Stone Clock from the First Bulgarian Kingdom Discovered

International Ibox (?) ^ | Saturday, August 30, 2008 | Stefan Nikolov

[SunkenCiv]

Bulgarian citizens have accidentally come across two stone blocks near a Proto-Bulgarian fortress near Mogila village, Kaspichan municipality. The fortress is a part of the system, constructed for the defense of the capital Pliska. It closely resembles the Madara fortress, but is considerably smaller. At the initial investigation enormous treasure-hunter decays can be seen, reaching a depth of 4 meters.

Up to this moment no regular archeological studies have been carried out, but just on-foot surveillance by the late Professor Rasho Rashev. Typical Proto-Bulgarian graffiti are inscribed in one of the blocks, showing horsemen with their armory. Several horses and a central figure of a horseman holding a long lance can be clearly seen. The other stone block portrays a "stone clock" or a "stone calendar". This monument represents a semicircle, divided into 10 equal parts, plus two smaller parts marking its beginning and end. On the better preserved part the Greek letters "alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta" and "eta" can be seen, which define each of the equal parts. A Medieval cross is inscribed in the center, marking the central axis of the "clock". Such types of monuments are extremely rare for the early Medieval Age, experts from the National Historic Museum comment.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

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[curmudgeonII]

A stone clock?
Wasn't there a song some time back, Rock around the clock?

[SunkenCiv]

Comets like that are entirely necessary...

[Fred Nerks]

The other stone block portrays a "stone clock" or a "stone calendar". This monument represents a semicircle, divided into 10 equal parts...

Ten months of equal length? October 8 November 9 December 10.

Just how old might that stone clock be?

[Fred Nerks]

http://www.geocities.com/calendopaedia/roman.htm?200831

The Roman Calendar is believed to have been devised originally by Romulus (circa 750 BC), the founder of Rome. It was basically a lunar calendar and had ten months, six of 30 days and four of 31 days making a total of 304 days. The year started with the month of March and ended with the month of December. This was then followed by a gap before the next year started. The next year would start on a new moon to bring the calendar back into step with the lunar cycle. Many of the month names were based on the month number as follows :-

Month
Number Name Meaning
1 Martius Mars - god of war
2 Aprilis Origin uncertain
3 Maius Goddess Maia
4 Iunius Goddess Juno
5 Quintilis Fifth month
6 Sextilis Six month
7 September Seventh month
8 October Eighth month
9 November Ninth month
10 December Tenth month

[curmudgeonII]

Comets like that are entirely necessary...

I sit here nonplussed - which means I'm so amazed that I can't even add.

[SunkenCiv]

I Haley doubt that.

[SunkenCiv]

I knew the metric system was trouble... ;’)