PALAEOBALKAN-WESTANATOLIAN COMMUNITY – EXPLANATION AND TERRITORIAL SCOPE
Alexandar Portalsky
South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad
Abstract: In this text the term Palaeobalkan-Westanatolian community is proposed to replace the other terms used: Thracian-Phrygian ethno-cultural community, the Pelasgo-Thracian circumaegean community, Mycenaean Thrace, Circumpontic macro-zone and others. Adopting the existence of the Palaeobalkan-Westanatolian community makes it possible to avoid long introductions explaining why parallels between the Balkans and Western Anatolia are made. The scholars can compare political models, functions of the kings, religious doctrines, and interpretations of archaeological complexes, especially cult objects. Besides, information from the Greek literary tradition could be referred to surrounding, non-literary societies with a great deal of confidence. Using the spiral retrospection method, information about later historical periods could also be referred to earlier periods.
Keywords: Ancient Anatolia, Phrygia, Lydia, Ancient Thrace, Palaeobalkan