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Due to Strabonus, main labour tool used by Albanians for husbandry was
wood plough. According to T.Bunyadov, the information of Strabonus shouldn't be
applied to all territories of Albania. Resting upon Strabonus' information and
ethnographic proofs about existence of wood ploughs on Albania territory,
Y.I.Krupnov stated that heavy ploughs have been used in husbandry farming in
Caucasian countries as early as from the Iron Age.
Numerous material-cultural remnants discovered during wide-scale
archaeological researches betoken that each of different husbandry fields on
Ghirdman territories had self-peculiar and rich traditions. For ex., grain and flour
remnants discovered in Qyrlartapa, Qalagah, Qabala, Yekakhana etc. monuments
betoken wide spreading of crop-sowing on the territory beginning from the late I
millcnium B.C. Among the discoveries there are patterns belonging to wild, semi-
cultivated and cultivated wheat and barley species. During researches 1985 in
Qyrlartapa such patterns had been identified inside of farming eartherware pot
discovered nearly on 1-1,2 meters depth. The discoveries were identified by
eminent selectioner, scientist, academician I.D.Mustafayev. According to him, it's
the first discovery confirming use of cultivated wheat species on Azerbaijan
territory. It's regarded that research of millet remnants discovered in Yekakhana
mainly concerns multirow cultivated barley species, and some of them - two-row
wild barley seed. Among the discoveries there were soft species of wheat seeds.
Let's remind that analogical patterns had been met during Qalagah excavations.
Through the archaeological researches there had been also obtained millet and
paddy remnants. All this betokens breeding of wheat, barley, millet and paddy on
vast areas by the local population in ancient times and the Early Middle Ages. And
presence of wild, semi-cultivated and cultivated species amond ancient wheat and
barley patterns proves familiarity of the local population to seedfarming selection,
gradual growth of husbandry culture on Ghirdman territory as a whole.
Iron sickles, bone fingerstalls used as auxilliary tool, different grain stones,
special big pitchers, wells and stores for keeping grain and flour products, tandirs
for baking bread - all this betokens that crop-breeding was main dealing field of
population at Ghirdman territory in the Early Middle Ages. Historical sources and
archaeological discoveries enable to assert that on Ghirdman territory cotton
sowing, grape, pomegranate, walnut, hazelnut, fig and mulberry orchards,
especially stone fruits were widespread. The fruits grown by people or wildly
growing in nature were collected, dried, processed and produced by the local
inhabitants. In this view information of V century author Koriun about giving
delicious fruits and juices by Khurs to Mesrop Mashtots through his being to
Ghirdman province also causes interest. Due to Strabonus, here young grapevines
give yield already the second year even without proper care, and mature grapevines
gave so many bunches that most of them remained uncollected. M.Kalankatuisky
also tells that on the country's territory there were numerous grape orchards. Wine
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storage discovered during Qabala excavations, grape seed remnants, obtained in
Qalagah, Yekakhana etc. monuments, as well as numerous ethnographic proofs
also confirm that viticulture ranked with major economic fields on the territory.
Through IV-IX centuries, along with husbandry, cattle-breeding also played
big role in economic life of Ghirdman population. The work's subchapter II reads
about this. It's pointed out that unlike some other administrative-political units of
Albania, both lowland, and mountain pastures of Ghirdman territories were vast
pastures and hayfield areas. In summer season cattle chiefly was grazed on Alp
meadows near Main watershed, in autumn and spring months - on productive
pastures of Ilaftaran valley, and in winter period - on winter pastures of Shirvan
plain. So has been for centuries and so is now. Namely that's why «summer pasture
and «winter pasture notions were widespread on respective territory.
Let's mention that ancient authors also tell about cattle-breeding's being
major economic field in Albania. For ex., due to Strabonus, both wild, and
domestic animals well developed at Albanian territories. Referring to Aminat (IV
cent. B.C.), Elian who lived in II-III centuries informs about grazing many bull and
horse herds on the Caspian lands. K.V.Trevеr applied the information of Elian
about Caspis to Albanian tribes which dwelled Shirvan, Mil and Mughan plains
and dealcd with cattle-breeding. There is also given information about camels and
keeping hornless white goats on Albania territory. It's stated that Albanians
attached particular importance to horse-breeding farming. Surely, this was linked
to their natural connection with military art. It's not occasional that in battle against
Pompeum Albanians appeared with 22000 cavalries. According to written sources,
when necessary, Ghirdman province had to battle with 1000 cavalries.
The archaeological materials also confirm that horse-breeding fanning
ranked high in everyday life of Ghirdman population. In this view horse breedles,
stirrups and different metal items used for adorning breedles of battle horses,
discovered in Mollaisagly, Qalagah, Nuydi, Uzunboylar and Qyrlartapa, play big
importance.
Ostheological materials obtained during archaeological researches give full
idea about specific content of animals hunted or breeded in household farming.
This became possible owing to study of Qyrlartapa-related archaeological
materials by famous palaеnthologist-scientist D.Hajiyev. Namely in result of his
researches there was identified percentage superiority of the local domestic
animals, judging from the bones of big-homed cattle, goats, pigs and dogs
discovered here. Let's mention that analogical items, discovered among
ostheological materials dating back to III-VIII centuries in Mingachevir, also make
up percentage majority.
The big-homed animals were mainly used for producing meat and dairy
goods and also as boarding and draught means. Many household utensils and
labour tools discovered in Qyrlartapa, Qalagah, Tarkash etc. early-medieval