Thracian sanctuary "Gluhite kamani"
"Gluhite kamani" is a rock cult complex, designed by the Thracians several millennia ago. It is located a few kilometers from the village of Malko Gradishte in the northeastern Rhodope, under St. Marina peak. More than hundred of trapezium shaped niches are carved on monolithic boulder, about 30 m high. It is supposed that they have been used as funeral urns.
50 meters from the niches are the megalithic tombs, two of which are perfectly preserved. The first represents a room 2 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, carved into a granite rock. From it, 33 carved in stone steps, lead to the very top, on which is located the tomb - Mausoleum with dimensions 3 x 3 m.
The entire funerary complex was surrounded by a large wall, whose foundations can still be seen today. The megalithic complex was one of the largest Thracian sanctuaries since BC, whose power continues to act today to anyone who visits it.
Christian tomb in which a young woman was buried, discovered the team of Dr. Nehrizov from the Archaeological Institute with Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Locals tell tales about Thracian settlement here and the unearthed skeleton shows that the sanctuary was used by the early followers of Christ in the Eastern Rhodopes.
The woman was buried in a typically Christian rites - with folded hands on his chest and her face turned to the east, explains Dr. Nehrizov. Amongst other interesting discoveries of archaeologists are parts of a ceramic The woman was buried in a typically Christian rites - with folded hands on his chest and her face turned to the east, explains Dr. Nehrizov. Other more interesting discoveries of archaeologists are part of ceramic with a very beautiful decoration.
How old are stone deaf, and what our Thracian ancestors used them about?
"During the first millennium there has been life, approximately the early and late Iron Age, says Dr. George Nehrizov. Rocks were declared a cultural monument. In more than 200 carved in stone niches, the Thracians placed the ashes of their dead.
From St. Marina Mount towards Arda river, centuries ago, there was a huge city with streets and houses, the highest hill even served as a cult of the Sun God.
In the first days of the study, the archaeologists discover a unique Thracian petroglif - drawing, carved into the rock. "A lot of time we were digging to decipher characters. A boat is depicted that transports the sun," says Dr. Nehrizov. According to him this is the emblem of the whole complex.
In their work the archaeologists used extremely careful methods of study. They were revealing small areas, and the re-registered spot covered against with earth. The goal was not to strip huge rocks, explains Nehrizov. For now, the scientist refrain from conclusions and interpretations. He promises that the end of the study will summarize the details. But of one thing Dr. Nehrizov convinced: the complex will be the subject of research for decades because it was living through several epochs.
How to get there: By the road from the village of Malko gradishte to Ivaylovgrad, (Haskovo region), at about ten kilometers there is a sign on the right road, parking lot and a trail to the cult rock complex. Malko Gradishte is 14 km southwest of Lyubimets, 18 km west of Svilengrad and 64 km southeast of Haskovo.
Sources and pictures: http://bven.blog.bg; http://www.nasamnatam.com
