ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN THE CASPIAN
LITTORAL TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN
Seyidov A.G.
1
Keywords: Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, archaeology, Gobustan, Mesopotamia
Introduction
The Caspian littoral regions have been in the centre of attention from ancient times for
favourable natural conditions and resources. Numerous monuments were discovered and
studied in this territory with archaeological excavations.
Subsequent to the Turkmenchay peace treaty of 1828, Russian and European scholars-
travellers focused on Azerbaijan and its ancient monuments. In 1829, the Russian Imperial
Archaeological Committee delegated research in Azerbaijan to A.Yanovskini.
After Jacques De Morgan excavated and investigated more than 230 stone-box graves, dolmen
monuments in the 90s of 19
th
century, archaeological excavations in Lenkaran were suspended
for a long time [Bünyatov, 1960, p.9].
Materials and methods
The main methods of studying the Caspian littoral regions are archaeological excavations and
exploration works. This study of the ancient history and culture of the area is divided into two
conditional interims:
•
The Soviet era – 1920-1991
•
The years of independence – from 1991 up to now.
Archaeological study of Shabran city started in 1935, under the guidance of E.A.Pakhomov. As
a result of 80-year-long (intermittently) archaeological excavations, the city's medieval castle
walls, farm wells, stoves and ample material and cultural remains were discovered [Göyüşov,
1986, pp.142-150].
In 1939-1940, the Gobustan rock paintings were discovered on the
Caspian coast, in 60-70 km
from Baku. I.M.Jafarzadeh explored in Gobustan more than 6,000 petroglyphs of diverse
content during 1947-1966 [Azərbaycan maddi mədəniyyəti, 1949, 1951, 1953].
During the soil-related works in Syrt-Chichi village of Guba district in 1962, clay vessels, bronze
ornaments and weapons were obtained around the Galagyah hill in the Caspian basin. These
specimens verify that the North and North-East Azerbaijan was inhabited by ancient tribes.
In 1963-1965, archaeological excavations and researches were carried out in Absheron
peninsula under the leadership of M.Q.Aslanov. The obtained archaeological materials enabled
the scholars to inspect the occupation of the Bronze Age people, especially the way craft
developed independently.
1
Prof. Dr., Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Baku.
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In 1964-1967, in South-East Azerbaijan – in Shuvi village of Astara – the
Bronze Age maces
were found as material and cultural remains. In other villages (Telmankend, Pensar,
Tengerued, Mashehan, Alasha, etc.), mounds were detected. The abundant archaeological
material, i.e. weapon specimen were obtained from Telmankend mounds. These weapons are
similar to those of Western Asia. Telmankend mound is dated to the second half of the 4
th
- the
first half of the 3
rd
millennia BC [Mahmudov, 1967, pp.2-3].
Since 1965, J.N.Rustamov and F.M.Muradova carry out research excavations in the
monuments of "Ana Zagha", "Chardag zagha", "Feeruz", "Daire", "Boeyukdash" in Gobustan.
The alongside settlements mounds are also researched [Rüstəmov, Muradova, 2003].
In 1967, at the foot of Billebur mount in Lankaran, scholars F.R.Makhmudov and H.R.Kesemenli
discovered metal ware belonging to the Late Bronze and Early Iron ages.
From 1968 to the beginning of the 21
st
century, an underwater expedition operates in the
Caspian Sea nearby the Absheron peninsula. Interesting finds from
different periods are
obtained near Pirallahy, Guergan, Baliq, Dash Adasy [Квачидзе, 2003, pp.143-147].
Since 1969, Q.M.Aslanov leads the archaeological research almost all over the Absheron area,
including Shuvalan (Bandustu), Turkan settlements.
In 1970, the Mil-Mughan expedition led by H.R.Kesemenli unearthed Bronze Age material and
cultural remains in Gyz-tepe (Ilanly-tepe) settlement of Jalilabad district [Kəsəmənli, 1971, pp.
1-18].
In 1973, F.R.Mahmudov found stone tools from the Khudabakhish Yurdu Bronze Age
settlement near Hishkadere village of Masally district. The stone-covered mounds of ancient
sedentary agricultural tribes were dated to the 3
rd
millennium BC. Simultaneously, at the foot
of the
Talysh mountains, the Divalona monument consisting of stone cists and tombs,
surrounded by cromlech, was studied. The monuments belong to the 2
nd
-1
st
millennia BC.
In 1974-1975, research in the Absheron peninsula was continued by Q.M.Aslanov. The
historical monuments of the Mesolithic up to the Late Middle Ages, e.g. Bronze Age
settlements, mounds, stone cists and soil graves were discovered. The art samples of Bronze
and Early Iron ages, like cave
paintings, are of special significance amongst the material and
cultural monuments of Absheron.
In 1976-1977, the Mughan archaeological group unearthed Middle Bronze Age farm wells and
soil graves in Misharchay basin (Jalilabad). The finds were dated to the 3
rd
-2
nd
millennia BC.
The Late Bronze Age pottery vessels found during an exploration drilling carried out near the
Yukhari Seki part of Boeyukdash mountain in Gobustan in 1977. More abundant materials
(pottery
specimens, stone labour tools, etc.) were revealed in the so-called “Ana zagha” field.
In 1979, ancient art samples were discovered in Gobustan on the stone #110. On the southern
surface of the stone two goats facing each other, and a mankind holding a daf-like musical
instrument “Gaval”, a bow and arrow in his hands are depicted. These Bronze Age paintings
are of realistic style [Rüstəmov, Muradova, 2003].
Starting from 1982, the Guba-Khachmaz archaeological group conducted researches in Sarkar-
tepe settlement and investigated the Bronze Age layer of the monument. Pottery, stone, bone
and metal tools were obtained from the six unearthed constructional layers of the monument.
In 1986, in the Seyidli
village of Khachmaz region, traces of cremation burial tradition were
determined, bronze spearhead and clay containers found in a Middle Bronze Age tomb.
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