Orlovi skali - Sarnitsa village

Overview

The Thracian fortress from the New Iron Age is located in the area of ​​Orlovi skali (Dogan kaya) 3 km west in a straight line from the center of the village of Sarnitsa. The rock complex is an ensemble of interesting and majestic rocks, some of which reach 30-40 meters in height. This is a rock phenomenon resembling a medieval castle with strong towers. Two rocky slopes between the rocks naturally protect the space of about 1.5 decares, additionally partitioned by a fortress wall of crushed stone, without solder. The pottery on the surface dates from the second half of the first millennium BC. Medieval graves have reportedly been found in the Dogan Kaya area. The partition wall connects the two rock massifs describing an arc and provides protection from the northwest. In a small area, the attacked stones have been cleared and a partially preserved wall about 1.2 meters high can be seen. About 10 meters in front of the lower rock massif you can see a shaft of stones - the remains of a wall. In the rock itself, the rainwater has dug a trough and a depression. It is possible that there was a reservoir between the remains of the wall and the rock. In the upper part of the rock massif there is a carved cistern. Now it can only be seen by climbers. There was probably a wooden scaffolding in the interior that provided access to it. The place is full of broken coarse and fine household ceramics. Numerous niches can be seen on the surrounding rocks. The numerous trapezoidal niches that dot the local rocks are undoubtedly the work of human hands. They are found only in the Eastern Rhodopes in the valley of the Arda River and its tributaries. They are dug on soft limestones and volcanic rocks, located in inaccessible places. Less secluded rocks on mountain hills are less common. Located singly or in smaller or larger groups, they are found in the south along the valley of the river Krumovitsa (Burgas-dere) all the way to Krumovgrad, in Momchilgrad, Ardin, Kardzhali, and in the north they can be seen along the upper reaches of the river Olu. gorge, in the lands of the village of Sarnitsa and the villages of Yonchevo and Dushka.