Μεγαλιθικά μνημεία (dolmen) και βραχογραφίαι εις την δυτικήν Θράκην
Part of : Αρχαιολογικά ανάλεκτα εξ Αθηνών ; Vol.VI, No.2, 1973, pages 241-255
Issue:
Pages:
241-255
Parallel Title:
Dolmen graves and engravings in western Thrace
Section Title:
Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά
Author:
Abstract:
The Ephorate of Antiquities in Thrace was the first to carry out two weekly excursions in the mountainous districts of Rhodopi and Evros prefectures, aiming at the discovery of up to now unknown Thracian establishmentsas well as other regions or monuments of archaeological interest.During the second of these excursions in the mountainous area of Evros prefecture, we found among other things Thracian fortress enclosures upon hillocks, dolmen-graves and rock- engravings northwest and northeast of Roussa village.Dolmen gravesThese were discovered on low ground elevations at an extent of 2,5 km. They start from the place « Kum - tarla » or more specifically from « Skopia » beside the carriage - road from Mikron Dereion to Roussa, 12 km. westwards of Mikron Dereion and 4 km. northeast of Roussa and they go on southeast till the places « Baluk Kayia » and the old Moslem graveyard of the now ruined village Mylopetres and 180 m. further southeast on the ridge. Most of these monuments are located on low mounds and they are built of big slabs of local slate. They are rectangular and each side consists of a single slab. A fifth slab, which used to cover the quadrilateral graves is missing from all the monuments having been destroyed in older times. One can see however, large and small pieces of these covering slabs near the monuments. In many of these even the side plates are destroyed so that only a line can be distinguished on the surface of the ground, while in others there are only fragments of their sides.As regards the orientation of these monuments it is not generally the same. The long axis of the first is directed from west to east, while the direction of the others is more or less from northwest to southeast.Excavation must be carried out before any secure comparisons may be made with similar monuments already discovered in Bulgaria ( Stranja,Sakar ) and Turkey of the wider Thracian area and before the recently discovered monuments may be dated.This research will bring the solution to all relevant problems for the time being, and it will greatly contribute to the study of the Thracian prehistory and specifically to the matter of the displacement and establishment of the prehistoric peoples in the always significant Thracian area, which has been a geographical as well as a cultural link between Europe and Asia.Rock engravingsThey are located at the place Tsogar 11 km. northwest Roussa and beyond the ruined village of Sarpedonia, just 10 m. north of the forest path leading to « Hilia » hill.The human figures are represented in the lineal way and differ among each other in the details of the extremities and in their posture. The heads consist of small circular hollows, except for two cases in which the hollows are semicircular and flat on top. In most of the figures the arms are outstretched and form a cross with the trunk; in other cases the arms are outstretched out slightly raised or lowered. The fingers, when they are represented, are depicted as radiating from the hand.In four figures there is a straight line between the legs, representing the phallus. The biggest of them 0,25 X 0,20 m. is found on the left side of the rock ( fi g. 16 ) and it is surrounded by shallow cavities. On the opposite side there is another figure (fig. 17) 0,38 X 0,35 m. conspicuous because of its size and because of two shallow hollows on either side of the vertical trunk representing the breasts of a woman.Among the reptiles we can clearly distinguish snakes and probably lizards. We can not define with certainty kinds of birds depicted, of which theheads, the body, the tail and the legs are roughly shown. The arched tail of four of them, however, leads us to suggest swallows.One circle with four radii is obviously a symbol of the sun, while other circular and semicircular shapes probably symbolize the moon.For the time being we have no special chronological evidence, to date the rock engraving of Tsogar, except their relationship with other known depictions engraved on rocks from various countries.The rock engravings discovered at Tsogar, in western Thrace, have a close relationship with those in Italy ( Val Camonica ) and the Austrian Alps. From this relationship we can tentatively suggest, until new evidence come to light, that they date within the 13th and 12th centuries B.C., without excluding the possibility that they may go back to an older age.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Notes:
Περιέχει εικόνες
