Tatul Sanctuary
Tatul Sanctuary (Bulgarian: Светилище Татул) is located 15 km (9.32 miles) east of the town of Momchilgrad near the village of Tatul, southern Bulgaria. This Thracian structure is also known as Orpheus' Sanctuary and dates back to the 5th - 4th centuries BC. It is considered to be the second most significant megalithic structure in eastern Rhodope Mountains. Scientists believe this structure was dedicated to Orpheus, while many legends proclaim that he is buried there.[1]
History and Findings
After discovery, the Thracian sanctuary at Tatul quickly became recognized as a significant cultural and historical center for not only Tatul, but Bulgaria as a whole. The earliest settlement at the site is estimated to date back to 4000 BC.
Excavations have unearthed approximately 30 clay altars among other historical artifacts from the 19th and 18th centuries BC; among these was an Iron Age idol, suggesting that the sanctuary was still in use up to 1200BC - 550BC. Additionally, the stone wall constructed around the hill is presumed to have taken place between the 4th and 1st centuries BC, further suggesting use up to this point.
Further development of the site included additional structures from the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD. However, with the Christianization of the Rhodopes in the late 4th to early 5th centuries, a defensive tower was constructed and the purpose of the complex shifted from a place of worship and became the private estate for a local ruler.[2]
References
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- Beglik Tash
- Garlo
- Tatul Sanctuary
- Barnenez
- Tumulus of Bougon
- Caixa de Rotllan
- Carnac
- Menhir de Champ-Dolent
- Dolmen de Bagneux
- Broken Menhir of Er Grah
- Dolmen de Mané-Kerioned
- Filitosa
- Gallardet Dolmen
- Gavrinis
- Harrespil
- Hotié de Viviane
- Kerzérho
- Locmariaquer megaliths
- Mane Braz
- Paddaghju
- Peyre-Brune
- Tombeau de Merlin
- Tremeca
- Verziau of Gargantua
- Altendorf
- Denghoog
- Fraubillen cross
- Harhoog
- Lancken-Granitz dolmens
- Lohra
- Megaliths in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Niedertiefenbach
- Oldendorfer Totenstatt
- Riesenstein
- Route of Megalithic Culture
- Sieben Steinhäuser
- Wotanstein
- Züschen
- Castel Menhir
- Le Creux ès Faïes
- Déhus Dolmen
- Les Fouillages
- La Gran'mère du Chimquière
- Le Trépied
- La Varde
- List of five-stone circles
- List of multiple-stone circles
- Aideen's Grave
- Ardgroom
- Ardristan standing stones
- Beltany stone circle
- Bohonagh
- Brownshill dolmen
- Brú na Bóinne
- Carrigagulla
- Carrowmore
- Castlenalacht Stone Row
- Castlestrange Stone
- Creevykeel Court Tomb
- Drombeg
- Gaulstown Portal Tomb
- Glantane East
- Grange stone circle
- High cross
- Kealkill
- Knocknakilla
- Meehambee Dolmen
- Piper's Stones
- Poulnabrone dolmen
- Reask
- Templebryan Stone Circle
- Turoe Stone
- Uragh Stone Circle
- Megalithic Temples (Borġ l-Imramma
- Borġ in-Nadur
- Buġibba
- Debdieba
- Ġgantija
- Ħaġar Qim
- Ħal Ġinwi
- Kordin
- Mnajdra
- Qortin l-Imdawwar
- Santa Verna
- Skorba
- Ta' Ħaġrat
- Ta' Marżiena
- Ta' Raddiena
- Tal-Qadi
- Tarxien
- Tas-Silġ
- Xemxija
- Xrobb l-Għaġin)
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
- Xagħra Stone Circle
- Almendres Cromlech
- Anta de Adrenunes
- Anta de Agualva
- Anta do Alto da Toupeira
- Antas do Barrocal
- Anta de Carcavelos
- Anta da Estria
- Antas da Valeira
- Anta do Monte Abraão
- Antas do Olival da Pêga
- Anta da Pedra dos Mouros
- Anta das Pedras Grandes
- Anta da Vidigueira
- Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro
- Barreira Megalithic Complex
- Dolmen of Cunha Baixa
- Dolmen of Carapito I
- Great Dolmen of Comenda da Igreja
- Menhir of Outeiro
- Menhir of Bulhoa
- Vale Maria do Meio Cromlech
- Xerez Cromlech
- Picture stones
- Runestones
- Stone circles
- Stone ships
- Boundary Stones
Kingdom