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Weaving was also developed in Karabakh o f the Late Bronze -
Early Iron Age. Wool and fıber o f sheep and goats w ere used for weaving.
Traces o f fabric on many bronze items, the remains o f woolen fabric and
bast found in Borsunlu and Sarichoban burial mounds give a clear
picture o f weaving o f the time.
In the Late Bronze - Early Iron A ge exchange between Karabakh
tribes, neighbouring tribes and centres o f West Asia extended
signifıcantly. Tin, daggers, golden stamps with em bossed images of
animals were imported to Karabakh from West Asia. Stamps found in
Karabakh (Dovshanli) are identical to the stamps o f Tepe-Sialk (Iran).
Karabakh tribes maintained relations with Babylon and Assyria.
Beads discovered ın Khojali bore the name ofthe Assyrian kings - Adad-
nirari, written in cuneiform. The maturity o f metalwork in Karabakh
during this period is evident from beads, shields, tiger headed items found
in Khojali burial mounds (mounds 1,11, 14, 18,20, 120), cylinder stamp
and beads discovered in Dovshanli; golden buckle, shields with ivory
engravings, bronze buttons, nails and pins covered with thin golden layer
and various golden items found in the large burial in Borsunlu.
Enamel and glass beads discovered in Khojali, Borsunlu,
Beyismarov and Dovshanli prove that there was a close exchange
between Karabakh, on one side, and Egypt, M esopotamia, Syria,
Palestine and Phoenicia, on the other.
Ivory items partially engraved w ith enamel, mother-of-pearl,
bronze and gold found in Akmahi, Kerkijahan, Borsunlu, Beyismarov,
Karabulag and Sarichoban are rare pieces o f art.
Items made o f mother-of-pearl were imported to Karabakh from
the regions o f the Red Sea,
Arab Sea, M editerranean, Indian Ocean and
Persian Gulf. These mother-of-pearl shells were used as jew elry and
ancient monetary units.
Tin imported to Karabakh from Indochina, M alaysia, England and
Spain stimulated new achievements in m etalwork. Saddle horses and
draught horses played an important role in establishment and
development o f cultural and economic links. K arabakh horses were also
used for trade exchange.
Property inequality deepened in K arabakh during the Late Bron-
ze - Early Iron Age. Rich and poor com m unity groups formed into
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independent classes. Rich families, some tribe chiefs and commanders
stood out in the com m unity and form ed the nobility.
Poor tribes, politically and econom ically weak, joined large and
strong tribes. Social disparity, property and class inequality in Karabakh
could be traced in Garatepe, burial mounds Akmahi, Borsunlu,
Beyismarov, Khojali, Dovshanli, Sarichoban and other sites.
Burial chamber. Sarichoban burial mound
Slaves, servants and many horses found in large graves and burials
o f rich people suggest the social disparity.
In Borsunlu grave crypt (25.6 sq.m.; 32x8x4 m) a tribe chief was
buried on wooden deathbed decorated with bronze and golden shields.
The grave contained nine slaves and eight horses.
The crypt also contained implements, bronze weapons, marble
m ace - symbol o f power; fragments o f ceramics, various rich samples o f
jewelry, ivory, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
In Ahmahi crypt, the buried chief was dolichocephalous, while a
slave sitting beside him was brachycephalic.