The Kokino megalithic observatory in Macedonia was discovered in 2001 by archaeologist Jovica Stankovski, and is believed to be almost 4,000 years old. The name Kokino comes from the closest human settlement on Mount Tatic Rock. The term "megalithic" is coined from "mega" or large and "litos" or stone, which reflects Kokino's large and magnificent rocks. In 2005, the site was listed as the world's fourth megalithic observatory, according to NASA. Read more
Summer solstice kicks off summer At an ancient astronomic observatory, two people stand on a rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at sunrise on the day of the summer solstice. Read more
The site, at an altitude of more than 1,000m and with a 100m diameter, is described as the "Macedonian Stonehenge" and is ranked by NASA as the fourth oldest ancient observatory in the world, after Abu Simbel in Egypt, Stonehenge in Britain and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Several stone seats, known as thrones and facing the east horizon were also discovered on the site. Research showed that the observatory had a specific place for monitoring the stars and the sun, as well as specific holes through which the movement of the sun and the moon could be recorded. Read more
The latest archaeological research at the ancient observatory of Kokino in north-eastern Macedonia revealed layers from the Iron Period, around the seventh century BC, Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kancheska-Milevska declared today.
"At the moment, there is intensive archaeological research on several sectors of the site" - Elizabeta Kancheska-Milevska.
The megalith observatory of Kokino is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Cultures 2009 programme.
Kokino is an important archaeological site and a megalithic observatory discovered in 2001 by archaeologist Jovica Stankovski in the northeastern Republic of Macedonia, approximately 30 km from the town of Kumanovo, near the village of Staro Nagorichane