MICHAEL A. RAPPENGLCK, BARBARA RAPPENGLCK, NICK CAMPION (EDS.): ASTRONOMY AND POWER

ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL WORLD FROM ROMANIA

IHARKA SZCS-CSILLIK, ALEXANDRA COMA, ZOIA MAXIM Abstract: In Romania many researchers have interdisciplinary preoccupations, tackling the studied matter from many points of view. Such an

interdisciplinary research group was established in Cluj-Napoca. These arhaeoastronomical researches investigated the Romanian territory, by using

the astronomical orientation. Some of the arhaeoastronomical studied places, like sanctuaries, fortresses, and necropolises of the Neolithic time are found in Banat, Transylvania, Moldova and Muntenia. We enlisted just the well-known and published historical monuments: the Neolithic sanctuary

from Parta (Banat Culture), the Neolithic necropolises from Baia-Hamangia (Hamangia Culture), Cernica (Boian Culture, Dudeti Culture), Grditea Ulmilor (Gumelnia Culture), Iclod (Iclod Cultural Aspect), Cucuteni (Cucuteni Culture), and the Dacian world from Sarmizegetusa-Regia (Romanian Stonehenge). We presented these locations, culture and the arhaeoastronomical results obtained.

Keywords: Neolithic, sanctuary, necropolis, alignment, solstice, equinox, solar arc

Introduction

Romanian Archaeoastronomy is the study of how ancient

people interpreted what they saw on the night sky and

how they integrated their observations into their

mythologies, religions and rituals. Once they realized

they could determine e.g. when the opportune planting

and harvesting time had come, the sky observation

became important. The main objective of our

investigation is to prove that the celestial phenomenon

had a certain impact upon the different cultures and the

manner how this effect is reflected within the

archaeological finds. The archaeoastronomy can help

provide: the measurement (e.g. astronomical orientation

etc.) - including the timing - the study of symbols, as well

as the study of the peoples relation with supernatural world. It is difficult to interpret the remaining signs,

symbols, often impossible for todays researches. All these are evidence about what a great help in the

reconstruction of the cults is the archaeoastronomical

research.

Research in Romania

On the Romanian territory many Neolithic civilizations

exists. We briefly presented the well-known Neolithic

sites as the Neolithic shrine from Para, the Neolithic cemeteries from Iclod, Cernica, Grditea Ulmilor, the Neolithic settlements from Cucuteni, Baia Hamangia, and

the Romanian ancient observatory, namely

Sarmizegetusa-Regia.

SETTLEMENT: CUCUTENI

The Cucuteni-Trypillia culture is a late Neolithic

archaeological culture that flourished between 4500 BC

and 3000 BC in the Dniester-Dnieper region and in the

modern-day Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The culture was named after Cucuteni (Geographical

latitude: 4716 N), Iai county, Romania, and Trypilia, Ukraine, where first objects associated with this culture

were discovered in 1884. The excavations started in

1909.

The Cucuteni culture has been called the first urban

culture in Europe. The settlements were usually located

on a plateau, fortified with earthworks and ditches.

Agriculture is attested, as well as livestock-breeding,

mainly cattle.

The pottery is connected to the Linear Pottery culture.

Extant figurines excavated at the Cucuteni sites are

thought to represent the Mother goddess (Mantu 1994,

225).

One a vase we can find a complex geometric decoration

that might transmit an astronomical meaning: the four

circles with a cross in the center could represent the four

phases of the Moon, each circle being decorated with a

horn. Similarly decorated vessels were found in Romania

(Frumuica, Trgu Ocna, Valea Lupului), in Republic of Moldova and in the Ukraine.

SETTLEMENT: BAIA HAMANGIA

The Hamangia culture began around 5200 BC and lasted

until around 4500 BC; it was a Middle Neolithic culture

in the Dobruja to the right bank of the Danube in

Muntenia and up to the northeast of Bulgaria. It is named

after the site of Baia-Hamangia (Geographical latitude:

4443 N). Pottery figurines are extremely stylized and show

standing naked faceless women with emphasized breasts

and buttocks. There are flexed or supine inhumations in

cemeteries. Grave-gifts include flint, worked shells, bone

tools and shell-ornaments.

Interesting from astronomical viewpoint is that the

Hamangia culture used the bull symbol, which was

probably represented in pairs (man-woman) as exampled

in the well-known The Thinker and The Sitting woman figurines. The Sun passes through the Taurus (bull) constellation from mid-May to late June (spring,

fertility and fecundity).

These two figurines are considered masterpieces of

Neolithic art.

Painted vessels with complex geometrical patterns based

on spiral-motifs are typical in this culture. The shapes

include pots and wide bowls. Settlements consist of

rectangular houses with one or two rooms. They are

normally arranged on a rectangular grid. Settlements are

Figure 1. Phases of the Moon (Cucuteni culture), according to

Mantu (1994, 226)

IHARKA, SZCS-CSILLIK; ALEXANDRA COMA; ZOIA MAXIM: ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL WORLD FROM ROMANIA

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located along the coast, at the coast of lakes, on the lower

and middle river-terraces, sometimes in caves.

SANCTUARY: PARA

The excavations were started by Joachim Miloja in 1931

and were continued by another archaeologist (Lazarovici

2000, 113). It belongs to the Banat culture from the

period 4600-4200 BC, and it is placed near Timioara (Geographical latitude: 4545 N), Romania.

The size of the sanctuary was 11.6m x 6m x 1.75m and

its longest axis was oriented in the East-West direction

(Chi 2000, 12). The sanctuary was divided into 2 rooms, by a wall. On this dividing-wall it was a round window-

like opening, approximately 35cm in diameter at 1m from

the floor and 2.25m from the northern wall. In the centre

of the sanctuary was found a big altar table, that was

25cm thick and it extended 2.5m in length in booth

rooms. The sanctuary had a circular opening on its

western wall, probably representing the Sun,

approximately 30cm in diameter, 1.5m away from the

northern wall. Surrounding this circular opening through

which the light entered the sanctuary, in the exterior part

of the wall, an earthen Moon-shaped adornment about

8cm thick was fastened. Fixed against the same wall,

under the hole, there were a cup and a grinder. The grain

offerings brought to the Sun and Moon divinities

probably represents the cult of fecundity and fertility.

On a clay socket stood an idol bust or bull-statue (1.7m

high, near the eastern wall and 3m away from the

northern wall), probably representing the cult of the bull.

The statue was formed of a divine couple: The Bull God

and the Great Mother God. In the western part, guarded

by two posts, an altar-table was laid. Inside the altar,

several flint blades that were used for sacrifices were

discovered. On the NW corner of the socket (0.9m high)

were an amphora, probably containing liquid and food

devoted to the deities (Lazarovici 2006, 5).

In the NW corner of the sanctuary was a loom with seven

clay weights, illuminated in winter.

Near the northern wall on the altar table there were a

number of bull skull ornaments. This was the place where

the people brought their meat offerings, illuminated in

spring and in autumn.

The place for the grain offerings was on the altar-table,

near the southern wall, illuminated in summer.

From the astronomical viewpoint, we prove that the light

of sunset entered the sanctuary on the western wall

through the Sun-Moon circular-opening and through the

hole in the dividing wall and illuminated the NW corner

of the socket, where was the amphora.

Further more, we prove that in winter solstice, the

sunlight illuminated the loom, in some days, in spring

and autumn, the sunlight entered the hole in the dividing

wall and fell upon the socket. During the summer, the

Sun illuminated the place on the altar table, where the

grain offerings were brought (Csillik 2000, 115).

Very interesting is the fact that the vernal point in 4600

BC (Neolithic) was in the constellation of Taurus (Bull)

and in spring-autumn the Sun illuminated the socket of

the bull-statue (cult of fecundity and fertility).

From these facts results, that the Neolithic men from the

sanctuary of Para had a very good knowledge about the sky (Lazarovici 2002, 10).

Today, one can found the reconstructed sanctuary of

Para in the Banat Museum from Timioara.

SANCTUARY: SARMIZEGETUSA-REGIA

"Here stood one who studied the waxing and waning of

the moon, while still another regarded the labors of the

sun and observed how those bodies which were hastening

Figure 2. The Thinker and the Sitting woman from Hamangia,

according to Berciu (1966, 40)

Figure 3. The Neolithic shrine from Para

Figure 4. The illuminated Neolithic shrine from Para (model by Radu Zapotinschi)

MICHAEL A. RAPPENGLCK, BARBARA RAPPENGLCK, NICK CAMPION (EDS.): ASTRONOMY AND POWER

to go toward the east are whirled around and borne back

to the west by the rotation of the heavens." (Iordanes)

Legends mention, about the year 3000 BC, the existence

of a great empire, ruled by the priestess of the Uranian

Sun, Dacia Dochia. She was simultaneously the supreme judge and military leader.

On the Grditea hill laid the ancient Sarmizegetusa, the biggest Dacian known fortress. The fortress has 3

hectares between its walls, with an irregular plane. But

Sarmizegetusa Regia didn't have primary strategic

importance. The ruin complex that was named The

Sacred Precincts is at 100m from the Eastern Gate of the

Sarmizegetusa fortress. To that place we are guided by a

large road, paved with limestone slabs, delimited by a

short stone wall. The landscape is impressive. In the

middle of the secularly forest, the eye spot the

monumental traces of Dacian sanctuaries covering two

terraces.

Several Romanian astronomers made researches on this

fabulous Dacian place. Many astronomical hypotheses

are born from this plateau of the Romanian Stonehenge.

Sarmizegetusa Regia (Geographical latitude: 453736 N, Geographical longitude: 231862 E, Altitude: 990 m), located in the sacred Ortie Mountains of Romania, consists of the remains of a Fortified City and Sacred

Area. The city dates from 82 BC to 107 AD, during the

reign of Decebal, the last of the Dacian kings.

It was the most important Dacian religious, military and

politically center of Dacia during this period.

The archaeological ruins clearly illustrate the importance

of geometry in designing the city; rectangular and

polygonal structures were common, along with circular

sacred spaces. The small round sanctuary could be used

as a Calendar. This sanctuary has 124 pieces: 13 stabs

and 101 stalls. The 101 stalls are divided by the 13 stabs

in 13 groups as it follows: 8 groups of 8 stalls, 1 group of

7 stalls, 3 groups of 8 stalls, 1 group of 6 stalls. 1 stall = 1

day and 1 stab is a mark for a week or a year. You can

start at any stall and one year means 3 complete rotations

plus 8 week. You mark that stab and continue

numbering. After 13 years (4748 days) all stabs are

marked and the Dacian calendar should be one day

behind the Gregorian calendar (in average 365.23 year).

We calculated the solar arc for Sarmizegetusa Regia in

100 BC, and results the azimuthal interval 56-123.

These solstice points we found in the big round

sanctuary. This emphasizes that the ancient Dacian man

had a very comprising geometrical and astronomical view

(Stnescu 1999, 32). The big round sanctuary could be a Calendar corrector

(365.24 days in a Dacian year).

The exterior circle has 104 stabs forming a perfect circle.

The next circle touching the exterior circle and has 210

pieces: 180 stalls divided by 30 stabs in 30 groups of 6

stalls. The third interior circle has 68 stalls arranged like

this: 17 Stalls - 4 Slabs - 18 Stalls - 3 Slabs - 16 Stalls - 4

Slabs - 17 Stalls - 4 Slabs. The interior altar has 72

pieces: 68 stalls organized in 2 groups each group divided

like this: 13 stalls - 2 slabs - 21 stalls - 2 slabs. The stalls

from the altar and the ones from the third circle forms 2

perpendicular lines (a cross), which is orientated perfect

to the cardinal points and shows the solstice points too.

This sanctuary can predict the lunar and solar eclipses.

Sarmizegetuza Regia illustrates perfectly the level of the

astronomical knowledge of our ancestors concerning the

Universe, the time, the seasons, the geographic and

astronomic orientation (Szcs-Csillik 2010, 198). The

sanctuary has a calendar system still insufficiently

studied, but the Andesite Sun is a jewel of universal

culture (Coma 1991, 10), perfect orientated to the North direction (theodolite, gnomon, Sundial, Sun sign, golden

ratio).

NECROPOLIS: CERNICA

An important moment for the Cernicas area is the discovery of the Neolithic necropolis (4600-4200 BC) in

the neighborhood of the former Iezerul cloister.

Up to date, on the Muntenia territory, this is the greatest

necropolis in the Neolithic age, discovered and

investigated by Gheorghe Cantacuzino. The monograph

(378 graves) from Cernica Neolithic necropolis was

published by Eugen Coma and Gheorghe Cantacuzino (Coma 2001, 18). This necropolis accidentally was found in 1961, on the

occasion of the systematic excavations from Cernica in

the Cldraru village, on the western bank of the Cernica Lake. In Cernica it was practiced a form of solar cult:

sunrise and sunset probably were observed within the

limits of the burial ritual. From aligned skeletons rates of

92.11% are also comprised in the western area of annual

oscillation of the Sun in azimuth. 26 skeletons are out of

the solar arc, but they are close to the winter and summer

solstice point. The reason can be a miscalculation, or an

act of expelling from the community, whose reason we

dont know at this moment. The Gaussian distribution of the skeletons from Cernica necropolis shows a west-east

orientation, with an apex at spring-autumn. This fact

shows that the mortality rate grows in spring and autumn.

This death-rate can be connected with epidemic

(influenza, hepatitis, encephalitis) or food missing (the

end of winter).

The anthropological studies made on the Cernica

necropolis showed that the Mediterranean

anthropological type was mostly frequent within the

Neolithic population, then followed by the Protoeuropid,

the Alpine and Nordic ones (Coma 2006, 150).

Figure 5. Sarmizegetusa Regia

IHARKA, SZCS-CSILLIK; ALEXANDRA COMA; ZOIA MAXIM: ARCHAEOASTRONOMICAL WORLD FROM ROMANIA

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The skeletons orientation in the Cernica cemetery backs up the archaeoastronomical hypothesis: in the Neolithic

time, the skeletons orientation was towards the sunrise, or

sunset on the day of burial, or dead of the individual.

The Neolithic people had possibly done a social

differentiation regarding the location in the cemetery (in

the middle it was the rich, healthy, protected person), and

in the orientation of the skeletons (derived from another

population, not native, foreign).

The main occupations of all Boian communities were

agriculture and animal husbandry, suitable to the

geographical environment of the plain, so that, they could

easily develop a solar calendar.

This Solar cult that subsequently appeared and was also

used for the burials was created by a systematical

observation of the Sun.

The anthropological studies made on the Cernica

necropolis showed that the Mediterranean

anthropological type was mostly frequent within the

Neolithic population, and then followed the Protoeuropid,

the Alpine and Nordic ones.

Four pregnant woman skeletons [graves: M158 (242),

M251 (264), M256 (280), M303 (284)] were found in

Cernica cemetery. Each skeleton is inside the solar arc

and is not isolated in cemetery.

Three on the belly skeletons [graves: M149 (258),

M237A (260), M318 (260)] were also discovered in the

Cernica necropolis. Each skeleton is inside the solar arc

and is not isolated in the necropolis. Very interesting is

that none of the skeletons have a funerary inventory.

Probably, the Neolithic people buried the dead person on

the belly to immobilize its spirit into the pit, to prevent it

from disturbing the living people.

Using mathematical and astronomical calculations, we

prove that the people of the Dudeti and Boian culture made their burials at the sunrise (sunset) aligned in the

Sun direction. In burials, the dead person had the legs

towards the sunrise direction.

So, we can admit the existence of a special cult. The

purpose of the practice can be a last desperate trial to

resurrect the dead person to life, the light of the Sun feeding with energy the resurrection moment.

NECROPOLIS: ICLOD

The Neolithic burial site Iclod (4200 BC) was discovered

by Mrton Roska at the beginning of the 20th century.

The dead person was buried on supine position, facing

the sunrise direction. Inside the graves, in the later stage

of the Iclod culture, there were found tools made of stone,

bone and obsidian, near the skeleton.

We determined the Sun azimuth for Iclod, corresponding

to summer and winter solstice (Wittmann 1979, 130). We

found an accuracy of 1 that the Sun azimuth measured

from the North is 53 for the summer solstice and 126

for the winter solstice.

We prove that 72% of the graves found there are

orientated within the rigorous limits of the annual

oscillation of sunrise azimuth (Maxim 2002, 20).

The grave, whose orientation is out of the annual

oscillation of sunrise azimuth belong to the last stage of

Iclod, when the eastern orientation was replaced with a

northern one.

NECROPOLIS: GRDITEA ULMILOR In Vrti village (Geographical latitude: 4414 N), on Grditea Ulmilor of the former Boian Lake, there was discovered the biggest necropolis belonging to the

Gumelnia culture (4000 BC). The necropolis, as spaces intended for the dead of

community, show a stage of population stabilization in

this area and, therefore, a stage of more obvious

intervention over the environment (Coma 1995, 56). In this necropolis the dead persons were grouped in

places specially arranged for them (outside the

settlements).

Within the excavated areas there were uncovered 118

graves belonging to the Gumelnia culture settlement. Of these graves, 80 were for adults, 35 for children and 3 for

Figure 6. The astronomical orientation of the skeletons

from Cernica

Figure 7. M17 grave from Iclod

MICHAEL A. RAPPENGLCK, BARBARA RAPPENGLCK, NICK CAMPION (EDS.): ASTRONOMY AND POWER

teenagers. They found also a few grave overlapping,

pointing to two burying stages.

The pits of the graves were not identified but in two

cases, their shapes being irregularly oval.

Most skeletons were flexed on the left side, oriented

towards the sunrise direction between azimuthal interval

70-117. In most cases, the hands were bent at the

elbows and laid with the palms front of the individuals faces.

The funerary inventory was not too rich, consisting of:

flint tools, copper pins with rhombic, two-lobe or

rhombic plate shaped head, biconical, or flat clay

artifacts, bone tips, shell pearls, amber beads, a few

golden artifacts.

The burying was in a flexed position, from a slight, then

moderate and up to a very pronounced one, usually on the

left side, while the offerings occurrence is usually scarce.

The details of the ritual (position of arms, the various

categories of offering and their share within the grave, the

use, or non-use of ochre, the degree of flexing in the case

of this position, the shape of the pit, etc.) do not seem to

have been submitted to rigorous standards. We should

mention childrens graves under and among dwellings, some of the skeletons bearing various traits that led to the

hypothesis of ritual sacrifices.

Conclusion

Archaeoastronomy use different methods from

archaeology, anthropology, astronomy, statistics, and

probability, in order to determine the ancient

civilizations preoccupations. Because these methods are miscellaneous and use data from different sources, their

collecting and processing process is a long lasting one.

Using mathematical and astronomical methods, we can

determine for example the solstice points for necropolis,

shrines and other historical buildings.

In the future, we plan to use our numerical programs for a

study regarding to other Neolithic necropolises and

buildings in the Carpathian Basin.

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