[Article déjà publié le 15 juin
2025]
On May 20, 2013, Georgi Georgiev and Ivelina Georgieva were exploring a wooded area of the Rhodope Mountains when they spotted an unusual rock partially hidden under the vegetation. Of imposing dimensions, it attracts attention with a clear streak that crosses its surface, interpreted as a representation of the Milky Way. By examining it closely, researchers discovered 56 conical cavities distributed with intriguing precision. A sky map?
The layouts suggest an intentional survey of the night sky, including identifiable constellations like Ursa Major and Leo, but also configurations reminiscent of Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Lyra and the Pleiades. This discovery, made without planned excavations, results from careful observation of a seemingly banal natural relief.
A coincidence that sheds light on the past
On May 20, 2013, Georgi Georgiev and Ivelina Georgieva were surveying the Rhodope Mountains during an exploration mission carried out near an ancient Thracian necropolis. Nothing suggested that they would come across an archaeological element of such singularity. While following a little-used forest path, their attention was drawn to a rock partially exposed under the vegetation. Its unusual position, oriented along an east-west axis, and the presence of a brilliant vein of white marble aroused their curiosity. As they approached, they discovered a surface etched with dozens of carefully arranged cavities.
The stone, approximately 2 by 3 meters, had 56 conical hollows of varying diameters. The distribution between the northern (24 cavities) and southern (32 cavities) halves is intriguing due to its regularity. According to Georgiev, this arrangement is not the result of natural erosion, but of intentional human work. “ The contrast of the marble under daylight is reminiscent of the Milky Way and reinforces the impression of a sky transcribed in stone», he explains toArkeonews.
© Georgi Georgiev.
Drawing of the stone.
Several constellations are clearly legible: Ursa Major and Leo are the most easily recognizable, while other aligned motifs suggest Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Lyra or even the Pleiades. This chance discovery triggered a series of analyzes aimed at understanding whether these marks could constitute a star map.
Unexpected astronomical sophistication
The researchers' first observations suggest that the arrangement of the cavities on the stone is therefore in no way arbitrary. Each carved conch seems to obey an astral logic. According to Georgi Georgiev, we therefore observe a particular distribution between the northern half and the southern half. It could reflect a voluntary division of the sky into two hemispheres. The varied diameters of the cavities would not constitute a simple aesthetic effect either. They would indicate the apparent magnitude of the stars, making it possible to visually differentiate the brightest stars from the others.
Ivelina Georgieva hypothesizes that the stone functioned as a primitive form of stellar calendar. By observing the movement of the constellations engraved over the seasons, prehistoric communities could anticipate climate changes, organize sowing or punctuate rituals. “This arrangement is not a coincidence, it reflects a fine reading of the sky and its cycless,” she explains.
Another notable element: the surface of the rock contains mica. This mineral reflects light and produces a sparkle under the sun's rays. This visual effect was probably not chosen by chance. In broad daylight, it evokes a starry sky, thus reinforcing the symbolic and ritual impact of the site.
Finally, the strategic location of the rock, combined with a second stone with a cavity facing east, suggests a dual use. It could be a celestial observatory and a landmark for travelers or navigators traveling in the Rhodope Mountains.
Dating and archaeological context
The absence of organic materials or ceramic fragments on the site currently excludes any carbon-14 or stratigraphic analysis. Faced with this constraint, researchers resort to a comparative approach. They place the creation of the engraved stone between the final Neolithic and the beginning of the Iron Age, i.e. between 2000 and 500 BC. This estimate is based on the proximity of the site to several Thracian necropolises and burial mounds. They bear witness to a dense and ritual human occupation at this time.
© Georgi Georgiev
Researcher Georgi Georgiev studies ancient stone.
The similarities with other prehistoric sanctuaries in the Balkans reinforce this hypothesis. In these places, the alignment of structures with celestial events such as the solstices or the rising of major constellations is already attested. “These archaeological clues suggest that local communities monitored the sky to organize their agricultural and ceremonial activities“, explains Georgiev.
The Skobelevo site also presents an intriguing element. As mentioned previously, a second stone, hollowed out with a cylindrical cavity, is oriented towards the east. This arrangement suggests an observation system making it possible to mark the heliacal rising of certain stars. Many civilizations used this phenomenon to define the start of the seasons.
This archaeological context, although still partial, positions the starstone in a tradition of cult sites and primitive observatories. It suggests that local populations associated celestial movements with social, agricultural and religious practices. They thus anchored their relationship with the sky in everyday life.
A heritage in danger
Despite its archaeological and scientific importance, the Skobelevo Starstone remains without official protection status to this day. No legal system protects it from natural or human degradation. In addition, its location in the forest makes the site particularly vulnerable to vandalism or erosion. Georgi Georgiev and Ivelina Georgieva have already alerted the Bulgarian authorities. They are pleading for its inclusion in the national register of archaeological monuments. They believe that official recognition would ensure the conservation of this unique artifact and encourage further research.
The work carried out to date is based exclusively on non-invasive methods. GPS surveys, observations of sunrise and sunset, as well as geological analyzes confirm the anthropogenic origin of the engraving and its astronomical alignment. These results support the idea of astronomical knowledge transmitted over several generations and anchored in cultural practices.
This ancient link between sky and culture is also found in more recent objects. Comparable stellar motifs appear on coins and jewelry from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, testifying to symbolic and artistic continuity. For researchers, these parallels illustrate how observation of the sky has shaped the collective imagination of societies in the Mediterranean basin and beyond.
Preserving the Skobelevo site therefore means protecting a rare piece of the puzzle of human history. Its in-depth study could make it a reference for European archaeoastronomy and a site of major interest for scientific and cultural tourism in Bulgaria. But without rapid intervention, this testimony to prehistoric celestial knowledge risks disappearing forever.
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