Zoomorphic Cult Firepots

Since the first half of the 20th century a series of strange Celtic ceramic cult objects have been discovered at sites across Bulgaria. These consist of zoomorphic representations of animal heads snakes, horses, rams, etc.(1). Recent excavations, particularly in southwestern Bulgaria, have enabled us to definitively date these objects, and the associated Zepina type pottery to the 3 rd 1st c. BC (2). These artifacts, decorated with familiar La Tne motifs herring-bone, concentric circles, s-scrolls etc., appear most often at cult complexes where other Celtic material (eye beads, glass bracelets, daggers, fibulae etc.) has been found, and where the ritual of Killing the

Objects is to be observed (3), indicating that they had a religious purpose.

Fig. 1 Celtic zoomorphic Ram figurine/attachment from Boznik, Pernik region (History Museum of Pernik)

Information from these latest excavations have also enabled us to clarify the real nature of these artifacts. It has transpired that they are not in fact cult objects, but zoomorphic attachments from the lids of small portable fire-pots. (Fig. 2/3), which were used to carry fire to the cult complex. The significance of this practice is still unclear, but they appear to have been found mostly in areas of the sanctuaries where artifacts associated with women (household objects, jewelry, torcs etc.) predominate (4).

Fig. 2 Zoomorphic lid of a cult fire-pot. (Babyak, Blagoevgrad region) (after Tonkova, Gotcheva 2008)

From a geographical perspective most of these artifacts come from the upper Maritza and Struma river valleys, and the Sofia plain, i.e. the zoomorphic fire-pots and associated Zepina pottery are concentrated in sites in western and southern Bulgaria: Batak (Map A #1) (5), Belovo (Map A #2) (6), Sv. Ilia and Ostretz Peak (both near Velingrad Map A # 3,4) (7), Streltcha (Map A # 5) (8), Zepina fortress (Dorkovo Map A #6) (9), and Patelenitza (Map A # 7) (10) in the Pazardjik region; Babyak (Map A #8) (11), Belitsa (Map A # 9) (12), and Kochan (Map A # 10) (13) in the Blagoevgrad region; Kyustendil (Map A # 11) (14); Boznik (Pernik region Map A # 12) (15); Poduaine (Sofia Map A # 13) (16) and Muchovo (Map A # 14) (17) and Jana (Map A # 15) (18) in the Sofia region.

This area coincides with the dispersion of Celtic coins of the Strymon/Trident type (See Numismatics (6) Strymon/Trident and also Serdica articles) which indicates that they were produced by the same tribes.

Fig. 3 Zoomorphic attachment from the lid of a cult fire-pot from Sliven (after Sirakov 2009)

Other finds of these zoomorphic lids and the Zepina type pottery from other areas of Bulgaria Kazanlak/Seuthopolis (Map A # 16) (19), Targovischte (Map A # 17) (20), Plovdiv (Map A # 18) (21), Rousse (Map A # 19) (22), Skalsko (Gabrovo region Map A # 20) (23), and Sliven (Map A #21) (24) while fewer in number, confirm that they were not confined to the Celtic tribes of western Bulgaria, but were in use in other parts of the region.

Fig. 4 Celtic cult fire-pot from Babyak, Rhodope mountains (Southwestern Bulgaria)

Map A Distribution of recorded Celtic Zoomorphic Fire-Pots in Bulgaria (Provisional March 2013)

Sources Cited

1. Gerasimov 1960: 188189 = Gerasimov T. 1960. Keltski kultovi figuri ot Bulgariia. Izvestiia na Arkheologicheskiia institut (IAI) 23. Sofia: BAN, pp. 165204.; Mikov 1932 = Mikov, Vasil 19321933. Keltski nakhodki u nas. Bulgarska istoricheska biblioteka V: 1. Sofia; The revisionist interpretation of these objects and the associated Zepina pottery as Bronze Age Thracian Cult Ceramic during the communist period (Domaradski, 1984) has been completely discredited in recent years by scientific evidence which clearly shows that these were produced in the late Iron Age, i.e. 3rd 1st c. BC. 2. Tonkova, Gotcheva 2008 = , 2008: , . A.. . . (2008) 3. See Evil Eye and Killing the Objects articles. 4. Tonkova, Gotcheva op cit. 5. Domaradski 1984:147 148 (= ., a . . 1984) 6. Tonkova, Gotcheva op cit. 7. Katincharova 2005 (= . p 2004. In: . 2004 . XLIV 8. Domaradski op cit 9. Loc cit 10. Sirakov N. 2009 (= . . (2009) 11. Tonkova, Gotscheva op cit 12. Loc cit 13. Domaradski op cit 14. Loc cit 15. R a d o n o v Z., 1965, Kultovi pametnici v Okryzhnija muzej v Pernik. Arheologia,VII, 4, 47 53 16. Domaradski op cit 17. Loc cit 2005. P. 124; Tonkova, Gotscheva op cit.

18. Loc cit 19. Tonkova, Gotscheva op cit; Domaradski op cit. 20. Domaradski op cit 21. Sirakov op cit. 22. Tonkova, Gotscheva op cit. 23. Kisyov 1990, 65-69: Christov 1999. 24. Sirakov op cit.