Geoarchaeological Monuments of Ancient Mining in Sredna Gora Mountain
Geoarchaeology and Archaeomineralogy (Eds. R. I. Kostov, B. Gaydarska, M. Gurova). 2008. Proceedings of the International Conference, 29-30 October 2008 Sofia, Publishing House “St. Ivan Rilski”, Sofia, 258-262. GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS OF ANCIENT MINING IN SREDNA GORA MOUNTAIN Todor Nenov LK “Mladost” bl. 84A, 1797 Sofia ABSTRACT. In Sredna Gora Mountain are preserved thousand of monuments and traces of ore production from the Prehistoric period, the Antiquity period and the Medieval period. These are mine pits, quarries, shafts, underground passages, wastes and miners’ tools and facilities, which often have been interpreted one-sidedly in a historical (archaeological) aspect. Gold-bearing, copper gold-bearing, copper and iron ores have been exploited. The material traces of mining activity are represented by geoarchaeological monuments, which require complex approach and research methods. Introduction Information about the prehistoric and antique ore production The cult and economic character of a number of rock in Bulgaria, and more precisely, in the Srednogorie Region, phenomena can not be doubted. Such are ancient sacred and can be found in a number of publications (Skorpil, 1882; 1884; cult places, sacrificial sites and food storages, which are to be 1888; Karaoglanov, 1924; Radoslavov, 1934; Peev, 1975; found at many places around and in the natural heights of 1980; 1990; Georgiev, 1978; 1987; Cernykh, Raduncheva, Sredna Gora Mountain. Such are some of the rock cauldrons 1972; Cernykh, 1978; Kovachev, 1994; Nenov, 1994; 1997; in the Panagyurishte (“Kazanite”) and Stara Zagora Avdev, 2005; Nenov, Nenov, 2008a; 2008b). Certain data on (“Kazaneto” near the Village Kazanka and “Kazana” near the mining activities are given in the records of travelers, in village Kolena) area.
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