nscArchaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of EurasiaАрхеология, этнография и антропология Евразии1563-0110IAET SB RAS10.17746/1563-0110.2023.51.4.045-054nsc-1778Research ArticlePALEOENVIRONMENT. THE STONE AGEПАЛЕОЭКОЛОГИЯ. КАМЕННЫЙ ВЕКRock Art of the Ana Zaga Cave Shelter in the Archaeological Landscape of Gobustan, Azerbaijanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4041-8228FarajovaM. N.

Leading Researcher, Institute of Archaeology, Ethnography and Anthropology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; Associate Professor, Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts; Member of Board of Directors of Scientific Committee PRAT-CARP (Prehistoric Rock Art Trails / Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe); Expert of the Project “Rock Art Sites in the List of UNESCO”, Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Javid H. Ave. 115, Baku, AZ 1143, Azerbaijan; Inshaatchilar Ave. 39, Baku, AZ 1065, Azerbaijan; Calle Luis Riera Vega, 2, Santander, ES-39012, Spain; Ulyanova 19, Moscow, 117292, Russia

malahat@mail.ruAzerbaijan State University of Culture and ArtsAzerbaijan2023030120245144554Copyright © Farajova M.N., 20242024Farajova M.N.Farajova M.N.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://journal.archaeology.nsc.ru/jour/article/view/1778

The Agisoft and 3D Studio Max software was used to study the petroglyphs of the Ana Zaga rock shelter, the largest in Gobustan. Stylistic features typical of various periods are described, and radiocarbon estimates for various cultural layers are given. Chronological stages in the evolution of rock art are defined. On the basis of geological data concerning transgressions and regressions of the Caspian Sea, the date of the first human settlement of the Ana Zaga shelter is estimated. The species composition of extinct faunas represented in rock art is assessed. It is concluded that in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic, following the rise of the sea level, the rock shelter became the principal habitat. In the Bronze Age, after the sea level had fallen, the middle and lower terraces became suitable for living. As new landscapes were settled, the themes of petroglyphs changed.

GobustanAna Zaga rock shelterEarly MesolithicMount Boyukdashrock artAMS-dating3D-modelingReferencesAnati E. 1994 World Rock Art: The Primordial Language. Capo di Ponto: Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici. (Studi Comuni; vol. XII).Anati E. 1994 World Rock Art: The Primordial Language. Capo di Ponto: Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici. (Studi Comuni; vol. XII).Arslanov Kh.A., Yanina T.A., Chepalyga A.L., Svitoch A.A., Makshaev R.R., Maksimov F.E., Chernov S.B., Tertychniy N.I., Starikova A.A. 2016 On the age of the Khvalynian deposits of the Caspian Sea coasts according to 14C and 230Th/234U methods. Quaternary International, vol. 409, pt. A: 81–87.Arslanov Kh.A., Yanina T.A., Chepalyga A.L., Svitoch A.A., Makshaev R.R., Maksimov F.E., Chernov S.B., Tertychniy N.I., Starikova A.A. 2016 On the age of the Khvalynian deposits of the Caspian Sea coasts according to 14C and 230Th/234U methods. Quaternary International, vol. 409, pt. A: 81–87.Аzərbaycan Arxeologiyası: VI cilddə. 2008 1 cild: Daş dövrü. Bakı: Şərq-Qərb.Аzərbaycan Arxeologiyası: VI cilddə. 2008 1 cild: Daş dövrü. Bakı: Şərq-Qərb.Cəfərzadə İ.M. 1999 Qobustan qayaüstü rəsmləri. Bakı: XXI.Cəfərzadə İ.M. 1999 Qobustan qayaüstü rəsmləri. Bakı: XXI.Devlet E.G., Devlet M.A. 2011 Sokrovishcha naskalnogo iskusstva Severnoy i Vostochnoy Azii. Moscow: IA RAN.Devlet E.G., Devlet M.A. 2011 Sokrovishcha naskalnogo iskusstva Severnoy i Vostochnoy Azii. Moscow: IA RAN.Farajova M. 2011 Gobustan rock art cultural landscape. Adoranten magazine: 41–67.Farajova M. 2011 Gobustan rock art cultural landscape. Adoranten magazine: 41–67.Farajova M. 2012 Neolit Gobustana. In Sbornik materialov mezhdunar. nauch. konf. “Rannezemledelcheskiye kultury Kavkaza”. Azərbaycan Milli Elmlər Akademiyası Arxeologiya və Etnoqrafiya İnstitutu. “Qafqazın Erkən Əkinçilik Mədəniyyətləri” (məqalələr toplusu) Beynəlxalq elmi konfrans. Bakı: pp. 62–68.Farajova M. 2012 Neolit Gobustana. In Sbornik materialov mezhdunar. nauch. konf. “Rannezemledelcheskiye kultury Kavkaza”. Azərbaycan Milli Elmlər Akademiyası Arxeologiya və Etnoqrafiya İnstitutu. “Qafqazın Erkən Əkinçilik Mədəniyyətləri” (məqalələr toplusu) Beynəlxalq elmi konfrans. Bakı: pp. 62–68.Farajova M. 2015a Kulturno-istoricheskiy kontekst arkheologicheskogo kompleksa Gobustan. Rossiykaya arkheologiya, No. 4: 50–63.Farajova M. 2015a Kulturno-istoricheskiy kontekst arkheologicheskogo kompleksa Gobustan. Rossiykaya arkheologiya, No. 4: 50–63.Farajova M. 2015b Reconstruction of the archaeological landscape of the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the end of Upper Pleistocene-Early Holocene. In IGCP 610. Third Plenary Conference and Field Trip from the Caspian to Mediterranean: Environmental Change and Human Response during the Quaternary. Astrakhan, 22–30 Sept., 2015, A. Gilbert, V. Yanko-Hombach, T. Yanina (eds.). Moscow: Moscow State Univ. Press.Farajova M. 2015b Reconstruction of the archaeological landscape of the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the end of Upper Pleistocene-Early Holocene. In IGCP 610. Third Plenary Conference and Field Trip from the Caspian to Mediterranean: Environmental Change and Human Response during the Quaternary. Astrakhan, 22–30 Sept., 2015, A. Gilbert, V. Yanko-Hombach, T. Yanina (eds.). Moscow: Moscow State Univ. Press.Farajova M. 2015c Reconstruction of the archaeological landscape of the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the end of Upper Pleistocene-Early Holocene. In The International Geoscience Programme 610. Third Plenary Conference and Field Trip from the Caspian to Mediterranean: Environmental Change and Human Response during the Quaternary. Astrakhan, 22–30 Sept., 2015. Moscow: Moscow State Univ. Press, pp. 75–76.Farajova M. 2015c Reconstruction of the archaeological landscape of the western shore of the Caspian Sea at the end of Upper Pleistocene-Early Holocene. In The International Geoscience Programme 610. Third Plenary Conference and Field Trip from the Caspian to Mediterranean: Environmental Change and Human Response during the Quaternary. Astrakhan, 22–30 Sept., 2015. Moscow: Moscow State Univ. Press, pp. 75–76.Farajova M. 2016 Rekonstruktsiya arkheologicheskogo landshafta Gobustana v epokhu neolita. Bakı: Azərbaycan Arxeologiyası və Etnoqrafiyası 2015в, pp. 20–30.Farajova M. 2016 Rekonstruktsiya arkheologicheskogo landshafta Gobustana v epokhu neolita. Bakı: Azərbaycan Arxeologiyası və Etnoqrafiyası 2015в, pp. 20–30.Farajova M. 2018a Gaya arasy – samaya drevnyaya iz izvestnykh stoyanok Gobustana. Dövlət İdarəçiliyi Nəzəriyyə və Təcrübə, No. 4: 277–286.Farajova M. 2018a Gaya arasy – samaya drevnyaya iz izvestnykh stoyanok Gobustana. Dövlət İdarəçiliyi Nəzəriyyə və Təcrübə, No. 4: 277–286.Farajova M. 2018b Noviye podkhody i metody v izuchenii naskalnogo iskusstva Gobustana. Tarix və onun problemləri, No. 2: 296–300.Farajova M. 2018b Noviye podkhody i metody v izuchenii naskalnogo iskusstva Gobustana. Tarix və onun problemləri, No. 2: 296–300.Farajova M. 2018c About specifics of rock art of Gobustan and some innovative approaches to its interpretation (“Firuz 2” shelter). Quaternary International, vol. 491: 78–98.Farajova M. 2018c About specifics of rock art of Gobustan and some innovative approaches to its interpretation (“Firuz 2” shelter). Quaternary International, vol. 491: 78–98.Farajova M. 2021 O datirovke naskalnykh izobrazheniy Gobustana (Azerbaidzhan). Istoriya, arkheologiya i etnogrfiya Kavkaza, vol. 17 (3): 657–682.Farajova M. 2021 O datirovke naskalnykh izobrazheniy Gobustana (Azerbaidzhan). Istoriya, arkheologiya i etnogrfiya Kavkaza, vol. 17 (3): 657–682.Fərəcova M. 2007 Qobustan çalaları. Bakı: СBS.Fərəcova M. 2007 Qobustan çalaları. Bakı: СBS.Fərəcova M. 2009 Azərbaycan qayaüstü incəsənəti. Bakı: Aspoliqraf.Fərəcova M. 2009 Azərbaycan qayaüstü incəsənəti. Bakı: Aspoliqraf.Fərəcova M. 2018 Böyükdaş dağının yeni petroqlifləri haqqında (yuxarı səki, daş 29, şərq hissəsi). H.Əliyev ad. Azərbaycan Ali Hərbi Məktəbi: Elmi Əsərlər Məcmuəsi, No. 2 (31): 16–18.Fərəcova M. 2018 Böyükdaş dağının yeni petroqlifləri haqqında (yuxarı səki, daş 29, şərq hissəsi). H.Əliyev ad. Azərbaycan Ali Hərbi Məktəbi: Elmi Əsərlər Məcmuəsi, No. 2 (31): 16–18.Formozov A.A. 1969 Ocherki po pervobytnomu iskusstvu. Moscow: Nauka.Formozov A.A. 1969 Ocherki po pervobytnomu iskusstvu. Moscow: Nauka.Formozov A.A. 1980 Pamyatniki naskalnogo iskusstva na territorii SSSR. Moscow: Nauka.Formozov A.A. 1980 Pamyatniki naskalnogo iskusstva na territorii SSSR. Moscow: Nauka.Formozov A.A. 1987 Naskalniye izobrazheniya i ikh izucheniye. Moscow: Nauka.Formozov A.A. 1987 Naskalniye izobrazheniya i ikh izucheniye. Moscow: Nauka.Huyge D. 2009 Late Paleolithic and Epipalaeolithic rock art in Egypt: Qurta and El-Hosh. Archéo-Nil magazine, No. 19: 108–120.Huyge D. 2009 Late Paleolithic and Epipalaeolithic rock art in Egypt: Qurta and El-Hosh. Archéo-Nil magazine, No. 19: 108–120.Huyge D. 2013 “Ice Age” art at Qurta. Ancient Egypt, No. 77: 32–41.Huyge D. 2013 “Ice Age” art at Qurta. Ancient Egypt, No. 77: 32–41.Huyge D., Vandenberghe D.A.G, De Dapper M., Mees F., Claes W., Darnell J.C. 2011 First evidence of Pleistocene rock art in North Africa: Securing the age of the Qurta petroglyphs (Egypt) through OSL dating. Antiquity, No. 85: 1184–1193.Huyge D., Vandenberghe D.A.G, De Dapper M., Mees F., Claes W., Darnell J.C. 2011 First evidence of Pleistocene rock art in North Africa: Securing the age of the Qurta petroglyphs (Egypt) through OSL dating. Antiquity, No. 85: 1184–1193.İsmayılova Ş.H. 2006 Urmiyanın tunc dövrü gil fiqurları. In Azərbaycan arxeologiyası və etnoqrafiyası. Bakı: Nafta-Press, pp. 28–29.İsmayılova Ş.H. 2006 Urmiyanın tunc dövrü gil fiqurları. In Azərbaycan arxeologiyası və etnoqrafiyası. Bakı: Nafta-Press, pp. 28–29.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1945 Razvitiye arkheologicheskikh rabot v AzSSR. Izvestiya AzFAN SSSR, No. 6: 125–137.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1945 Razvitiye arkheologicheskikh rabot v AzSSR. Izvestiya AzFAN SSSR, No. 6: 125–137.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1956 Drevneishiy period istorii Azerbaidzhana. In Ocherki po drevney istorii Azerbaidzhana. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 51–61.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1956 Drevneishiy period istorii Azerbaidzhana. In Ocherki po drevney istorii Azerbaidzhana. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 51–61.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1957 K voprosu drevney istorii Azerbaidzhana po arkheologicheskim dannym. In 10 let AN Azerbaidzhanskoy SSR: Sbornik dokl. nauch. sessii AN AzSSR. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 608–622.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1957 K voprosu drevney istorii Azerbaidzhana po arkheologicheskim dannym. In 10 let AN Azerbaidzhanskoy SSR: Sbornik dokl. nauch. sessii AN AzSSR. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 608–622.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1958 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Kobystana. In Trudy Inst. istorii AzSSR, vol. XIII. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 20–79.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1958 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Kobystana. In Trudy Inst. istorii AzSSR, vol. XIII. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 20–79.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1964 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Sessiya, posvyashchennaya itogam arkheologicheskikh rabot 1963 g.: Tezisy dokl. i soobshch. Baku: pp. 11–14.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1964 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Sessiya, posvyashchennaya itogam arkheologicheskikh rabot 1963 g.: Tezisy dokl. i soobshch. Baku: pp. 11–14.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1965a Petroglify Kobystana. In Materialy sessii, posvyashchennoy itogam arkheologicheskikh i etnograficheskikh issledovaniy 1964 g. v SSSR: Tezisy dokl. Baku: pp. 7–10.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1965a Petroglify Kobystana. In Materialy sessii, posvyashchennoy itogam arkheologicheskikh i etnograficheskikh issledovaniy 1964 g. v SSSR: Tezisy dokl. Baku: pp. 7–10.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1965b Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Arkheologicheskiye issledovaniya v Azerbaidzhane. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 15–28.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1965b Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Arkheologicheskiye issledovaniya v Azerbaidzhane. Baku: Izd. AN AzSSR, pp. 15–28.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1973 Gobustan. Baku: Elm.Jafarzadeh I.M. 1973 Gobustan. Baku: Elm.Mamedov A.V. 1997 The Late Pleistocene – Holocene history of the Caspian Sea. Quaternary International, vol. 41/42: 161–166.Mamedov A.V. 1997 The Late Pleistocene – Holocene history of the Caspian Sea. Quaternary International, vol. 41/42: 161–166.Rustamov D.N. 1984 Mezoliticheskaya stoyanka v Gobustane (Okyuzlyar-2). In Kamenniy vek i eneolit v Azerbaidzhane. Baku: Az. Gos. Univ., pp. 40–49.Rustamov D.N. 1984 Mezoliticheskaya stoyanka v Gobustane (Okyuzlyar-2). In Kamenniy vek i eneolit v Azerbaidzhane. Baku: Az. Gos. Univ., pp. 40–49.Rustamov D.N. 1986a Gaya arasy – stoyanka okhotnikov na dzheiranov. In Arkheologichekiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane. Baky: Elm, pp. 7–8.Rustamov D.N. 1986a Gaya arasy – stoyanka okhotnikov na dzheiranov. In Arkheologichekiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane. Baky: Elm, pp. 7–8.Rustamov D.N. 1986b Mezoliticheskiye zhenskiye statuetki Gobustana. In Doklady AN AzSSR, vol. XLII (3). Baku: Elm, pp. 92–95.Rustamov D.N. 1986b Mezoliticheskiye zhenskiye statuetki Gobustana. In Doklady AN AzSSR, vol. XLII (3). Baku: Elm, pp. 92–95.Rustamov D.N. 1990 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Problemy izucheniya naskalnykh izobrazheniy v SSSR. Moscow: IA AN SSSR, pp. 99–103.Rustamov D.N. 1990 Naskalniye izobrazheniya Gobustana. In Problemy izucheniya naskalnykh izobrazheniy v SSSR. Moscow: IA AN SSSR, pp. 99–103.Rustamov D. 2000 Gobustan – ochag drevney kultury Azerbaidzhana. Baku: Nurlan.Rustamov D. 2000 Gobustan – ochag drevney kultury Azerbaidzhana. Baku: Nurlan.Rustamov D. 2003 Petroglify Gobustana. Gobustan – ochag drevney kultury Azerbaidzhana, bk. I. Baku: Kooperatsiya.Rustamov D. 2003 Petroglify Gobustana. Gobustan – ochag drevney kultury Azerbaidzhana, bk. I. Baku: Kooperatsiya.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1974 Arkheologicheskiye issledovaniya v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1973 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 8–11.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1974 Arkheologicheskiye issledovaniya v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1973 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 8–11.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1975 Poleviye raboty v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1974 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 4–10.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1975 Poleviye raboty v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1974 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 4–10.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F. 1976 Raskopki na stoyanke Kyaniza v Gobustane. In AO 1975 goda. Moscow: Nauka, pp. 504–505.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F. 1976 Raskopki na stoyanke Kyaniza v Gobustane. In AO 1975 goda. Moscow: Nauka, pp. 504–505.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1984 Gobustanskaya ekspeditsiya v 1979 godu. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1979 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 7–9.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1984 Gobustanskaya ekspeditsiya v 1979 godu. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1979 g.). Baku: Elm, pp. 7–9.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1986 O rezultatakh arkheologicheskikh issledovaniy 1981 goda v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1980–1981). Baku: Elm, pp. 92–94.Rustamov D.N., Muradova F.M. 1986 O rezultatakh arkheologicheskikh issledovaniy 1981 goda v Gobustane. In Arkheologicheskiye i etnograficheskiye izyskaniya v Azerbaidzhane (1980–1981). Baku: Elm, pp. 92–94.Rustamov D., Muradova F.M. 2003 Petroglify Gobustana. Naskalniye izobrazheniya Shongardaga i Shykhgaya, vol. I, bk. II. Baku: Kooperatsiya.Rustamov D., Muradova F.M. 2003 Petroglify Gobustana. Naskalniye izobrazheniya Shongardaga i Shykhgaya, vol. I, bk. II. Baku: Kooperatsiya.Rüstəmov C. 2006 Qobustan Azərbaycanın qədim mədəniyyət ocağı. Bakı: Nurlar.Rüstəmov C. 2006 Qobustan Azərbaycanın qədim mədəniyyət ocağı. Bakı: Nurlar.Rybakov B.A. 1981 Yazychestvo drevnikh slavyan. Moscow: Nauka.Rybakov B.A. 1981 Yazychestvo drevnikh slavyan. Moscow: Nauka.Svitoch A. 2006 Vsemirniy potop i velikaya khvalynskaya transgressiya Kaspiya. Priroda, No. 1: 20–24.Svitoch A. 2006 Vsemirniy potop i velikaya khvalynskaya transgressiya Kaspiya. Priroda, No. 1: 20–24.The Black Sea Flood Question Changes in Coastline, Climate and Human Settlement. 2007 V.Y. Hombach et al. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer.The Black Sea Flood Question Changes in Coastline, Climate and Human Settlement. 2007 V.Y. Hombach et al. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.