The Chalcolithic Stone Fortress of Provadia-Solnitsata
The Chalcolithic Stone Fortress of Provadia-Solnitsata

Author(s): Vassil Nikolov
Subject(s): History, Archaeology, Military history, Social history
Published by: Издательский дом Stratum, Университет «Высшая антропологическая школа»
Keywords: Chalcolithic; salt production; stone fortresses
Summary/Abstract: The Middle and Late Chalcolithic settlement of Provadia-Solnitsata was exceptionally well fortified. Remains of three major, successively existing Chalcolithic fortification systems (4700—4200 BC) have been excavated. The massive and high stone walls enclosing it on all sides were the best protection for both the wealth gained as a result of salt production and trade, and for the lives of its residents. There has been no evidence so far of the existence of such a stone citadel during the fifth millennium BC in Europe which, apart from everything else, was an incredible achievement of the military theory and the building art. Its construction and reconstruction after several subsequent large earthquakes was an exclusively labor-consuming activity which involved the efforts of many people including highly specialized builders. That could have been done only for a sufficient amount of ‘money’, i. e. salt. The fortress of Provadia-Solnitsata could have been erected, maintained, rebuilt and extended only as a military center and a symbol of the power of the Middle and Late Chalcolithic community in the area of the Provadiyska River.

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