JENAM 2000

THE MARK OF CASSIOPEIA CONSTELLATION ON THE CAPRIONE'S PROMONTORY (LERICI, NORTHERN ITALY)

INTRODUCTION
The promontory of Caprione (Oscan etimology kaprum = scapegoat) was a sacred megalithic (literal meaning = big stones) area; the countless water's springs that gushed out on it, creating spectacular light's games with thermal water also (about 20 000 b.C.) conferred the sacred value to the promontory. The hypothesis of a large abundance of spring water, between 6.000 b.C. and 2.500 b.C., has been confirmed by various paleoclimatic studies (Kallen 1997, 97-108); this phenomenon has been strongly amplified from the marine low standing that was filling after the last glaciation event. This area has been frequented since the prehistory; on the promontory we have found a rich flint industry inside a dolmenic structure similar to Belmonte's paper (Belmonte 2000, 213) and Tusa's paper (Tusa 2000). On the promontory it has been found a sandstone's Stela representing a Ligurian warrior prince with an Etruscan round shield and Celtic weapons (Gervasini L. & Maggiani A., 27 - 61); this is a reconversion of a Statua Stele (Group A, III millenium B.C.). The Roman and Middle Age are well represented with important installations also.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SITES
We have investigated the whole promontory and we have located, through toponymy's and ethnographic analysis, some megalithic, Roman and medieval sites; the megalithic sites are characterized by the presence of big stones and they has been studied with a geological and astronomical approach.
The Scornia's megalithic place (Celtic etymology from skeir-na = rocks) (Calzolari, 1996) has been discarded because it would seem more evolved and therefore later in comparison to the others. This area, in fact, introduce an ample semantic complexity and it can be divided in different sub-areas: 1) Lustratio; 2) Confarreatio; 3) Asa; 4) Solium. This subdivision has been obtained applying the liturgical canons documented in the Gubbio's Tables (III° sec. B.C.).
The site's location has been performed using the Regional Technical Map of Lerici and through G.P.S. (Global Position System); the five megalithic places are positioned according to Cassiopeia's mark (Fig. 1).
Site N° 1: Canaa Granda (italic etym. grande canale = big channel; Lat. 44° 5' 23"N - Long. 9° 54' 55"E - Elev. 107 m)
In this site there is a phallic structure, eastward trimmed, characterized by the presence on the summit of seven cup-marks, with that central one biggest. The cup-marks would seem, at sight, karst microformes (natural origin) but the extraordinary circular symmetry of this system, not found in the surrounding rocks, leans for an anthropic form.
Site N° 2: San Lorenzo (from Saint Lawrence, martyred on ardent grid; Lat. 44° 5' 25" N - Long. 9° 55' 57" E - Elev. 225 m)
In the San Lorenzo's rocky circle, the sun light produces a gilded butterfly image (Fig. 2) on a opposite phallic stone, through a Quadrilithon opening (Fig. 3) at the summer solstice sunset (Calzolari - Gori 2000, cover page and back cover page; Web Page Calzolari - Gori 2000). The Quadrilithon is a Trilithon completed by a stone placed across the lower space between the upright stones. The bright phenomenon appears since 20:15 (Az. 295.7° - El. 7.6° - GUIDE 7.0.) to 20:40 (Az. 299.1° - El. 4.4° - GUIDE 7.0.) at June 21, Summer Time. We have calculated the azimuth range of the opening of the Quadrilithon using the compass, the astronomical clock (Frankfurt time) and Guide 7.0, being impossible to use the theodolite (wooded area). The Quadrilithon's structure has been reconstructed with a geological technique; while the hole could be a natural phenomena also, the lower orthogonal portion of the structure seems of an anthropic origin. Moreover near the rocky circle, there is a protoromanic church (XII sec.) with the principal axle trimmed on the equinoxes (Bonora et al. 1998); this confirms the historical continuity of the astronomic-sacred value.
Site N° 3: Branzi (Celtic etymology from bram = phallic stone; Lat. 44° 4' 53" N - Long. 9° 56' 3" E - Elev. 330 m)
Next a doline we have found a great altar lozenge-shaped; it's above an inside hollow cylindrical-shaped base characterized by two symmetrical passer-by holes. This anthropic structure appears enigmatic in function and origin; the petrographic analysis has allowed us to establish as the altar's base is made up by "Dolomia saccaroide" (rock outcropping on the Caprione) while the altar's table litotype don't have characteristics found in other promontory outcropping (it has probably an extra-Caprione origin).
Site N° 4: Cattafossi (Italic etymology from catzum = phallic stone; Lat. 44° 4' 33" N - Long. 9° 56' 57" E - Elev. 300 m)
This site is located on high ground and it's circumscribed by a primitive stone wall. Inside this area there are two cobhan (Celtic etymology = rounded and closed place) shaped buildings and there are two rocks with some holes aligned toward the winter's solstice sunrise (az. 123°).
Site N° 5: Combara (Celtic etymology from cumba = valley with an exit only; Lat. 44° 3' 29" N - Long. 9° 56' 18" E - Elev. 180 m)
From inside the Combara's Grotto, you can see the winter solstice's sunset (azimuth 236°); this grotto has been adapted to a Cavaneo, a typical "tholos" building, similar to the etruscan "cupoles" and to the roman "mundus".

SACRED LANDSCAPE AND COSMIC GEOMETRIES
The presence of celestial representations on the terrestrial surface has been already introduced in numerous papers; between the most interesting we read:
· "...ancient societies could get knowledge and control of their territory by means of some kind of a former geodetic network, conceived as some basic reference frame for orientation of travellers....The zodiacal signs appear to be almost some kind of universal former alphabet..." (Gregori L. & G., 1995).
· "..the walls of the Alatri's town (Central Italy) remembers the Gemini's constellation…the pelasgic acropolis of the Ciociaria region are located with amazing accuracy with some constellations, almost always connected to the myth of Hercules…Leo Minor, Leo Maior, Gemini, Aquila, Hidra and Ursa Maior" (G.Copiz, 1998)
· "..in the Etruscan religion you searched an integration between astral knowledge and territory. A cosmic alchemy was been realized: the wedding between the earth and the sky, the union of celestial strengths with the telluric energies. The territory was shared in 12 towns with 12 trimmed temples: they were located according to the 12 zodiacal phases " (Massimo Frera personal communication, 2001)

SYMBOLISM
We read, about Çatal Hüyük butterfly: "the butterfly was a symbol of the regenerating power of the Goddess as early as the Neolithic" (Streep 1994, 133); according to the shamanic cosmogony after the life on the Earth, the human spirits return to the "generating-constellation". During this voyage the spirits are bird, butterfly or bee shaped; this fact is called "embodiment of the principle of Transformation" (Streep 1994, 135). The Cassiopeia's mark and the butterfly double-symbology are found in a terracotta figurine of Passo di Corvo, dated 5 700 - 5 300 B.C. (Fig. 4) (Gimbutas 1989, 23, fig. 36) according to a cosmogony wich is in the Neolithic time either in Southern Italy (Passo di Corvo) either in Northern Italy (Val Camonica) (Fig. 5) with the idolo Farfalla roccia 27 di Foppe di Nadro (Anati 1982, 45). In the Sas Concas eneolithic hypogeum (Nuoro), a necropolis with artificial grottoes (domus de janas) the ancient Sardinians engraved a cosmic representation placing four cup-marks on the left wall and the rudder on the right wall; this sketch represents the Great Bear constellation as it appeared at the 2.700 B.C. winter's solstice midnight. The dead and the birth, the butterfly, a shaman (?), the Gemini and Cassiopeia constellations (Fig. 6) are represented also (Calzolari E. & Gori D., 2001).
Finally we remember as near the Caprione's promontory, on the Apuane's Alps (the Sagro's Mountain, latin sacrum=holy) there is a rocky engraving with the mark of Cassiopeia made up by five cup-marks (Gruppo Archeol. Pisano, 1997).

CONCLUSION
This paper would like to be a new starting point to understand the megalithic and archaeoastronomic culture in Eastern Liguria, because there is a lack of archaeological findings owing to the relatively recent interest to this subject.
The archaeological authorities denie or suspend every judgment, having no element for dating these structures.
It would be rightful instead:
· to recognize the value of these structures as megalithism;
· to acknowledge the archaeoastronomic orientation's truthfulness;
· to catalogue these structures, temporarily, as trimmed constructions not yet dated and therefore
· to wait for technology may resolve this problem, unless comparative analysis with similar structures may provide.
It is our intention to continue the survey, collaborating with archaeological authorities, and to progress archaeoastronomic studies, today considered like optic illusions or visual impressions or expressions of modern cults.