Garvanov Kamak Sanctuary

The rock sanctuary at Garvanov Kamak Peak lies west of the Starosel Thracian cult centre, near the village of the same name. Despite the presence of pottery fragments around the cult site, it has not undergone archaeological investigation.

According to the archaeologist Dr Georgi Kitov, the sanctuary on Garvanov Kamak Peak forms part of the ancient Thracian cult centre at Starosel. This centre includes various sites such as Uyov Kamak, the Momini Gardi megalithic sanctuary, Peychova Mound, the sanctuary on Kozi Gramadi Peak and numerous burial mounds built on sacred hills.

The area around Starosel encompasses a broad territory containing various archaeological sites, and the Starosel cult centre also includes a Thracian temple beneath Chetinyova Mound. A small settlement area lay nearby during the Late Iron Age, and the territory is now well known as an archaeological region. Its geographical boundaries are defined by various geographical features.

Legends told by local people say that the peak was used as a target for Bulgarian Army exercises before 1990 and was demolished. Different versions exist, but none has been confirmed by official sources. Because of the risk posed by military exercises in nearby villages, the creation of such accounts is highly likely. Nevertheless, no traces of artillery explosions can be seen on the peak, which appears to contradict the shelling theory. There may have been only a single explosion in the early 1980s, intended to generate rumours that the site was an artillery target.