Balkan Megaliths: Status, Orientation and Need for Precise Dating

Lyubomir Tsonev, Dimitar Kolev

Abstract

An attempt is made to provide an up-to-date picture of the Balkan megalithic area. Modern data are accumulated which demonstrate that megaliths are located not only in Thrace (as it is usually supposed till now) but also in North-East Bulgaria as well as on some greek islands (Samothrace, Naxos). For the first time the azimuthal orientation of 80 dolmens in Bulgaria is measured, analyzed and compared with respective data about the classic Thracian temples as well as with data about the dolmens from the Caucasus area. The necessity of direct dating of the Balkan megalithic objects is argued. Optically stimulated luminescence will be an appropriate dating technique in this case. International collaboration is proposed for creating a full and precise picture of the Balkan megaliths within the chronological framework of the pan-European (Mediterranean) megalithic region.