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, 266-270. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF GOLD ORE DEPOSITS AT THE VILLAGES OF KOLIO MARINOVO (SARNENA GORA MOUNTAIN) AND BABYAK (WESTERN RHODOPES) IN ANTIQUITY Milena Tonkova National Archaeological Institute and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1000 Sofia; [email protected] ABSTRACT. Archaeological evidence for the exploitation of gold ore deposits at the villages of Kolio Marinovo (Sarnena Gora Mountain) and Babyak (Western Rhodopes) in antiquity are traced at the current study. The methodic of study consists in restoration of settlement system established around ancient mining galleries where archaeological materials were found. According to archaeological researches made at the region of the mines of Kolio Marinovo and near the sanctuary of Babyak there is many evidences that the mines were also used during the Pre-Roman and Roman period. The map of the ancient gold and silver deposits from Thrace unfortunately that was left without constant extension, for the (from the territory of Bulgaria) (Fig. 1) is compiled on the basis exchange of knowledge between geologists and of several studies. The most important are those from the First archaeologists on the problems of this boundary for both International Symposium of History of Mining in Southeast scientific disciplines. The ancient gold mining data have been Europe held in Bulgaria in the 80-es of the XX c. (First reviewed and discussed in relation to the localization of Symposium on the History of Mining in South-East Europe , jewellery workshops, some of which are known to have exist in 1975) and the study of G. Georgiev on the traces of ancient the close vicinity (Tonkova, 1994, 183-188; 1999). mining in our lands (Georgiev, 1987). It was a good beginning, Fig. 1. Map of the ancient gold and silver deposits from the territory of Bulgaria 266 On the base of the published sources the conclusion can sometimes lead to very encouraging results. Some of them will be drawn that for most known examples one can speak only of be presented bellow. ancient gold mining without having data allowing chronological decisions to be done from these findings. Only in certain cases The settlement system in the region of the the archaeological chance has made possible discovery of Chirpan Heights from the V-I c. BC and gold materials allowing more precise dating. Such are the cases with the antique mines of Kolio Marinovo (Sarnena Gora extraction in Sarnena Gora in Antiquity Mountain) and Babyak (Western Rhodopes) which are the One of the gold-bearing occurrences is located in the object of our study. The evidences refer mainly to Roman and South part of Sarnena Gora Mountain in the area of the Medieval Ages although there are many indications that these villages Chekhlare, Kolio Marinovo, Slavjanin and Gorno Selo. deposits were known in earlier periods. These suggestions are There was a claim for gold extraction at the mine ‘Golden a result of a thorough study of the settlement system from the Fleece’ in the 20-es of the last century. Gold has been still territory of the recorded ancient mining exploitations. The field panned in the Rakhmanlijska, Omourovska and Novoselska observations combined with studies on adjacent sites, certain Rivers till now (Fig. 2). There are clear evidences for gold historical facts and analyses of specialists from earth sciences extraction in this region in antiquity. Fig. 2. Map of the gold deposits from the territory of Bulgaria Mining galleries were discovered in the frames of the present There are indirect data about the exploitation of mines in village Kolio Marinovo which were described by Balaschev Kolio Marinovo in Pre-Roman times. In this respect quite and Radoslavov. Coins minted in Serdicae between 197 and meaningful is the concentration of hoards with coins of the 218 were found in these galleries (Balaschev, 1922, 461-466; second and I c. BC from the lands of five neighboring villages Radoslavov, 1934). This date serves as terminus ante quem, in the gold-bearing zone: Chekhlare, Kolio Marinovo i.e. the galleries were surely exploited before this time (Zlatareva, 1960), Pravoslav, Medovo (Gerasimov, 1963; (Tonkova, 2000, 137-138). At the same time, i.e. during the Nikolov, 1964) and Naidenovo (Gerasimov, 1955) (Fig. 3). Roman period there was a fortress ( quadriburgium , fortress Their burial in the late I c. BC must has been connected with a with military functions, connected with the defense of roads or probable instability in the region (Nikolov, 1964) that could be passes) (Dinchev, 1997, 95-96), obviously defending the referred to the control above the mines. Furthermore, Y. functioning mines. It must be noted that just to the village of Yuroukova supposes that their burial was connected exactly Kolio Marinovo there was an important Thracian sanctuary of with the offensive of the army of the Roman commander Kybele and the Thracian Heros (Velkov, 1932/34, 65)1 – the Lucullus, suppressed the revolted against the Roman gold extraction was guarded both by the authority and by the expansion Pontic colonies. It is considered that Lucullus deities. The evidence in this respect are already plentiful that subjected the exploitation of gold from the mines at Kolio will be discussed bellow. Marinovo and, even, with this gold he minted coins necessary for the replenishment of his treasury (Yuroukova, 1963, 43). The exploitation of the goldbearing deposit at Kolio Marinovo 1During the field inspections a part of a votive tablet of the Thracian and the surrounding area of the Sarnena Gora in the earlier Heros was found; unpublished data of the author. Classical and Hellenistic Ages can not be illustrated with such 267 Fig. 3. Map of the settlement system in the region of the Chirpan Heights direct evidence. It, however, could be supposed on the ground analysis of the numerous gold artifacts, found in the rich of the concentration of numerous monuments coming from the graves of the local Thracian aristocrats. The perspective in region – remains of a strong representative power of the V-IV such studies recently is demonstrated by the analyses of the c. BC. These are rich graves (Rosovets, Brezovo, Slavianin, gold pectoral from a grave dated ІV c. BC from the village of Bratya Daskalovi), big settlements (Brezovo, Kolio Marinovo), Bratya Daskalovi (former village Voinitsite) (Fig. 4). The gold a dense settlement network where Thracians and Greeks lived content is comparable with the content of native gold from the together (Medovo, Naidenovo, Saedinenie), developed road area of Sarnena Gora (Kulev et al., in press) system. This wealth of remains of advanced settlement system could be explained through the control on the gold deposits, the organization of gold exploitation, the trade with gold and import goods, with the control on the commerce between the valleys of the Maritsa and Toundzha River as a whole, as well as, with the control above the roads (Tonkova, 2000; 2002). We tried to confirm our hypothesis with objective evidence, with the help of specialists in the exact sciences. Metal slag from second-first century settlements from the goldbearing zone (e.g. the village of Najdenovo) and from a Roman settlement near the village of Bratya Daskalovi) was analyzed by M. Leblanc – a French specialist at the laboratory in Montpelier. As far as it concerns the slag from this site their opinion is that it could be remain from the melting of gold Fig. 4. Golden pectoral from a rich grave near the village of Bratya (unpublished data). In fact, there are other evidences for Daskalovi (former village Voinitsite ) probable traces of gold processing. Two stone blocks come from this site. It consists of separate unlinked segments made Our study on the settlement system in the region of the gold of volcanic tuff. As material, shape and dimensions, and mines led to a great but expected by us discovery – an therefore as a purpose, they are identical to corresponding important settlement of the time of the Thracian king Seuthes elements of the ‘movable millstone’ of the so called ‘Delos III. The remains of this Thracian settlement are situated in the rotary mill’ considered as a Greek phenomenon (Tonkova, “Halka Bunar” locality in the area of the village of Gorno 2000, 137, s. 1). Part of the scientists supposes that these Belevo, near the town of Chirpan. Structures belonging to three mills, a Greek patent, were designed not for grinding of grain sectors – manufacturing, cult and residential, have been but for ore (Brunet, 1996). Another direction of study is the studied so far. Five pottery kilns were found in the first sector. The time of the existence of the settlement could be related to 268 the period of the last years from the IV c. BC to the second There have been clarified some very important aspects of the decade of the III c. BC (Tonkova, 2002). Without direct cult – chthonic and also the solar aspects. In the time of connection with the theme under consideration, this find is a ancient Thrace these comprehensive powers are possessed circuitous argument for the level of living, political organization, by the highest Thracian deity – the Great Thracian Goddess. commercial and cultural relations of a settlement and also Along with Her most probably a male deity had been illustrates the prosperity of the region connected with the mine worshipped as well, if we are to judge by the presented as gifts exploitation also in the Early Hellenistic period. mining tools and weapons. During the Roman Age those gods were personified as Hera and Zeus, according to the votive Thracian sanctuary near the village of Babyak tablets found here.