The Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (AMEA) Archaeology and Anthropology Institute, during the 2021-2023 field research season of the “Jalilabad Archaeological Expedition,” conducted excavations at the Khutapa multi-layered settlement located in the Chamanly village area of Jalilabad district (GPS coordinates: N-39 12 52.-0; E-048 18 31.9). The site, covering an area of approximately 4 hectares, is situated 22 km along the Shilavenga-Yardimli highway, 100 meters to the right of the road, between the villages of Chamanly and Jalayir, on a high natural hill. Its favorable natural geographical location contributed to the long-term habitation of the population, leading to the formation of cultural layers from various periods. The site, located on a natural hill, is surrounded by ancient river valleys to the east, southeast, and south. This abundant water supply is considered one of the key factors that contributed to the long-term and continuous habitation of the site, providing a favorable environment for the livelihood and daily activities of its ancient inhabitants.

                                                                                  Figure 1: Excavation Process at the Site

The site was first discovered by local historian Rza Rzayev in the 1980s, who informed Farman Mahmudov, an archaeologist conducting excavations at the Alikomaktapa site in the Mughan region. In 1992, F. Mahmudov conducted a preliminary survey of the site, identifying it as a settlement from the Eneolithic period, and included it in the archaeological map of the southeastern region. However, no significant archaeological excavations were carried out at Khudutapa until 2021.

                                                                      Figure 2: Storage pits from the Middle Bronze Age

During the Soviet era, a poultry farm was constructed in the center of the site, and concrete structures were built for other agricultural purposes. Additionally, a football field was established on the southwestern part, leading to the destruction of that section of the site.

In 2010-2011, archaeologist A. Alakbarov conducted small-scale exploratory excavations in the northeastern part of the settlement and discovered two earthen graves from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age. While he did not provide an in-depth analysis of these graves, it was determined that the northeastern and eastern parts of the site functioned as a necropolis. The site’s significant scientific value lies in its history of intensive habitation and its use as a cemetery during the Bronze-Early Iron Age.

                                                                                              Figure 3: Remains of a furnace

On June 7, 2021, our team inspected the site, and despite the presence of a plaque indicating that the settlement is protected by the state, we discovered that the land was being illegally used as a wheat field. According to reports, the area had been unlawfully and informally distributed as private plots to several local residents. Local intellectuals had repeatedly raised concerns with the regional authorities about the site’s significant scientific importance, requesting that the land be exchanged with plots elsewhere for those using it. However, no action has been taken to date. It is noted that those using the land as a field have expressed full willingness to relocate if given alternative land elsewhere.

                                                              Figure 4. Graphic Description of the Site’s Cultural Layers

Excavations at the site began in 2021, starting from the necropolis area. For further research, a test excavation was conducted on the southwestern slope of the hill, covering an area of 100 square meters. As a result, a thick cultural layer was revealed (Figures 1, 4, 7). The goal of the 2021 test excavations was to determine the stratigraphy of the settlement. The excavation area was divided into 5×5 meter squares. The uppermost layer of the site contained numerous materials from the medieval period. Beneath that, layers from the Late Bronze-Early Iron and Early Bronze Ages were uncovered, each replacing the other (Figure 2). Immediately after the medieval layer, a Late Bronze-Early Iron layer appeared, rich with materials, including osteological remains and hearths. The lowest layer revealed weak traces of artifacts from the Eneolithic period, with pottery resembling the Alikomaktapa and Leylatapa types. These findings confirm that the site not only belongs to the Eneolithic period but also contains layers from various historical periods.

                                                                               Figure 5. Potter’s wheel found at the site

In 2023, the research in this area continued, and excavations were conducted in all squares. This year’s excavations uncovered even richer artifacts. Below is information about some of them:

First, cleaning work was carried out in Square III, and excavations continued in the deeper layers of Squares I and II, which had remained incomplete from the previous year. In Square I, at a depth of 80 cm, a coin from the medieval layer was found. This coin is from the reign of Abu Sa’id Bahadur Khan (1305-1335), the 9th ruler of the Ilkhanid state, and was made of copper. Research on the coin was conducted by Dr. Akif Guliyev. Additionally, a large number of unglazed and glazed pottery fragments from the medieval period were recovered from the same area.

                                                                                        Figure 6. Stone structure alignment

In Square II, starting from a depth of 80 cm, medieval materials were replaced by those from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age. On the northern side of the square, at this depth, a hearth with a diameter of 50 cm was uncovered. From the hearth, fragments of pottery from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age and boat-shaped grinding stones were retrieved.

On the northern side of Square I, at a depth of 80 cm, a medieval pottery water pipe was discovered. The water pipe was intact. In the northwestern part of the square, the remains of a tandoor were found (Figure 8). While its height has not been preserved, based on its perimeter, it is estimated that the diameter was 90 cm, with a wall thickness of 6 cm. In the center of this square, the skeletons of two small ruminant animals were uncovered, most likely sheep, buried crosswise. Additionally, flint sickle teeth were found in this square.

                                                                                    Figure 7. The cultural layer of the site

In the eastern part of Square III, the remains of a rectangular structure measuring 1.4×1.4 meters were uncovered. A similar-sized structure was also found on the western side of the square. The walls of these structures are 30 cm thick and were made from clay mixed with straw. Additionally, an 80 cm diameter depression was cleaned between the structures. All the building remains were constructed on a 20 cm thick clay floor.

                                                                                        Figure 8. Remains of a Tandoor

In the southwestern part of Square II, at a depth of 80 cm, a furnace made of bricks with a diameter of 60 cm was discovered. The intact portion of the furnace measures 40 cm, and the layer-by-layer constructed walls are 5 cm thick. One side of the furnace has an 8 cm diameter opening for air circulation and wood burning. In the northeastern part of the square, large animal bones were found on top of a thick ash layer. In the western part of the square, at a depth of 80 cm, a red clay pottery cauldron was uncovered above a hearth. This pot, made of weakly processed sandy clay, has a flanged rim and features groove-like patterns on its body. It is fully covered with soot. Inside the pot, animal bone remains were found. To the south of the furnace, an upside-down pottery jug was also discovered. The placement of these ceramic vessels around the furnace suggests their use in food preparation over the fire.

 

                                                                                 Figure 9. Remains of a pottery furnace

In the southern part of Square II, at a depth of 1.2 meters, a 2-meter diameter hearth was discovered. Inside the hearth, a bone awl, a clay arrowhead, and numerous Early Iron Age pottery fragments were found.

In the southwestern part of Square I, at a depth of 1.8 meters, a human skeleton was unearthed. The deceased was buried on their right side, facing southeast. The right arm was bent at the elbow, and the right leg was folded at the knee, while the left leg was extended forward. A flat, elongated stone was placed over the skeleton. Additionally, in the western part of the same square, a burnt area measuring 1.55 meters in length and 0.8 meters in width was cleaned at a depth of 1.4 meters. This area is believed to have been a pottery kiln (Figure 9), but it was disturbed and collapsed during medieval habitation, mixing layers from different periods.

On one of the fragments of clay from the furnace, there were imprints of large plant remains, suggesting that the clay was mixed with plant material before being fired. Another burned clay fragment had deep grooves on one side. Interestingly, Eneolithic pottery fragments, grain stone fragments, and clay sling stones were also found at this depth. This mixture of finds from different periods indicates that the lower layers were disturbed by later habitation. The discovery of Late Bronze Age pottery fragments further supports this conclusion, showing that layers from various time periods had been mixed together during later occupations.

In the southern part of Square II, at a depth of 1.6 meters, a fragment of a potter’s wheel with a diameter of 21 cm was discovered (Figure 5). About 20 cm east of the potter’s wheel, at a depth of 1.8 meters, a furnace was found. The furnace measured 20 cm in height and 30 cm in diameter. It was wide at the bottom and narrow with a dome shape at the top, designed to facilitate easy placement of a pot and efficient burning of a fire underneath (Figure 3).

Additionally, several hearths were cleaned in Square II, and numerous Early Bronze Age pot handles, Eneolithic hearth supports, grinding stones, rubbers, and bone tools were uncovered (Figure 12). From a depth of 1.8 meters, fragments of Eneolithic monochrome painted pottery were also unearthed.

                                                                      Figure 10. Ram figure from the Early Bronze Age.

In the central part of Square I, at a depth of 1.9 meters, a medium-sized stone arrangement measuring 1.4 meters in length and 0.8 meters in width was found (Figure 6). After cleaning, it was determined that 5 of these stones were grinding stones. These stones were placed face down and are generally made of porous, dense red sandstone in a boat-shaped form. Their bottom parts are oval, while the top working surfaces are concave. The largest grinding stone fragment has a smooth working surface with dimensions of 30 cm in length, 15.5 cm in width, and 7.5 cm in thickness. Another grinding stone is better crafted, with a smooth working surface and visible red ochre residue. Its dimensions are 20 cm in length, 13 cm in width, and 6 cm in thickness. There are also smaller grinding stones, one of which is flat, wide, and boat-shaped. Its center is worn down from use, and its ends are slightly pointed. It measures 13.5 cm in length, 11 cm in width, and 4 cm in thickness. Another similar tool has a completely smooth working surface with brownish residue. Overall, examining the working surfaces of these grinding stones reveals traces of different plant materials being ground. This observation is speculative and may be clarified by future research.

                                                         Figure 11. Stone Female Figurine from the Chalcolithic Period

In the eastern part of Square II, a small-sized dolmen from the Early Bronze Age was discovered. In the western part of Square I, a clay ram figurine (Figure 10) and flint cutting tools, including sickle blades, were found.

In the eastern wall of Square I, at a depth of 1.6 meters, remnants of unbaked brick measuring 50×10 cm were cleaned. Since the primary part of the wall fragment, which had a preserved length of 2 meters, extended beyond the excavation area towards the east, it was not possible to accurately determine the width of the bricks. The bricks were made from mud mixed with straw and bound together with plaster. Numerous grinding stones and fragments of pottery were also collected from this square. Excavations in this square were halted at a depth of 2.8 meters, where bone spatulas, flint cutting tools, thick clay artifacts, a stone female figurine (Figure 11), numerous pottery shards, and osteological remains were uncovered.

In the western part of Square II, a slightly sunken area was observed, likely a large hearth site, as numerous traces of burning were found here. Osteological remains and pottery fragments were uncovered from this hearth. In the eastern part of the square, a partially intact semi-circular structure was noted. Inside this structure, flint cutting tools, clay beads, and archaic obsidian cutting tools were found. Excavations continued in the southern part of the square to a depth of 2.4 meters, reaching the underlying strata.

                                                    Figure 12. Polishing Tools Made of Bone from the Chalcolithic Period

Finally, barriers were constructed for both the excavation area and the site’s protection zone. These measures were implemented as security precautions to protect the excavation area from anthropogenic impacts. Once these measures were completed, the excavation area and the site as a whole were handed over to the Ministry of Culture for preservation.

Thus, the archaeological excavations at Khudutapa from 2021 to 2023 have provided rich material culture evidence, offering significant insights into the Chalcolithic-Bronze Age occupation of Mughan.

Anar Agalarzada