The prehistoric and protohistoric site of Cocev Kamen
Cocev Kamen and its environment is a long-term project of HAEMUS introducing this location, both, to the science and the tourism sector. The project consists of:
– Training of students engaged in archaeology and cultural heritage through prospecting of the region of Cocev Kamen
– Workshop for students about chipped flint industry found at Cocev kamen
– Paleogeomorphological and paleoarchaeological reconstruction of Cocev Kamen, joit project with Institute of Geography at Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” Skopje, Macedonia
– Lectures about Cocev Kamen and curent research stadium
– Publications of the results gained from prospecting and cabinet work about geological, geomorphological, paleontological and archaeological findings at Cocev Kamen
Info about the site
For a long time Republic of Macedonia was terra blanca in the field of rock art and prehistoric rock painting. That is, until the discovery of Cocev Kamen, a rock from a volcanic origin consisting of caves and rock-shelters. It is believed that Cocev Kamen had been used as a temple from prehistoric times (Neolithic/Bronze age), throughout Roman times, up until the Middle Ages, due to the surrounding archaeological sites and the abundance of pottery fragments, as well as the flint tools.
There are visible interventions on the stone surface everywhere, in the form of stairs, pools, thrones, and one big cave was completely rearranged, with a large part of its wall ripped off to make a fenced platform looking at the nearby hill, which contains big natural stones interpreted by the locals as megaliths. Considering the sacred purposes of the site combined, it is also believed that Cocev Kamen had been used as a prehistoric observatory, hypothesis which is not proved yet by the science. This topic instigated a big debate in Macedonian archaeology through the media, but none of the opinions made have been confirmed yet with a scientific paper.
Some of the rock shelters are decorated with red figurative prehistoric rock art. The comparison with caves in Bulgaria, but especially with some rock paintings in Italy (such as Porto Badisco), indicates that these rock paintings belong to prehistory. Currently we are working on a scientifically paper to make a comparison of Cocev Kamen with some Balkan sites or maybe wider. Wish us a luck, because the site and science deserve for Cocev Kamen to be made known to a wider public.
Vasilka Dimitrovska, co-founder of HAEMUS, standing in front of the red rock art paintings at Cocev Kamen (probably Neolithic or Eneolithic/Bronze age)
Bibliography:
V. Dimitrovska, ‘Cocev Kamen, something more than just a rock!’ (in Macedonian), Kulturen zivot, Skopje, 2010, 30-37.
И. Милевски, В. Димитровска 2011, Геоморфолошки и геоархеолошки карактеристики на Цоцев Камен, Географски разгледи (44-45), 5-19 (2011), Институт за географија, Скопје.
Our Scientific papers about Cocev Kamen
Cocev Kamen, more than just a rock! Geomorhological features of Cocev kamen