THE ROCK CULT PIT

 

               It is situated 150 m northeastern from “Badjalata” and is located over a small cave (sample 3, 13, 14). From the cave’s entrance by steppes, which have been cut in the rock, one can reach a not large rock platform, which is additionally raked. On it, right above the cave a rock pit with rectangular neck with measurements 1,25 х 1,00 m has been cut It is oriented by the directions of the world, where the longer side is by the direction north-south with a diversion 10° to the east. The walls to the bottom are slant and it is in depth of 1,20 m with measurements 0,95 х 0,75 х  5 m southeastern of the pit there are four smaller pits, in which probably a wooden construction had been moored. In the foot of the rock garland a thorough cutting of a platform is registered, but probably the building process is not finished. In the shallow cultural horizon around the pit a fibula, application and decoration from a quiver for a bow have been found.

We are tempted to accept the hypothesis, that it is a symbolic image of the underground home (the cave “Kogaion”), which Zalmoksis built, while he preached in the andreon. There he spent four years and so he proved his immortality.   From texts of the ancient  authors  however, we keep the impression, that the cave “Kogaion” was distant from the andreon and inaccessible for the common Thracian and also for the chosen from the circle of the educated men. That is why we could observe the rock pit eastern from “Badjaliata” possibly as a symbolic or real grave of a supreme priest or messenger, ritually mortified in front of the alter of the sanctuary. But it is more probable, that it is one of the tombs, in which cult objects were laid, which were as a rule near the rock sanctuary.