The interrelations between burial orientations and astronomy in the balkan region
Jan. 1, 2006
Keywords:
burial orientations and astronomy
Balkan Region
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Abstract
The paper is trying to point out the existence of a possible
correlation between the position of the skeletons in the Neolithic time of
Romania and the Balkan region and the Sun. Most of the large
cemeteries considered here, with numerous skeletons, were excavated
some decades ago (in the 50’s and 60’s of the 20th century) so that, the
only instrument employed in the measurements was a simple compass.
It means that no precise figures could be given, with regard to the
orientation of the individuals under study; this is why some biases
could appear. Even today, we have very few possibilities to determine
the exact position of the skeletons in a necropolis; some of the possible
causes being also the pressure of the earth upon the bones, which could
somehow modify their initial position. In certain cases, some
disturbances could be also determined by the landslides, floods or
earthquakes, being known, for a long time, that Romania is situated into
a region with high seismic risk. None at the least, the subsequent human
intervenes, plundering for instance, have changed the initial situation.
That’s why there are some controversies regarding the issue of the
skeletons orientation to the Sun. Some scholars considered it as a true
fact (Cantacuzino Gh., Morintz S., 1968), while others were reluctant to
this hypothesis (Bacvarov K., 2002, 260). Yet, in Central and Eastern
Europe, the mentioned issue is considered to be very topical today
(Lichter C., 2001).
