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Gobustan petroglyphs are exceptional testimony about the life style of ancient people: collective labor, hunting, harvest, ritual dance yalli, images of animals, food around the fire, images of women and men etc.
Gobustan Location
Gobustan National Park is located at the foot of the south-eastern part of the Caucasus Mountains, 60 km south-west of Baku. The main sight of the national park is Gobustan museum where rock carvings (petroglyphs) are protected. In 1966, on the territory of the Boyukdash Mountains (“Big Stone”), Kichikdash (“Little Stone”), Ginhirdag, Shongardag and Shikhgaya, and the Yazili Hill was established the Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve. On these mountains can be seen traces of artistic creativity of ancient people. Petroglyphs of the Gobustan museum included to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mud volcano
Gobustan Etymology
By the way, the location of a reserve is on natural ravines. The word Gobustan means “the edge of ravines” (from “gobu” – “hollow”, “ravine”, and “stan” – “edge”, “earth”)
Gobustan Description
Rock paintings of Gobustan were first discovered in 1939 by archaeologist I. Jafarzade. On this territory there are many traces of primitive inhabitance of people belong to the period of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic. Rock engravings of Gobustan cover a long historical period nearly 15,000 years. In the Gobustan can be found rock paintings created in the primitive epoch and up to the Middle Ages, nowadays there are about 6,000 drawings. The territory of Gobustan had favorable living conditions in the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age and was inhabited by hunters and fishermen. Gobustan petroglyphs are exceptional testimony about the lifestyle of ancient people: collective labor, hunting, harvest, ritual dance yalli, images of animals, food around the fire, images of women and men etc. Images of boats and sun are similar to petroglyphs which found in Sweden, in the Urals, and in Egypt. The famous Norwegian traveler and scientist Thor Heyerdahl visited Gobustan several times and conducted research there.
Roman Inscription
One of the most noteworthy inscriptions, incidentally, refers to Roman legionaries who invaded Azerbaijan in the 1st century AD. Roman epigraphic monument, written on a stone slab with a Latin inscription, and is located at the foot of the Boyukdash mountain.T his inscription is listed in epigraphy of great historical significance. The stone inscription reads: “In the reign of Emperor Domitian Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Lucius Julius Maximus, Centurion XII Legion of Lightning” shows that the 12th Roman Legion of Lightning crossed the territory of Gobustan in 84-96. Other sources do not provide any information about the visit of the Romans to the territory of Azerbaijan. The inscription left here refers to around 84-96, and its author is the Roman legionary of Emperor Domitian from the Fulminata legion (“Lightning”).
Gaval Dash
The fascinating stone of the tambourine can be found in Gobustan. This resonant rock was reproduced as a primitive musical instrument accompanying ritual chain dance (yallı), which is present in some petroglyphs and was made to ensure successful hunting. A simple section of the reserve museum, planned for possible reconstruction, offers an interesting hypothesis about the everyday life of the cave, creating a scene with food and a hunt for mannequins. Also, the tools and weapons found on the site are displayed. These primitive works of art reflect the culture, economy, philosophy, customs, and traditions of ancient Azerbaijanis. The rocks in Gobustan differ from others by its structure (Qaval dash).
