Most impressive among them is the Step Pyramid, carved into the bedrock of the plateau.
In the biggest rock niche, situated in the middle of the rock group is carved a projective system, allowing to observe the sunrise during the spring and autumn equinox. Through an oval aperture (size of the horizontal axis -0.5 m and vertical axis - 0.4 m), drilled in the eastern edge of the rock niche solar beams can be projected on a specially cut down surface from the wall of the niche. Based on archaeoastronomical investigations (determination of the astronomical azimuth of sunrise, height of the local horizon, the erosion of rock forms, etc.) the slope of the ecliptic during the creation of the monument has been determined - i = 23°99'. This value corresponds to the period between 2600-2500 BC. Most probably the monument has been reworked and reused in subsequent periods, including 200-300 AD [16].
A rock sanctuary from the Eneolithic Age is situated near the village of Lilyach, Kyustendil region, Konyavska mountain. Archaeoastro-nomical investigations show, that the sanctuary has several cult centres oriented to vernal equinox and winter solstice and give us reason to suppose, that the observation of solar culminations in ancient times is used for determining the occurring of the winter solstice taken as the beginning of the next calendar cycle.
Obviously, cult centers are deeply connected with the Great Mother-Goddess and the Sun. The mysterious cult of the new birth, reincarnation and immortality is preserved until late in the Bulgarian folk culture in the traditional ritual for treatment of the female infertility, by ritual passing through the rock arch oriented towards the winter solstice.
Solar cult is associated with the male divinity in Thrace, identified with the Sun, with Dionysus-Sabazius. From the eastern direction come the rays of the rising in the morning Sun and fall into the rock arch, symbolizing the womb of the Great Mother-Goddess, identified with the Earth. This is a kind of natural code of sacred marriage between the supreme male and the supreme female god in Ancient Thrace. Indicative in this respect are the phallic cross section of the tunnel oriented north - south and the female face turned to the south on its eastern part (Fig. 2).
The traditional Christian feast of St. George, which inherited the ancient Thracian New Year and the ceremony of ritual passing through the rock arch, remarkably resembling a new birth (nature is born again for a new spring life) testify that this most sacred act of Creation according to the ancient Thracian mythological notions took place in the early spring. The usage of the sanctuary continues with the creation of a rock monastery with chapel and building of a church, dedicated to Saint George in modern times [17].
Fig. 2. General view to the plateau with the church, dedicated to St. George, and the sanctuary from southeast. Phallic cross section at the end of the tunnel oriented north-south and the female face turned to the south
Parmakla Kaya near the village of Nochevo, Asenovgrad municipality, Rhodope mountain. The cave is natural, additionally processed and deepened. The gallery ends with an altar. Orientation of the main axis of the cave is also in the main meridian. Solar projection of the entrance on the day of the winter solstice is with a maximum length along the central axis. This also allows determining the duration of the tropical (solar) year [10]. Once again, we see reconciling the needs of economic and social life integrated with the cult of the Great Mother-Goddess.
In Table we present the rock-cut monuments, their orientations towards astronomically significant points from the visible horizon, as well as the observed phenomena - rise, set or culmination of the Sun.
Table
Rock-cut monuments, their orientation towards astronomically significant points from the visible horizon, and the observed phenomena - rise, set or culmination of the observed heavenly object
No. Rock-cut monument Orientation Astronomical phenomenon
1. Belintash Summer solstice Sunrise
2. Zaychi Vruh (Cabyle) Summer solstice and equinoxes Sunrise, sunset, stellar and solar culminations
3. Tatul Winter solstice Sunrise
4. Tangarduk Kaya Winter solstice Solar culmination
5. Harman Kaya Summer and winter solstice and quinoxes Sunrise
6. Buzovgrad Summer solstice Sunset
7. Markov Kamak Summer solstice Sunrise
8. Tsarevi Porti Summer solstice Sunrise
9. Kovil Eqiunoxes Sunrise
10. Lilyach Winter solstice and vernal equinox Sunrise
11. Parmakla Kaya Winter solstice Solar culmination
The basic rules of shape creation made by ancient builders of mega-lithic and rock-cut objects are probably based on their knowledge of the organization of forms in living and non-living nature connected with the cult of the Heaven and the Sun.
The distinction between the individual rock sanctuaries and megalith-ic complexes is mainly related to the specific astronomical observations and the existence of long-standing astronomical practices. Systematic observations of the positions of the sun's projections during the daily culminations, as well as sunrises at extreme points on the horizon, allowed the days between the winter and the summer solstice to be counted. For those megaliths and rock-cut monuments associated with specific astronomical practices, seasonal occurrences of the observed celestial objects (sunrises and sunsets, culminations, compounds and other astronomical phenomena and events), should be also included in time parameters.
People of the then society obviously had created and continuously used the powerful solar-chthonic cult united with the cult of the Sun and this to Heaven and Stone. The rock is personification of the Mother-Goddess, who bore and bred the Sun itself. Serving this cult also requires creating and maintaining a precise calendar. This means exact determining of the initial moment of the calendar cycle and its division to equal time intervals connected with seasons.
That is why, we suppose that positions of the sunrises and sunsets (during solstice or equinox), which coincide with characteristic points on the local visible horizon were observed.
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These procedures have greatly facilitated the creation and use of a primitive calendar related to the economic, religious, and domestic needs of the society in this era.
Very often rock-cut monuments include images of different astronomical objects and phenomena such as the Sun, the Moon, stars, comets, eclipses, on the rock (in caves, niches, cliffs or open rock surfaces). Some of them are arranged to depict time records at different time intervals.
As examples we can show the lunar records of time intervals near the villages of Baylovo (Lunar images carved into the rock) and Lipnitsa, Sofia district, lunar-solar images near the village of Tsarevets, Mezdra municipality, solar and stellar images in the Topchika cave, Asenovgrad municipality, and solar calendars from the Magura cave (monochrome paintings composing solar calendar from the late Eneolithic), the village of Rabisha, Belogradchic municipality and the cave near the village of Baylovo (monochrome paintings - part of symbolic solar calendar) [18].
Analysis and interpretation
People of the then society obviously have created and continuously used the powerful solar-chthonic cult united with the cult of the Sun and this to Heaven and Stone. The rock is personification of the Mother- Goddess, who bore and bred the Sun itself. Serving this cult also requires creating and maintaining a precise calendar. This means exact determining of the initial moment of the calendar cycle and its division to equal time intervals connected with seasons.
That is why, we suppose that positions of the sunrises and sunsets (during solstice or equinox), which coincide with characteristic points on the local visible horizon were observed.
Systematic observations of the positions of the sun's projections during the daily culminations, as well as sunrises at extreme points on the horizon, allowed the days between the winter and the summer solstice to be counted. These procedures have greatly facilitated the creation and use of a primitive calendar related to the economic, religious, and domestic needs of the society in this era.
Typology of the ancient observatories
The typology of ancient observatories - monuments with an archaeoas-tronomical meaning is made according to their locality, formal marks, functional astronomical elements, and accuracy of the obtained observational results.
Locality:
- on high rocky peaks;
- near natural or artificial caves;
- accidentally chosen sites with good view towards the local horizon.
Formal marks:
- they almost always include rock, cave and water (springs or water reservoirs);
- visited by a great many people or only by initiated people;
- they had a complex purpose - astronomical observations, cult practices, time measuring.
Functional elements with an astronomical meaning:
- astronomically significant azimuth of the basic sight direction (points of the summer and winter solstice, vernal or autumn equinox);
- presence of equipment for sighting towards astronomical points on the horizon (by using of pillars, grooves, trenches, cave galleries, special sight equipment, near and far relief marks);
- presence of astronomical objects depicted on the rock (caves, niches and open rock surfaces).
Accuracy of the obtained observational results (on angular dimensions and time) in accordance with the place and manner of observation:
- observational grounds with a wide scope of vision without requirements for any accuracy (symbolic astronomy weaved into cult and religious practices);
- equipment for Sun observations with an accuracy of about 5 arc degrees (±10 days - symbolic astronomy with low accuracy);
- equipment for Sun observations with an accuracy of about 0.5^1 arc degree (±1 ^ ±2 days - positional astronomical observations with high accuracy).
Chronological boundaries of the existence of ancient observatories determined by archaeological evaluations are confirmed from the results of archaeoastronomical investigations.
Conclusion
According to the situation and the architectural plan, the studied rock-cut monuments show an arrangement of a typical positional system for observations of the sunrises and sunsets (during solstice or equinox).
Usually, sunrises and sunsets are connected with specific days and festivals from the agricultural or religious calendar of the ancient socium.
The presented ancient astronomical observatories show the mechanisms for observing extreme sunrises and culminations. The accuracy of the solstice and equinox determination is ±1 day and this allows creating and maintaining a calendar with the duration of the solar tropical year. The typology of archeoastronomical monuments shows the evolution of astronomical observational technologies and the ways of presenting astronomically significant moments by pictograms.
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ДРЕВНИЕ АСТРОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ ОБСЕРВАТОРИИ В БОЛГАРИИ
Ш. Маглова *, 2А. Стоев **
*penm@abv.bg,**stoev5 2@ abv.bg
1Институт космических исследований и технологий Болгарской академии наук 2Народная астрономическая обсерватория имени Юрия Гагарина Стара Загора, Болгария
Аннотация. В этой статье мы рассмотрим несколько типов памятников, которые свидетельствуют об астрономических практиках и верованиях народов эпохи энеолита (халколита) и более поздних эпох — Белинташ, Татул, Тангардук Кая, Харман Кая, Ковиль и Пармакла Кая в Восточных Родопах, Цареви Порти в Западных Родопах, Зайчи Врух (Кабилье) и Бузовград в горах Средна Гора, Марков Камак в горах Рила и Лиляч в горах Конявска. Обсуждая эти конкретные памятники, мы показываем, как астрономия вплеталась в повседневную и духовную жизнь, раскрывая представления людей о концепциях пространства и времени. Эти памятники, где обнаружены позиционные системы для наблюдений Солнца, мы называем древними астрономическими обсерваториями.
Ключевые слова: древние астрономические обсерватории, вырубленные в скалах памятники, святилища, позиционные системы для наблюдений Солнца, Великая Богиня-Мать, равноденствие и солнцестояние, календарь.
Для цитирования: Маглова П.В., Стоев А.Д. Древние астрономические обсерватории в Болгарии. Наследие и современность. 2020;3(3):83-99. (In English)
Сведения об авторах
Маглова Пенка, профессор, Институт космических исследований и технологий Болгарской академии наук, Стара Загора, Болгария.
E-mail: penm@abv.bg
Стоев Алексей, доцент, Народная астрономическая обсерватория имени Юрия Гагарина, Стара Загора, Болгария. E-mail: stoev52@abv.bg
Authors of the publication
Penka Maglova, professor, Space Research and Technology Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Stara Zagora Department, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. E-mail: penm@abv.bg
Alexey Stoev, associate professor, Yuri Gagarin Public Astronomical Observatory, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. E-mail: stoev52@abv.bg
Принято к публикации 16.04.2020
