The Dramatic Abandonment of a Late-Antique Settlement in the South Caucasus: The First Archaeological Findings from Qaratəpə, Bərdə Rayon, Azerbaijan

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the first results of a new project investigating the provincial structure of the eastern Caucasus region in the late Antique and early Islamic periods. Excavations at the newly discovered rural archaeological site of Qaratəpə have so far revealed two phases of use: a burial ground dating to the 12th century a.d. and an unusually large earthen structure burnt in a catastrophic fire. Owing to the rapid abandonment of this building, whole ceramic and glass vessels were recovered from the fill of one of the rooms. The presence of charred seeds and roof timbers allowed for the acquisition of radiocarbon dates for the construction and abandonment of the building, placing the latter at the end of the 6th century a.d. These findings reveal crucial clues as to the transformation of the rural zone prior to the expansion of Islam, and a unique material assemblage dating from this period.