The territory of Apsheron is an area rich with
historic and prehistoric archaeological sites. The traces of ancient
civilisations, which lived here, are still unsolved mystery. One of
them is a field of burial mounds discovered recently not far from
Turkan settlement near Baku. A few years ago an amateur archeologist
Abbas Islamov found a mound on the steppe area. The mound was
surrounded with boulder stands out from the grass. It was decided to
start an archeological dig here. |
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In September 2004 group of enthusiasts lead by
professional archeologist from Azerbaijan Academy of Science Idris
Aliyev started excavations. On the photo Abbas Islamov (right) and Ron
Gallaher dig the top of the mound. |
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As a result of excavation in the center of the
hill two big blocks have been found out. Each of them is about 2
meters in length and have anthropomorphic forms (resembling a human
being). On one of figures the head and a breast can be recognased. On
a surface of stones notches are put. At a head of each of figures the
vertical stone has been established. Both figures are focused on the
West. |
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Works on clearing the mound have proceeded. An
active stone quarry locates in 50 meters from excavation. Therefore
there is a real threat of destruction of the mound. |
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Parts of a ceramic vessel have been found out near
the southern edge of a barrow. On a photo archeologist Idris Aliev
surveys a find. On the conclusion of the archeologist the ceramics is
dated a bronze age. |
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After clearing the ground around the central
figures a cromlech has appeared - an ideal circle in diameter of 9
meters, laid out of the squared and thoroughly adjusted stones.
By the way, it is I (Faig Nasibov) on a photo. Besides photo
camera I also actively worked with a shovel. |
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For the third day of excavation one more cromlech
has been appeared adjoining to the big circle. Diameter of this stone
circle is about 4 meters. |
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At last the most part of the hill has dig out. The
mound represents two stone circles, laid out as "8". There is one more
cromlech inside the big circle. 2 anthropomorphic stone blocks are
located in the centre of the mound. On a tentative estimation the
design of the mound is similar with Maikop burial mounds and is dated
2-3 millennia BC. The excavation has been proceeding.
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Plan of the mound based on the excavation and
created by me.
The given barrow is not unique in the given territory. There are
about 7-8 barrows available in the district.
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Photos of the burial mound are published for the first time (Faig
Nasibov, 2005).