Photos of the Kokino megalithic observatory in Macedonia

Submitted by Anonymous on Wednesday, 17 November 2004
Kokino submitted by Gjore_Cenev

As presented to the recent "Archaeology of World Megalithic Cultures" conference in Greece, the Portal caught up with the researchers to give us an exclusive look at this unique archeostronomical site. In 2001, on the foot path of a mountain pick, near the village Kokino, archeologist Jovica Stankovski, discovered an archeological site from The Bronze Age. The site has a stately dimension and is scaled on two levels. Several stone seats (thrones) are dominant on the site and they are pointing towards the east horizon.

Even from the first visit it could be noticed that through the entire site there were traces of a deliberate human intervention. Archaeological excavations are carried out on the upper platform on which valuable movable material has been found (ceramic fragments mostly), animal bones, pyramidal weights, fragments of two hones (grind stones) made of filitic slate and a kelt mould.

It was discovered that the site, in the course of the whole second millennium B.C. was used as an Observatory, which indicates a high level of cultural progress and social organization of the inhabitants who used the observatory.

The high concentration of the movable archaeological material found on the upper platform probably indicates its use in a function which is so far remains unknown cult activities. The disposition and the concept of the whole site itself, speaks of the use of the locality as a Peak Sanctuary.

With precise measurement and detail archaeo-astronomical analyze of the site preformed in the past two years by Gjore Cenev, physicist from Planetarim in Skopje, it was shown that the site has a characteristics of a sacred site, but also of a Megalithic Observatory.

Special markers of stone have been found, used for marking all characteristics points of the movement of the Sun and Moon on the east horizon. The observatory used a method of stationary observationm, marking positions of the Sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox.

Beside positions of winter and summer solstice, points of maximum and minimum digressions of the Moon are accordingly marked as well. Analysis showed that days when special rituals were held, especially those of the harvest were marked on a most appropriate way. Evidence for this can be found in huge number of archeological findings of terracotta, especially large number of manual mils for grain.

One specially positioned marker is very interesting because it shows that from this observatory they followed the movement of the star cluster Pleiades. According to the Sun coordinates in solstice points, as well as found terracotta it was determined that the observatory is from 1800 B.C.

Full site listing with photos
The original announcement
The conference


Note: Megalithic Portal exclusive: in the researchers' own words