Karanovo Tell South Sector
Karanovo South · Nova Zagora South Tell
Early Neolithic to Late Chalcolithic (6200–3800 BCE)·Karanovo I–VII → KGK VI (Gumelnița–Karanovo VI)·🇧🇬 Sliven Province, Nova Zagora District, Thracian Plain, Bulgaria
About
About Karanovo Tell South Sector
Karanovo Tell South Sector is the southern lobe of Karanovo tell — the type-site for Balkan Neolithic–Chalcolithic chronology (Karanovo I–VII, 6200–3800 BCE) on the Thracian plain. South sector deep sounding exposes all 7 phases from Early Neolithic Karanovo I (Starčevo contemporary) through Chalcolithic KGK VI with graphite ware and copper, sealed by EBA Ezero pits — the canonical 12-m tell stratigraphy partitioning the Danube Neolithic into Karanovo I–VII. South sector's graphite and copper metallurgy links Karanovo to Pietrele–Varna world.
Why it mattersBalkan Neolithic type-site south sector — 12-m Karanovo I–VII 6200–3800 BCE canonical sequence
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Karanovo tell genesis — burnt-house ritual or warfare layering?
- 02Ezero gap — hiatus or erosion at Karanovo?
Theories
- 01Hiller Vienna 7-phase Karanovo stratigraphy — south sector sequence debate
- 02Thracian plain tell aggregation Karanovo to Pietrele
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.6200 BCE Karanovo I Early Neolithic; VII 4000 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic to Late Chalcolithic (6200–3800 BCE)
- Culture
- Karanovo I–VII → KGK VI (Gumelnița–Karanovo VI)
- Builders
- Early Neolithic Karanovo farmers, Chalcolithic copper metallurgists
- Purpose
- South sector of Karanovo tell — type-site tell (12 m stratigraphy Karanovo I–VII) southern lobe with full Neolithic–Chalcolithic 7-phase sequence
- Abandoned
- c.3800 BCE KGK VI collapse
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1936–present M. Gimbutas, Todorova, Hiller (Vienna–Bulgarian)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1936
First Karanovo trench, Neolithic I–VII sequence initiated
1978
Hiller–Todorova Karanovo I–VII graph published south sector
2015
Vienna–Bulgarian south sector Ezero gap re-evaluation monograph
On the ground
Structures & features
42.5100° N · 25.9100° E · 195 m · 3 mapped features
Karanovo I Early Neolithic Base (6200 BCE)
settlementEarly Neolithic Starčevo-contemporary houses base of south sector
42.5108° N · 25.9106° EKGK VI Graphite–Copper Horizon
settlementChalcolithic Gumelnița–KGK VI graphite ware and copper south sector 4000 BCE
42.5093° N · 25.9091° EEzero EBA Pit Sealing
occupation layerEzero EBA pits sealing Chalcolithic tell south sector 3200 BCE
42.5111° N · 25.9107° E