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...

Photo credit: S. Mikayilova  Covering north and north-east regions of Azerbaijan territory Shirvanshahs` state was one of the long-lasting states in the history of Azerbaijani. Shamakhi, Baku, Shabran, Bandovan, Darband were the biggest cities and cultural centers of Shirvanshahs` state. Shamakhi was the first capital of the state, after the earthquake happened in 1192 they moved the capital to Baku. But Shamakhi was keeping its cultural dominance during the ages. During the archaeological excavations held in the cities of Shirvanshahs were found many artifacts showing us the life in the Medieval Ages in Azerbaijan. We can observe daily, agricultural, religious life, also craftsmanship with the help of archaeological finds. Craftsmen making handicrafts sometimes put some inscriptions on it. There are lots of epigraphic inscriptions on artifacts which are related to Shirvanshahs state. But mostly inscriptions were written on the stones. It could be pillars, pedestal...