Kokino, Bronze Age observatory in Staro Nagoričane Municipality, North Macedonia
Kokino is a Bronze Age archaeological site on a hilltop in Staro Nagoričane Municipality. The stone structures spread across several platforms with seating areas and markers aligned to track specific astronomical positions.
The site was continuously occupied from the 19th century BC until the 7th century BC. Researchers identified this location in the early 2000s and recognized its importance as an observation structure from ancient times.
The stone structures here show that people watched the sky and understood how the sun moved through the seasons. The arrangement of platforms and seats suggests that tracking celestial events held meaning for the community.
The site sits on a hilltop and requires a climb, so sturdy footwear and basic fitness are helpful. The best time to visit is during clear weather so you can see the structures well and take in the views.
The lower platforms contain seating niches positioned so that people sitting there could watch sunrises and sunsets on specific days of the year. This feature reveals a sophisticated understanding of how the sky works that developed long before modern science.
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