NAHÇIVAN’IN KALKOLİTİK ÇAĞ KÜLTÜRÜ (AZERBAYCAN)

Abstract

The Chalcolithic Period culture of South Caucasus is studied by different researches, but some problems have not been unsolved. Communications of different stages of Chalcolithic Period culture, especially genesis questions and date of Late Chalcolithic Period culture are not clarified. Now there is a gap between Late Neolithic and Late Chalcolithic Period cultures. In Nakhchivan Kultepe, the Neolithic Period is replaced with the Early Bronze Period, and in the settlements such as Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen and the Khatunarkh-Aknashen Neolithic Period is replaced with the Late Chalcolithic Age. In this regard researches of roots of Late Chalcolithic Period culture in monuments of the Neolithic period were unsuccessful. The Chalcolithic culture of South Caucasus in some researches stated as Early Chalcolithic (4800-4000 BC) and Middle/Late Chalcolithic (4000-3200 BC). In spite of the fact that some researchers carried the early period of the Chalcolithic to the first half of the V. Millennium BC, the middle and late period to the second half of this millennium, however materials of the early and middle period are provided in insignificant quantity. In last years in Nakhchivan that is located on joint of South Caucasus and the Middle East numerous Chalcolithic monuments are revealed. At the same time researches of monuments such as Nakhchivan Tepe, Ucan Agil and Uzun Oba which located on the valley Nakhchivanchay and Sirabchay are revealed the findings relating to early (5000-4600 BC) and middle stage (4600-4400 BC) of Chalcolithic Period. These findings differ from findings of Ovchular Tepe, Tekhut, Sioni, Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen, Berikldeebi, Beyuk Kesik and others. By researches of monuments of the valley Sirabchay, it is clarified that Late Chalcolithic culture has two different periods. The monuments were revealed in the Sirabchay valley belongs to that period, following after the period provided by the settlement Ovcular Tepe (4400-4000 BC). This period represents a final stage of Chalcolithic culture (4000-3600 BC). Research of monuments Nakhchivan allows tracing serial stages of Chalcolithic culture of this region from the V. Millennium BC up to the IV. Millennium BC. Researches show that early and middle stage of Chalcolithic culture of Nakhchivan is connected to Dalma Tepe culture. Pottery like Dalma Tepe with impression and painted ornament is revealed in monuments of the basin of Urmia, Karabag, the Mil-Mugan steppe and East Anatolia. It shows communications of cultures of the basin of Urmia, Azerbaijan and East Anatolia. The influences of cultures of the Middle East to South Caucasus are connected with cultural economic relations. These connections were promoted by rich copper and obsidian deposits of South Caucasus.