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. At the last place, the ore masses have chroniques and historical documents. In the present the been “turned around” and hammered in small pieces. Under Srednogorie Region work is discussed, known discussion is the origin and attribution of the “huge rocks” at geomorphologically as Sredna Gora – from the Pancharevo the Lisets massif and the “turned around” stones in Gorge of the Iskar River to the “big bend” of the Tundja River Panagyurishte Sredna Gora and in Suranena Sredna Gora to the South of the Yambol depression. Out of the described (near Samodivets peak) (Škorpil, 1888). area are the Western (Vitosha-Viskyar) and Eastern Srednogorie, which are not less interesting in this respect. Significant in this respect is the unique archaeological monument “Kutela” (the “mortar”) at the Southern slope of Localization Bratan peak. It has been modelled from a granite block with A number of material evidence, traces, literary data and thickness of the walls 0.40 m, depth 1.00 m, inside diameter toponymy data, all related to the mining and production of from top to bottom 1.30-0.50 m, outside perimeter 4.30 m, аnd different mineral raw materials over centuries have been one- with two stone “handles” 0.55х0.25х0.15 m (Fig. 1). Some sidedly interpreted, mostly only in archaeological aspect. Thus, authors suggest that it is a Thracian sacrificial object, while the mine pits and wastes on the slopes of the Golak peak others – a monument related to the Early Christian period (a (Sakardja; Okopanik) in the Panagyurishte Sredna Gora have font). Similar in shape are the cascade tube-cut stones around been described as “Roman antiquities”, “traces of town” and the Kavakliika peak, which can be compared to those (known even “earth” fortifications from the ХІV century (Deliradev, as “sharapani”) in the Haskovo Region and other places in the 1954). The research has proved that they are mining pits and Eastern Rhodopes. Remarkable is their close location to gold wastes of ancient mining since prehistoric times – Neolithic, and gold-bearing occurrences and deposits. Only around the Chalcolithic and Pre-Roman (Thracian) periods. Similar is the mountain area of Bratan-Kavakliika can be traced over 150 situation with the “fortresses” at the Eledjik peak and several ancient ore production sites and two shafts (near the villages of other places (for example near the village Golak, Paunovo and Kolio Marinovo and Gorno Novo Selo), as well as many traces others) in Ihtiman Sredna Gora, as well as in the Bratan, of washing placer gold (Nenov, 1997). Thos evidence gives the Kavakliika and Morulei mountain areas in Surnena Sredna opportunity to accept their relation to ancient ore production Gora. Analogous paradoxes can be found in the Western Stara and not as monuments of a cult character. In 2006 around the Planina metallogenic region: Belogradchik, Chiprovtsi- well known site “Kutela” were found granite pieces of a Martinovo, Vratsa-Iskar and especially Etropole ore fields (near destroyed similar single or group of monuments (Fig. 2), and the Svisti Plaz peak, Karduna, Kapalu and others). nearby – a destroyed “dolmen” or “cromlech”-type site (Fig. 3). 258 The idea for the origin, age and attribution of the “sharapani” 2008) has been already suggested for the studied area and rock niches in the Eastern Rhodopes (Ivanova, Zlatkova, (Nenov, 1971). Fig. 1. The unique geoarchaeological monument “Kutel” below the Peak Bratan in Surnena Sredna Gora Mountain (granite) Fig. 2. Parts of a destroyed analogous “Kutel” in the same area (granite) 259 Fig. 3. A megalithic site (parts of a dolmen or a cromlech) in the same area Well known in the country is the abundance of prehistoric (Stara Zagora) and Diampolis (Yambol). From the point of view settlements and especially Thracian burial mounds. Some of of guarding places a lot of towns-fortresses have existed in the them, suggested as “route” sites are in fact “ore mounds”. They Panagyurishte area, the ore fields of Vakarel and Belitsa have a smaller height (1-2 to 3 m and rarely more) and size. Mountains (Ihtiman Sredna Gora), Chirpan ore region, Stara They are situated in the mountain areas scattered on hillsides Zagora ore field, Bakadjitsite ore area and others to the East. and watersheds, in certain cases grouped in several tenths, always close to placer gold or copper occurrences and These sites had the function of guarding the ancient ore deposits. They are widely spread in the Panagyurishte region, centres. In most of them the ore has been crashed in stone especially near the Medet (Drazhil and Ognishtata sites) and basins and mortars (known as “kuteli”; “sharapani”), grinded in Asarel deposits. A lot of them have been destroyed by the stone mills, washed and even melted down – the evidence is activities of the open-pit mines, but some have been slag and ore pieces, as well as fragments of ancient kilns preserved. Besides the Panagyurishte Region they are found (“ognishta”). They develop as ancient mining and metal also in Ihtiman and Surnena Sredna Gora, and in the Eastern producing centres. Between many of them preserved traces of Srednogorie. Some of them are waste of washed or barren ancient routes are known. The role of the Stara Planina materials from the nearby ore occurrences, while others are Mountain fortresses has changed in time (in Roman and parts of crushed ore pieces, including slag and other melt- Byzantine times with their importance on the Northern slopes wastage. of the mountain and later – on the Southern slopes) and that of the Sredna Gora Mountain sites has been constant because of Until present time in the Srednogorie Zone and the parallel the mining and ore production activity. on both sides Podbalkanski valleys and Upper Thracian Plain are known hundreds (over 300 in numbers) ruins of ancient Sredna Gora Mountain – the cradle of ore fortified settlements, fortresses, towns, towers and road production in Bulgaria stations. Geographical names as “Gradishteto”, “Kaleto” and Sredna Gora Mountain is supposed to be the cradle of “Selishteto” are over 100 in number. The Thracian sites have copper production on the Balkans and in Europe. The area is been later inhabited by other civilizations, including during the rich with non-metallic raw materials which have been used as time of the First and Second Bulgarian kingdoms. Thracian artefacts since prehistoric times. In the Sredna Gora copper, constructions are incorporated in the masonry of many ancient copper gold-bearing and iron (iron oxide) deposits are known fortresses. Their location and function is related to the guarding which have been exploited from ancient to modern times. of the main routes or other strategic places. Endogenous and placer deposit are also known, the latter located in the rivers’ beds and terraces. The Romans as good builders transform the old Thracian sites in suitable road guarding places. Through the Ihtiman It has been proved that the oldest copper mines in Europe Sredna Gora, following the Trajan passage, between the are located in Surnena Sredna Gora (Cernykh, 1978). Traces Eledjik and Golak Mountain the so-called “Trajan route is of them can be found near the villages of Hrishteni and known” – the shortest way through the Balkans from Europe to Rakititsa, the Stara Zagora Mineral Baths, in the area “Mechi Asia. This route connected Singidunum (Belgrade) via Naisus Kladenets” (“Ai Bunar”), “Tumyanka” and other places in Stara (Nis), Serdika (Sofia), Trimontium (Plovdiv) and Adrianopol Zagora Region. There are from the Chalcolithic period – 5000- (Edrine) with Constantinopol (Istanbul) through several 4000 BC. The copper ores in the region have been with high passages in the mountains and their deviations to the Roman gold content – only in the “Mechi Kladenets” area it has been town-fortresses Diokletoanopolis (Hissarya), Augusta Trajana 260 estimated that over 300 kg of gold have been produced copper deposits, the Golak Peak (Sakardja), near the villages (Cernykh, 1978). At the same place evidence for the Chavdar (with well preserved ore producing sites, application of “fire” method in ore production was found, about hydrotechnological facilities and interesting toponymy – one hundred years before the same practice in the Pyrenean Samokov, Demirkapiiska or Iron Mogila, Ognishtata, Vidnite, peninsula (Avdev, 2005).