Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(2), 55-84
DOI: 10.24411/2310-2144-2013-00005
Megalithic structures and dolmen orientation in Bulgaria
Lyubomir Tsonev1, Dimitr Kolev2
1Department of Optics and Spectroscopy, Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72 Tzarigradsko chaussee blvd., BG-1784, Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria; e-mail: lyubo@issp.bas.bg
2Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia, Bulgaria, e-mail: dzkolev@abv.bg
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed
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-III BC). 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.
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