Silent Stones is one of the biggest Thracian cult burial complexes in the Eastern Rhodopes. It originated during the Early Iron Age (12th-6th Century BC) and was used also during Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

The site is located on top of a four-rock massif, divided by deep canyons. The rocky tomb of a famous member of the Thracian aristocracy holds a central space in the site. There are traces of an unfinished tomb to the west.

There are stairs hewn of rock leading to the top of the sanctuary. According to some scientists, local religious leaders (priests) used the stairs during their holy ceremonies. There is a big rectangular basin cut into the rocks there, believed to have been used as water reservoir.
All the surrounding rocks are studded with more than 200 rock niches. Most of the rock niches have trapezium form, but some are also cylindrically formed. It is believed that the local tribe used to put ashes of dead members of the lower society in them.

The Thracian cult burial complexes used to be surrounded by fortification walls built of hewn stones.

The worship of the local population for this sacred place was so strong and enduring, that during the late antiquity (in the 5th Century) when Christianity was adopted as an official religion of the Roman Empire, the authorities built a Christian temple at that place.

Similar Topics from Ancient Bulgaria Archive