Kokino

Kokino ( _mk. Кокино) is an important archaeological site and a megalithic observatory discovered in 2001 by archeologist Jovica Stankovski in the northeastern Republic of Macedonia, approximately 30 km from the town of Kumanovo, near the village of Staro Nagorichane Latitude: 42.260000N Longitude: 21.850000E. It is situated 1013 m above sea level and covers an area of a 100-meter radius. The site is approximately 3800 years old. The oldest archaeological finds date from the Early Bronze Age. Finds from the Middle Bronze Age are the most numerous (mainly ceramic vessels, stone-mills and a few molds). An agglomeration from the Iron Age has also been discovered. The archaeo-astronomical research was carried out by the Bulgarian astro-physicians A. Stoev and M. Mulgova and continued in 2002 by G. Cenev from the Republic of Macedonia.

Kokino consists of two parts. It includes special stone markers used to track the movement of Sun and Moon on the eastern horizon. The observatory used the method of stationary observation, marking positions of the Sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox.

The importance of the site was confirmed by the U.S. space agency NASA, which placed it on its list of ancient observatories ^{[http://sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/2005/images/ao_poster.pdf]} .

# Abu Simbel, Egypt
# Stonehenge, Great Britain
# Angkor Wat, Cambodia
# Kokino, Macedonia
# Goseck circle, Germany

See also

* Chochev Kamen, from Shopsko Rudare, Kratovo - another potential 4.000 years old megalithic observatory (authenticity not yet proven).
* Adam of Macedonia
* Stobi
* Heraclea Lyncestis
* Scupi

External links

* [http://www.kokino.org.mk/index.html Kokino, The official website of the observatory]
* [http://www.cdnh.edu.mk/Proekti/multimedija2007/kokino/pocetna.html Kokino, Student project]
* [http://www.gyokomura.com/ancientobservatory1.html Kokino, Creative Direction by Gjoko Muratovski]
* [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10539 Kokino - Rock Outcrop in Macedonia]
* [http://www.mymacedonia.net/kokino/kokino.htm Megalithic Observatory Kokino]
* [http://culture.in.mk/story.asp?id=12140 Kokino observatory should be protected]
* [http://sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/2005/images/ao_poster.pdf Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge] by NASA (pdf, 736 KB)
* [http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2005/05/11/feature-02 Macedonia's Megalithic Kokino Observatory Places 4th on NASA List (SETimes.com)]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/kokino/ Pictures from Kokino]