Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve

National park in Azerbaijan

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural LandscapeUNESCO World Heritage Site

Entrance to the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape Reserve

Location| Azerbaijan
Includes|

1. Jinghindagh mountain – Yazylytepe hill
2. Boyukdash mountain
3. Kichikdash mountain

Criteria| Cultural: (iii)
Reference| 1076rev
Inscription| 2007 (31st Session)
Area| 537.22 ha (1,327.5 acres)
Buffer zone| 3,096.34 ha (7,651.2 acres)
Coordinates| 40°7′30″N 49°22′30″E﻿ / ﻿40.12500°N 49.37500°E﻿ / 40.12500; 49.37500

Location of Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve in Azerbaijan

Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve (Azerbaijani: Qobustan dövlət tarixi-bədii qoruğu) is a protected historic and natural site in Azerbaijan, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Baku, near the settlement of Gobustan. It was established to preserve the region’s prehistoric rock carvings, mud volcanoes, and natural musical stones.

The reserve includes the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, which spans 537 hectares and contains over 6,000 rock carvings that depict people, animals, battles, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances, camel caravans, and celestial symbols such as the sun and stars, dating back 5,000 to 20,000 years.

The area was first declared the Gobustan State Historical Artistic Preserve in 1966 by a decree of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR.[1] In 2007, the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.[2][3] That same year, the site was formally designated a National Reserve by presidential decree and named the Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve.[4] Since 2011, the Petroglyph Museum has been operating within the reserve.

## Prehistoric carvings

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The rock carvings and petroglyphs found in the part of the reserve called the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape show scenes of prehistoric life in the Caucasus. These well-preserved images illustrate ancient populations engaged in activities such as traveling by reed boats, hunting wild animals, and performing dances.[5] The Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl visited Azerbaijan multiple times between 1981 and his death in 2002 to study the site as part of his "Search for Odin".[6]

The language of the ancient population of Gobustan remains disputed, yet the petroglyphs provide valuable insights into the lives of prehistoric people who once inhabited the region. Over the course of thousands of years, more than 6,000 depictions of animals, humans, daily life, hunting, and dancing were carved into the rock. Most of these petroglyphs are found on large cliffs, spread across several ancient dwellings, and in some instances, newer images were carved over older ones. Many petroglyphs depict scenes from tribal life, and images found in the Seven Beauties cave suggest that women may have been involved in hunting. The earliest carvings featured naturalistic depictions of human and animal figures, often in irregular forms. Over time the representations became more accurate, with improved attention to proportions and details. The human figures typically have small heads and lack facial features. However, experts do not interpret this absence of facial features as a sign of lack of technical skill, as some carvings display a greater degree of complexity and detail.[7][8][9]

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## Roman inscription

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Roman rock inscription "Legio XII Fulminata", carved between 84 and 96 A.D.

In June 1948, Ishag Jafarzadeh, the head of the archaeological expedition from the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, discovered a Latin inscription on a large rock near the southeastern slope of Boyuk-Dash mountain, which reads:

> IMP DOMITIANO CAESARE AVG GERMANIC, LVCIVS IVLIVS MAXIMVS CENTVRIO LEG XII FVL (To Imp(erator) Domitianus Caesar Aug(ustus) Germanicus, (by) Lucius Julius Maximus, Centurion of Leg(ion) XII Ful(minata).)[10][11]

Due to its uniqueness and mysteriousness, the inscription attracted the attention of specialists in Latin epigraphy and history of ancient Rome and Transcaucasia. It is the easternmost of all known Latin inscriptions and the only one discovered within the territory of ancient Caucasian Albania. Most experts consider this inscription an indisputable proof of Roman military presence in eastern Transcaucasia in the late 1st century BC. An alternative theory suggests that the inscription might have been left by a Roman centurion who carried out a secret intelligence or diplomatic mission.[12]

## Gaval Dash

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Gaval Dash is a natural musical stone found exclusively in Gobustan. Located at the entrance to the reserve, it is one of four "singing stones" in the area. When struck with smaller rocks, this large, two-meter-long stone produces a hollow, ringing sound similar to the tambourine, or "gaval" in Azerbaijani. This unique resonance is thought to be caused by microscopic holes within the rock, formed by the region's dry climate and the effect of natural gas.[13]

## Mud volcanoes

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It is estimated that about 300 of the world's 700 mud volcanoes are located in Gobustan and the Caspian Sea. These volcanoes attract both scientists and tourists, with many visitors bathing in the mud, which is believed to have healing qualities.[14]

In April 2021, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex, which officially opened in June 2024. Covering an area of 12 hectares, the complex features a quad bike path, footpaths, a zip line, an observation tower, a parking lot, a souvenir shop, and therapeutic baths. The road infrastructure was upgraded with the extension of a 20-kilometer road from the Gobustan Reserve to the Gilinj mud volcano site and nearby volcanoes, creating the Baku-Gobustan-Mud Volcanoes tourism cluster. The Complex includes a Nature History Exhibition Hall showcasing a collection of animal skeletons from Azerbaijan and around the world, as well as a mineral exhibition featuring nearly 80 types of minerals found in Azerbaijan. There is also a 110-seat restaurant within the complex.[15][16]

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## Flora and fauna

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The natural conditions of the region were vastly different 20,000 to 25,000 years ago. Based on depictions of animals and human figures in Gobustan, it is believed that the climate was warm 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. People wore light clothing, with women dressed in short leather garments. Due to the permanently hot weather, abundant vegetation, and plentiful water, Gobustan was home to wild animals such as bulls, horses, deer, and goats. Rock carvings and archaeological evidence also suggest the presence of wolves, tigers, foxes, jackals, and other wildlife in the area.

In 1968, the bones of an unknown large animal were discovered 3 metres (9.8 ft) underground during excavation work near Atbulaq. The workers notified the Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan SSR. Upon examination, it was determined that the bones were the cervical vertebrae of the southern mammoth that once inhabited Gobustan.[9][17]

## See also

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* Nature of Azerbaijan
* National Parks of Azerbaijan
* State Reserves of Azerbaijan
* State Game Reserves of Azerbaijan
* Zoroastrianism in Azerbaijan
* Gobustan District
* Ramana, Azerbaijan
* Khinalyg
* Yanar Dag
* Fire Temple of Baku

## References

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1. ^ Farajova, Malahat (2009). "Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2025.
2. ^ "Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
3. ^ "Gobustan State Historical-Artistic Reserve". Presidential Library. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
4. ^ Sigari, D., Shirinli, S., Abdullayev, R. (2020). Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (Azerbaijan). In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30018-0_2827
5. ^ "Early Man in Azerbaijan When Ancient Stones Speak by Ronnie Gallagher and Abbas Islamov". www.azer.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
6. ^ Heyerdahl, Thor (Summer 2000). "Scandinavian Ancestry. Tracing Roots to Azerbaijan". Azerbaijan International. No. 8.2. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
7. ^ "Qobustan". unesco.mfa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
8. ^ "ГАВАЛДАШ" (PDF).
9. ^ a b "Духовный Мир Конных И Лодочных Охотников Эпохи Бронзы Азербайджана" (PDF).
10. ^ Raoul, McLaughlin (2016). The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes: the Ancient World Economy and the Empires of Parthia, Central Asia and Han China. Havertown: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781473889828. OCLC 961065049.
11. ^ These markings constitute the most easterly evidence of Roman soldiers' movements. Marriott, James; Minio-Paluello, Mika (20 August 2013). The oil road: journeys from the Caspian Sea to the city of London (Updated paperback ed.). London: Verso Books. ISBN 9781781681282. OCLC 852808221.
12. ^ Smyshlyaev, Alexander (10 June 2021). "Latin Inscription from Azerbaijan: Problems and History of Interpretation". Вестник древней истории (in Russian). 78 (3): 581–610. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
13. ^ O'Hare, Maureen (12 December 2018). "Gobustan: Ancient land where stones can sing". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
14. ^ "Mud Volcanoes - Mysterious Phenomena Fascinate Scientists and Tourists by Ronnie Gallagher". www.azer.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
15. ^ "Groundbreaking ceremony was held for Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex in Absheron district". Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
16. ^ "Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex". Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
17. ^ "Петроглифы Гобустана".

## External links

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* Official website of the Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve
* Official website of the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex
* Gobustan from "Window to Baku"
* The Rock Engravings of Gobustan from a site devoted to Jean Auel's books.

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* t
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World Heritage Sites in Azerbaijan

* Gobustan National Park
* Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace
* Hyrcanian forests
* Walled City of Baku
* Shirvanshah's Palace
* Maiden Tower

Flag of Azerbaijan

Authority control databases

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* Pleiades

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* Kulturenvanteri monument

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