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Rock carvings of Gobustan feature variety of themes, multiplicity of subjects and a
great deal of artistic mastery.
Images carved into the rock include hunters, women, wild oxen, horses, gazelles,
bezoar goats, deer, lions, dogs, wolves, pigs, etc. Scenery of mounted and cave hunting
together with battle scenes, joint work, sacrifice and harvesting may be found as well.
Other images include ritual dances performed by individuals or in groups, very similar
to the contemporary Azerbaijani round dance of yally. A number of carvings depict
boats with very schematic human figures. Among the carvings discovered there were
also portrayals of two-wheel carts, outlined fish figures, camel caravans, human
footprints, outline of an arch presumably related to a certain cult. Portrayals of snakes,
lizards, sun, stars, swastika, crosses and other signs and marks were also thoroughly
studied and recorded.
Along with these carvings, inscriptions in Arabic dating to various periods of
Azerbaijan’s medieval history were also found in the area together with the Latin
inscription testifying to the presence of the Roman troops (the 12th Legion Fulminata)
in the late 1st century A.D.
A Large number of stones with holes 5-8 cm in diameter were found in the immediate
vicinity of downhill shelters. These stones were used to tie animals. The rocks also
feature numerous cup-shaped hollows 10-30 cm deep and 15-40 cm in diameter. These
hollows are the most ancient primitive vessels for collection and storage of rain water,
as well as blood of sacrificial animals, etc.
The tambourine stone (known as Gaval Dash among local people) located at the
north-eastern foot of Mount Jyngyrdagh is of a particular interest. Hit by stones of
various size, it produces clangs of various tones. It could be very possible that this
clanging stone was used as a primitive musical tool for ritual dances.
Gobustan