Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape: Azerbaijan's Plateau

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site in 2007.

The rocks in this region are spread over a large area and are known for their intriguing engravings and drawings.

Located in Baku, Azerbaijan, this area is of global importance because it holds a part of human past which we would have never known of otherwise. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is lined with rocks that come from the Upper Palaeolithic and Middle Ages. The drawings tell us a lot about life at the end of the last Ice Age and what humans did at that time. Studies are still underway and scientists hope to reveal more facts about human civilizations from the study of these rock carvings. Keep reading to learn more about the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape!

History

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape was found as a mere coincidence. The rock engravings were found by some workers in a stone quarry and the administrations were quickly made aware of the unusual drawings on the rocks. Once the government and learned circles were made aware of the few rocks that had already been found, serious excavations and research work started in the '30s. The first research work was carried out in 1939 by a researcher named Ishaq Jafarzade.

The government of Azerbaijan was very quick in understanding the importance of the rocks and how they were a reflection of ancient man. Hence, the area was protected. It was not until 2007 that UNESCO declared the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape a World Heritage Site.

Most of the rocks that are now on display at the site were excavated from caves. The many drawings are of hunting and flora and fauna, which shows the main occupation of man at the time. Several inscriptions come from the Bronze Age. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is also protected by UNESCO, which proves that this area is of great importance to humanity and our knowledge of the world back in the Palaeolithic Age.

The paintings that we can see on the rocks at this site are very simple in nature and do not have much detailing. Most of the huntsmen seen in the drawings are stick figures. The depiction of flora and fauna shows the relationship that people must have shared with their surroundings and how they enjoyed nature. Understandably, the detailing is not sufficient in telling us what kind of vegetation was prevalent in the area in the Palaeolithic Age.

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape also enjoys a UNESCO status of Enhanced Protection, which makes sure that the area will not be compromised in the case of any harmful situations. The people of Azerbaijan and their government also have many management plans in order to protect the area. However, we must also acknowledge that the appearance of stone quarries and prisons in the area could become a problem in the near future.

UNESCO granted the Enhanced Protection distinction to the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape on all three possible criterions, which is quite uncommon. There are some hopes that the rocks found at the site and other supporting artefacts will be able to give us more information regarding the Bronze Age.

Climate

The climate of Gobusta, Azerbaijan can best be described as semi-arid. The summers are quite hot and there is precipitation in the form of rain in the spring and autumn seasons. Apart from this, the winters in the region are often quite harsh. The population of the Gobustan is of nearly 50,000 individuals according to a census that was held in 2020.

The rocks at the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape come from the wet period that came right after the last Ice Age. This took place from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. At this time, people must have started using varied ingredients as dyes and started depicting their everyday lives in the form of paintings on rocks.

Geography

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is located in a mountainous region. Most of the rocks that make up this World Heritage Site were found inside caves, which tells us where the people of the ancient times preferred to live.

Gobustan is located near the Caspian Sea and is within Baku, which is the capital of Azerbaijan. The region is easy to reach and is protected against a management plan.

FAQs

What is Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape ?

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which holds relics from around 4000 years ago. The Palaeolithic rock art in this region comes from just after the last Ice Age and these ancient carvings may just be the earliest forms of manmade art that we have yet found through archaeological excavations.

What is special about Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape?

The rock carvings and art at the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is unique and important because it gives us a piece of human past. It is now also a part of Azerbaijan culture and a World Heritage Site. This is because the rock art there not only show us how man has evolved through the last 4000 years, but also opens doors for further research in the area. The rock art found in the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape comes from the wet time period from the Upper Palaeolithic and Middle Ages.

Where is the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape?

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is located in a mountainous area. It is located towards the southeastern direction of the Greater Caucasus mountain ridge. While it is situated near Qobustan, the area can also be reached from the capital, Baku. From Baku, you will only need to travel about 40 mi (64.3 km) in a southwest direction in order to reach the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape.

How did it get its name?

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape gets its name from the Gobustan settlement in Baku, which is the capital of Azerbaijan. Gobustan is situated near the Caspian sea and is famous for its many mud volcanoes.