History of Azerbaijan

Photo below is the image of bridge which is situated on the river Tartar. It is im the centre of Barda city of Azerbaijan. According to historical sources bridge was built in the VI-VII  centuries AC. At that times Barda was one of the main cities in Azerbaijan which was the capital of Albanian state, and later became adminstrative centre of Arran region of Arab caliphate.  Tartar river was dividing Barda into two parts. Though ancient Barda city was bigger than modern Barda, now Barda city is divided into two parts by Tartar river, too. So there is new bridge there. Ancient bridge was built with fired bricks. Length of bridge was 170 m, and width 5 m. In historical period Tartar river changed its routes several times. So, some parts of bridge was destroyed by river flow. Only small part of this bridge now remaining. It is located on the right bank of Tartar river. In this coast of the river there is modern boulevard which local people and tourists come to rest and watch h...

Trepanated skull was found in Aghdam region of Azerbaijan. In 1985 archaeological expedition to Chalaghantepe Chalcolithic settlement unearthed this wonderful artefact. The head of excavations was Ideal Narimanov, one of the leaders of Azerbaijani archaeology. Researches of skull show that it is most probably skull of woman. I. Narimanov thinks the operation was done by the surgery knife made of flint. We can observe traces of operationin near the broken lines of skull in the top part.  Artefact dating to the mid of V millenium BC. Nowadays it is being exhibited in The National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. 

Shahryeri is a historical - archaeological site in South Azerbaijan, nowadays, Sabalan ostan of Iran Islamic Republic. It is situated in the province Meshkin. Shaharyeri site is about  60 km to the west from Meshkin city. The area is one of the ancient settlements where exist many archaeological and historical monuments. In this region, there are also rock art sites which are waiting to be discovered by scholars - archaeologists. Most of them can be dated back to the Bronze age. Shaharyeri monument is believed to go back to the period of Urartu state. And there is a version that at that time Urartu occupied this territory and fired Shaharyeri. There are stone sculptures which look like stone balbals, but I suppose that they are more ancient than balbals. During our visit to Shaharyeri Iranian friends talked a lot of information about Shahryeri site. But, unfortunately, they were not scientifically proved and was the words of people who love their region. Hope one day to go back...

From 28 of July, 2018 in Barda starts new excavation season by leading of Dr. P. Wordsworth from Oxford University. Barda is one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan and it is rich for its culture. Barda was capital of Albania state which formed in Northern Azerbaijan. So, it has great archaeological perspectives. But, Barda's history isn't limited only with Albania. After arab occupation life continued here. Untill Mongols come and destroy most cities Barda could keep its existance. In Caliphate period many arabian travellers came to Azerbaijan and wrote about this country and cities. There are lots of information about Barda city, too. In one of the writings Barda was called "Mother of Arran". Arran was the territory of Northern Azerbaijan from nowadays  Tbilisi to the Caspian Sea. Another arabian author who had been to Azerbaijan in the 20s of X century al-Estakhri writes: "After Esfehan and Rey there is no other city which has fertile lands and conve...

Garachay - Circassian is one of the republics forming Russian Federation. Republic was created in Soviet period. Most of people speak Garachay (or Karachay) language which belongs to Turkic language family. Republic is situated in the North Caucasus region, where The Great Caucasus range lays. So, the territory of Garachay - Circassian Republic is mostly mountainous and covered with forests. Also, many rivers flow from the area, Teberda, Karachay, Kubay are bigger ones. People mostly engaged in agriculture. You can meet herds of domestic animals everywhere. Furthermore, horses are the most loved animal, as the Karachays held nomadic and semi nomadic life during the history. Karachay - Circassian Republic can be proud of the hospitality of its people. They are nice, temperamental and sincere. Talking to and discussing topics with them are pleasure. Garachay - Circassian Republic has many historical and archaeological monuments. One of them Khumar...

ОРНАМЕНТЫ КЕРАМИКИ ПЕРИОДА ПОЗДНЕЙ БРОНЗЫ В АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНЕ Ключевые слова : Период поздней бронзы, орнаменты, керамика Территория Каваказа с древних пор играет роль моста соединяющего цивилизации Востока и Запада. Люди начали заселять эту территорию уже с периода палеолита. На территории Кавказа,и в частности в Азербайджане, который был центром возникновения нескольких археологических культур, протекали важные исторические процессы . Предметом изучения археологов, являются сложившиеся в период поздней бронзы Ходжалы-Кедабекская и Муганская археологические культуры . Характерной чертой этих культур, как и культур, более раннего периода, являются особенности керамики. Керамика периода поздней бронзы, наряду с орнаментами, дающими нам представление о культурной и духовной жизни, содержит также сведения о быте людей того периода. Ареал распространения Ходжалы-Кедабекской культуры охватывает западную часть Азербайджана-Гарабаг, Гянджа-Газахскую зону, а также прилегающие к Азер...

The Maiden Tower or Giz Galasi is one of the symbols of Baku city, the capital of Azerbaijan Republic. Giz Galasi is used to date to the 12th century. But researches are continuing and shows that at least Maiden Tower was built in the 6th century BC. In the 12th century it was rebuilt or restored. And it was reconstructed by Masud Davudoghlu (one of the famous architect of that period). Height of the Maiden Tower is 28 m. Interesting point of that is the foot of Giz Galasi is 28 m below the level of World Ocean.  The use of Tower is still arguable. Some researchers say it was a temple, some think it was observatory while others argue on it was defence tower.  Nowadays, Giz Galasi is one of the touristic side in Baku, where in it operate museum. On the top of tower there is nice view of Baku city and Caspian Sea.

Bast or Bastet was ancient Egyptian goddess. According to  Wikipedia  Bast worshiped from the Second Dynasty period. She was the symbol of home, domesticity, fertility, women's secret, childbirth and cats. She protected house, women and children from evil spritis and diseases. Bast was one of the daughters of Egyptian sun god, Ra. The cat was the symbol of Bast. There were found lots of cat statues during archaeological excavations in Egypt. Also, there was found Bast figure from Ganja city, Azerbaijan. It is dated to the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. This little figure is exhibited in the exposition of National Museum of Azerbaijani History. The photo below is the Bast figure found from Ganja.

Keywords: Late Bronze Age, Khojaly-Gedabey culture, zoomorphic ornaments, ceramics, pottery           The Bronze Age is an important period of Primitive Communal System, lasted more than three thousand years in Azerbaijan territory.Some essential changes in human’s life took place over this historical stage.It has to notice as the beginning human’s ability to learn pottery techniques with the help of pottery wheel and decoration of ceramics with certain descriptions by painting or carving among these changes.Generally, Bronze Age, which divides 3 periods are represented four great cultures itself. Naturally, differences among the cultures are observed on ceramic patterns.Khojaly-Gedabey, Nakhchivan and Talysh-Mughan archaeological cultures are spanned in The Late Bronze Age in the territory of Azerbaijan.           Khojaly-Gedabey culture covers the period from the middle of I...

After collapse of the empire of Alexander The Great in South Azerbaijan was formated state under rule of Atropat. State was called Atropatena after the name of its establisher king. Many centuries this kingdom lasted its existence and dynasty of Atropatis sovereigned there. Most scholars agree that the name of Azerbaijan comes from Atropatena, since it is changed form of that word. In Early Medieval Period territory was called as Aturpatakan, Adurbadagan, Adarbadagan. And aftar arab invasion as letter -"d' doesn't exist in arabic alphabet territory was used to write as Azerbaijan. And after some times territories from Darband city in the north till Hamadan in the south, Caspian Sea in the east till Eastern Anatolia in the west was called Azerbaijan. Coin minted after name of King Dari Atropati

 Qobustan qoruğunda Böyükdaş dağının Yuxarı Terrasında 29 №-li qayanın üzərində aşkar olunmuş ovçu rəsmləri.  Hunter drawings discovered on rock № 29 in the Upper Terrace of Beyukdash mountain in Gobustan preserve.   Рисунки охотников обнаруженные в заповеднике Гобустана в верхней террасе горы Беюкдаша на скале №29. Ovçu qadın. Hunter woman. Жэнщина охотница.

Lived in V century BC Herodotus begins his Book of “History” with these words: THESE are the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and the Barbarians from losing their due meed of glory; and withal to put on record what were their grounds of feuds. In this case Herodotus shows the importance of ancient monuments in the learning of Ancient World`s history. And he identifies the principle duties of science of history. Bakikhanov starts his book “Gulustane Iram” : Living without knowing history is like to fall into the desert. Every nation has to learn history. Learning history of every nation, every state is nice job. So, these two historians correctly define duties of History, and show/note importance of it. Archaeology is one of the History sciences. In USA archaeology is learned as the branch of Anthropology...