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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photos of
the burial mound are published for the first time.
