Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape covers three areas of a plateau of rocky boulders rising out of the semi-desert of central Azerbaijan, with an outstanding collection of more than 6,000 rock engravings bearing testimony to 40,000 years of rock art. The site also features the remains of inhabited caves, settlements and burials, all reflecting an intensive human use by the inhabitants of the area during the wet period that followed the last Ice Age, from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The site, which covers an area of 537 ha, is part of the larger protected Gobustan Reservation.
Gobustan, located about 60 kilometers southwest of Baku in Azerbaijan, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its remarkable petroglyphs. These ancient stone carvings provide unique insight into the lives of people who lived in the region from the Upper Paleolithic (Stone Age) to the Middle Ages.
What are the petroglyphs of Gobustan?
Size and timeline: The site contains more than 6,000 petroglyphs, spanning a period of over 40,000 years. This makes it one of the world's most important rock art sites.
Subjects and motifs: The carvings depict a variety of scenes, including:
People: Hunting scenes, ritual dances, warriors with spears, and images of men and women.
Animals: The animal depictions vary depending on the period and demonstrate how hunting themes changed with climate. Animals such as goats, deer, wild boars and horses are common.
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