Cocev Kamen is a hilltop cave site of volcanic origin near the town of Kratovo. Objects (bone fossils) discovered near the cave suggest human presence since the Paleolithic. Authors agree that the site served as a gathering point for sacrificial rituals from the Neolithic, during the Bronze Age, throughout antiquity until the Middle Ages as clarified by an abundance of pottery shards, stone (flint) tools and bone fragments unearthed from the surrounding areas. Several caves and rock shelters are decorated with red figurative art work. Comparison with similar sites in Bulgaria and Italy suggests that the paintings are indeed prehistoric.

Debated remains the notion that Cocev Kamen has also been used as an (astronomical) observatory.

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Kratovo, North Macedonia
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Details

Founded: Paleolithic Age
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in North Macedonia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Goran Moskov (9 months ago)
magnificent place, but bad guiding points
Ivo Filipov (2 years ago)
One of the most fabulous prehistoric sites of The Balkan Peninsula. There are plenty of intruguing stone-hewn details as images of toads all over the rocks but you need eyes to see them. Across the hill there is most probably Neolithic necropolis that has never been escavated etc.
Tim Verschraegen (2 years ago)
Very nice place, but hard to find. You can drive up to the abandoned cafe, and start walking from there. The path is not marked, and we didn't get far on the rocks. If you go there, try to find a local guide and/or wear sturdy shoes
Damjan Bogdanovski (4 years ago)
Well survived the time of thousands of years.
Jelena Jelena (4 years ago)
For those who like pure nature.
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