POLUTEPE ANCIENT SETTLEMENT PLACE

The geographical position of the South Caucasus determined the migration of large and small masses of people representing the traditions of different regions of Europe and Asia. The migrations that took place led to the accumulation of energies of many different ethnocultural beginnings in a relatively small area. They mixed with each other and with the layer of “local population” who settled here before them in various variations, changed their appearance and in the process of historical development already formed a new layer of “South Caucasus autochthons”. The indicated processes were repeated continuously on different scales, in different relations of participants and in different territorial areas. Despite this ethno-cultural diversity, it ultimately conditioned the formation of the general South Caucasian ethno-cultural mentality. This turned the South Caucasus into an independent “player” influencing the ethno-cultural processes between Europe and Asia.

Archaeological research conducted in the South Caucasus makes it possible to distinguish different period derivatives formed as a result of the above-mentioned processes, as well as to describe their location areas accordingly.

The areas where the neolithic traditions spread here mainly cover the plain between the Kur river and the northeastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus. This area covered a wide area, starting from the Borchali plain in the northwest to the Mil plain in the southeast, and then crossing the Araz river, including the Eastern Mughan plain, a narrow foothill strip northeast of the Burovar mountains. In general, despite the fact that the main part of Mughan is on the threshold of the South Caucasus, more belonging to Front Asia, it is separated by the single Lesser Caucasus – Burovar mountain range and taking into account that this area is more of a continuation of the Kur-Araz plain, we can say that the ethnocultural development of this place is within the framework of the South Caucasus. What has been said is also confirmed by archaeological research.

Within the indicated territory, the areas of distribution consisted of three ethno-cultural origins that gradually passed into each other. In the scientific literature, they are divided into “Shomutepe tradition (culture)”, “Karabakh neolithic tradition” and “Mughan neolithic tradition”.

In these traditions, there are certain differences, consisting of components that reflect the formation of ethno-cultural foundations. In addition, they also have common aspects related to the proximity of the period, territory and geographical environment.

Among the indicated neolithic traditions, the Mughan neolithic tradition was younger. This is primarily related to the geomorphological development of the South Caucasus and East Mughan plains and the dynamics of climate processes. In the eastern Mughan plain, the conditions for the neolithic tradition of agriculture were created a little later than in the rest of the plains. Squeezed between the branches of the Burovar range from the west and the Caspian Sea from the east, this narrow foothill strip is divided by numerous small rivers and dry valleys flowing from the mountain to the sea.

Until now, the remains of more than 20 neolithic settlements have been recorded on the Mughan plain (F. Mahmudov). Large-scale excavations were carried out in two of them: Alikomektepe (F. Mahmudov) and Polutepe (T. Akhundov), one settlement Fettepe (T. Akhundov) was studied with a stratigraphic shovel. Excavations have been started at Pashatepe settlement (V. Mahmudova). Other monuments were only visually examined and surface materials were collected from them. The evidence obtained from the mentioned monuments shows that they represent a single “Mughan neolithic tradition”.

The areas of the remains of the settlements are mainly preserved in the form of hills, varying from 0.25 h to 6 h. In most cases, they were located on the coastal terraces of rivers and valleys that exist today in the form of dry valleys. In some cases, the remains of settlements are located in the flat areas of the plain, where there are almost no traces of rivers. However, the study of geomorphological processes in the Mughan plain shows that when life was active in these habitats, there were water channels next to them, which are now covered with later alluvial sediments.

In three excavated settlements, the neolithic cultural layer was up to 6 m thick (Polutepe).

The hill-shaped remains of settlements in Alikomektepe were later used for burials in the middle bronze, ancient and middle ages. After the neolithic period, the Kur-Araz people and the carriers of the “Early mound” traditions settled in Polutepe for a short period of time in its hill-shaped remains, middle bronze age tribes with painted pottery used this place for burial, and it was a large settlement in the 9th-11th centuries of our era. Remains of the early iron and antiquity periods are found in the areas near these two settlements of the river bank.

A 5.5-meter neolithic layer in Fettepe is thin B.C. It is covered with a layer of the 9th-11th centuries. However, there is Alkhantepe settlement belonging to the Leylatepe tradition on the south side of the supposed river bed near it. Almost no finds from the later periods were found in the Pashatepe settlement (V. Mahmudova). However, the remains of a settlement of the middle bronze age, represented by painted pottery samples, were recorded in the area near it (F. Mahmudov).

Architectural remains were discovered in the excavated monuments. These remains are represented by rectangular, oval and circular buildings made of clay bricks (Alikömektepe, Polutepe). Bricks are rectangular in shape, mostly made of thin clay mortar. In addition to these, it was found in the buildings where the brick was “probably” processed in a wet state without a binding solution.

Polutepe: View of the excavation site from the west. Remains of brick building and spheres.

The walls are usually one brick thick, laid lengthwise along the wall. However, the remains of brick walls laid side by side in two lengths, and in one case even two widths, were also discovered.

However, since the remains of brick buildings were not found in the upper layer of the neolithic layer of the Polutepe settlement, light “Djigh” construction buildings were used in the architecture of the Mughan plain near the end of the neolithic period. At present, material evidence of this has also been obtained.

Remains of their graves were also found in the researched settlements belonging to the bearers of the Mughan Neolithic tradition. Burial was carried out in shallow pits, which were poorly visible in different parts of the cultural layer. The deceased were buried mostly on their right or left sides, and rarely on their backs, in various degrees of twisting and orientation. Deceased of all ages, from babies to adults, are found here. In most cases, dark red ocher was sprinkled on them and on the grave. In some cases, including children’s graves, small vessels and various beads (of various minerals, in one case copper, in another – turquoise) were found.

Polutepe: Tomb of an old man painted with ochre.

At the same time, the number of graves is extremely small compared to the time when settlements existed, and this gives reason to assume that the bearers of the Mughan neolithic tradition had other forms of behavior towards the deceased.

First of all, the factor that determines the ethnic origin and lifestyle of the archaeological tradition, mainly its bearers, is pottery. Mughan neolithic monuments are characterized by a remarkable wealth of pottery finds, which exceeds the traditions of other regions of the Caucasus by several times. Handcrafted from plant-infused clay, their pottery is usually coated with quality engobe and fired evenly and fairly well. The surfaces are smoothed or polished. Although angobe of various shades of brown predominates, there are also examples of other colors ranging from white to grayish black.

Polutepe: Painted pottery.

Pots were made in different ways. Here, the bad method was used for the formation of large vessels, plates were used for some medium-sized vessels, and the embossing of a piece of clay mass was used for the formation of small vessels. In the Polutepe settlement, it was discovered that open-shaped vessels were prepared by using a woven basket as a mold.

Unlike most neolithic traditions of the Caucasus, Mughan neolithic in general is characterized by a large number of painted pottery. In this sense, the pottery of this area is quite different, but it is more similar to the pottery found in the monuments of the Mil plain. In most cases, the patterns were painted on the angobe surface with brown-chestnut paint (a small amount of brown, red, rarely yellow paint was used), including on the vessels formed by the method of weaving. Depending on its form and functional purpose, the pattern was engraved either on the inside or outside, or on both surfaces at the same time. Sometimes, especially miniature vessels, the surfaces were preliminarily painted before patterning.

Polutepe: Pottery with paint pattern.

Polutepe: A piece of pottery with a paint pattern

The patterns are geometric in shape, mostly hanging, hollow or solid triangles, sometimes rhombuses, steps, grids, circular finger spots, etc.

The vessels range in size from miniature heights and diameters of 4-6 cm to over 1.2 m in diameter. As for the thickness of the pots, there are findings that reach 4 cm. Except for relatively small bowls and jugs, vessels have a flat seat. Depending on the shape and purpose, both wide and narrow vessel seats are available.

Due to their shape, small hemispherical bowls, small bowls with a diameter ranging from 50 cm to more than 50 cm in diameter, flat-seated “pots” with a wide seat, narrowing towards the mouth, and cylindrical barrel-shaped dishes are particularly distinguished.

The containers shown do not have handles. Only the “cauldrons” were equipped with handles similar to fists, which probably had a magical meaning in addition to their main function.

Polutepe: Pottery pot.

Stylized shapes of animal heads, female and male genitals are often found among them.

Polutepe: Clay female figure.

Polutepe: An animal figure made of baked clay

In most of the bowls, the mouth parts are not convex. Just the lips are smoothed round. However, there are also vessels with a thick lip shape or the upper edge of the wall is slightly bent to the side.

Vessel forms with a narrow cylindrical neck and convex shoulders are typical for the Mughan neolithic. They are also equipped with a large looped handle that joins the sides of the bowl’s neck and shoulder, characteristic of Mughan. In addition, a bowl equipped with a similar handle was also found.

Pottery of the Mughan neolithic tradition was decorated not only with painted patterns, but also with various ornaments, probably associated with charms. These are mainly nipples made on the sides of the mouth, neck and shoulders. Their number was different. Starting from one, regardless of the shape of the bowl, up to the shape of a chain belt. Also curved and straight stripes, crescents with upward ends and relatively small rings, etc. is also available. This method of decoration brings Mughan neolithic carriers closer to other regions of the South Caucasus.

In addition to vessels, a flat disc-shaped lid and relatively small three-lobed cones were also found in Mughan neolithic settlements. Sometimes the latter are painted with red paint. They probably represented an individual or family shrine.

It is difficult to imagine the production of pottery of this quantity, quality, and various sizes and shapes without appropriate potter’s balls. As a result of archeological research conducted in Alikomektepe, Polutepe and Pashatepe settlements, dozens of spheres for cooking pottery were found. They are represented by three forms.

In Alikomektepe and Pashatepe, mostly unfired clay female figures were found. In addition to dozens of such findings in Polutepe, various animal figures were also obtained from well-baked clay.

All the neolithic monuments of this region are characterized by a large number of pebbles and sling stones collected according to their size. They are found both separately and together in a ball.

The existence of a large number of objects made of bone and horn is also typical for the neolithic period. Mughan neolithic is no exception in this regard. A large number of bones and a relatively small amount of horn products were found in the dwellings.

Polutepe: Polishers made from the barrel bone of a small animal

Due to its functional purpose, we are preferred, which are made from the barrel and ulna bones of small-horned animals. Other tools and items with various functions are also sufficient. They are made from small and large animal’s barrel, elbow, shoulder, fish spine and bird bones. Rare finds include a bone pickaxe, a bayonet, a handle for a miniature cutting stone plate.

Different types of stones were also used for making tools. Flint and obsidian were used as board-shaped tools. Based on the quantity of products and tools, it can be said that they were made directly at the place of residence. A large number of differently shaped grindstones and graters, mortar and pestle sets, stone vessels, axes and more have been found from different types of stones suitable for their purpose.

Polutepe: Flint tools.

Based on the material evidence obtained from the excavations, we can say that the economy of the Mughan neolithic carriers consisted of the cultivation of cereals, the keeping of various types of domestic animals, hunting, fishing and handicrafts. They wore soft broad-brimmed shoes and kept dogs in their dwellings.

Horse bones were also found in the dwellings. There are different opinions about whether they are wild or domesticated. Even if they were domesticated, the finding of their remains in the lower strata of the settlements shows that the horse, like other domestic animals kept by the bearers of the Mughan neolithic tradition, was domesticated in other areas long before their settlement in Mughan.

 In general, the domestication process of neither animals, nor plants is observed in the South Caucasus. When the carriers of neolithic cultures settled here, they already had a fully developed agriculture and animal husbandry, pottery production that had a long development path.

The bearers of the Mughan neolithic tradition were no exception to this. Moreover, in the remains of their dwellings, the embryos of material culture patterns that were widespread in the later period can be traced.

As mentioned above, the “Mugan neolithic tradition” represents a relatively late phase of this period. When comparing the materials obtained from the monuments, this tradition dates back to B.C. We can attribute it to the second half – the end of the 5th millennium.

Tufan Akhundov