Ilanlitepe

Ilanlitepe settlement – is located in the village of Baş Qərvənd of the Aghdam district. The material-cultural samples here cover the period from the Eneolithic to the Iron Age. In 1967–1968 excavations were carried out at Ilanlitepe on an area of 220 m². Remains of residential houses built of flat‑bulging and ordinary rectangular bricks and of household constructions have been discovered at the settlement. An archaeological monument belonging to the Eneolithic‑Iron Age.

Architectural style

The residential buildings are quadrangular and semi‑circular. The household constructions are attached to them. Two small circular‑shaped constructions have also been encountered. The walls and floors of the buildings were plastered with gypsum, and traces of red paint have been recorded in some places. In some areas of the settlement the surfaces were polished with lime until they shone. Ceramic vessels were made of a plant‑based clay, their outer surface was glazed with light yellow and red colors and polished. However, unglazed and unpolished vessels are also frequently found. Some cup‑type vessels are decorated with circular, oval strips and triangular pressed patterns. The rim of one dark brown vessel is decorated with a appliqué pattern. Circular and rectangular architecture is characteristic of ancient Azerbaijani dwellings. Circular‑shaped architecture is mainly characteristic of the area from the middle courses of the Kura River to the Araz River. The appearance of rectangular houses in Ganja‑Qazakh, Mil‑Karabakh and Nakhchivan is assigned to the final phase of the Eneolithic period. Both types of architecture are found at Ilanlitepe. In monuments such as Ilanlitepe and Kultape, obsidian predominated. The study of labor tools uncovered from the settlement shows that ancient farmers used the obsidian deposit of Ilanlitepe. Rectangular houses, bone tools are typical for Ilanlitepe. Kurqans have been discovered at Ilanlitepe (B. M. Cəlilov, A. S. Ələsgərov). Most of these kurqans belong to the late Bronze‑early Iron Age.

Archaeological excavations

In the years 1967–1968, an archaeological expedition of the History Institute of the Azerbaijan SSR Academy of Sciences conducted research at a single-layer settlement of Ilanlitepe located on the right bank of the Khachinchay in the Karadag plain, uncovering two construction layers in the settlement. Traces of dark red paint were found on the floors and walls of the houses discovered at the site. Such cases were not accompanied in other Eneolithic monuments of Azerbaijan. At the Ilanlitepe settlement, clay samples, a hammer made of horn and bone, bone beads and etc. were found.