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different territories of Albania. This judgement maybe is acceptable for
comparatively ancient ceramics. But in the Early Middle Ages the general situation
was somewhat different. I.e. though not absolute, in this period both in quantity,
and quality showings of the product made in scale of country as a whole there was
observed relative similarity. The similar goods were produced both in cities, and
villages. Just the production volume was different to result from the fact that the
urban masters produced the goods for wide market, and the rural ones - more for
their needs. We should also take into account that pottery goods production is
individual dealing field. I.e. both taste, and skill level of different persons who
dealcd with the art, surely, were different. In such case it was practically
impossible to have goods produced by them on standard level being single for the
country's all populated areas. That's why irrespective of its shape, artistic-technical
and technological level, every art product should be regarded for individual
creative work of this or other master.
Stoneworking Art. Use of stone, in reality, coincides with the time of
human being's formation. Researches in Azykh cave and Quruchay valley fully
proved this. Change that took place in traditional trend of stoneworking art in new
historical conditions being notable for appearing of improved iron tools more
showed itself in rapid spreading of laying-building experience. On this background
there emerged such professions, like bricklaying, engraving and ornamental art.
Numerical growth of towns and urban-type large populated areas in the Early
Middle Ages and even more extension of existent towns, first of all, betokened
increase of the building scale.
Palace complexes, feudal castles, caravanserais, temples, courthouses,
fortresses and towers, bridges, numerous dwelling houses, workshops, in a word,
most of the constructions being necessary elements of towns' architectural
appearance were built from stone by the local masters.
Stoneworking art consists of three main stages: procuring, carving of stone
and stone engraving.
Research of numerous architectural monuments shows that in the Early
Middle Ages in comparison with other terrirories of Albania, on Ghirdman
province territory stone was particularly often used as building material to result
from abundancy of the local stone resources. And source of the stone resources of
Ghirdman territories is weathering process still continuing in the Major Caucasus
mountain range. Mountain rivers periodically overflowing and having brought
stone resources, which were weathered, to Alazan-Haftaran depression resulted in
appearing rich stone and shingle resources on the territory. It's notable that in the
places where the resources are abundant, there wasn't used alternative building
material.
For building the early-medieval monuments of Ghirdman province there
was widely used lime as hardening material. Let's remind that the Major Caucasus
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range is also rich by limestone resources. Big defensive works, in reality, were
built on the territories of such natural resources. For ex., it's supposed that lime
used for building Cavanshir fortress was baked in Sangar Yeri near it.
During archaeological researches in Mingachevir, Qabala and Shamakhy, as
well as Bayimli fortress (Mehravan) there were discovered many stone
undercolumns dating back to the Early Middle Ages. For the aim this raw material
was procured from near deposits. In some monuments, including Qyzlar fortress
and Kilsadagh temple there were discovered massive stone pieces procured and
brought from outside, but which haven't yet been used. From such stones there
were hewed epitaphs of the grave monuments and grave trunks.
In Ghirdman monuments there were also discovered grain stones of
different shapes, stones belonging to manufactorial mill, grindstone, lids, mortars,
pestles of different shapes etc. domestic facilities. In this view there are interesting
boat-shape grainstones and manufactorical mill-related patterns discovered during
searches in Qalagah, Qyrlartapa, Qabala, Yekakhana, Kand Yeri monuments.
According to the specialists, raw material needed for such goods made from stone
was procured from Qabbro deposit at the Goychay river (Ismayilly district).
And all the forcgoings betoken that just like millenia before, stoneworking
art ranked high in everyday and economic life of the population in the Early
Middle Ages, too.
Woodworking Art. South slope of the Major Caucasus and particularly
Alazan-Haftaran depression historically were rich by forest cloak. Different trees
that naturally districted themselves there for centuries had been playing significant
role in meeting needs of the local population. The people widely used rich fruit and
berry-fruit resources, as well as wood resources of the forests. Various materials
made from oak, beech, elm-tree, walnut, pear, alder, ash-tree, juniper and being
widespread in forests of Ghirdman basin for centuries had been inexhaustible raw
material source for masters dealing with woodworking art.
According to the researchers, the first labour tools and self-defence
weapons used by primitive humans namely were made from wood. True, during
archaeological researches on the ancient populated areas, in comparison with items
made from stone, bone, metal, faiance and glass, wood items had been met very
seldom. And this, surely, can be explained by rottening and wearing out of the
wood items. Nevertheless, the fact of making from wood many stone tools,
artificial sickles, weapons and cutting-tool holders, known from archaeological
searches, is undoubtful. The words also can be applied to numerous arrow- and
spear-heads, cutting-tools, swords and daggers discovered in the early-medieval
monuments of Ghirdman basin. Just like in other branches of art, wide-scale
application of iron favoured specialization in woodworking art, too. I.e. appearance
of cutting, carving, boring, hewing art opened new possibilities for processing
wood goods.