The Magura Cave (Bulgarian: Магурата) is located in north-western Bulgaria close to the village of Rabisha, 18 kilometres from the town of Belogradchik in Vidin Province. The total length of the 15 million year old cave is 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The largest inland lake in the country, Rabisha Lake, is located in the vicinity of the cave and the whole region has been declared a natural landmark.Thanks to its prehistoric paintings, Magura is, with Grotta dei Cervi (Otranto) (south Italy), the most important and extended European post-Palaeolithic painted cave.Bones from different prehistoric species like cave bear or cave hyena have been discovered in the Magura Cave. Cave paintings dating from the late Neolithic, Epipaleolithic and early Bronze Age decorate some of the caves walls. The drawings may represent religious ceremonies, deities and hunting scenes, and are unique for the Balkan peninsula. One grouping from the late Neolithic has been interpreted as a solar calendar, the earliest such representation yet discovered in Europe.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 13:05:11 +0000
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