Basarabi Cave Complex 9-10c.
In 1957, a complex of small Christian churches, dwellings, crypts and tombs, which were used from the 9th until 11th century was discovered in a
Basarabi Cave Complex 9-10c.
In 1957, a complex of small Christian churches, dwellings, crypts and tombs, which were used from the 9th until 11th century was discovered in a cave carved into a chalk hill.
There are many inscriptions on the walls written variously in Asiatic Runes, the Greek alphabet, and Old Slavic Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets. The language of these Asiatic Runes and mixed inscriptions is still unknown. It may be Proto-Bulgarian, as suggested by a lot of Bulgarian scholars, or Turanic, as implied by Romanian scholars.
It is said that the names included are of Romanian (Latin) origin, such as "Petre" and even the possibly Nordic "Rainpilpe". Among the drawings on the walls can be found representations of Viking ships (Dobruja was most likely near the trading routes between the Vikings and the Byzantine Empire). Still, Rainpilpe is not of a known Northern origin, and the low hull banana-shaped keel of the so called Viking ship resembles Mediterranean patterns.
By Vladimir Agrigoroaei
Studia Patzinaka, Vol. 1 ( 2005)
Abstract: Ipoteza care susţine că unele dintre reprezentările de la Basarabi trebuie atribuite lumii scandinave a fost lansată în repetate rânduri de Ion Barnea1 şi acceptată de o mare parte a mediului ştiinţific românesc. Ea porneşte de la o serie de dovezi care ar indica o atare prezenţă: mai multe siluete de dragoni dublu-spiralaţi, un desen stilizat de corabie, schelete omeneşti, socotite a fi de tip nordic, numele propriu Rainpilpe, şi patru grafite de labirinturi. Aceste presupuse prezenţe vikinge sunt corelate cu vecinătatea drumului “de la varegi la greci”.
BASARABI – THE CAVE CHURCHES COMPLEX-MURFATLAR
Description of the archaeological site and of the carved images
by Dr. Constantin Chera
The complex of cave monuments in Basarabi was discovered in 1957 during the limestone quarry activities. The complex used from the second half of the 9th cent to the half of the 11th cent. consists of a number of galleries, dwellings, crypts, tombs, six chapels and a quarry from the same epoch, where limestone was cut out. All the composing elements of the architectural complex are dug into the chalky limestone hill at different levels, into the vertical walls of the ancient quarry.
The main conclusions regarding the location, the role and the significance of the cave monuments were already