Kokino

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Kokino (Macedonian: Кокино) is an important archaeological site and a megalithic observatory discovered in 2001 by archeologist Jovica Stankovski in the northeastern Republic of Macedonia, approximately 30 km from the town of Kumanovo, near the village of Staro Nagorichane Latitude: 42.260000N Longitude: 21.850000E. It is situated 1013 m above sea level and covers an area of a 100-meter radius. The site is approximately 3800 years old. The oldest archaeological finds date from the Early Bronze Age. Finds from the Middle Bronze Age are the most numerous (mainly ceramic vessels, stone-mills and a few molds). An agglomeration from the Iron Age has also been discovered. The archaeo-astronomical research was carried out by the Bulgarian astro-physicians A. Stoev and M. Mulgova and continued in 2002 by G. Cenev from the Republic of Macedonia.

Kokino consists of two parts. It includes special stone markers used to track the movement of Sun and Moon on the eastern horizon. The observatory used the method of stationary observation, marking positions of the Sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox.