Geoarchaeology and Archaeomineralogy (Eds. R. I. Kostov, B. Gaydarska, M. Gurova)

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; milenatonkova@hotmail.com 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 (from the territory of Bulgaria) (Fig. 1) is compiled on the basis of several studies. The most important are those from the First International Symposium of History of Mining in Southeast Europe held in Bulgaria in the 80-es of the XX c. (First Symposium on the History of Mining in South-East Europe, 1975) and the study of G. Georgiev on the traces of ancient mining in our lands (Georgiev, 1987). It was a good beginning, unfortunately that was left without constant extension, for the exchange of knowledge between geologists and archaeologists on the problems of this boundary for both scientific disciplines. The ancient gold mining data have been reviewed and discussed in relation to the localization of jewellery workshops, some of which are known to have exist in the close vicinity (Tonkova, 1994, 183-188; 1999). 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 be drawn that for most known examples one can speak only of ancient gold mining without having data allowing chronological decisions to be done from these findings. Only in certain cases the archaeological chance has made possible discovery of materials allowing more precise dating. Such are the cases with the antique mines of Kolio Marinovo (Sarnena Gora Mountain) and Babyak (Western Rhodopes) which are the object of our study. The evidences refer mainly to Roman and Medieval Ages although there are many indications that these deposits were known in earlier periods. These suggestions are a result of a thorough study of the settlement system from the territory of the recorded ancient mining exploitations. The field observations combined with studies on adjacent sites, certain historical facts and analyses of specialists from earth sciences sometimes lead to very encouraging results. Some of them will be presented bellow. The settlement system in the region of the Chirpan Heights from the V-I c. BC and gold extraction in Sarnena Gora in Antiquity One of the gold-bearing occurrences is located in the South part of Sarnena Gora Mountain in the area of the villages Chekhlare, Kolio Marinovo, Slavjanin and Gorno Selo. There was a claim for gold extraction at the mine Golden Fleece in the 20-es of the last century. Gold has been still panned in the Rakhmanlijska, Omourovska and Novoselska Rivers till now (Fig. 2). There are clear evidences for gold 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 village Kolio Marinovo which were described by Balaschev and Radoslavov. Coins minted in Serdicae between 197 and 218 were found in these galleries (Balaschev, 1922, 461-466; Radoslavov, 1934). This date serves as terminus ante quem, i.e. the galleries were surely exploited before this time (Tonkova, 2000, 137-138). At the same time, i.e. during the Roman period there was a fortress (quadriburgium, fortress with military functions, connected with the defense of roads or passes) (Dinchev, 1997, 95-96), obviously defending the functioning mines. It must be noted that just to the village of Kolio Marinovo there was an important Thracian sanctuary of Kybele and the Thracian Heros (Velkov, 1932/34, 65)1 the gold extraction was guarded both by the authority and by the deities. The evidence in this respect are already plentiful that will be discussed bellow. There are indirect data about the exploitation of mines in Kolio Marinovo in Pre-Roman times. In this respect quite meaningful is the concentration of hoards with coins of the second and I c. BC from the lands of five neighboring villages in the gold-bearing zone: Chekhlare, Kolio Marinovo (Zlatareva, 1960), Pravoslav, Medovo (Gerasimov, 1963; Nikolov, 1964) and Naidenovo (Gerasimov, 1955) (Fig. 3). Their burial in the late I c. BC must has been connected with a probable instability in the region (Nikolov, 1964) that could be referred to the control above the mines. Furthermore, Y. Yuroukova supposes that their burial was connected exactly with the offensive of the army of the Roman commander Lucullus, suppressed the revolted against the Roman expansion Pontic colonies. It is considered that Lucullus subjected the exploitation of gold from the mines at Kolio 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 and the surrounding area of the Sarnena Gora in the earlier Classical and Hellenistic Ages can not be illustrated with such 1 During the field inspections a part of a votive tablet of the Thracian Heros was found; unpublished data of the author. 267

Fig. 3. Map of the settlement system in the region of the Chirpan Heights analysis of the numerous gold artifacts, found in the rich graves of the local Thracian aristocrats. The perspective in such studies recently is demonstrated by the analyses of the gold pectoral from a grave dated ІV c. BC from the village of Bratya Daskalovi (former village Voinitsite) (Fig. 4). The gold content is comparable with the content of native gold from the area of Sarnena Gora (Kulev et al., in press) direct evidence. It, however, could be supposed on the ground of the concentration of numerous monuments coming from the region remains of a strong representative power of the V-IV c. BC. These are rich graves (Rosovets, Brezovo, Slavianin, Bratya Daskalovi), big settlements (Brezovo, Kolio Marinovo), a dense settlement network where Thracians and Greeks lived together (Medovo, Naidenovo, Saedinenie), developed road 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 (unpublished data). In fact, there are other evidences for probable traces of gold processing. Two stone blocks come from this site. It consists of separate unlinked segments made of volcanic tuff. As material, shape and dimensions, and therefore as a purpose, they are identical to corresponding elements of the movable millstone of the so called Delos rotary mill considered as a Greek phenomenon (Tonkova, 2000, 137, s. 1). Part of the scientists supposes that these mills, a Greek patent, were designed not for grinding of grain but for ore (Brunet, 1996). Another direction of study is the Fig. 4. Golden pectoral from a rich grave near the village of Bratya Daskalovi (former village Voinitsite) Our study on the settlement system in the region of the gold mines led to a great but expected by us discovery an important settlement of the time of the Thracian king Seuthes III. The remains of this Thracian settlement are situated in the Halka Bunar locality in the area of the village of Gorno Belevo, near the town of Chirpan. Structures belonging to three sectors manufacturing, cult and residential, have been 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 decade of the III c. BC (Tonkova, 2002). Without direct connection with the theme under consideration, this find is a circuitous argument for the level of living, political organization, commercial and cultural relations of a settlement and also illustrates the prosperity of the region connected with the mine exploitation also in the Early Hellenistic period. Thracian sanctuary near the village of Babyak and the ore mining deposit Babyak, Western Rhodopes The location and unique archaeological finds from the sanctuary near the village of Babyak present us with the opportunity to describe it as a fundamental cult place of the belligerent Bessoi the Thracian population that originated from the Western Rhodopes area and the valleys along the Upper Mesta River (Domaradski et al., 1999; Gotzev, 1994; Tonkova, 2005; 2007; Tonkova, Gotzev, Ed., 2008). The sanctuary near Babyak is situated over a threesectioned peak Babyashka Chuka located on a high summit (1653.6 m a.s.l.), а natural dominant over the surroundings, the view it reveals encompasses the valley of Razlog, Predela, Pirin, Rila, and the spectacular landscape of the Rhodopes. The remains of the cult activities that had taken place there have formed cultural layers thick up to 3 meters in some places. Abundant with archaeological materials, this area covers over 6-7 decares. The stratigraphic examinations showed that the sanctuary had been in exploitation for more than 14 centuries in the period between I mill. BC V c. AD. It existed during four chronological periods Late Bronze, Early Iron, Late Iron and Roman Age. The first ascertained period of zenith for the sanctuary is assigned to the second half of the Early Iron Age (VIII-VI c. BC). To that period can be assigned the earliest fortification walls. Other representatives of the period are also the first structures related to the offering of gifts: clay altars different in size and shape, stone heaps and ritual pits. The gifts represent mostly fragments of pottery with characteristic of this period ornaments. The second period of existence for the sanctuary refers to the Late Iron Age (V-I c. BC). Particularly distinctive is the growth of the sanctuary between the end of the III c. BC until I c. BC. In this period the cult area (temenos) is enclosed by light stone wall (peribol). The cult practices during that period are organized around altars and in gift depots, representing clay altars with different shape, ritual pits, stone heaps in lines, alternating platforms and clefts, rock niches filled with gifts and sealed with arranged little stones. The sanctuary flourished also during the Roman Period. The most significant traces of this time are explored in the High Pinnacle. There were found roughly processed stone column and ceramic building material which presumes the presence of a temple dating from that period. In that sector are found fragments of a monumental marble statue of a Thracian goddess of fertility, as well as votive tablets of Hera and Zeus. The various gifts of metal and clay also certify for diverse manifestations of the cult from that time. The large amount of silver and bronze coins (over 200) found in the sanctuary refers mostly to the Late Roman Age and Late Antiquity. There have been clarified some very important aspects of the cult chthonic and also the solar aspects. In the time of ancient Thrace these comprehensive powers are possessed by the highest Thracian deity the Great Thracian Goddess. Along with Her most probably a male deity had been worshipped as well, if we are to judge by the presented as gifts mining tools and weapons. During the Roman Age those gods were personified as Hera and Zeus, according to the votive tablets found here. Among the gifts for the gods offered at the sanctuary most common are fragments of pottery and means of labor (large amount of loom weights and spindle whorls, sickles, knives, miners and jewelers tools), lots of personal objects related to decoration of the body and clothes (ornaments and fibulas made of silver and bronze), silver coins and trade stamps from II-I c. BC. Some of the gifts are objects which had been crafted particularly for the cult, but there are also objects which had been used in everyday life. Among them with a great importance for our investigation are those found in a stone heap dated from ІІІ-ІІ c. BC: two mining tools an iron axe and an axe-mattock (Fig. 5-6), found on a tray. Fig. 5. An iron axe from the sanctuary at the village of Babyak Fig. 6. An axe-mattock from the sanctuary at the village of Babyak Parts of stone pans and hand grinding mills with sluices were also found at the sanctuary (Fig. 7) (Tonkova, 2005, 173, T.II, 12,13, 18; 2007, 59, s. 10, 23, Table ІІ, 12, 13). According to Domaradski they are designed for grinding of the ore (Domaradski et al., 1999, 31, 39). Mining instruments are also of a great interest in this aspect. With the chisels and the jewels that were found, the cycle of extraction and fine treatment of the metal is evident. Chisels could be related to the activity of jewellery workshops for which there are evidences near the sanctuary during the Pre-Roman period: ІІІ- І c.bc. 269

Fig. 7. Hand grinding mills from the sanctuary at the village of Babyak Mining instruments represent the activity typical of martial Bessoi, local Thracian population which is known for their exceptional skills in mining. Discovering of the sanctuary is of a great importance, because its existence is probably connected with mining of gold. Today in the immediate proximity of the sanctuary entrances of the galleries that were used during the antique times are visible. Babyak is ore mining field which is proved to be used for mining gold and lead (Fig. 1, 2). Several years ago, during geological researches on this field on several places was gathered documentary evidence of galleries and large mining shafts where mining tools such as hammers, arrows, water pump made by wood and etc. were found). (Georgiev, 1987, 99-100). These remains are dated to the Middle Ages, but taking into account the materials related to mining from ІІІ-І c. BC that were found in the sanctuary could be assumed that the mine was used by the Thracian people in Pre-Roman times as well. According to archaeological researches made at the region of the ancient mines in the area of the village of Kolio Marinovo (Sarnena Gora Mountain) and near the sanctuary at the village of Babyak (Western Rhodopes) there are many evidences that gold deposits were also exploited during the Pre-Roman and Roman period. References Balaschev, G. 1922. The ancient gold mines at the village of Radomir, Chirpan District. Uchilishten Pregled, 21, 461-466 (in Bulgarian). Brunet, M. 1996. Le moulin délien. In: Techniques et économie antiques et médiévales: le temps de l'innovation. Colloque international (C.N.R.S.), Aix-en-Provence, 29-38. Dinchev, V. 1997. Roman Villas in Contemporary Bulgarian Territory. Sofia (in Bulgarian). Domaradski, M. et al. 1999. Monuments of Thracian culture along the upper stream of the Mesta River. Excavations and Investigations, 26, Sofia (in Bulgarian). First Symposium on the History of Mining in South-East Europe. 1975. Varna (in Bulgarian). Georgiev, 1987. Mineral Deposits at the TIme of the Thracians. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, 134 p. (in Bulgarian) Gerasimov, T. 1955. Collective finds of coins in 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954. Proc. Bulg. Archaeol. Inst., 20, 602-611(in Bulgarian). Gerasimov, T. 1963. Coin treasuries found in Bulgaria in 1960 and 1961. Proc. Bulg. Archaeol. Inst., 22, 257-270 (in Bulgarian). Gotzev, A. 1994. A new data about Thracian cult practices in the West Rhodopa mountain. In: Relations Thraco-Illyro- Helleniques. Actes du XIVe Symposium National de Thracologie (a participation Internationale)(Eds. P. Roman, M. Alexianu). Baile Herculane (14-19 septembre 1992), Bucarest, 266-274. Kulev, I., M. Tonkova, T. Stoyanov. (in press). Chemical composition of gold breast plates from ancient Thrace (5 th - 4 th century BC). Archaeologia Bulgarica. 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A new found Thracian centre from the Early Hellenistic Age at the Halka Bunar spring in the land of the village of Gorno Belevo (investigations in 2000 and 2001). Ann. Archaeol. Inst. Museum, 2, 148-196 (in Bulgarian) Tonkova, M. 2005. Les dépôts d offrandes du Deuxième âge du fer dans le sanctuaire thrace de Babjak, le Rhodope Occidental. In: The Culture of Thracians and their Neigbourgs. Proc. Intern. Symposium in Memory of Prof. Mieczislaw Domaradzki with a Round Table Archaeological Map of Bulgaria (Eds. J. Bouzek, L. Domaradzka), BAR Intern. Series 1350, 163-187. Tonkova, M. 2007. Depot for gifts and gifts from the Late Iron Age at the sanctuary near Babyak, Western Rhodopes. Ann. Nat. Archaeol. Museum, 11, 51-85 (in Bulgarian). Tonkova, M., A. Gotzev (Eds.). 2008. The Thracian Sanctuary at the Village of Babyak and its Archaeological Environment. Sofia (in Bulgarian). Velkov, I. 1932/34. Archaeological materials. Ann. Nar. Archaeol. Muzei, Sofia, 6, 61-97 (in Bulgarian). 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